The girl’s name was Emily Norus, and I got to learn more about her over the course of an early lunch. So much more. Once I got past her initial shyness, I quickly discovered that the girl was a bit of a talker, and her favorite topic of discussion was herself.

Strangely, however, her self-absorption wasn’t without its charm. Although the girl was certainly vainglorious, she was still pleasant to be around and gracious to others when she could be cajoled into paying attention to them.

There was a solid core of good-natured sweetness at Emily’s center. It’s just that it was coated in a thick sediment of spoiled obliviousness that made it difficult for her to fathom that the people around her might not be as interested in her life as she assumed they were. It was an endearing sort of obliviousness when taken in small measurements.

As it turned out, she was slightly older than Kyler Evans and had been returning from a year of studying abroad in the Ethos Kingdom when her caravan had been assaulted.

It felt unpleasant knowing that the attack that had nearly seen Emily violated and murdered had been arranged by Jamie. The thought that one woman would knowingly profit from the horrific degradation of another was a stark reminder of humanity’s capacity for darkness. If mankind’s potential for greatness was without limit, so too was its capacity for selfishness and depravity.

I didn’t want to think about Jamie anymore, nor did I want to listen to Lady Emily’s chatter. So, I instead focused on the sushi that had been prepared for us.

I wish I could say that in the months since I regained the ability to eat human food, I had gradually learned self-restraint and to slowly savor a meal. But the reality was that I was still a shameless glutton who easily lost himself to the pleasure of mindless consumption. When the tray of rolls was presented to us, I happily grabbed two massive handfuls of rice and tuna and stuffed them blissfully into my face.

By the hungering dark, Sushi was so good. Eating it was like living out the lyrics to that old Eels song that went, Hey, man. Now you’re really living! Sadly, my companions didn’t seem to share in my enjoyment of the meal.

Around the table, the girls stared at me while wearing expressions which ranged from disgust to surprise and every other emotion in between. Even Rachel seemed embarrassed by me, which felt a little hurtful.

“It’s good,” I said as I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.

It really was.

Goodness, they were drilling holes into me with their eyes.

Before the conversation could spiral into any further awkwardness, a sharply dressed young man in white, wearing a set of black horn-rimmed glasses appeared out of nowhere and quietly informed us that the Regent would see me now.

When I say this man appeared out of nowhere, I meant it literally. In the space of a moment while my attention was occupied by the Regent’s granddaughter, he was suddenly there. It was a bewildering moment to be sure. No one likes being sneaked up on, much less me, a being whose refined senses should have made it impossible to be surprised, even while wearing his humble human form.

I instantly disliked this fellow.

“If you’ll come with me, Mr. Evans,” he said in a pleasant monotone as he gestured for me to follow. “My name is Tybalt Brask, the hand of the Regent. I’m so very pleased to meet you.”

“And I am Kyler—” I began to say before he cut me off.

“Yes, Kyler Evans, I’m aware,” he said with the smallest hint of impatience. “No need for an introduction of your own. Let’s be on our way.”

“Brother, there was no need for you to collect the Regent’s guest personally,” Alvidia said with surprising nervousness, as Cross stood beside her and nodded quickly in flustered embarrassment. “I’m sure you have more important things to do with your time.”

A deeply uncomfortable silence followed.

“Where is your sword, little sister?” the newcomer, Tybalt, finally asked in response as he stared pointedly at the empty scabbard belted at Alvidia’s waist.

Alvidia swallowed uncomfortably before replying. “It was destroyed during my recent outing. I’ll have it replaced at once.”

“A member of the Brask family, known far and wide as the mightiest on the continent has not only been defeated by a fumbling amateur, but she would shamelessly parade her disgrace before our lord?” asked Tybalt coldly.

“I would…no, I see your point, brother. I apologize,” Alvidia said with an embarrassed flush to her skin. I didn’t like seeing her that way. Although I hadn’t known her for long, I’d quickly grown to like this young woman. True, she was arrogant and brash, but such a bold disposition suited a warrior as capable as her. Seeing her pushed around by a domineering older sibling displeased me.

Also, he’d called me a fumbling amateur within my earshot.

I was pretty sure that had been done deliberately.

“Have no fear, Mr. Tybalt,” I said. “Although I can’t personally speak to the capabilities of the rest of your family, I thought Lady Alvidia acquitted herself honorably. Her talent was a sight to behold.”

“It’s Lord Tybalt, Mr. Evans,” he said in the same polite tone he’d addressed me with earlier. “And speaking respectfully, although your opinion is appreciated, it wasn’t asked for.”

“Hmm. You know, it’s the strangest thing,” I said as I scratched my chin. “What you just said didn’t actually feel respectful or appreciated in the slightest. Isn’t that odd?”

Tybalt’s brow creased ever so slightly.

Alvidia stared at me with a horrified expression from behind her brother, while Cross shook her head in terror and silently mouthed the word don’t.

“Just as your report said, you have an interesting way of interacting with others,” Tybalt said. “I do admire a confident person.”

“You do? Wonderful,” I said in appreciation.

Now Tybalt was smiling.

“Kyler Evans, I am definitely going to remember you later,” he said. “But since we’re currently pressed for time, we’ll have to continue this conversation later. I’m looking forward to it, though.”

“Well, I’ll first have to see if I can pencil you in, Lord Tybalt,” I replied. “I have a busy schedule of my own, you see. I’m sure you understand. I can’t just move things around for some random nobody. But if you ask nicely, maybe I’ll make an exception.”

Once again, Tybalt smiled at me.

I smiled at him as well.

As we stared into each other’s eyes, all around us, the world seemed to slow to a crawl.

For the first time since my encounter with Sophia in my original world, I was certain that I now stood in the presence of someone capable of dealing me mortal harm.

It felt very exciting.

If I went for his throat at this very moment, would he be fast enough to stop me? If he went for me, would I be able to react in time? How much of this palace would be destroyed during our clash? How many people would die?

It was too exciting to think of. How fortunate for everyone involved that Rachel quickly picked up on my murderously intense interest and interceded before something terrible could happen.

“Well, let’s get you going on your way, boss,” she said cheerfully while deliberately clinging to my arm.

My sword arm.

“The Regent himself is waiting!” she continued. “We can’t be rude, right? Right?”

“Right!” Cross said, quickly catching on. “How silly of us would that be? But I insist on guiding Mr. Evans myself. Lord Tybalt is far too important for such mundanities.”

“Yes, far too important!” Alvidia chimed in as she grabbed Tybalt’s arm. “Thank you again for honoring us with your presence, brother. While Evans is escorted to his meeting, perhaps I could consult with you about finding a suitable replacement for my sword. Your expertise would be invaluable.”

Before Tybalt or I could say anything in protest, we were pulled in separate directions and dragged away. As we were forcibly parted, our eyes met once more, and in the intensity of our shared gaze was the promise of future spectacular violence to come.

I dearly anticipated it.

Anytime, anywhere.

__

“Well, that was fucking terrifying, thank you so much for that horrendous experience,” Cross said angrily as she led us down the hall to a floating platform that took us to the fourth floor of the building at a languid pace. “I’m beginning to form a negative opinion of you, Evans.”

“What did I do that was so awful?” I asked. “I was just sizing the fellow up.”

“Sizing him up?” Cross repeated in a dazed voice. “Hey, handsome? That was Lord Tybalt fucking Brask. The current head of the Brask family! A living legend at the age of twenty-two! He might have S-Rank potential! Do you know what they call him?”

“What?” I asked.

“Damocles,” she said excitedly. “Do you know why? Because anyone or anything that crosses him is doomed! And you just stood there mocking him like he was a forest goblin. I thought my heart was going to stop beating!”

“Damocles?” I asked. “Was Tybalt the one who picked that nickname?”

“Yep!” Cross said. “Pretty cool, right?”

“No, it’s stupid,” I snorted. “In the myth, Damocles was the one under threat. He was forced to eat at a banquet with a sword hanging over his head by a single thread. It was a punishment because the king he served was annoyed by Damocles’ constant flattery and wanted to teach him a lesson.”

“What was the lesson?” asked Rachel.

“At the time, it was probably to speak less while a king is eating,” I replied. “But since then, it’s become a parable about how doom hangs nearer then we realize. But my point is, it was the sword you were supposed to fear. Damocles was just a fool being made an example of.”

“Are you saying Lord Tybalt is a lazy reader?” Rachel tittered.

“Bingo!” I said snidely. “And I’ll also bet you a gold piece those glasses he wore were just for show. Why do people think that lenses make them look more intelligent? I’ve known plenty of nearsighted dolts.”

“Are the pair of you suffering from a psychotic disconnection?” asked Cross. “Tybalt is easily the third strongest hunter in the entire nation. Hell, he might be tied for second. The only person who ever beat him was the Regent’s grandson, and there’s a rumor that he threw the match out of loyalty to the old man.”

“The Regent has a grandson as well?” I asked.

“Yes!” Cross all but shouted. “Alexis Norus! The Exemplar! The light of hope! The first S-rank born into this country in decades! He’s the future, you nut! How can you possibly not know that?”

Before she could berate my ignorance any further, the door to the Regent’s Hall opened. She then hurriedly stifled herself before gesturing for us to follow her.

“Show deference,” Cross warned me as we approached an inconspicuous looking office door. “I’m serious! The Regent is a great man but he’s also old and mercurial. You never know what’ll set him off. Keep him in a good mood or else. But don’t wind him up! Like in your story, he hates flattery. Just…uh. Be real with him.”

“I’m a very real person,” I said. “The realest of the real.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Yeah, don’t speak like that,” replied Cross. “This is a golden opportunity, Evans. A lot of people would kill for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to change their lives. Don’t blow it.”

Having said that, she raised a fist and knocked quietly on the door.

“Come in,” said an older male voice on the other side.

“Good luck,” Cross said as she stepped aside. As Rachel began to follow behind me, Cross quickly caught her arm and shook her head.

“The meeting is with Evans, only,” she informed her.

“What? No fair!” Rachel complained. “I want to meet the Regent too.”

“Maybe you’ll get to one day,” Cross said as she led her away. “Maybe sooner than you think, actually. Come with me, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Huh?” Rachel asked before turning her eyes toward me. I nodded to her and said, “Take the tour. Have some fun. I’ll be done with this in no time.”

“You sure?” Rachel asked uncertainly.

“I’m positive,” I assured her. “No worries, kid. This is me we’re talking about. It’ll go smoothly.”

By way of fact, it did not go smoothly. I should have realized it wouldn’t.

After all, this was me we’re talking about.

__

Seated behind a massive oak desk and dressed casually in trousers and an open collared shirt, the Regent, Duke Perius Norus, cut a less impressive figure than I’d expected. Despite being the ruler of the Allied Kingdom, he seemed unremarkable. Very ordinary-looking. If I didn’t know who he was, I’d dismiss him as merely a vigorous looking older man with small touches of gray left in his receding snow-white hair and beard.

It was his eyes which told a different story. They were primed, calculating. Alert. Once more I now stood in the presence of a genuinely dangerous man. A smile quirked at the corner of my lips when I realized this. I was glad I’d accepted Alvidia’s offer to come to this place. Gardenia, as it turned out, was a city filled with interesting people.

“Does something amuse you, Evans?” the old man asked as he finished signing a few sheets of paper which he then placed in a drawer before focusing his attention on me.

“No, sir,” I replied politely.

“Sir?” he asked with a slight frown.

“No, your grace,” I said, correcting myself.

“Then wipe that insolent smirk off your face and sit down,” he said gruffly as he leaned back in his seat.

I did as commanded and sat down in the chair facing his desk. It was stiffly made and extremely uncomfortable, which immediately let me know the nature of the man I was speaking with.

“I’m told you enjoyed lunch with my granddaughter,” he said conversationally.

“I did. Lady Emily graciously invited me to dine with her,” I replied. “We had sushi. It was delicious.”

“I’m told you made a pig of yourself before her,” the Regent said. “I was disappointed to learn that. You carry noble blood in your veins, boy. On your mother’s side, anyway. Even if you are a misfire and an outcast, you could at least try conducting yourself gracefully.”

“Do I?” I asked without interest. “I’m a man with no knowledge of what came before. I have no interest in the lineage of he who sired this body.”

“You claim amnesia?” asked the Regent.

“Sure, why not?” I replied. That was close enough to the truth. I had no memories of Kyler Evans’ life because I wasn’t Kyler Evans.

The frown the old man already wore deepened at my perceived flippancy. Well, more like intentional flippancy. He steepled his fingers as he gazed at me.

“You’re now in the center of power for the greatest nation in the world,” Norus said mildly. “Here, the fortunes of lesser men have been elevated to heights undreamed of. The lives of the great have also been destroyed as casually as flies have been swatted. Here, I alone make decisions that will impact the lives of millions.”

“You seem to have a very important job, your grace,” I said while giving him a thumbs up.

“Indeed, I do,” he agreed. “Which is why I’m so surprised by the lack of reverence and respect that you are obligated to show me. Boy, I am your Regent.”

“I gave you a thumbs up, didn’t I?” I replied defensively.

“Is this ridiculous behavior derived from you being a bastard? Or is this what all common men are slowly reduced to in the absence of order?” he asked himself.

“Don’t blame others for my tendency to misbehave, your grace,” I said. “I tend to react the same to all people. Whether they are great or small makes little difference to me.”

“Is that right?” asked Norus. “Surely, I’m not hearing the insipid rhetoric of equalism being spewed forth in my own home, am I? That would greatly displease me.”

“Me an equalist? That’s hardly the case,” I replied as I tried to lounge in my chair. “Although I do agree with their sentiment about how the social class one is born into is a matter of sheer luck which makes those invested with its hereditary privileges unremarkable. Princess or pauper, it doesn’t matter. We only have what the world saw fit to give us. Other than that, I’m a different sort of animal than them.”

“That is a dangerous thing to say in front of a true aristocrat,” replied the Regent in a mild tone of voice. “Are you denying that the gods saw fit to uplift us to our rightful position?”

“What would I know about the will of the gods?” I asked. “I tend to be of a more secular mindset.”

“Answer the question, boy,” he insisted.

“Only if I can ask a question of my own,” I said. “How is nobility a rightful position if it requires a divine mandate? If you can’t get something without a god to hand it to you, then do you really deserve it? And why do the privileged need so fervently to believe that they have divine favor? What if they don’t? What’s the difference?”

“I think I now have a better understanding of why your family despises you so much,” Norus said dryly as he set down his glass. “Rarely have I met those so willing to mock the foundations of my beliefs to my face. You, boy, are a symptom of the unmoored rot besetting my once proud kingdom. You spout ignorant drivel without a care for the consequences, all for the pleasure of hearing your own voice. I’d dismiss you as a lackadaisical twit if it wasn’t obvious that you take joy in deliberately being a rake.”

“Oh, I like you,” I said cheerily. “No one’s called me a rake in ages.”

“Don’t be a prick,” said the Regent. “You are quickly growing wearisome.”

“Would you like him removed, your grace?” asked Tybalt as he entered the office. It looked like he’d broken free from Alvidia’s ploy to keep him distracted.

Oh, joy.

“I’m sorely tempted,” Norus said sharply. “Are you really the one who rescued my granddaughter? How could her protector espouse such nihilistic frippery?”

“It’s hard not to be cynical when you live long enough to see that nothing ever changes,” I said.

“Ah, I see now that you’re speaking with the wisdom of age,” Norus said sarcastically. “Child, when our world suffered from the chaos caused by the invading monsters, while the earth beneath our feet was shattered into a new and unrecognizable land, when it seemed that the end of everything was inevitable, we were blessed by the arrival of the system.”

“And you’re so certain that the arrival of the system was a blessing?” I asked him.

“Of course, it was you little fool,” Norus said. “Upon its arrival, we ascended were selected to safeguard this world and rule over it. Our authority was given to us by divine right. We are both the shepherd and the soldier!”

He spoke that last bit with the fervent zeal of a true believer. A quality I recognized straight away from my various encounters with it over the years and always dreaded to see repeated in newer generations.

Men like him could be so difficult to deal with.

He reminded me of Mayner.

“People used to understand,” Norus said bitterly as he continued his rant. “Our sacred bloodlines were treated with reverence, and the lesser citizens accepted their roles and kept to their place without question. But now, these jumped-up merchants with their filthy gold have bought their way into the great houses and diluted them with their commoner heritage.”

Oh, no. I could detect a furious rant against mercantilism was forthcoming. Why did these ancient warrior households always blame merchants for all the trouble in society?

My first wife, Yona, was descended from a proud samurai family, and she could go on for days about how Japan had been at its best when the warrior class controlled everything, and the peasants never left their rice fields without permission on pain of death. A cozy arrangement for those of her rank that fell on the wayside after Japan’s great social reformations gave their serfs greater freedom and allowed their traders and artisans to accumulate independent wealth.

As it turns out, a functioning country needs more than caste discrimination and internecine violence to prosper. Being allowed to trade for valuable goods with foreigners and being willing to learn their languages gave the merchants an advantage the samurai couldn't match. Due to the unwillingness of the samurai families to adjust to the new social paradigm, they were gradually uprooted from their positions of authority and cast into poverty.

It was a valuable lesson to learn. Pride cometh before what?

And it wasn’t as if such events were exclusive to Japan. Europe was once a continent ruled by knights who were eventually displaced in importance by cotton traders and spice dealers. It was the same deal across the globe. The world would never be free of the need for fighting men, but their era of absolute dominance was had ended.

The times had changed.

“I’ve never understood the rivalry between merchants and warriors,” I said. “There’s no difference between the two, really. If you think about it, merchants are just people who accomplish with their coins what warriors can do with their spears.”

“Ha!” scoffed the old man. “We’re nothing alike. They’re weaklings who buy their strength from others! The truly powerful develop theirs through training and discipline.”

“Gaining wealth isn’t easy, though,” I replied. “In its own way, it’s as much of a trial as honing your skill with a blade. As they say, money doesn’t grow on trees.”

“Who taught you such tripe?” Norus asked with a sneer.

“Just something I learned from my mother,” I replied, before remembering to conclude with, “Your grace.”

“How strange. I’ve known your mother since she was a child and I’ve never once heard her say such a thing,” said the Regent.

“Maybe it was my grandmother,” I said. “She’s had a tough time of things recently.

“Your grandmother died years before you were born,” said Norus. “I attended her funeral. It was a lovely service.”

I quickly floundered for another lie but gave up before too long and shrugged.

“Oh. Awkward,” I said.

“That you would lie so casually to the Regent of all men speaks to your lack of character,” said Tybalt with disgust

“Well, maybe you just think too highly of him,” I said in annoyance. “It’s not like he’s a king.”

“HOW DARE YOU!” yelled Tybalt who swiftly drew his sword and pointed it at me. “Apologize at once! Show your due deference or I’ll remove your insolent tongue!”

This was getting annoying. I hadn’t even wanted to come here and had complied anyway, only to be scolded, lectured, and threatened. I didn’t care about any of this.

“I believe I’m going to leave now,” I said without bothering to disguise my sour mood. “Coming here seems like it was a mistake. I’m glad to have been of service to your granddaughter in her time of need, your grace. Your sincere gratitude is all the reward I’ll ever need. God bless the kingdom, go forth and conquer, blah-blah-blah. Goodbye.”

“Did you have anything to do with assaulting her?” the Regent asked as I rose from my seat. “Did you conspire with her attackers in any way?”

Ah. Honesty at last.

Well, suspicion, anyway.

“No,” I said to him coldly. “But having now met you, I’m far less likely to have assisted her if I’d known who her grandfather was.”

That was a lie. I would never willingly allow a woman to be assaulted in my presence. I may be a monster, but I still had standards. I only said that to agitate the old man. It was enormously satisfying to watch Norus’ face turn a deep shade of infuriated purple at my words. Our dear Regent had clearly gone years without having to deal with anyone talking back to him and it had utterly spoiled him. Made him into a little bully.

“ENOUGH!” Norus yelled as he jumped to his feet and brought his fist down on his desk, hard enough to split the sturdy wood down the middle, sending both ends crashing to the floor. A powerful violet aura erupted around his body as he shoved the heavy remnants aside and stomped forth to seize me by the throat and hold me aloft.

“I should have you sent to the dungeons to cool your heels and learn respect for the sanctity of my office,” he said. “Or perhaps I’ll just break your insolent neck.”

“You’d do such a thing to the hero who rescued your granddaughter?” I asked in an indifferent tone as the tips of my boots swung above the office floor. “That wouldn’t look very good, would it? Wouldn’t everyone whisper about you behind your back? Goodness, look at how the Regent rewarded someone who protected his family. How disgraceful! It could be quite a nasty little scandal.”

“You obnoxious little brat,” Norus said balefully as his hand trembled with the desire to tighten its grip and crush my throat.

“Takes one to know one,” I said while waiting to see what he’d do next.

“I don’t like you very much, Kyler Evans,” Norus said after a few moments of silence had passed.

“Consider the feeling mutual,” I replied. “Are you going to put me down now?”

Norus glared at me while visibly struggling with the urge to pull my head off. Then he grunted and dropped me to the floor which I landed uncomfortably on. He then snapped his fingers, and Tybalt hurriedly waved his hands over the Regent’s ruined desk, which suddenly pulled itself back together, mended so perfectly that there was no indication it had ever been broken.

I whistled in appreciation of the sight. “Very impressive,” I said sincerely. “How did he do that? Is that a unique ability or an application of magic?”

“I’m afraid I can’t answer that question. The mechanics behind Tybalt’s exceptional abilities are a state secret,” Norus said as he resumed his seat. “I could make you vanish for even daring to ask that me that question. Perhaps I should.”

“You really are in love with the power of your office,” I remarked as I set back up my own overturned chair and sat back down.

“Nothing of the sort, boy.” Norus said dismissively. “The power of my office is symbolic of the great personal strength I already wield. Everything else is mere ornamentation.”

“That’s a healthy level of self-regard,” I said blankly. “It’s almost admirable.”

“Your mouth will be your undoing one day. Keep it up and it will happen sooner than you realize,” warned the old man.

“But aren’t you terribly impressed with how brave I am?” I asked.

“No,” he said flatly. “Now I’m convinced that you’re a fool who pays no heed to the depth of the water surrounding him.”

“Can we please just skip to the part where you reward me, and I leave?” I asked in exasperation.

“What do you want?” the Regent asked.

“Anonymity,” I replied. “Since you’ve so thoroughly investigated me, then you already know I made a few mistakes that might impact my future negatively. Wipe them from the record. Wipe my very name from the record. From now on, there is no Kyler Evans. I want that made official.”

“You’re accused of assaulting the precious daughter of a notable family. You are guilty of killing a team of valuable future hunters,” Norus said sternly. “I’m certain you’re also responsible for the death of an ascended guardsman who vanished on the night of your supposed death. Do you truly intend for me to overlook these transgressions?”

“Yes. I absolutely do,” I said, straight faced and without shame.

“I would very much like to pull you apart by hand,” Norus said with such seething violence that even Tybalt was taken aback by it.

“But if you did that then your family would lose face,” I said. “Which is precisely why you’ll give me what I want.”

“Yes,” said the Regent bitterly. “But that’s all you’ll have from me. There’ll be no sanctioned revenge on those you claim mistreated you. No punishment for the Velas family or your own.”

“I never wanted that to begin with,” I said angrily. “I never cared about any of that.”

“Good. Because now it will never come to pass. My people will approach you later and allow you to select a new name—”

“Stragos,” I said at once. “Kyler Stragos.”

The old man narrowed his eyes at being interrupted before continuing. “You’ll then be given a one-time payment of gold. From there, you can go wherever you like. But I would strongly recommend that you never show yourself before me again. Avoid further contact with Emily as well.”

“With whom?” I asked in confusion.

“Emily,” he repeated. When I continued to stare blankly at him, he sighed and said, “My granddaughter.”

“Oh, right,” I said and nodded. “Gotcha.”

And with that, negotiations were concluded.

On my way out of the palace, a servant approached me and delivered a written message.

Evans.

Don’t be too quick to leave, darling. Meet me at the address below, and I’ll be certain to give you a proper sendoff. Remember to leave the lights off. It’ll be memorable.

A.

A? Ah, for Alvidia, undoubtedly. Could it be that I’d won her over after all? Well, hadn’t she said she still found me intriguing?

I should probably wait around for Rachel to return from her conversation with Cross.

That would be the responsible thing to do.

An image of Alvidia going wild in my arms while we lay on silk sheets in a tawdry hotel flashed through my mind and pushed all thoughts of responsible behavior off a cliff to drown in the ocean, as I ran off to find the address on the letter.

Rachel was a big kid. She’d be fine.

Everything would be fiiiiine.