Zeke and Mikella exhaled tiredly at the prospect of someone else knowing their secret. What was the point of a secret if anyone around them knew who they were?
Granted, it’s better than letting everyone in the country know who they were, and they were honestly surprised that even some of their comrades still didn’t know where they truly came from.
However, the idea of trying to protect their secret was savagely cut down the moment the Master mage decided to tell an attendant they don’t even know about their ‘great secret’.
“Don’t worry,” Cronus smiled. He seemed to enjoy their tiny sense of despair as he answered. “I’m certain you’re going to like this attendant. She can be… abrasive at times, but she’ll definitely warm your hearts when you see her.”
A woman that they’re bound to like. Somehow Zeke scoffed mentally at the idea. Mikella was the one that asked next.
“Alright, so putting aside an attendant, seriously–where are we gonna live? I’m guessing you want us to be anywhere other than this section where the nobles live?”
“Precisely,” Cronus nodded. “And before you think this is charged with classism, I don’t want the nobles to find out who you are for many, many reasons. If your story is true, then that means you can learn any skill regardless of stat requirements. And considering you two are Journeymen, any skill is valid regardless of its high price.”
Cronus leaned in closer. “So imagine what those pigs would think if they find out you two can learn any skill they desperately want someone to learn for their own benefits?”
“...We know,” Zeke said, his tone solemn. “Cloud told us this a while ago.”
“Good,” Cronus added. “Continuing on, we will give you some money to get started on a life here. I will also draft some documents to make people believe that you four were originally Arcelot residents. It will take a few days, so you need to keep your identities in check before then. But for starters, your identities will match the documents. From now on, you two are a married couple who have been living here for generations. Your parents were killed on their path to power, forcing you two to marry young to support yourselves and your sisters. Being married meant that you two share a lot of benefits together, so that will work perfectly.
“Through that, you managed to acquire some rare treasures your parents left over and became Journeymen. That will explain your rather rare sub-races nicely, I think. I noticed your rise to power and saw your capabilities. I decided to grant you resources befitting of your status. Of course, to everyone else, it’ll be through a liason such as your attendant. And from then on, you two will be charged with a mission to investigate the towers that have been causing a ruckus throughout the country… Are we clear on that?”
Zeke took it all in with a steady gaze. It was another fabricated story to explain their circumstances, and why they were all together. However, considering how serious this was, it felt more than just trying to keep any interlopers from sniffing about. He turned to Mikella who nodded back to him. It was something they could handle.
“Yes, we’re clear,” Zeke answered.
“Good. Then from here moment onwards, you two will now be called Zeke and Mikella Arcan. Your two sisters will also be called Clara and Zoan Arcan. This will be your identity from here on out. I take it there are no concerns?”
“Yes,” Zeke answered, figuring that there really was no other choice but to take the name change.
He never really liked ‘Parlow’ anyways. It brought too many uncomfortable memories with it. However, he turned to Mikella, wondering if her Ashton last name will be missed.
She barely gave it a thought. If anything, she tilted her head as though sounding out the name for herself.
“Any particular reason why the last name is Arcan?” Mikella asked, mostly curiously as she already agreed with Zeke.
“Arcan used to belong to a minor noble a few decades ago. They fell in power due to some of the other noble’s schemes, on top of their very poor decision making.They haven’t been around for a while now, and this can also explain why you’re suddenly rising up in waves. You could say your family has never given up, a story of rags to riches, so to speak. A fairly good way to start your lives, don’t you think?”
Another reasonable choice, even if the latter felt a bit overdramatic. However, Zeke suddenly remembered his game character about a year before they were sent here. The game decided to have both the first and last name like a normal person in the real world, and he opted to name his character ‘Zachary Arcan’.
Was it just a coincidence? In the end, he threw aside the thought.
“Alright, so new identity, new story, and we got money to make a living. Do we need to get jobs to support ourselves?”
Zeke asked, which was something he had been worried about since the idea of being granted money was put in. Cronus nodded in return.
“Even if your identities dictate you’ve lived here for years, if I were to give you any important positions, people will start asking questions. So instead, you’ll be working at the nearby adventurer’s guild to make a living. Don’t worry–I’ll also plan things out to ensure nobody ask too many questions when you get there.”
“...The adventurer’s guild?” Zeke sounded out what he never thought he would hear ever since he got here. Or rather, never though he would hear that word so soon.
“You heard of it?” Isabelle asked, smiling lightly. “Do you know how it works? It’s more free form than an actual job within Arcelot, and should allow you to investigate the towers freely if you take jobs around the vicinity.”
“With your abilities, it should be quick and easy to settle those jobs. Once you get used to things, I can officially give you jobs relating to the towers personally. It’ll take some time, but work hard for it.”
The two otherworlders nodded. Strangely, this felt like an interview with a shoo-in for the job, but at the same time, his stomach churned at whatever might happen in the future.
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That’s when Cronus finally hit Zeke with something he was dreading.
“By the way, I forbid you from using Barrier Craft in front of people. In fact–”
Cronus suddenly said as he lifted his hand towards Zeke. He was still trying to get over what he just said before he suddenly felt a tug at his insides.
No, at his core. Something powerful and overwhelming grabbed his insides, digging around without truly doing it.
Zeke gasped, grasping at his chest, but the feeling of uncomfortable grasping was strong. Mikella noticed instantly, her eyes widening.
“Zeke?! What are you doing?!” Mikella turned back to Cronus with a glare ready to kill.
“Honey, I told you to take it easy,” Isabelle frowned at her husband, but refrained from doing anything.
“I told you before that I needed to do this,” Cronus added. “Don’t worry, I won’t destroy him. Oh, even better! His Steadfast Mind and Pain Resistance are at Rare rarity!”
“Oh! Then continue,” Isabelle quickly changed her tune, sounding chipper despite Zeke feeling like he was about to get choked.
“Stop it! You’re hurting him!”
As Mikella called out for the master to stop, almost pleading, Zeke felt as though his entire world was crumbling to dust.
Inside, he felt something personal, something so internal to him, being grasped without his permission. He tried to mentally kick it, to force the feeling away, but it was as though the foreign power was a natural disaster. It clung onto his soul, his eyes widening at the immense pain that existed all over and nowhere at once.
Then, a notification dropped onto his vision. Unlike the usual, this one had a blaring red notification, as though the system noticed his struggle.
Warning! A powerful entity has breached into your interface.
Warning! A powerful entity has breached into your Skill List.
Warning! A powerful entity has breached into Barrier Craft (Epic).
System Initializing…
He felt his chest was on fire, then quickly shifted into a raging blizzard as his breathing came in short, raspy breaths. Zeke fell over to the floor, grasping at his chest. Sweat poured down his body as his body spasmed to handle the uncomfortable feeling of being violated.
He felt one of the strongest pillars he had created since the beginning shift catastrophically, shaping and bending to another’s will.
All he could do was close his eyes and let the feeling pass. Even though he felt like his insides were churning, his internal organs were being squeezed and twisted around like some macabre interior redesign.
While this happened, in a small safe corner of his mind, he marveled at the control this Master had over his entire system interface. Though somehow he could also tell that this wasn’t entirely Cronus’ doing. It wasn’t just his control, but rather it was aided by the area around them. Was it the estate giving him this power? Was it possible that by being in his abode, Cronus’ power has increased tenfold, allowing him to gain this much power and be capable of accessing into a weaker being’s interface?
Eventually, the pain started to fade, but his heart crumbled when the pillar that had supported him had completely changed. Once the pain diminished, he stood upright with Mikella’s help. New notifications dropped onto his vision. He felt his soul pulverized when he read them.
System Initialized!
Your skill Barrier Craft (Epic) has been permanently modified. Levels have been retained.
Acquired Skill modified: Ethereal Manifest
…..
Ethereal Manifest (Epic), Level 6
You can create a construct made out of your mana. The construct can be any kind of shape and properties as long as the mana cost is paid. The construct can become stronger and more malleable according to the level of the skill and the current Spirit stat.
It was like a slap to the face. The Barrier Craft that he had gotten since the very beginning was changed right in that instant. It was sudden, brutal, and worst of all–he had no control over it.
The last part alone was enough to break him a little on the inside.
“What the hell?!”
Mikella shouted, and before Zeke could say anything, she already summoned her sword from her pack and held it straight at Cronus. Despite the obvious hostile threat, the two barely even reacted, mostly just staring at the new object Mikella was flailing around.
“Who the hell do you think you are doing that to Zeke?!”
“...A lord,” Cronus answered as though it should be obvious. “And it was my right to do so.”
“Mikella…” Zeke grumbled, his chest still aching and causing his throat to dry. His core felt the aches like before, but it wasn’t as bad as he managed to tug onto Mikella’s outstretched arm. He also noticed the two girls coming by, Clara’s expression darkening with concern. “Stop… it’s pointless.”
It was cruel to say, but it was the truth. No matter how much Mikella or Zeke hated it, they couldn't do anything against Cronus’ orders. If anything, he could have them killed and that would be their end. It was the very reason why they were sent here in the first place–because they had no other choice but to clear those towers and help Cronus’ country.
Once again, they were forced to fall under line to a higher power for their own benefit. No matter how much Mikella despised it, especially after what Cronus did to Zeke, she lowered her sword and caused it to disappear into her bag.
“Why?” Mikella growled, but she kept her anger under control. “Why transform his skill?”
“...It was my best skill,” Zeke said eventually, his hand still gripping onto his chest through the linen shirt. “Even if you replace it… what does it even do?”
“I can’t have you show my customized skill to the public,” Cronus answered eventually. It looked like he just waited for the two to calm down before explaining. “I can’t have people think that I personally taught you that skill. Even if you got it from a skill book, which is the only way you managed to get a copy of my skill, other people won’t know that. The only likely choice is that I taught you and granted you favoritism. That would be ammunition for the nobles to use, something that I desperately want nothing of. Do you understand why I had to do this?”
“...A little warning would’ve been nice,” Zeke mumbled, the aches telling him that being polite was over. It was so damn painful that he dropped all formalities to the Master despite their obvious gap in power and position.
“Too much time explaining, and not enough action. I’ve spent too much time as it is. So you’re going to have to bear with it. Don’t worry–skill modification will go away when controlled properly, so the pain will go away in a few hours. I suggest practicing with your new skill to get it over with quickly.”
“And what does this new skill do?” Zeke added. Figuring there was no other choice, he might as well ask for his new source of power–however messed up that was.
“It’s nearly the same as Barrier Craft–all without the barrier. You can create whatever ethereal construct you can imagine with greater ease, but don’t expect it to take even a beginner’s blow. You’re a smart boy–I’m sure you can figure out the rest.”
“...I see.”
Zeke closed his eyes, his heart nearly bursting with a lot of complex emotions. He couldn’t break here, not now. It was humiliating enough as it is to lose his skill in the first place.
“If anything, you don’t have to worry about paying anymore debts you owe us. That was basically Cronus’ intention,” Isabelle added.
“Don’t need to tell them that, honey,” Cronus said, his eyes looking to the other side.
“Oh you…” Isabelle playfully patted her husband’s arm, but the two couldn't care less about their playfulness now, not after what they have witnessed. “I’m afraid we’re really running out of time. But whatever it is you need from us, you can ask the attendant instead. She will answer whatever questions you ask… within reason, of course.”