Note to the reader: *.......* means he's saying that in his head.

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Chapter 21

I read a few of the books the maid brought me. Just in case I also had her bring me a sewing kit along with string and fabric. I learned a little bit about the economies of the 7 kingdoms along with a rough layout of the world. While flipping through some pages I found info on the dark continent. The land on that continent is unmapped because of fear. People who go to that continent very rarely come back. This continent is also where all artifacts are found. Sometimes an artifact can be reproduced like the title stone which is a mass produced copy of an artifact that was found a long time ago.

Why the artifacts are found on the dark continent and what happens to the people that disappear when they go there was shrouded in mystery. The continent is a big unknown in this world. People think of it as the land of the dead.

The human king apparently sends a squad out every year to go to the dark continent to search for more artifacts since they can increase the kingdoms standing with the other races, but the knights usually don't come back. Anyone that does return tells a different story about their experience on the continent. One says they were all wiped out by a monster they had never seen before while the other says all his team members disappeared one after the other.

The only thing that is certain about the continent is that you're unlikely to return from it. I closed the book I was holding and rubbed my eyes. My body was fine, but I felt mentally tired so I decided to go to sleep. I looked over at my bed and saw Aria was already asleep. I placed the book I was holding on the desk in front of me and stood up while stretching my arms. I laid in the bed on my side for awhile thinking then closed my eyelids and drifted off. I opened my eyes and saw my apartment. The one I lived in before I came to this world.

I was lying on a queen mattress with white sheets and a black comforter. My alarm clock said it was five in the morning.

Becket:"What?"

I sat up and looked around then switched on the lamp next to my bed.

Becket:"Wait was that all a dream?........... Impossible I know it was real."

I looked down and saw my old body. When I placed my feet on the ground I could feel the sensation of the carpet between my toes. My room was clean since I don't spend much time here. I have blackout curtains so that I can sleep in total darkness even during the day. I walked over to them and threw them open. The city was still a little dark, but I could see because of all the lights.

Becket:"What's going on?"

???:"You're dreaming."

I spun around to see where the voice came from and found a young girl sitting on my bed. She seemed to be around 10 years old with long black hair and violet eyes that seemed to shine. She had a black dress on that came down to her knees along with white stockings and a ribbon on each side of her hips. Her skin was pale and her lips were a vivid pink. I could tell by looking at her face that she was related to Eva.

Becket:"Dreaming? But this feels so real?"

???:"Of course it does. I made this dream after all."

It wasn't hard for me to guess that this girl was probably one of the gods.

Becket:"So are you Esyn?"

Esyn:"Yes."

She stood up and walked over to my dresser then picked up a picture I had sitting there.

Esyn:"I created this dream from your memories. It's a very interesting world."

Becket:"I don't feel like small talk. What is it you want?"

Esyn:"Right to business then. Alright. Well you've learned about most of the situation from Eva right?"

Becket:"She told me you brought me here to have kids that could be used as vessels for the gods."

Esyn:"That's right. You're an anomaly like us, only we made you into one."

Becket:"What do you mean by anomaly?"

Esyn:"You see we weren't always considered gods and like any other soul we had linkers. When a linker dies fate will kill the other one. It's a way to balance out the energies in our universe. We took control of our own fate and kept ourselves alive even after the death of our linker so we became anomalies which is what we did for you."

Becket:"So I'm some kind of walking dead."

Esyn:"In a way. The universe doesn't acknowledge your existence anymore so there are certain benefits."

Becket:"Benefits?"

Esyn:"Yes. One would be the ability to manipulate neutral mana. A normal person has to take in neutral mana and convert it into the spell they are trying to cast, but we can cast a spell with out converting the mana. This means we can literally do anything that we can imagine. You're limited to what neutral mana can be converted into so when conversion is no longer necessary than you almost have no boundaries. It's a godlike power."

Becket:"So you goes are just people who got a lot of power."

Esyn:"Yes. You can do it too. It took us many years to learn how to use it. It's possible to just imagine something and it happens, but it easier to use keywords."

Becket:"Keywords?"

Esyn:"They help stimulate the spell you are casting. Consider it a short chant except it's only a few words at most."

Becket:"Ok so why are you telling me this?"

Esyn:"Because I can sense the hesitation in you. You're not sure what to do. Gods have been playing with your life and you just want to try and enjoy this new world. I've come to help settle your mind."

Becket:"First tell me what you want exactly. I know I'm not here just to have kids."

Esyn:"You're right. We need you to change this world so we'll give you missions."

Becket:"Why should I?"

Esyn:"We're offering an exchange. We give you power and you do a few things for us."

Becket:"I don't trust you. Look at how the original Becket turned out because of you."

Esyn:"His soul moved on. He's not in any pain."

Becket:"Was his death natural?"

Esyn:"Of course it was. Sudden heart failure. We did know it was going to happen though and didn't stop it."

Becket:"So his heart stopped."

I touched my hand to my chest.

Esyn:"You're actually the reason he died."

Becket:"Huh? How?"

Esyn:"Like I said before. A linker always dies when the other half of his soul dies. You were killed on a mission so fate took Beckets life too. That's the way the world works."

She walked over to me.

Esyn:"If you help us we can give you access to unimaginable power. So what do you think of having god like power?"

Becket:"It's tempting, but I don't like the idea of being under your thumb."

Esyn:"So you won't work for us?"

Becket:"I don't want a life were I'm a slave to the gods."

Esyn:"You won't be a slave. In fact you'll eventually become a god yourself. Think of it as a job with a definite chance of promotion."

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Becket:"Why can't you get someone else to do the missions?"

Esyn:"Because you aren't affected by fate anymore so your actions can cause serious changes to the future."

Becket:"So without me you gods are screwed."

I smiled, but she frowned.

Esyn:"It would be a real set back if we lost you."

She lifted her hand and pointed it at me then I was sent flying back into the wall.

Becket:"Aahh!"

I struggled, but I couldn't move.

Becket:"Let me down!"

Esyn:"It may be a set back, but don't think we won't kill you if you're in the way."

Whatever force was holding me suddenly vanished and I fell to the ground.

Esyn:"Listen, this isn't a request it's an order. We may be a lot weaker than we use to be, but as long as you have to sleep we can kill you."

I stood up and regained my composure then closed my eyes to think. Honestly it's a good deal, but working for these gods irks me. I get a harem and godly power so my life will probably be pretty good. I opened my eyes and looked at Esyn.

Becket:"What about the girls you picked for my harem? How can you be sure they'll want to have my kids?"

Esyn smiled when I asked that.

Esyn:"Thats easy. Regardless of which future they never found love without you. Most of them died anyway. With this future we've crafted they get to live and love. This seems like a better future than they would've had. We also properly conditioned them to love you so there should be little resistance."

Becket:"You conditioned them?"

Esyn:"Yes. It's not hard to make a woman fall in love. We just gave them romantic dreams about you ever since they were children so of course they would fall in love with you. People are easy to manipulate especially regarding their emotions."

*These gods are crazy as shit.*

Becket:"That makes you sound a little evil."

Esyn:"Aren't we all a little evil. Now do you accept our offer or not?"

Becket:"Ha, you already said I didn't have a choice, but I'll need to know what the out come of every mission will be. I have to know what each mission will do to the future of this world."

Esyn:"Deal. Now it's time to give you the gift of knowledge. Kneel."

I went down on one knee and she places both of her hands in my cheeks.

Esyn:"Illuminare!"

She pulled me into a kiss. For some reason I couldn't think straight and random things started popping into my head. Things I didn't know before I now clearly understood. Most of this knowledge seemed to be centered around magic. I learned how to use it, it's history and how to sense it. My mind was also flooded with all kinds of different spells which I immediately understood how to use. She separated from me and I stood back up.

Becket:"What was that exactly?"

Esyn:"The collected knowledge regarding how to control neutral mana except your brain will probably take some time to process it."

Becket:"I don't understand any of it."

Esyn:"You just need a little practice with it. Think of it as an out of shape muscle. You train it a little. Now good bye Becket. I'll contact you with your first mission at a later time."

Becket:"Whatever."

I was enveloped in black and I jumped up. I was back in the palace and in Beckets body. I let out a breath of relief. My body was covered in sweat so I got up and walked over to the window. There was no lock on them so they swung open and the darkness came into sight.

Becket:"Ok so I need to make sure to avoid women. I'll make these bastard gods wait as long as possible for a body."

*Maybe I'll be able to kill them if I master the power they gave me. No I should be careful they might be concealing some power.*

I held no trust in these gods, but it's not like I had any other choice. I need to be cautious and fish for information every time we meet. I won't let myself get killed so easily in this world as I did in my last. I still don't remember my last few moments, but I'm sure I died because I wasn't prepared properly.

*These girls are the biggest victims in this scheme of the gods. I should at least look for a way to give them their lives back.*

I rubbed my eyes and yawned. I looked over at my bed and saw Aria lying there. Her head was at the foot of the bed and her feet were on the pillow. We had both been sleeping on top of the covers. I pulled the covers back and laid her properly then tucked her in. She reached out and grabbed my sleeve while still asleep.

Aria:"Becket."

*She's not dreaming about me is she?*

I felt a surge of anger. Thinking that the gods might be doing the same thing to Aria infuriated me. I guess I got a little attached to her before I noticed. I took a few breaths to calm myself and stepped back.

*I need to knit something.*

I walked over to the desk and sat down. The needles and fabric the maid brought earlier were sitting on the desk next to the books. I started making a scarf to try and calm the emotions that were bubbling up. A sigh of relief escaped my lips.

*Its been to long.*

It felt rather relieving to have some time to sew.

*I miss me time.*

****************Gideon POV**************

Gideon:"Huh?"

I looked around.

Gideon:"Why am I back at the palace? When did I get here?"

My memory had a blank spot. Suddenly my vision started to blur a little and I felt like my consciousness was drifting away.

Gideon:"Oh! Now I remember why I'm here!"

I walked up to the knights who were guarding the front gate. They both saluted me.

Knight 1:"Welcome back sir."

Knight 2:"Welcome bac.."

I pulled my sword out and cut off their heads before they even noticed what was happening.

Gideon:"It feels good to let out a little stress some times. Oops, I got a little blood on my armor."

I pulled off a piece of the pants from one of the dead knights and wiped the blood stain off my armor. It was a small spot so it was easy.

Gideon:"I love this green armor. I don't even care about the rank of Warlord anymore. I'll just kill mother and show her I'm stronger."

I turned around.

Gideon:"Lets go."

Several people appeared with black robes on. When they pulled their hoods off I could see the shine of their red eyes.

Gideon:"Lady Carmilla can't wait much longer. We need to complete our mission with haste."

I turned back towards the gate and saw a squad of knights headed here. I removed my helmet and smiled at them.

Gideon:"Lets begin shall we."

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