You have accepted Narata Dezrinnate as a sworn bound retainer. You now have control over her future progress. You can set tasks for her growth in the sanctuary under the retainer section. You currently have 3 retainers.

You have accepted Narata Dezrinnate as a concubine. You now have greater control over her future progress and any heir that is born from her. The added options are available under the concubine tab in the retainer section. You currently have 1 concubine.

You have been blessed by the Goddess Remuen and have obtained a permanent blessing. You may see the benefits of the blessing under blessing and curses tab. Your relationship with Remuen increases by 10 points.

Wisdom +5

Charm +3

Luck +5

Lord’s Aura +2 Levels

Narata Dezrinnate is of a royal line allowing her to qualify to be upgraded to a wife status. Do you wish to upgrade her status to 1st wife? Yes or No.

Zen saw the flurry of alerts and he couldn’t refrain from taking a deep breath. He rejected the upgrade of Narata to his first wife, because she herself said that she didn’t give him her heart. That being done he rose up from his chair and walked over to Narata and could see her tears streaming down her face. Her eyes went from listless to sparkling as she basked in the glory of her goddess.

“Thank you.” She whispered softly. “I will never be able to repay you for giving me back my faith.”

“Your faith was never gone.” Zen said softly as he brushed back her hair. “You just couldn’t feel it. Your goddess was always with you and you were always with her.”

She looked up to Zen and nodded in understanding and straightened up and wiped away her tears and said. “What do you wish of me my lord.”

“The villagers here live a tough life, and I am trying to make it better. I hope you can lighten their burden by tending to there needs of faith and unbind their spirits, so they can lighten some.” Zen asked.

Narata Dezrinnate’s respect for you has increased by 40 and is now at 100.

“Yes, my lord.” Narata said happily.

“Go to Elina and she will help you find proper clothes, and later we will go over the things you need.” Zen smiled as he nodded to her.

Narata smiled and Bena opened the door, where Elina was standing. Bena whispered to her and she nodded guiding Narata away. Bena then closed the door and Zen went back behind his desk to prepare for the next person. He was a person named Ashlam Vereti and he was an alchemist before he became bonded. His skills were high as well, but his reason for being bonded was stealing alchemy recipes. So, they deemed stripping him of his ability to become an alchemist would be a proper punishment.

His personality was pragmatic and arrogant, but currently he was despondent and depressed. Bena believed he would jump at any chance to be able to practice alchemy again, and that was what he was hoping for. Zen had decided to leave his pity detached from him in these negotiations. He straightened up his clothes and then nodded to Bena to bring him in.

The man that entered the office looked between thirty and forty years old and had a scraggily beard and gaunt frame. He wouldn’t be much of a help in labor and if he didn’t want to choose to serve him freely. He would be nothing more than a hedge healer, because of him being cut off from use of mana. The man looked up at Zen and then stood listlessly in front of his desk.

“Sit.” Zen said forcefully as he pushed the tray of cheese and pitcher of water and glass toward him.

There was no hesitation in the man’s actions and he ate a few pieces of cheese and drank the water presented him. Zen didn’t rush things and waited for him to finish eating what he took and drink the water, and at that moment the man looked up at Zen with a panicked gaze.

“Tell me your name and why you were truly bonded as a slave.” Zen stated.

The man brushed some cheese flakes off his beard and sighed before explaining. “My name is Ashlam Vereti, and I was a well-established alchemist of a large group under the emperor of my continent. The political games played can be a vicious thing, and I myself had caused a few rivals to lose their status. I had done so on many cases by order of my superior, but in the end, I became a liability and was made a scape goat. The aggressive behavior I used caused them to not kill me but make me suffer even more. I was made a bonded slave and was passed around a servant until they finally sold me off, and I was bought by you my lord.”

Zen nodded because much of it matched with what he had read, and why some didn’t make sense. His explanation resolved much of his confusion. Bena was right this person would be useful, but not as a bonded slave.

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“Have you told anybody else of this?” Zen asked.

“No but you are my owner and I can not lie to you.” Ashlam stated.

“Alright Ashlam, I will be straight with you.” Zen said with a serious tone. “I can’t use you as a bonded slave, because your mind is your most redeeming factor. I also would be stupid to sell you off, because of what you are. I will not order you to obey, and you must agree with my proposal of your own free will. I will remove that bond mark from you if you become a retainer for me. You still lose almost all your freedom, but you will have a purpose and be able to be an alchemist again. There will be no political games with me and you will serve me for life.”

“I will be able to use mana again?” Ashlam asked.

“You have heard my terms already.” Zen stated. “I will leave it up to you to accept or decline. There will be no punishment for declining. You will just stay the way you are and do the best you can in my service.”

Zen saw little to no hesitation in the man’s eyes as he only could smile. At this point, Zen knew that he would accept the terms just like Bena had predicted. The man stood up and then went directly to a knee and bowed his head.

“My lord, I choose to be a retainer in your service for life.” Ashlam stated fiercely.

You have accepted Ashlam Vereti as a sworn bound retainer. You now have control over his future progress. You can set tasks for his growth in the sanctuary under the retainer section. You currently have 4 retainers.

“Rise.” Zen said calmly. “I understand alchemy is a unique and physically draining task and we will discuss what you need to restart your life here later. Though first you must get cleaned up and fed to regain your strength. Bena, will you give instructions for Cora show him to a room.”

“Yes, my lord.” Bena stood as Ashlam eyes were brimming with excitement and nodded to him and followed Bena. Bena took him to the door where Cora was waiting and with a word the both disappeared leaving Zen alone with Bena again.

Zen sighed and smiled and knew that he would probably have problems with that one. The gleam in his eye after finding out he would be able to be an alchemist was a touch mad. Then again, they say most alchemist are a touch mad to begin with. He looked down at the third person that he needed to speak to today. She was a little over 30 years old and was a mage before she was branded with the bond mark. Her name was Delenda Abradel and she was much like the others before her. Her mood was depressed and scared, and her mind was a little frayed by her experiences.

As Bena brought her into the office she looked ragged like most of the slaves, but there still was a bit of nobility about her. She hesitated when she saw Zen and then looked to Bena before going and standing before him. Zen gave a smile and then motioned to the seat and she took it without hesitation.

“Please tell me your name and why you were bonded as a slave?” Zen asked for the third time.

“My name is Delenda Abaradel.” The woman said with a rough voice. “I was a mage instructor at the Academy of Magic and Summoning in the city of Dragmar, where me and my student lived. My student was exceptional at magic and very beautiful and caught the eye of a noble. When the noble abducted her, I stepped in and tried to save her. I was not successful, and this is what happened to me because of that.”

“What line of magic were you specialized in?” Zen asked.

“I was specialized in summoning and elemental magic.” Delenda said. “My specialty was on training summoned creatures and students. When they bonded me, I lost contact with all my summoned creatures and all the abilities that they provided me. I couldn’t protect myself anymore.”

Zen nodded and then paused before speaking again. “Delenda as the one that you are now bonded too I have an obligation to those that serve me, but I also must have guarantees for the safety of those that I am entrusted too as well as those that work with me. I will give you a choice and that choice is something you must decide of your free will and with out no orders or coercions from me.”

Zen pushed the tray of food that Bena had replaced and the glass full of water toward Delenda. He smiled and continued. “First eat and drink, because I want you to be able to think straight before I give you my options.”

She hesitated but Zen nodded, and she began to eat. At first, she ate quickly, but when she saw that nobody was stopping her she started to eat more slowly. Zen didn’t say a word and watched her and could see she had training in etiquette, and as she continued to eat she seemed to shake less. She finally pushed the tray aside and looked up at Zen.

“I want to give you a few choices, but I can tell you that none of them will lead to freedom.” Zen said seriously. “The first option is to not change anything, and we can find you a position in the manor that you can provide a purpose. I know that you are a woman that is well learned, and we can use that here. We will treat you fairly. The second option is more difficult but also has more benefits to you. You can decide to be my restricted retainer and your freedom will be directed by my hands alone, but in exchange your mark will be removed, and you will gain access to your powers again. You will not be free but a slave to my will and command. I will let you take as long as you want to make your decision, but you must make it before you leave this office.”

Zen could see complexity in her eyes as she thought about it, and unlike the alchemist she didn’t jump at the chance and thought it through. She took the longest of the three but in the end, she decided to take Zen’s offer of being a retainer. She stood up and went to her knee and finally the alert came.

You have accepted Delenda Abaradel as a sworn bound retainer. You now have control over her future progress. You can set tasks for her growth in the sanctuary under the retainer section. You currently have 5 retainers.

“My lord.” Delenda said from her kneeling position. “I hereby devote my life and death to you and will follow your instruction with my heart and soul. I ask that if ever the time arises my only wish is that noble that took my student be destroyed.”

“I will not look to destroy him, but if the chance arises I will gladly help you take your revenge.” Zen said flatly, and he really meant it.

Delenda Abaradel has sworn a blood oath to you and has become a devoted Zealot. In the hopes that she can revenge her pupil she has willingly bonded her self with her lord. Extra options have been unlocked in the retainer section. You currently have 1 Zealot.

Zen blinked when the extra alert came up and knew he had to ask Bena about this. He nodded at the new resolve in her eyes and he smiled as he put his hand on her head and was surprised as he could feel the mana pulsing through her. he backed up one step out of instinct and said. “You may rise.”

“I will have Bena take you and help you get straightened out. I hope that if we find some that have the gift you can help guide them in the right direction.”

“Yes, my lord.” Delenda acknowledged him firmly.

“Bena please take care of this.” Zen ordered.

“Yes, my lord right away.” Bena said as she led Delenda out of the office and he followed them and locked the door. There was a lot to do and he just got the necessary 5 retainers to start on the new village. Things went as planned and this was a good thing, because finally he could make some real progress. There were to many things that happened in such a short amount of time, and before he started he needed to consult Bena on why the system reacted so forcefully to what he did here.