Free Web NovelChapter 5: A New Beginning
The morning light filtered through the large bay windows of the bedroom, casting golden reflections on the silk sheets still rumpled from the previous night’s activities. The being once known as Azrael D. Velaros opened his eyes, remaining still for a moment to listen to the silence of the room. Electhra’s warmth had left the bed, but her scent still lingered in the rarefied air of this luxury apartment. He sat up slowly on the edge of the mattress, running a hand through his disheveled grayish hair. On the marble nightstand, a piece of paper immediately caught his attention. It was a note written in an elegant and firm hand, bearing the mark of his servant’s discipline.
"My sovereign, imperative obligations within the guild require my presence this early morning... You will find suitable clothes for this era in the hallway closet... The directions to join me are written on the back... Your faithful servant awaits you."
An imperceptible smirk stretched his lips as he set the paper down. He stood up and headed to the bathroom to wash. Hot water flowed over his body, washing away the traces of sweat. After getting out of the water, he dried himself carefully then went to the closet to examine the clothes. As instructed, he first put on a gray hoodie, whose fabric was soft and comfortable. He did not forget to put back on his black leather gloves, an accessory he wore out of habit. Then he chose black pants which he put on, next he put on black sneakers.
He then went to the dining room where a full breakfast had been prepared and kept warm by a thermal system integrated into the table. He ate with calculated slowness, observing the skyscrapers of Seoul that stood like monuments to human arrogance. This world seemed fragile, a construction of glass and steel that knew nothing of the destructive power of the beings that existed. Once his meal was finished, he left the apartment following the precise instructions left by Electhra.
The walk through the streets of Seoul was a constant sensory detection experience. He passed many pedestrians, some of whom possessed a derisory mana signature, marking their belonging to different ranks, since each of these passersby had a different level of mana. People sometimes looked at him with passing interest, intrigued by his appearance since he was one meter ninety tall. He finally arrived in front of a monumental complex whose structure dominated the area. The silver letters of the Aegis Prime guild shone at the top of the building. He entered the building without asking for any directions, heading toward the most familiar source of mana.
The hall was immense, filled with guild members who were bustling about with palpable anxiety. He spotted a bank of elevators and followed a group of executives heading there. Although this technology was foreign to him, he immediately understood its usefulness and functioning by analyzing the energy currents powering the cabin. He remained motionless during the ascent, ignoring the curious glances of the other passengers. Upon reaching the top floor, he exited into a hushed corridor where absolute calm reigned. At the end of the passage, he stood in front of a massive double door on which was engraved the inscription "Guild Master".
He entered without knocking.
Electhra was seated behind her desk, consulting holographic reports on the status of the towers and the guild’s resources. As soon as she spotted the hooded figure, she stood up abruptly, her cold face lighting up with fanatical devotion. Her long deep violet hair undulated behind her as she bowed with perfect grace.
"You are finally here... My lord, I greet you."
"No need to make a big deal out of it, I am no longer the same as before," he corrected.
"But..." Electhra tried to protest, but he raised his hand, not wanting to continue this discussion. "Very well, I will make sure to treat you well without making you uncomfortable," Electhra acquiesced.
Then she went to a porcelain tea set to prepare the tea, her movements being of surgical precision. She was wearing her usual magenta shirt, but with a tailored jacket that accentuated her stature. She served a steaming cup and placed it in front of him.
"Where exactly are we? Tell me about this place," he asked in a neutral voice as he sat down in a leather armchair. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Electhra looked at him for a moment then returned to her seat, then crossed her arms under her voluptuous chest, a posture that stretched the fabric of her long black coat.
"We are currently on Earth, more precisely in Seoul, the capital of this country called South Korea... It is the beating heart of Awakened society in this part of the world. The guild I established, Aegis Prime, is currently the dominant force."
"I see," he acquiesced.
He listened to her explanations, then stood up to go stand in front of the large window. He observed the city below, the thousands of citizens bustling about like insects in a structure too narrow for them.
"This name... Azrael D. Velaros. If the agents of the Annihilation Alliance heard it, they would suspect that the Königsmörder has returned even before I could stabilize my essence. I no longer want to use this name for the moment... I will therefore need another one in the meantime."
Electhra widened her eyes in surprise, not expecting him to decide to change his name so suddenly. For her, her master’s name was sacred, a symbol of cosmic destruction that had once made the heavens tremble. She took on a thoughtful expression for a moment, observing the silhouette of her sovereign outlined against the urban panorama of Seoul.
"If you allow me... I just thought of something. What would you think of the name Gerhman?" she suggested softly, her voice betraying a certain hesitation.
He turned his head slightly, his gray eyes fixing his servant with curiosity.
"Gerhman... Where did you find it?" he asked.
Electhra looked at him with a smile, a rare expression that softened her ethereal features.
"It is a name I found in a book I consulted during my years on this planet. It was the name of a fallen character, broken by his own methods, who ended up becoming the guardian of the prison he helped build. I thought this name would suit you perfectly for your new beginning."
"It’s not a bad name... Gerhman... This is how this world will call me from now on," he repeated in a low voice, a gleam of satisfaction in his gaze.
[Ding]
At the precise moment he accepted this identity, a crystalline sound echoed in his mind, and a bluish interface materialized before his eyes.
[The host has appropriated a new name.]
[A new beginning for the Sin of Pride.]
[Terrestrial identity synchronization completed.]
[Status sheet update in progress...]
The system message remained suspended in the air. He turned his attention back to the urban horizon, a predatory smile forming on his face.
