"Hahhhh," I sighed as I exited the room and walked toward my bedroom. Each footstep echoed sharply in the quiet, long hall against the polished stone floor.

You did significantly better in your later games against your grandmother.

Leona chimed from my right shoulder, her warmth flickering as a comforting presence.

~Indeed. Master played the rest of the games with a cool head.

Apophis hissed softly from the other side, his cold, sleek body coiled tightly around my left arm.

[[ And I still lost. ]]

I shook my head, smiling.

I had lost, but I enjoyed playing chess and talking with my grandmother. She was a deep well of knowledge and wisdom and had provided some insight on how I could ally with someone like Claude Noire while still keeping my morals intact. She had a lot of experience navigating dangerous alliances.

I slowed down my stroll through the long hall, taking in the large portraits that lined the walls. My family's ancestors stared down at me, their painted eyes watching with silent judgment or perhaps understanding. The soft glow from the light stone wall lamps illuminated each ancestor's stern expressions and regal postures. Though I wasn't connected by blood to the Arankagul family, having been adopted, I did feel a sense of kinship to them nonetheless.

These were the ones who had come before me, who had protected Adovoria from the shadows, making deals with unsavory individuals, striking dangerous partnerships, and carrying the weight of difficult decisions without any of the glory. I was walking in their footsteps now, balancing on that same razor-thin line between right and wrong, just as they had, to protect our kingdom.

Figuring out a suitable arrangement with Claude Noire was hardly out of the norm for my family.

I paused to gaze at a portrait of Jair Arankagul, the head of the family some two centuries ago. His sharp features still radiated charm despite the years etched into his face. His wavy blonde hair, touched with just the faintest silver, framed a confident, almost calculating expression. I could see a slight resemblance to Micah. Jair Arankagul, like my father, had a knack for making money. And he knew how to turn connections into alliances that could shift the balance of power with the mere sway of his influence.

Given that Claude was a businessman at his core, I could use that to my advantage. If I could present him with a more profitable and appealing alternative, perhaps I could persuade him to abandon the mage slave trade altogether. After all, for someone like Claude, profit always came before principle.

Considering how lucrative the mage trade had been for the Spider Syndicate, it might have seemed like a tall order. However, I knew the future, just as Claude must have known with his cryptic tattoos: the mage trade was drying up. No matter the high demand, no business could survive without a steady supply.

~Sekha-ek rewed em sekhet, dee set netjer wer em-a-ek

I blinked at the unfamiliar language Apophis had just hissed out.

[[ What’s was that? ]]

~Hahhh, it's a phrase an old acquaintance once said.

Apophis slithered on my left shoulder as he continued speaking into my mind. Diligently plowing your fields leads to ever-growing rewards. You may have lost to your grandmother, but it's a step to improvement.

"I see," I muttered, more to myself than to him, as I turned toward my bedroom door. I pushed open one of the heavy double doors and entered the dimly lit room. Yellow light stone lamps bathed the large room in a calming, muted warmth, welcoming me in.

"At least I have time on my side to improve," I said, noting that Remlend had already unpacked all my belongings and readied a bath.

I walked toward the bathtub and ran my hand through the warm water. Its temperature was perfect, and a light scent of lavender wafted from the water.

Remlend is truly the ideal attendant.

However, I was planning on an adventure in a bit, which would ultimately require another bath, so taking one now wasn't worth the effort.

I should ask for some heating mana stones to reheat it then.

~And improve you must. Since Master wishes to walk the path of Chaos, it is critical for you to learn how to maintain a level head no matter the situation.

"What? And here I thought having a chaotic mind was the whole point," I half-joked.

From my studies, I understood that Chaos Magic thrived on the unpredictable, yet paradoxically, it demanded stability from its wielder. Lightness and darkness, the sun and the moon, fire and ice—all opposites, all balanced. The contrast made them shine against the backdrop of the other. Chaos magic was no different.

What hadn't clicked until now was that it was my own mind that mattered, not just external balance.

Damn it.

I retrieved my hand from the bath water and dried it with a nearby towel, feeling somewhat annoyed.

And here I thought the artifact had to be in perfect balance, which was already a problematic ask. But my mind? That's going to be a genuine hurdle.

~Master, may I ask why you chose the path of Chaos Magic?

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Apophis softly hissed from my shoulder.

"Ah, why did I, really indeed?" I muttered.

I couldn't tell him the real reason. Having effectively no mana core, my options were limited. Dark Magic and Chaos Magic were two specialties that were not only powerful but frankly sounded cool. I had written off becoming a warlock like Chase because that would have required making a pact with a questionable Celestial, risking cutting my life short and being a real pain to master.

But did I do any better by picking Chaos Magic?

I gazed down at Apophis. The black snake was coiled up around my left arm, his tongue flicking in and out, with his purple eyes staring at me.

I had made a pact with a questionable Celestial, risked cutting short not just my life but cutting away at my soul, and it was proving to be a real pain to master.

"I didn't realize there would be so many hurdles to grasping it," I replied honestly. "I didn't think my mind would be one of them—how big of an issue is it?"

I returned to the bedroom, poured myself a glass of water from the jug beside my bed, and sat on one of the sofas facing the unlit fireplace.

~The mind is like the cauldron holding the murky and unruly chaos magic. Apophis hissed softly from my left shoulder. Its walls must be sturdy like black mana stone enforced cast iron. There's no room for cracks, no weaknesses—if it falters, the Chaos will seep through and kill you.

I sighed, looking down at my hands.

Yeah, I did get scammed, didn't I?

~You're fortunate, Master. Your cauldron is strong. But only because you've yet to witness the true evils of this world. There will come a time when you face the unspeakable, and your mind must not crack when that happens.

I blinked.

What?

Leona's laughter rang out, breaking through the tension of Apophisis' stern warnings and my confusion. I felt her presence leave my right shoulder as she made herself comfortable somewhere in the room.

You blind snake, she berated him gleefully. Luca's mind is a sturdy cauldron, you say? His mind is as cracked as they come!

Her words struck a nerve, but I couldn't deny it.

Apophis slid off my shoulder, settling himself on the couch, his gaze sharp. He was staring at an empty spot on a cushion to my right, likely where Leona had positioned herself.

It was hardly surprising that he could see her; he had also noticed my presence at our first meeting. However, it was still troubling, given that I was using an expensive artifact to hide her from view.

It's not a weak artifact, either. I'll need to ask him how he can see her despite the artifact's power, especially given his current form.

~Master, what did this young phoenix mean by your mind being cracked?

His purple eyes gazed at me intently.

"I've got a bit of an affliction—Ignorance is Bliss." I scratched the back of my head as I settled more comfortably on the couch. "Anything too traumatic gets wiped from my mind to keep my Sanity stat in check. But it doesn't just erase the trauma—it cuts out memories that I might've wanted to keep, too."

~Hahhhhh. Is that so? Apophis's voice slithered through my mind, intrigued. What a fascinating affliction.

"That's why I'm worried," I admitted, staring into the empty, dark fireplace. "If staying calm is essential for Chaos Magic, and given how dangerous it is, I'm unsure if I can or should try to master it."

Apophis slid closer, his purple eyes studying me as if searching for something deeper.

~Rather than a concern, it's quite the cheat, if anything else. My years of expertise told me from the first moment I met you that your mind was in perfect order—your affliction is what has kept it as such.

I frowned, confused by his remark.

"How can that be?" I asked. "My mind has cracks. There are gaps in my memories. There are events and information I should remember but don't."

Apophis shook his head slowly, a knowing gleam in his purple yes.

~Ahhhhh…. Forgetting harmful memories is the sign of a healthy mind, not a broken one. Dwelling on the past has driven many to ruin. But you? Your mind is swept clean and patched up, like a self-regenerating cauldron.

Snake, Leona scoffed. Are you saying Luca forgetting things is no concern at all?

~Hardly. That is a separate issue to address. But as far as Chaos Magic is concerned, he is in an unusually advantageous position. A very unusual advantage indeed…. Say, Master, how did you come across such an affliction?

I shrugged and sipped my water.

Apophis stared at me without moving a hair as I finished my glass, clearly hoping for me to elaborate.

~Hahhhh, well, in any case, the young phoenix is correct. Having gaps in your memory will do you no good, either.

"What can I do about that, though?" I asked, setting the empty glass down on a nearby table.

Apophis's tongue flickered as he considered my question, his purple eyes gazing at me.

~There have always been ways to strengthen the mind and reduce the risk of further cracks forming. His voice slid into my thoughts. Meditation, for instance, is a powerful practice. It trains the mind to remain steady, even when surrounded by Chaos. You could greatly benefit from it.

I leaned back, skeptical. "Meditation?"

~Ahhhh, not just any meditation, Master, Apophis hissed, his tone shifting to something more serious. There are monks in the Desolated Expanse Desert who specialize in mental discipline, trained to keep their minds in perfect balance even in the most tumultuous of circumstances. They are masters at sealing away emotional turbulence, not unlike what your affliction does, but without the… side effects.

You want Luca to sit and hum with monks in a desert? Leona asked, her voice sarcastic.

I couldn't help but smirk at her remark, but Apophis remained unfazed.

~Meditation is far more than sitting cross-legged and humming, young phoenix. You may benefit from the practice as well.

I rubbed my chin in thought as the two creatures continued their bickering.

I had visited the Desolated Expanse Desert only once for the Wobbly Pebble explosion in the previous Round. I vividly remembered the brutal heat and unforgiving environment, especially having gone during summertime. The idea of going there for training was hardly appealing. However, I had already planned to venture into it again to recruit The Ogre into my army, with a remedy supplied by Kathy as a token of goodwill.

I crossed my arms, imagining myself in the middle of the scorching desert, surrounded by stoic monks while the sands whipped against my skin. It was hardly the 'vacation' I had planned to take in this Round, but perhaps it was needed.

Why accept the status quo of my self-erasing memories if there was a method to circumvent it?

"How long are we talking?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

~That would depend on you. Weeks, months, years… maybe even several Rounds. Apophis paused, his purple eyes gleaming. However, proficiency in this technique would significantly enhance Master's ability to overcome obstacles with a clear and focused mind.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"Let me think about it," I muttered, standing up from the sofa. I offered my left hand toward Apophis to climb back onto my left shoulder. "In the meantime, there's something I want to show you below the villa."

~Show me? Master, might it be related to the powerful energy I felt appear below? Apophis hissed, his excitement evident.

Had he noticed Azgralos from here? I'm not sure if that's more impressive or concerning. I'll need to ask him about his ability on our walk downstairs.

"Leona, do you want to come along?" I asked, focusing on the cushion that Apophis had been looking at.

If it's regarding meeting with that evil dragon, count me out.

I smiled, hardly surprised by Leona's response.

~Hahhhh, a dragon?

Apophis moved his head in front of my nose. His purple eyes stared into mine.

~Such would be an insightful meeting indeed, but I was referring to something else. When we arrived, I noticed a very subtle chaotic energy in this area, but something awe-inspiring had just appeared below.