The Sun was just beginning to rise, bringing an end to the darkness of the night before.
Isolde was within her room and staring out of her balcony at the rising sun. The surroundings were peaceful and silent, besides the occasional sound of birds. However, her gaze would occasionally fall down to the empty training ground, where three new targets had replaced the ones previously destroyed.
Suddenly, there was a loud knock on her door breaking the silence. And Isolde called out, without turning around and continuing to observe the sunrise, "Come in."
Jiya!
The door was pushed open as Grandpa Alec walked inside in a hurry. Isolde asked calmly, without turning around, "Grandpa Alec, why are you so early today? Did you miss me?"
Butler Alec ignored her question and spoke in a serious tone, "Lady Isolde, I know that you refused my offer before, but I must plead you to reconsider! By now almost everyone has deserted the Mansion in preparation for the Prince's arrival and only a few of my most loyal guards remain..."
"I know that you care for your father and are worried about what that hag--" he coughed lightly as he continued after correcting himself, "--Mistress Isabella, will do with him completely under her influence, but you can't just let her ruin your life! Besides... even your father has left along with the others..."
But Isolde simply remained silent as if she already knew.
After a moment, she spoke out calmly, still not turning around, "Grandpa Alec... did you know... long before you came to take care of me when I was only around four years old, there was a little boy who occasionally visited the Brishman Mansion... I can remember that he was a kind and cheerful kid.
I remember how my Father and Mother would watch us, as the two of us happily played around the entire day. Sometimes, we even sneaked into the Berthelien forest to play, and by the time we returned there would always be someone waiting to scold us..."
She laughed derisively as she continued, "Those were simple and peaceful days... But... everything changed one day. When we were in the Berthelien forest, as usual, a demonic beast suddenly attacked. I don't remember much of it... but he apparently saved my life. However, that boy was gravely wounded as a result and fell into a coma."
Isolde let out a heavy sigh, "I was too little. I didn't even understand the situation well enough to feel guilty. All I knew was that my friend never came back...
That boy woke up from his coma five years later. But by then, he was no longer the same person... That kind and cheerful boy was suddenly a ruthless and self-centered man. This only became worse as he grew up. He trampled on the common people and treated women like trash.
Maybe something happened to his mind and soul that day in the forest, or maybe the fact that he missed the majority of his childhood affected his psyche. Either way, he didn't come to meet me and neither did I go to him. I suppose... I was afraid that he would hurt me the same way he did others... or worse, out of hatred and revenge...
And that boy was the Crown Prince, Prince Tristram..." and finished almost in a whisper.
She tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear, "When I was old enough to understand this, I felt horrible… and I threw myself into using my divine blessing to help the sick and poor. Maybe I wanted to repent? Maybe I felt guilty?
Either way, it worked for a while… and I was able to help many people. Until it didn't work anymore, and things grew worse...
I'm sure you know what happened next...
My mother passed away giving birth to Little Isaac. And he too died in my arms in Cerulea, as if to follow after her..."
Her voice cracked as she continued, "I isolated myself out of sorrow and grief, and in doing so, unwittingly left my father alone... And he, in turn, remarried many times, perhaps to fill his own sorrowful heart. In the end, with Isabella's arrival, my life became truly unbearable and empty.
And I couldn't help but wonder... Were the gods punishing me for giving up on Tristram who saved my life? Was I being punished for not helping my father in his-- our time of need?
The citizens of the Lyonesse Kingdom call me the 'Healing Goddess'... but I am just a pitiful girl trying to do some good in order to make amends..."
Raising her head to observe the rising sun, she grasped the necklace on her neck as she continued, "Grandpa, you were the only one who was truly with me in my childhood. But... on that day, just a few weeks ago, that person crashed into my room, bleeding all over the place."
She couldn't help but laugh, genuinely this time, and even Butler Alec couldn't stop himself from grinning.
Isolde continued, but in a satisfied tone this time, "He was like a shining beacon in the bleakness of my life. I saved him just because he reminded me of my brother, and he, in turn, gave me hope. His grace and character reminded me of who my father used to be. His talent and capability, and his tall but interesting tales, reminded me of Isaac. His kind and cheerful nature reminded me of Tristram.
Back then, you asked me why I cried and hugged him? Well, that was because I stupidly concluded that he was merely showing off by attempting archery.
But when he truly showed his talent and ability, I felt that I had given up on him and done him wrong... the same way I had given up on Tristram and Father..."
The sun was now shining with bright splendor, as she continued, "The two weeks I spent with him was the happiest I had been in a long time... ever since Isaac passed away.
Even Grandpa Alec was happy during that time, right? To an ungrateful girl like me, that bit of happiness is enough. And now, to protect my father, and the shameless fellow that brightened my dreary life, and to repent for my mistakes, I'll handle Prince Tristram myself..." finishing decisively.
With those lingering words, Isolde turned around suddenly, causing her hair to ripple and shine brilliantly under the rising sunlight. She smiled brightly as she spoke with determined eyes, "Maybe... I might even be able to jog his memory and return the Prince to his usual self. Maybe he'll treat me differently... So Grandpa Alec doesn't need to worry. So, Grandpa, you should leave by yourself..."
Butler Alec shook his head, "How could I live with myself if I left? Since young lady Isolde has decided, I'll help you to the best of my ability."
Isolde nodded with a smile, "I knew that would be your decision. But I hope Grandpa won't be too reckless in the Prince's presence and act so as to lose your life, leaving me completely alone..."
Butler Alec grimaced at her subtle request but bowed in agreement nonetheless.
Heaving a sigh of relief at his agreement, Isolde turned back to the training ground where three targets lay still. Caressing the reassuring necklace around her neck, 'Zhen Shi, I'll never forget your face under the moonlight. But... I hope you can forget about me and stay away...'
🏯🏯🏯
Back in the market street of Lyon City, noticing Zhen Shi's frown, Myne defended himself, "Idiot Brother of mine, it isn't like you think. I record everything for situations just like that one! If anyone dares to lie, break the law and make trouble for me, or even blame me unfairly, I can always use my scrying crystals to stay ahead of any lawsuit! Be it me suing someone else or someone else suing me!"
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Zhen Shi asked in surprise, "Nani? Lawsuits and Suing? There really is such a thing? But how does that work? Doesn't power always reign supreme?" While Zhen Shi was familiar with this concept, he wasn't familiar with it being applied in a world of cultivation. The former Zhen Shi had no memories of such a thing nor had he read about it from Butler Alec's Library.
Myne grinned, "Of course there is such a thing! Do you think that the people of the Central Plains are savages like those crazy hooligans up North?"
Vivienne smiled as well as she began to explain, "Just like Little Bro said, most of the time, power does reign supreme. But, unless you are a Sovereign or equal to one in power, one must always obey the Law unless they wish to be hunted everywhere they go.
As a result, commoners, as well as ordinary cultivators, can get a fair judgment for any problem that occurs within a region that is under the control of some organization like a Kingdom, a Clan, or a Sect.
But then again, since the Law is being enforced by organizations, there is quite a bit of corruption and favoritism for those with power. Even so, it does help to establish a sense of security and prevent total anarchy..."
Zhen Shi nodded in understanding, while mentally making a note to read up some books on the subject, and asked back, "Interesting... But does this mean that Bro Myne has spent a lot of time in courts?" with a goofy grin.
Myne frowned and shot back, "Shut up... The Law System was introduced back in our time, by the Divine Organizations. And back then, the people enjoyed suing left and right as if they were playing around with a new toy of some sort. It quickly grew extremely annoying and so, I made a habit of carrying scrying crystals everywhere I went..."
Zhen Shi laughed at this and reassuringly patted his poor brother on the back, while Vivienne giggled as well. Myne who felt uncomfortable hurriedly said, "Come on. Let's just go and buy your stuff without wasting any more time."
As such, Zhen Shi and the duo of mages began walking about the market searching for interesting wares. Zhen Shi was also forced to hand out some money to Myne when he came over and said that he was 'dirt poor'.
Now on his lonesome, Zhen Shi decided to examine all the items for sale and started with the commoners selling random wares on pieces of clothes. He activated
But he soon realized that most of the items for sale were random and useless, while some were even fake items made to look extraordinary. And whenever he asked about the price of some average herb or item, the sellers would ask for sky-high prices and go on to mention crazy tales of how rare that item was.
One such seller mentioned a tale that caused even Zhen Shi to be surprised!
A 'legendary' tale about how that particular strand of Ice Root grass... had grown while being nourished by the cess-pit of some famous Warrior Sovereign... and as such, would definitely greatly increase the consumer's chances of reaching the Sovereign Stage as well!
(>ლ) Refusing that 'valuable' item with a disgusted face, Zhen Shi moved onto the other sellers.
But once again no item caught his eye, and if something did, it was either over-priced or came with a weird story attached. Most of these sellers were mortals and were completely unafraid of cultivators... Probably due to the presence of the kingdom guard and the Law... Thus Zhen Shi could only move on while refusing these highway robbers.
However, just when he was preparing to give up, his one golden eye fell upon a piece of broken clay. It appeared to be a portion of some form of clay tablet but there was nothing written on it... or the writing had been erased with time...
It wasn't that
This was impossible because everything that Zhen Shi had observed so far had come with an appraised label, ranging from [Ordinary Brick], [Ordinary Grass], [Ordinary Tulip], to [Soul Tier-Ice Root Grass], and so on.
Thus Zhen Shi was rather intrigued by this item that even Odin couldn't see into...
He carefully touched the clay piece, under the suspicious eyes of the mortal old man who was selling it.
Nevertheless, it looked completely ordinary. He couldn't even sense a speck of Aether on it through
But, suddenly, causing Zhen Shi to be dumbfounded, the clay piece seemed to resonate with the Primordial Chaos in his dantian.
As he watched on, the planet seemed to solidify and strengthen further, while forming a stable connection with the primordial chaos inside. For a second, Zhen Shi even felt as if he could control the Chaos... but that feeling disappeared as soon as it appeared.
Zhen Shi instantly realized that this was some sort of divine treasure hiding like a wolf in sheepskin among the other useless junk!
But, he suddenly remembered how clever-witted people were supposed to act in front of shop-owners! They faked disinterest and threw out red-herrings, thus preventing shop-owners from realizing the true value of an expensive item, and preventing them from increasing the price!
As such, Zhen Shi calmly and wisely asked, "How much for everything you've got on sale?"
The legendary buy everything-for-sale move! Nothing could go wrong!
The old man smiled happily revealing a set of rotten teeth and simply stated, "3,000 Gold Coins!"
Zhen Shi almost vomited blood as all of his wiseness was thrown into the river. As such, he asked flabbergasted, "Are you crazy? For this random assortment of useless rocks and herbs?"
The old man wagged an eyebrow knowingly, "Then why would you ask to buy it?"
Zhen Shi raised an eyebrow himself, 'Looks like this old man is aware of that legendary move... In that case...'
As such, he heaved a sigh of 'defeat' and pointed towards a fiery herb that was read as [Searing Sun Leaf], "Fine. You got me. This is what I wanted. How much?"
The old man nodded happily and said, "30 gold coins!"
With knowledge on its actual selling price, Zhen Shi shook his head unhappily. But after a moment of 'thought', he pointed towards a series of worthless items including the clay piece, and said, "Fine. But only if you add this stuff as well!"
Zhen Shi couldn't help but smirk mentally at his successful execution of this other text-book shopping move! This was the 'asking for several worthless items including the valuable item, to be included along with another random item, for free' move!
The old man nodded with a toothless grin, causing Zhen Shi to be even more smug at having grabbed a divine treasure, for just 30 gold!
But, suddenly, the old man frowned while pointing at the random clay piece and said, "I can agree to everything else. But this one is way too valuable to be given away like that. If you want it, it's on sale for 500 gold!" instantly shattering Zhen Shi's smugness.
'Shit! Another failure! If the old man already knew that it was valuable, why did I even waste my time with those 'legendary' techniques? System... from now on you should learn to be honest and retraining from replicating the actions of others like a fool! Trying to trick people only leads to a waste of time!'
System: "..."
As such, deciding to lead an honest life from now on and to set a good example for the system, Zhen Shi asked, "Really? That much for a blank piece of clay?"
The old man shook his head wisely, "I may not be a cultivator and I may not know much about treasures and appraisal... but my teeth never lie! That thing didn't even break after being bitten by me!"
Zhen Shi grimaced in disgust as a gross mental image appeared in his mind, 'FUCK! I touched it with my hand!' At that point, Zhen Shi would've turned around and walked away, never to return, if this wasn't a rare treasure that could possibly help him master the primordial chaos...
As such, making a mental note not to touch the clay piece without protection, he asked again, "How could it be expensive just because your teeth couldn't break it?"
The old man grinned again as he pointed at his yellowed teeth with brown and green patches, "These beautiful teeth of mine aren't ordinary. I have bitten through all sorts of metals, minerals, and even some valuable weapons! So that piece of clay has to be a valuable item! I'm sure of it!" and said excitedly.
'Indeed... Old man, your teeth sure are extra-ordinary! They just might fall off and disintegrate into dust on the spot!'
Even so, Zhen Shi had to give respect to the old toothless shop-keeper. Either he was a true genius because the clay piece was an actual treasure, or he was an old crazy coot who had just gotten lucky...
As such, Zhen Shi asked with a haggling smile, "Well... I can't agree with 500, so how about 300 gold coins?"
The old man contemplated for a moment and finally nodded in agreement, "Fine. But only because I like you and you remind me of my grandson... less importantly, I have no idea what to use it for... So Deal!"
Zhen Shi smiled happily, ignoring that last statement, and handed over the money. Grabbing the clay piece with a piece of cloth for 'protection', he carefully placed it in his satchel. Making plans to analyze it later on, he began to leave.
But suddenly the old man revealed a toothy grin and asked with a wagging eyebrow, "Wait! Weren't you going to buy that other herb along with some useless trash for 30 gold?"
Zhen Shi froze in embarrassment. 'Looks like those 'legendary' techniques are less-effective on veterans of the sales trade. I'll have to be careful in the future and only use those techniques on noobs...' Making a mental note of this valuable lesson, Zhen Shi shook his head with a smile and continued on his way.
The old man laughed and waved his hand, "See you later kiddo. If you need any more clay pieces just come back and ask around for old Vincent!"
Shaking his head again, Zhen Shi grinned as he waved back at the crazy old coot.
Now that he had finished checking the ordinary sellers, it was time to check out the actual shops.