Tunde closed the doors to the shop gently behind him, closing the binds as well as he peeked out, Miria behind him, tapping her foot gently.
“you’re awfully calm about this,” she said.
Tunde nodded, putting a hand to his lip as he subtly wrapped the entire building in his aura, ensuring no one could listen in on what was about to be said. He turned to her, folding his hands in front of him as he sat down with a sigh.
“Now, run me from the beginning,” he said.
Miria sat right in front of him, fingers stapled together as she started.
“Varis believes you have no second affinity,” she said.
“Now while that should be-“
“I don’t,” Tunde said, cutting in.
Miria paused, unsure of what she just heard.
“What?” she asked.
“I don’t have a second affinity” Tunde repeated rather slowly again.
The former lady of the tyrant’s haven began to drum her fingers on the table.
“that’s impossible,” she said.
“along with having a sentient mind that controls the Ark screen no longer available in this region, there’s a lot of impossibilities when it comes to me” he replied.
She got to her feet, walking back and forth before pausing.
“so you aren’t a lord?” she asked.
“my aura and tempering begs to differ”
“Tunde,” she said with a sigh.
“I’m only missing a core” he answered, sensing Miria was close to snapping
“every other thing I have or do is of lord stage, I’m simply missing the space to store a concept” he added.
“so you don’t have the affinity of destruction?” she asked incredulously.
“no, but my Ethra is something that rivals it in strength”
She huffed, running her hand through her hair for a second before speaking.
“he came here you know” she started again.
“right in this very room, he let me know that we were just insects dancing around to his amusement”
“that we were simply flesh bags intended to be thrown at whatever this wasteland king has in store for us, and it terrified me” she added.
“clan Talahan has never been our ally” Tunde murmured.
“Tunde, over a thousand people now call black fire home, and yet, you and I know well enough that that monster could wipe us all out in the blink of an eye should he wish to,” she said softly.
Tunde stared at the smoothened table, sharp eyes picking out the grainy wood, gripping his shoulders tight with his hands to control his temper.
“We have no choice right now than to play along” he responded.
“We need to get stronger,” Miria said.
“the borders don’t give that much of an opportunity, does it?” he countered.
“I’ve heard about the heartlands and the capital, where elixirs and pills are so bountiful that advancing to adept was only a matter of lumens”
Releasing his sore shoulders, he continued.
“We are fighting against impossible odds here Miria, I don’t-“ he paused, closing his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, he continued, calmly.
“we, don’t have the resources to get us even to the height clan Verdan once stood. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to disappoint them” he finished.
“disappoint us?” Miria asked surprised.
She gave a short laugh, tying her hair up to the back as she continued.
“you went from initiate-“
“I know” he butted in as she glared at him.
“let me finish,” she said softly.
Tunde raised his hands up, knowing better than to argue.
“you went from initiate, to adept, to something like a lord in the space of a few months”
“Arguably, you’re the second strongest cultivator and ranker within Black Rock, how in the hegemons’ name did you think you disappointed us?” she asked.
Tunde stared, saying nothing. Miria huffed, getting to her feet as she continued.
“Clearly, I’ve been sitting on my back for too long, it’s time I stopped lazying around,” she said.
“you call fighting off an invasion a few months ago and cultivating lazying around?” he asked with a chuckle.
She said nothing, walking to the doors as she threw open the curtains.
“how about we go meet Elder Wren?” she asked.
“why?” Tunde asked curiously.
“it’s time we picked a second affinity, don’t you think?” she finished.
******************************
They were scheduled to meet the chief steward of the requisition hall at night, Tunde instead, found himself heading towards the abode of the Highlord, tension in his chest. Varis had proven just how resourceful he could be, he wondered just how long the Highlord knew about him not having a second affinity.
Frowning at the thought, he clenched his fists, moving away as large crates were still being hauled out of the sky vessel and towards the storage buildings in the distance. Lady Ryka, Isolde, and the other people who managed the activities of the settlement were together, Tunde’s eyes picking them out in the distance.
With a sigh, he made his way into Black Rock, past the requisition hall and the cultivators who would suddenly find themselves gaining access to petter potions and pills, making their advancements smoother. Tunde just hoped they advanced in time for the battle to come, feeling the anxiousness bite at his nerves in frustration. Soon enough, he was at the doors of the Highlord’s room, barely knocking before a soft “come in” came through.
Opening the doors, he spotted the Highlord seated, legs folded and hands tucked into his robes, eyes on a communication construct that was alive with the face of another individual within it. the Highlord waved him towards him, eyes still on the construct.
“careful there, branch head, you’re accusing the imperial clan of murder,” Varis said calmly.
“far from it young lord,” the male calm voice of the face behind the construct said as Tunde stood next to Varis.
“I’m merely accusing you and whoever that lord you sent was” he replied.
“Well, you can say it to his face,” Varis said.
“branch head, meet Tunde dark fist, the lord your son tried killing. Tunde, branch head Harlan Ramu of the Ramu clan and Bright Bow consortium” he stated.
“also the father of the lord you turned to dust” he added as Tunde winced, that last part had not been necessary.
Tunde bowed at the waist.
“this lord greets the branch head” he started.
“Honor dictates I listen to your part of the story before I consider you a dead man” Harlan started.
“so I listen”
Tunde steeled himself, turning his blank expression to the branch head who stared at him with equally cold dead eyes.
“after being attacked earlier by three killers who wanted me dead, we approached the ship of the baron when he began firing on us” Tunde started.
“and did you try to explain your presence to him?” Harlan asked.
“he was to expect us, besides, we flew the banners of black rock and carried the insignia and authority of venerable Highlord Varis with us,” Tunde said.
“would you imagine that, still he fired on them,” Varis said calmly, almost nonchalantly as the branch head’s eyes flicked to him before back at Tunde.
“all efforts to stop him from attacking us proved abortive, and when he began using deadly techniques against me, I had to defend myself”
“so you didn’t attack him first?” Harlan asked.
“no, this I swear on my soul,” Tunde said, the branch head’s eyes twitching for a second as nothing happened to Tunde.
“the young lord speaks the truth” Varis added again.
The branch head stared at him for a few more seconds before speaking.
“How did he die, Crispin I mean,” he asked.
“he used some sort of tier 4 cannon construct against me, unfortunately, while I was in the moment of dodging it, a shield he controlled with his aura moved in the way, and the attack was reflected,” Tunde said.
Varis snorted, catching himself midway in surprise, the branch head’s eyes widening in shock. Tunde had hoped that by saying the baron had done himself in, it would look like he had been lucky, evidently, that wasn’t working.
“but that wasn’t the end, was it?” Varis asked, all mirth wiped from his face.
“no, it was not” Tunde replied calmly, still staring at the branch head.
“an unknown Highlord appeared as well, stating that baron Crispin along with the killers were sent to kill me by an undisclosed individual”
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“And you expect me to believe that?” Harlan asked.
“Again, I swear on my soul,” Tunde said with gritted teeth.
Harlan’s eyes hardened.
“soul oaths might save you now, but I’d be careful if I were you” he started
“this slight will not go unforgiven”
“Perhaps, I might have made this seem trivial” Varis started as the branch head turned to him.
“the imperial clan made a requisition to your clan, and you go about attempting to kill our servants?” he added.
Tunde’s eye twitched at the word even as his expression remained calm.
“Pardon me, venerable Highlord” Tunde started again as Varis turned to him.
“but the Highlord had something distinct on his neck, a tattoo of some sort”
“and what was it?” Varis asked curiously.
“a short blade, a knife maybe” Tunde replied, not sure why he suddenly remembered it.
Harlan’s eyes grew wide as he became deathly pale.
“a dagger” Varis replied, his eyes alight as if Tunde had given him the last piece of information he needed.
“How dare you!” Harlan sputtered.
“That would be all, branch head Harlan” Varis said in an authoritative voice.
“you would dare accuse the Ramu clan this way?” he growled.
“the clan?, no, a branch family though,” Varis said, leaving it unspoken.
With a wave, he cut off the communication, releasing a sigh of pleasure before turning to Tunde.
“I do so relish moments like that,” he said before stretching.
“So, you faced a null Highlord and lived to tell the tale, I’m impressed,” he said
Tunde mentally reminded himself to avoid getting surprised whenever the Highlord found out something he hadn’t counted on him knowing. To be honest, he hadn’t told Hajan who he suspected was Varis’s source not to say anything.
“he didn’t want me dead from what I gathered” Tunde replied.
Varis chuckled.
“no asking how I knew?,” he asked
Tunde bowed.
“Nothing is hidden from the eyes of the Highlord” he replied.
Varis said nothing, sighing as he cracked his neck.
“then explain why you lied about being a lord,” he said.
Tunde calmly assessed his options, deliberation on how to go about it as he prepared to speak, watching Varis raise on finger.
“Now before you go about spewing whatever it is you want to say” he started.
“note that any lies would end in your death right here and now”
“There are other adepts around who would bow and scrape for my tutelage, you’re not so special as to be irreplaceable” he finished.
Tunde swallowed, meeting the cold bottomless pit of the Highlord’s eyes.
“shame,” he said.
Varis said nothing, simply staring at him to continue.
“by constant battle and enlightenment,” Tunde started as Varis snorted.
“I’ve been able to raise my aura to the stage of lord, as well as my Ethra and tempering”
“but no core” Varis completed.
“no core” Tunde echoed.
“enlightenment,” Varis said with a shake of his head.
Getting to his feet, the Highlord turned to the glass wall, moving closer to it in silence, Tunde waiting for his verdict.
“tell me all you know about lord rank” Varis ordered.
“it is the fourth stage of advancement and mostly considered the true beginning of advancement” he started.
“that’s because it is” Varis cut in with a murmur.
He turned to him, stretching one hand out as Tunde watched him deftly manipulate his aura to grab a stick, drawing it to his hand.
“initiate, disciple, adept. We call them the foundations” he continued.
“stages simply meant for the body of a cultivator to get in Tune with nature, not to be celebrated as I’ve seen here”
Tunde noticed the distaste in his expression.
“the heartlands of the empire, the inner cities, adept stage is what children grow into, reaching its peak by ten years, then advancing to lord. Lord is when you learn what true cultivation really means”
Tunde found himself feeling incompetent.
“here, adepts are treated like Highlords and Highlords treated like lofty paragons, shameful to think of, perhaps the empire will need to step in after all” Varis continued.
Waving at Tunde to continue, Varis began swinging the staff through the air calmly.
“lord stage requires the fusion of two Ethra affinities to create a concept,” Tunde said, picking up from where he stopped.
“and to advance, one would need to be in harmony with both affinities, fusing them together into a single concept, creating a unique Ethra that feeds off both affinities,” he said.
Varis raised a hand up, muttering something with a sigh as he walked to a table where a gourd of wine sat, pouring some into a cup and swallowing in one gulp.
“It’s like they teach backwards here” he grumbled.
“ever head of greater and lesser affinities?” Varis asked.
Tund shook his head.
“of course not, far be it for those in power to actually enlighten those underneath them,” Varis said sarcastically.
“concepts are also affinities, just think of them as two lesser affinities fused to make one greater affinity. In that sense, it is indeed a delicate balance to be maintained, one that grows easier with each advancement stage, to keep that balance”
Tunde mentally informed Ifa to record.
[noted] the sentience replied.
“Good, now the crucible is merely nature’s method of testing if your affinities are balanced enough to advance and create a core”
Tunde had a sudden thought, why then had he almost created a core? This affinity of his, just how powerful was it to force the crucible?
“the crucible is merely Adamath recognizing you as a true cultivator, and from there, you begin your steps in the three stages of enlightenment” Varis continued.
“body, mind, and soul” he listed out.
“gaining complete mastery of the body at lord rank, mind at Highlord, and soul at master”
Tunde scrunched up his face together as Varis sighed.
“Obviously this is going nowhere, we’ll continue tomorrow,” he said, effectively dismissing him.
Tunde bowed, getting up as he turned to the door.
“Oh, and Tunde?” Varis called out as Tunde turned to stare at him.
“I’m the only one standing between black rock and utter annihilation, do remember that when next you think you can outsmart me, okay?” he said.
“yes, venerable Highlord” Tunde relid smoothly, leaving the room.
********************************
Elder Wren’s living quarters lay close to the requisition hall but separated enough that he had his own privacy. Separated from the bustling of the stronghold, Tunde and Miria found themselves at the doors of the elder’s home, knocking gently, a basket of freshly baked goods in hand. The flow of food and other items into the settlement immediately opened up various shops and businesses that had gone dormant due to their inability to get raw produce, an example being wheat.
The door opened to reveal the curious face of the elder, surprise written all over it.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting guests,” he said in greeting.
“apologies elder Wren, we simply wanted to see you concerning some matters,” Miria said with a smile.
“as long as that sweet smelling basket of freshly baked goods is for me, you’re welcome”
Tunde handed it over, bowing at the waist before making his way inside. Built in the same form as every other building within the stronghold itself, its floors were warm, continuously heated by heat Ethra that ran through it with the help of inscriptions. The somewhat bare room with only a wall library filled with books, potted plants that gave off a sweet scent, and a few chairs as well.
Tunde took it all in, graciously accepting a seat and a gourd of wine.
“got your hands on one?” he asked.
“a present from the lady Ryka” Wren replied.
“something of a thank you gift I believe” he added.
Tunde nodded, waiting for the elder to settle.
“so, what was so important that you two couldn’t wait till morning?” he asked.
Tunde crossed his legs together, calmly staring at the elder.
“We need your knowledge on affinities” he replied.
Elder Wren looked a bit confused as they continued.
“on affinities?” he echoed.
“yes, more on how to pick concepts” Miria added.
The elder seemed to mull on their words carefully before speaking.
“it’s too soon for you to attempt advancing to lord stage Miria,” he said carefully.
She gave a soft smile.
“We don’t have that luxury” she replied.
The elder sighed, shaking his head as he spoke.
“you young children, always thinking whatever event about to happen is the end of everything” he started.
“There will always be one battle or the other, one dire situation that makes you want to advance. The trick is to know when to relent, fight, or even run”
“but we can’t run from what’s coming, can we?” Tunde said softly.
The elder sighed.
“in my two centuries of existence, I had gotten to adept in the first century, I could have advanced whenever I wanted, resources don’t become a problem when you’ve lived as long as I have,” he said.
“then why didn’t you?” Miria asked.
“because it’s not worth it” he replied.
Elder Wren got to his feet, making his way towards the shelves, looking for something.
“the higher you climb, the bloodier it gets, till your entire being is soaked in it and you find yourself killing for whatever you need,” he said.
He grabbed a book, turning to them.
“That, and the fact that soon enough, you find yourself accumulating enemies along the way, till you meet your end one way or another”
Moving back to their side, he dropped the book, a heavy-looking thing that looked worn from the ages. Opening it, he continued.
“but, looking at your faces, it’s obvious you won’t take the advice of an old adept, the lure of power is too strong for one such as you Miria”.
“I advance to protect those I care for,” she said.
“that may be so, but what would you have to sacrifice to get it?” he asked mildly.
“Whatever we have to do” Tunde replied, the elder turning his gaze to him.
“We don’t have the luxury of time”
“yes, yes, the enemy from the wastelands,” Wren said, cutting in with a sigh.
“Personally, my opinions have never mattered, not to clan Verdan when they ruled, and most definitely not to the venerable Highlord of Talahan no”
“they matter to us,” Tunde said.
“if so, then listen to me carefully” Wren started.
“I have no idea who or what this wasteland king is, but in my modest years, a power as big and powerful as the empire will only move for two things”
“one is if they need something from the wasteland, whatever goal they have there”
“and two?” Miria asked.
“two is if they have something to hide, a blemish on their reputations, something they want hidden from the rest of the world. That is something you don’t want to have a hand in” he finished.
“why?” Tunde asked.
“because in most cases, the tools used in cleaning this stain are most times disposed of as well” elder Wren replied.
*********************
A while later, Tunde and Miria found themselves pouring through the lark book detailing some of the more known affinities in existence. Elemental and esoteric, from the more common weapon affinities to the rare ones found, attempting to find if they had concepts or had been acquired before by past cultivators either dead or alive.
Tunde found much to his frustration that most cultivators either had an elemental affinity at birth and fused it with a weapon affinity, at least on Bloodfire. Other continents such as Silvershade with its mages and Grandmages usually saw cultivators fusing two elements together to create an elemental concept, giving them either overwhelming offensive or defensive abilities.
Miria after spending more than an hour poring through the book decided on the shadow affinity to fuse with her ink affinity.
“a curious choice, one mostly ignored by the cultivators of Bloodfire” elder Wren observed.
“you thought I had a shadow affinity at first,” Tunde said.
“yes, and while you were shielded by the authority and position of Joran, you failed to see just how much disdain other cultivators had for you till you proved your strength in combat” he replied.
“shadow is the way of assassins, those in the dark. It is not the ‘proper’ way or art of attle preferred by the rankers of this continent and most times would see the cultivator looked upon with suspicion, especially with the Heralds” Wren explained.
“I was never liked wherever I go anyways, might as well embrace it now” Miria responded.
Tunde on the other hand, while elder Wren was oblivious, scanned through, looking for more affinities he could obtain down the line or search for. As he had previously planned, weapon affinities were off the table, he couldn't care less for them, the same going for elemental affinities even though he saw some that drew his attention well enough.
He paused at a page, tapping on it as he spoke up.
“This affinity, force, ever heard of it?” he asked.
Elder Wren glanced at the book.
“rare, used by the master of the inevitable hammer fighting style, made every hit of his hammer carry enough strength to shatter a mountain, dead now” the elder narrated.
“what killed him?” Tunde asked curiously.
“unclear, some say poison, others say he was betrayed, I personally think he offended someone with the imperial clan and they wanted him dead,” Wren said.
“either way, turns out he wasn’t so untouchable as he imagined himself to be”
Tunde stared at it again, rousing Ifa as he typed.
[force affinity]
[suitable to fuse with cosmic affinity] it replied back.
[benefits?] Tunde asked.
[uknown, fuse and then find out]
He frowned at the message, somehow getting the feeling that the sentience considered him stupid for asking about something he hadn’t tried out yet. Either way, he marked out the affinity, along with a few others such as blood affinity, one the elder had vehemently stamped out.
“the few cultivators known to use blood affinity or concepts were always known to either grow mad with the lust for it, seeing entire settlements consumed when the cultivator decided to harvest them for cultivation” he explained.
“Most times the other cities or even the empire would need to step in, it was banned, along with undeath and death Ethra affinities”
“I’m guessing that goes for flesh Ethra affinity as well,” Tunde asked.
“there’s a reason it’s mostly found within the wasteland among the warring barbaric tribes that call it home,” Wren said.
Tunde narrowed down his options to three, force, vitality, and strength Ethra. While under the guise of curiosity, he noted them down, thanking the elder and asking of elder Ming.
“she still isn’t ready to see anyone yet I believe” Wren replied with a sad smile.
Tunde nodded, disappointment in his gaze as he left the elder’s home along with Miria, bidding her goodnight as he made his way to his quarters. Hot steaming food had been left behind for him at his door, no doubt sent by Lady Ryka, he was grateful. While most times he forgot to eat, his body gradually sustaining itself on the bountiful Ethra in the air, he still needed the nourishment.
His room was a warm bare place, Tunde eating his meal in the silence of the room as he arranged the rings he had gotten from his latest mission. Three from the assassins and five from the baron himself, an accumulation of eight rings in total. The first ring, the one belonging to the shadow and venom affinity user was filled not only with more than fifty thousand lumens, something he immediately transferred to his void space in a spare void ring, but a healthy number of tier 4 elixirs and pills that would come in handy.
Tunde found it funny that he hardly had to buy elixirs and pills for his own cultivation, seemingly lucky enough to obtain them from dead foes, the same way they would be obtained from him if they killed him. The thought was sobering on its own, still rummaging through the ring, an item dropped that plunged the entire room into pitch darkness, so dark, that Tunde activated Ethra sight.
Watching as shadow Ethra filled the entire room, his gaze went to the object on the ground, his screen coming to life as he picked the cool object.
[shadowstone, a rare shadow Ethra affinity item, can be used to acquire shadow Ethra affinity]
A soft chuckle came from his throat at the sight.