The Governor laughed. “Don’t be so uptight,” he said. “Finders keepers. The cave is not mine, don’t worry about trespassing.”
“Even so, I still apologize,” Ewan said, maintaining his bent spine, his head lowered. If only the words carried their original intention… He wouldn’t live to see another day if he actually believed the Governor and stretched his claws for the cave in front of him. Other things aside, the opportunity that cracked his medallion aside, his only purpose right now was to deescalate the unseen and unsaid tension and get out alive with all his limbs still attached. At least, his instincts hadn’t warned him so far, so it should be feasible.
“But you really came here in vain,” the Governor said. “You can't gain anything here at your current level. Tell me, did you practice your mystic spells?”
“I did,” Ewan said. “Please don’t worry, sir, I won't delay your matter anymore.”
“Are you ready for Step-1?”
“Yes, sir, I can soon make the first attempt.”
“Make sure you prepare well,” the Governor said. “Don’t forget to get some healing potions along with the stabilizers, the rite can be harsh even if you succeed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you were looking to buy a ship I heard. Don’t waste time with those people, they’ll sell you for all your worth. Just ask Kiev, he’ll give you one. But the area around Drarith hasn’t been stable recently, so I suggest you delay your trip.”
“Yes, sir,” Ewan said, his heart skipping several beats, his stomach churning. Everything he did, all his moves were under this man’s eyes, and it smothered him. He severely underestimated the difference between them, and he severely underestimated his worth in the Governor’s eyes….
“You should go back now, focus on breaking through to Step-1, don’t think about anything else,” the Governor said. “Ask Kiev for anything you need for that, he won't refuse.”
“Yes, sir,” Ewan said, and backed away, his hurried steps taking him away from the hall. “Keep quiet and just follow me,” he said to Kidd and Stefan and led them out.
…
…
…
The forest’s breath filled his lungs, the sunlight scattered through the leafed crowns, the blades of grass softened his walk, and he heaved a sigh of relief when his Ryvia stretched freely, tension seeping out of his shoulders.
“What happened Boss?” Kidd asked, glancing back at the crack.
“Not now,” Ewan said, and headed back to his villa with the two in tow. This incident triggered his paranoia again, but the market he scoured and the price he paid for the protective fog covering his villa supported his confidence in it. Even if it couldn’t defend against the Governor, it could at least stop him from sneaking his Ryvia in—it could act as a warning sign. The world inside that fog was his safe haven right now. If only he could teleport back… The path back to his villa never felt this long.
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…..
The isolation of the fog soothed his nerves, and his disarrayed thoughts rested when the familiar yard and the fragrance of the night-blooming jasmine he’d planted welcomed him. Even if he wasn’t safe within the protective shield, the illusion of security and insulation was enough to allay his immediate concerns. And thus, the main issue reared its head as he collapsed on the recliner, leaving Kidd and Stefan to settle down on their own.
The Governor had the cave, Ewan could have no share in it, and he should give it up. But it wasn’t just any lucky occurrence, the medallion put it in his path. There was a good chance that this opportunity could lead him to the creation of the mystic rune.
Even though the manipulation left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth, the initial spark of annoyance had died down soon, and only the comfort of his Pa’s embrace remained. The sense of independence, the weathered ego, and the self-centered perception he’d built over the years nagged him to abandon the medallion and come out of his Pa’s shadow, but they were hollow and without any weight when it concerned his family, and Ewan denied them their voice.
After all, his family’s legacy and his Pa’s inheritance paved his road so far, and they would continue to do so in the foreseeable future. His hypocrisy wasn’t potent enough to conveniently accept one side and oppose the other and scream injustice. His path was never his alone to walk.
Not to mention, the existence of the medallion smelled of his Pa’s anxiety and his drive to find a way to soften the negatives of ‘Luck Roulette’. His only son surviving and striving all alone in the world, how could he remain callous and let it be…
That old man’s desperate arrangements led him to the cave, and so, Ewan couldn’t give up. He wouldn’t give it up, even if it meant pitting his wits against the omniscient Governor. Nevertheless, he had some advantage over him with his affinity in the mystic element.
Before eyeing the cave again, however, he had to break through and become a Step-1 Severynth. The power progression might not amount to anything before the Governor, but it would give him some leeway in his plans.
The evolution of life would amplify his state, from his soul to his body. The ability of flight alone could save him in desperate times. And if his estimate hit the mark, the improvement in his instincts would sense the surveillance of a stronger Ryvia…
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Status: Healthy
Step-0 Severynth [9th Awakening]
Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist
Name: Ewan Ayres
Species: Human
Vitality: 2.0
Spirit: 19.9
Anima: [Fire – 19.9 | Ice – 19.9 | Blood – 19.9]
Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 0]
Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-0 [9th Awakening]
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Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]
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Imp [Frost]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-B]
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Blood Lotus [Iris]: Step-0 [Level-9] [Grade-S]
Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball].
Storage: Journal; Elementalist—The Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Obsidian Dagger; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.
Novas: 173,687
Crelith: 1,340