The forest within the capital was calming. It filled Percy with peace, something he hadn’t felt for a while. The tension filling his body for the last few weeks dispersed, replaced by a calm, soothing sensation.
This feels good. I should spend more time doing nothing important. Training all day is wearing on me.
He sighed deeply as the thought flashed through his mind and searched for a comfortable place to sit and ponder. He found a notch in a tree trunk that was barely big enough to sit. Maybe it wasn’t the most comfortable, but Percy sat down nonetheless. His mind was overflowing with too many things to question if he could find a more comfortable place to rest and ponder.
He sat and stretched his legs. His back rested against the tree trunk, his eyes searching for tiny gaps in the canopy. The afternoon sun speckled the forest in light. It wouldn’t be long until dusk, but Percy was in no rush.
Maybe I’m going to sleep here. Who is going to stop me? At least, no more assassins should come my way if I hide in her…probably.
Percy shuddered thinking back to his encounter with the assassin. Too many questions flashed through his mind, but none were important enough to think about all day. Of course, he wished to know who ordered his death and why exactly, yet Percy was certain he wouldn’t discover the truth soon enough.
Something deep inside him told Percy he wouldn’t like the truth. Maybe it was better to escape the truth a little bit longer.
“At least I was stronger than that assassin. But maybe that was because he wasn’t an Ego. He didn’t even use a Monster Card – probably because I didn’t give him any time to use his Monster Card actively. The assassin’s ability to merge into the shadows must have been related to some Augmentation.” Percy mumbled while summoning the Blueflame Hawk and the Gnoll Warrior.
Percy issued a mental command to the Gnoll Warrior to protect him from potential danger, while the Blueflame Hawk was told to break through the canopy and scan the forest, ensuring nobody was nearby to disturb him.
Once that was done, Percy felt even more secure. He finally paid full attention to the past events and what they meant for his future.
“Since I left Raewood with the Glacia Knights – involuntarily, but that matters little – I encountered many demons. In Raewood I thought demons were rare to find and incredibly dangerous, however, that isn’t the whole truth. Demons are indeed dangerous, but only if you’re weaker than them – that sounds so stupid,” Percy smiled at his stupid comments but continued rambling nonetheless.
“The Lesser Demons everyone feared in Raewood can no longer be considered powerful enemies. I can deal with a group of Lesser Demons on my own. Elite Demons are…more difficult to deal with, but with enough effort and some pain, I should be strong enough to fight and get rid of them – one at a time, of course.”
His encounters with the demons had been troublesome, but they also pushed his Tier up by a few ranks too. In fact, his entire time with the Glacia Knights benefitted him a lot. Percy gained more than most Imperial prospects. That included a small fortune.
Percy glanced down at his body and found a small leather pouch. It didn’t look special, but the interface revealed the treasures hidden within the ordinary-looking leather pouch.
[38x Gold Coins – 418,000 Prosperity]
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Thirty-eight gold coins felt like a lot. It was a lot, no matter where you went. That much gold transformed him into one of the wealthier residents in the capital.
Still, it didn’t feel like a lot compared to the fortune Percy had been forced to consume in the Wintermoon estate. The Prosperity he could earn looked especially pitiful in comparison to his past gains. Nonetheless, 38 gold coins were worth a lot. They could turn his life upside down if used properly.
Were they counting when they handed me the pouch for the Yvelton Sword and the Tiagro Sword? I can barely make up the Prosperity used on the enchantments [Mana Slash] and [Double Impact].
Percy surrendered his newest creation to Melissa before they arrived in the capital. He didn’t have any means to store the swords neatly and considered negotiating with Lady Reeze to get a good price. Unfortunately, Melissa told him that the weapons did not belong to him in the first place. She made sure to be clear about the ownership of the weapons and that they had to be returned to their parents.
However, in the same instance Melissa said this, she handed him a pouch filled with gold. That told Percy much more than a thousand words could. Lady Reeze would keep the sword and shackle all responsibility if someone were to claim them.
It was nice to give away the responsibility of getting sent to court for plundering two corpses by taking their weapons, but the money felt insufficient. The Yvelton Sword and the Tiagro Sword were both powerful Elite Artifacts. Their runic enchantments were perfectly adjusted, protecting the Artifacts and runic enchantments from sustaining damage by using them too often.
But Percy would have loved to receive more money in return.
Maybe I shouldn’t complain so much. Having some gold is better than being left with one silver and a bunch of copper coins.
He smiled grimly, his back still pressed against the tree trunk.
“But what am I supposed to do now? Am I safe in the capital, or should I leave? That is probably exactly what the instigator behind the assassination attempt wants from me. He or she wants me out of the capital. Is the instigator afraid of me, or am I a nuisance to his – her – plans?”
Percy tilted his head, a wry smile forming on his lips.
“Nobody would be afraid of a nobody. Even if news about my Ego were to spread, nobody would fear me enough to prepare an assassination for me as a welcome gift.” He sighed deeply. They, whoever they may be, are afraid of my eyes. They know something I don’t.”
Percy’s eyes glimmered with determination. Even if there hadn’t been an assassination attempt, he would have stayed in the capital to find out more about his family. However, now that an assassin has gone after his life, Percy is even less willing to leave this place; he would give everything to find his family and destroy the instigator. But that was easier said than done.
Should I ask the duke for help? He was curious about my identity and will probably start with the search whether I ask or not. That leaves me with some things to do.
A plan formed slowly in his mind. Percy was still not certain what exactly he would do in the future, but his next step seemed fairly straightforward. Time passed slowly, and it wasn’t long before the last rays of sunlight disappeared, leaving Percy in the darkness of the royal forest.
He called the Blueflame Hawk back at some point and chose to sleep in the forest. The royal forest felt a lot more secure than the barracks of the Glacia Knight Order or a random inn in the center of the capital. Percy fell into a deep slumber with that thought, not even a minute after closing his eyes.
Faint gusts of wind swept through the royal forest, and the animals of the night awoke. However, Percy didn’t care about anything. He slept like a rock while the Gnoll Warrior guarded him from potential threats.
Percy didn’t awake until morning. The sun greeted him as it cast bright, warm rays through the small openings in the canopy. They flooded Percy with warmth, granting him everything he needed to get started.
He got up, stretched his body, and prepared himself mentally for the day.
After all, today was going to be a long day.