Chapter 6

Crimson sat on his ‘bed’ which was more like a slab of wood with the cheapest possible blanket and no pillow. He was plotting a way to get out of his cell.

There’s no way for me to break out as is. I have absolutely zero live combat experience. I know quite a bit about the theoretical aspect, but that means nothing without actual experience. That doesn’t even mean much because my stats are completely average; someone who is just Level 3 could overpower me without any difficulty.

Crimson had studied quite a few martial arts even if he couldn’t actually practice anything; call it wistful thinking. He had studied a lot about Wing Chun Kung Fu seeing it as the perfect martial art for his imagined style.

Wing Chun Kung Fu (W.C. Kung Fu) is style that focuses on positioning to overwhelm the opponent with blows that also has a huge focus on relaxation and flexibility. Not only that but in the event that an attack missed the style also had very quick recoveries by ‘flowing.’ All of this without even taking into account the weapon styles associated with the style meant it was an impressive style.

Crimson knew there might be better styles out there, but it was already too late for him. He had fallen in love with W.C. Kung Fu and had memorized as much as possible about the style. Based only on theoretical knowledge he was at the level of a gold belt which is considered the highest level in W.C. Kung Fu; breaking the usual convention of the black belt being the highest.

He decided to start practicing the breathing techniques associated with the style. They were simple enough that he could do them with his old, crippled body. 

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Crimson had been practicing breathing for a few hours when he heard the sound of heavy boots hitting the ground and the clicking of heels resounding around the hall.

It’s about time. I’ve been breathing weird for over two hours. I don’t even have a skill to show for it! Whatever that stupid ‘Synchronizing’ is, it’s making everything much harder for me!

He schooled himself; getting a tight grip on his rampant emotions. Even if he hadn’t gotten any skill from the breathing techniques it was already showing its effects; controlling his emotions had be come quite a bit easier. Even if he wasn’t sure what emotions he was feeling. Excitement? Fear? Joy? Who knows? Crimson certainly didn’t.

He watched carefully as a beautiful young woman rounded the corner. Her skin was extraordinarily pale like she had never been outside; her light brown hair was pulled up into a neat bun at the nape of her neck and she had glimmering hazel eyes. She walked elegantly down the hall; stopped in front of the bars of his cell and looked him over. 

There was a guard following her carrying some kind of glowing stone in a spherical cage. Crimson quickly glanced at him, then dismissed him. Looking back over at the young woman just outside his cell.

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She inspected Crimson a little too closely for comfort; he had to repress two different urges, the first: to check his own appearance, the second: to cover himself regardless of his appearance. This woman made him way too self conscious. 

“What is your name?” the woman asked.

“My name is Crimson Hokori,” he carefully responded. She was clearly important; not someone to offend. “May I ask your name?”

The young woman daintily inclined her head and responded, “My name is Rhinese al voth Alda. I am the Regent Princess of the Aldaen Kingdom. It remains to be seen if it is nice to meet you Crimson Hokori.”

Crimson felt a flash of concern pass through him as he carefully maintained his pleasant poker face. As he had assumed this Rhinese was someone he shouldn’t offend, and the way she said his name made beads of sweat trek their way down his back. He creaked his way to his feet dealing with his sore muscles and gave her a deep bow.

“It is nice to meet you, Your Highness. I apologize for my lack of initial respect. I wasn’t expecting someone of such great importance to greet me personally.”

“Normally I wouldn’t be the one to greet you, but it is part of the duties of the Regent Princess to learn how to interrogate and deal with high profile prisoners.”

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Skill: World Insight activates

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There was no need for Crimson to ask what a Regent Princess was. He KNEW.

“I’m high profile?”

“No, you are practice.”

“Oh,” I looked at her for a second then bowed again, “I will answer any, and all questions you may have to the best of my ability Your Highness, but please know that I don’t remember much of anything.”

“What is the last thing you remember?”

Crimson looked at the ceiling as he thought carefully about his answer. He decided to give her an answer that was TECHNICALLY true.

“I remember….dying.”

Rhinese froze with wide eyes as she processed what he said. Her composure quickly return and she extended her right hand toward him.

“[Healing Light]”

A bright light surrounded Crimson and all his wounds faded away like a long forgotten memory. There wasn’t even any scars!

Rhinese looked closely at Crimson; he didn’t scream and roll over from the holy spell so he clearly wasn’t any form of undead. His last memory must be him being nearly beaten to death.

Crimson broke out of the daze he was in from seeing magic for the first time and quickly thanked Rhinese.

“My actions are of no consequence. It was nothing more than a simple healing spell. There is no need for your gratitude.”

“Actually Your Highness, I was hurting quite a bit from all my injuries. You saved me a great deal of pain and got my health regen up and running again. Thank you.”

Crimson bowed to her again; this was the most he had ever bowed in his life while Rhinese stared at him with wide eyes.

“Do you mind if I ask you a ques-“ 

“You have a Status???” Rhinese had cut him off suddenly.

“Y-y-yes?” In his surprise Crimson stuttered in his response and it came out like a question.

Rhinese stared at him; whatever her thoughts or emotions on the matter of him having a Status were completely hidden. The same was not true of the guard; upon hearing that Crimson had a Status his jaw dropped.

He quickly spoke up before the princess or the guard said anything, “I just got my Status. I don’t know when or how I got it but I’m not even level one yet. Could you tell me how I got here? That might let me know how I got it.” 

Rhinese slowly nodded her expression still unreadable, “You were found in front of the city gate: naked and so beaten that you almost died. It is clearly the handiwork of the Blaze-blade Bandits.”

What…is with that idiotic name? It even uses a heavy amount of alliteration. 

“I don’t remember any run-in with any bandits…though I don’t remember anything else either.” Crimson sat back thinking on the information he had received. It was rotten luck if this was all true and he had been attacked by bandits with a poor naming sense the second he arrived in this world.

“What are you going to do?” Rhinese asked him, “If you are looking for work or a home while you try to remember; might I recommend becoming a Delving Guard?”