“The fleet was prepared to take the next step on the journey of liberation when the emperor's decree reached command at Epsilon Centauri to halt and stay in the star system.

The Magi had found a way to tear open the fabric of reality and traverse what they named the hallway of domains. It was a place of utter darkness.

Due to the size required to build the apparatus that allowed this to take place, a new ship design was made. It was truly Titanic in proportion and was rightfully named after those ancient myths.

Each ship could dock two hundred capital ships and their escort.

Each ship would be fully self-sustained and capable of staying on the move for thousands of years before any need for docking at the shipyards in Sol.

While this new way of travel was slower than the travel through gates, it would turn a journey between stars that could last for centuries down to months or even weeks, depending on the currents in place between domains.

In ten short years, humanity would have the option to reach planets long considered outside of immediate assistance.

The news was a massive boost to morale for not only the troops but the empire as a whole. Many new positions would open because of this, and the fleet saw an unprecedented spike in recruitment. “

- Elistar Iscariot, Grand Magister during the second Kingfisher dynasty.

The chaos of the morning found me in my study, writing what would hopefully be the last letter just as a captain of the guard knocked himself in.

A bit rude, but I can't say I blame the guy. He was just following the example Mira had set all morning, butting her nose where it didn't belong. The blasted girl had been checking my health for what felt like every five minutes since the attack. I had just convinced her to get an hour or two of sleep,

However, it was unusual for a captain to attend a crime scene personally. Their duties typically involved signing the papers assigned by a clerk, and their lives were often filled with social engagements like dinner parties and balls. This particular captain, judging by the scent of alcohol on his breath and the bloodshot redness of his eyes, had likely just come from one such event.

The captain's position was one of high standing, affording a commoner nearly the same privileges as a knight, albeit a landless one. It was a status that most could only dream of attaining in their lifetime. The captain of the central part of the city, in particular, was almost guaranteed a promotion to commander upon the former one's demise, a testament to the intricate web of power and succession at the table of power.

It was a cheap way for the nobility to include more people in their circle without having to give anything up for it. Captain and commander wasn't a hereditary title. Why would the nobility want more nobles to take a slice of their cake, so to speak? It was bad enough with the new merchant class that had started taking on airs.

That aside, for some reason, there is a large difference between someone attempting to murder me in a well-known part of town rather than whatever outhouse they had done it in the last time. More than likely, they had no idea who I was last time because someone had paid good gold to keep it that way.

After last night's performance, I doubt a single noble or interested party hadn't heard where I was currently hanging my hat.

To top it all off, I was expecting a summons to the palace any day now. One thing is to have an heir of the high nobility running around, getting into petty fights and carousing. Another is to have one the target for assassination. It would just not look good for the Duke if I was to be assassinated in his city.

He was more than likely to demand that I take up residents in the palace for the remainder of my time here, but that would, in effect, put restraints on my movements that I couldn't afford. In light of my recently discovered handicap, I needed to hunt as many monsters as I could, train with as many trainers as I was allowed and study as much as I could find about the Awakened.

Sealing the final letter, I looked at Captain Archibald. I think that was what he introduced himself as. To his credit, he didn't waste a moment when he saw he had my attention.

“My Lord, as far as we can tell, the two assassins paid the night clerk for a room on the fifth floor a short time before the attack on your person. Sadly, that is where the trail ends. Neither one of them shows any markings or tattoos, and nothing on their person hints at either one's origin. Even their weapons, while good quality, are something that can be bought at a hundred different weapon shops around the city. We are, of course, questioning the shop owners, but it is unlikely to give any new information. Outside of calling for the king's oracle, I fear our investigation is at a standstill until new information presents itself. Forgive me, my lord.”

That was more or less what I had expected, so while a bit disappointing, it was an eventuality I was prepared for. No, we would not be asking the king to send the oracle. I would rather be attacked every night for a year than having to deal with that crazy lady. Just thinking about it almost made me shudder.

“Thank you for your report, Captain Archibald.”

By his smile, I got the name right.

“I will await word about any further investigation that may occur.”

Reaching into my pouch, I withdrew four gold pieces and said,

“Now, I believe you, like myself, were awakened far too early this day. Please break your fast at my expense. You have done well, and I appreciate the effort of both you and your people. Please see to it that Madam Chenoweth comes to see me on your way out.”

“Of course, my lord. Thank you.”

With a bow, the captain left the room.

Four gold was a month's salary for the captain, but more importantly, I signaled to the captain that I held no Ill will toward him for the lack of evidence. He was barely in his twenties and would probably hold the post for many years to come.

Since he was responsible for the area where most nobles spent their time, he would be the one to deal with my personal guards and commander in the coming decades. My view of him would be reflected in how my people treated him. A good relationship there was not only desirable for him but would make my own future slightly easier.

There was also the matter of the rift leading to his domain throbbing as if it was about to blow open any minute. I couldn't see what domain he would have an affinity with, but one of the four rituals I had finally chosen to test out was called True Sight.

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I had finally figured out how to overcome my largest hurdle on the matter, making a perfect circle. All it took was a nail and a sufficiently long piece of string. I made a loop around one end and fastened the other to a nail sticking out of the wall, with which I drew the ritual.

After I figured out the circle only had to face me, not be on the ground or something, things became a lot easier.

Since only the initial drawing gave any indication that I was using a ritual, I tested it on the children first, then on Egmont and Hartwin and eventually Mira. None had noticed anything when activating the ritual through those four slots I had available.

I was considering keeping True Sight as one of my four. It claimed to allow me to see what was hidden and the ability to see through illusions as long as my power was greater than the creator of the illusion.

The ritual barely cost any energy to activate, and while it only lasted ten minutes at a time, I could activate it as many times as I wanted. So far, it has shown me some truly remarkable things, like a hidden door in the study, which is highlighted in a glowing turquoise color. The regular door and windows had a slightly deeper green glow about them.

It would no doubt be very useful when I started exploring the ruins of the city. Something inside me needed to go there. Somewhere deep in the ruins under me was something I had to see. I think it was the useless sparrow egg or the bloody annoying ability that was telling me so.

That aside, when I had True Sight on, I could see people's domain rift. Not what domain, but the size of it and the power it exuded gave me a sense of the overall health, if that was the right word, of both Mira and the Captain's domain. I also had a good idea of how close they were to gaining access to the power in their domains. My own rift was sadly not visible to me with the ritual, but that was hardly something hidden from me either. Then again, neither was the door or the windows.

There was far too much I didn't understand yet.

Just then, someone knocked on the door, bringing me out of my rumination.

I need to start looking for personal servants.

“Enter.”

It was Lily, and she did not look to be doing well. I would go as far as to say she was coming down with some illness with how pale and shaken her face was.

I was not sure why, but somewhere deep, really deep, inside me, I was starting to feel a smidgen of sympathy for the woman. Sure, she was greedy and opportunistic. There were probably more than a few skeletons in her closet, but so far, her actions against me personally hadn't been too terrible, but somewhat costly, as she was about to learn.

There was also the matter of my, until recently, close friendship with Wolfhard, the youngest son of Duke Korbinian Murk. His reputation made mine look like a newborn lamb. I can recall quite a few occasions where he was displeased about something someone had done and brought the perpetrator of his displeasure back to the palace.

The next morning, the tortured body was dumped on the corpse wagon.

It wasn't until a few months ago that the Duke finally decided to intervene since Wolfhard's appetite had extended to include not only peasants and serfs but also minor nobility. There was a particularly vile story about a young lady who had refused his advances and ended up surviving three days in his dungeon. She did not die until Wolfhard had her body disposed of at her father's doorstep.

It was the final straw for the duke who sent his son, who had newly turned sixteen, to the eastern front for the next three years, where he could raid Luisanth and terrorize the populace to his heart's desire.

While we were not actively engaged in warfare with the Kingdom of Luisanth at the moment, no peace treaty had been signed since the last war, so raids across the border were a common pastime for the nobility of both kingdoms.

That was the sort of people I had spent my time with here in Murktown, and the old Alucard had seen nothing wrong with it. He rather looked up to Wolfhard, who was a year older. It had garnered me a rather horrible reputation.

While I don't claim to be a saint, something in me has changed since my resurrection, like finding the idea of torturing someone for pleasure a bit barbaric. It was quite the change in mindset, and I sometimes wondered how much my memories were affecting me and if that was a bad thing. I was starting to lean towards no.

Snapping out of my brooding, I took a long moment to gather my wayward thoughts again.

“Ah, good. Please have a seat, Lily.”

I said while gesturing at the seat on the opposite side of the desk I was occupying.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

Picking up a sheet of paper I had prepared earlier that morning, I said.

“Now, let us deal with one issue at a time. The following items have gone missing from my personal items while they were in the supposed security of your establishment. Which I remind you is one of the points you take great pride in advertising to your guests. Even more, not only were they taken, but the items were given to an unknown party willingly. That won't do Lily, not at all.”

As I finished speaking, I slid the piece of paper across the desk and indicated for Lily to pick it up, which she promptly scanned and then proceeded to turn even paler if that was possible. Considering I had conveniently forgotten a good portion of the books, I didn't want to think about how her reaction would be if I were to include them, not to speak of the ones that would sell for thousands of gold at auction. I wanted to be seen teaching a lesson, not driving her destitute.

Working on my reputation and all that. Considering it was more or less abysmal, it would be quite a shock when the tale of what happened reached certain circles.

“As you can see, I have left out the price of some of the more notable works like Fauna and Flora of The Northwestern Imperial Lands by Mr. Edgar Flute and Senses in The Bedroom by Lucetta Pandulph. Both are illustrated and cherished not only by me but by collectors across the kingdoms and imperial lands. They are, in other words, more valuable than your establishment's monetary value. As such, I have chosen to waive them from my calculations and will consider the matter closed upon their return. Make no mistake, Lily, if either book has so much as a scratch when they are returned to me, you will pay dearly.”

Seeing her nod, I poured myself a cup of tea from the pot, rapidly turning tepid water. I didn't want to bankrupt her or really take too much of her profit, but some compensation was necessary. Either this way or a hand for theft, even her head for insulting my person, was on the table as possible outcomes.

I settled on selling my honor for twelve gold a day. Probably twelve gold more than what it was worth, but she didn't need to know that. Besides, if I was to take more than that, I calculated she would run out of funds before my aunt answered.

More importantly, it left her a two-gold margin depending on how full the establishment was after taxes and expenses, according to my calculations.

“My lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to make this up to you. I have already dispatched a letter to her Ladyship Kaylock begging to have your personal items returned on account of your passing being nothing but heinous rumors.“

She seemed to be contemplating how to continue the conversation since she was looking down at the table, and while I couldn't see her hands, I was almost positive she was wringing them under the desk.

I didn't mind. While not flush with time, it wasn't like I was going to be late for anything. Besides, I had bitter cold tea to drink and…Ooh cookies!

“I will acquire the services of an artificer to secure the exertion of the rooms and hire guards to watch over the entrance to your rooms, my Lord.”

Holding up a hand, I said.

“I agree that you should hire an artificer. I will be present when the work is done. I will, however, see to my own guards for my section of the third floor.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

“Good then, we consider this matter settled. I already have bad taste in my mouth from the entire ordeal. Have the gold delivered to my rooms with breakfast starting with today and until you acquire and have my items delivered in my hands.”

At the speed at which Lily stood up, you would think I was about to nail her to the wall or something.

“As you wish, my lord. I will have breakfast served in the sitting room at once. Thank you, my lord.”

Being quite done with the entire thing, I just nodded. It took her an impressive four heartbeats to reach the door before I said.

“One last thing.”

Her back turned rigid as if I had slapped her, and with one hand still resting on the doorknob, she turned around to face me with far too deliberate movements and said.

“Yes, my lord?”

“I believe the Ixtlilton has a temple across the plaza. Before you do anything else, including having breakfast, you are to visit the temple and have a healer look at your left armpit. That is all.”

Her eyes widened until I thought she would sprout feathers and fly away as an owl.

For almost a minute, she stood there, just looking at me, until she decided to move out without a word. I didn't particularly mind since the formalities of who could speak, come and go, were getting on my nerves. I was frankly sick of initiating every conversation and dictating their length. In other words, I wanted to head over to the Hunters Guild and start poking around in the undercity.

When it came to Lily, I had noticed her wincing every time her left arm came too close to her body, but I couldn't figure out if she was actually hurt. My memories told me it had become slightly more noticeable over the last month, so I took a chance and activated True Sight.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking at, and it was the first time I had seen spirit power outside of what was wielded by a domain, but in her left armpit, something was growing, full of life power. Still, there was an undercurrent of maliciousness and death creeping up behind the mask of life. I could practically taste it in the air.

Ixtlilton was an ancient sect of worshipers, unlike the new sects that always seemed to be at war with everyone else. More importantly, Ixtlilton had some of the best medicine and healers money could buy, so If anyone could figure out what that thing under her arm was, it would be them.

The morning was dragging on, so I finally put on my hat and exited the study. The need to be up and about, to get shit done, was almost unbearable.