Ikrei P.O.V.

I was looking out the window of our Andurian deluxe transportation, the carriage was being stirred with the aid of several Ialpirgal, the flaming horses. The magnificent fearbeasts were a sight to behold, smoke left behind in their wake. We were guarded by four Kotari.

“A Kotari elite driving a carriage, now that’s something.” Krigsain laughed with his own comment.

“The eldership approved all of these?” I asked reflexively.

“Considering what you have been through lately, a little luxury and respite is better than nothing. It has been traumatizing.” He answered sitting across me.

“Has it now?” I couldn’t help but express disdain.

“We are taking this ride as part of your resting period. And we can also talk.” His eyes turned red and the energy of the Will surrounded us. I felt it clearly.

“I thought you couldn’t do it because of your injuries.”

“I cannot do it as before, but we are only two. This much is manageable.” He responded.

“You are getting indebted to the princess, you know.” I commented.

“I’ll handle that, thanks for your concern…now, can you fight?” He always goes to the heart of a matter.

I pondered for a long time in silence on what answer should I give, eventually I decided on the truth.

“My hands shake and my dreams are becoming nightmares. What do you think?” I threw it back at him.

“Fear has sprouted fully within your heart; we are going to deal with that, right now. The driver has the coordinates; we will reach in a day’s time.”

‘I am always kept in the dark about everything. It surely doesn’t help me, infuriating.’

“So, what’s the plan?” I sighed.

“A fighter without the will to fight is useless to others and to himself. We are going to light a fire in that heart of yours. You’ll stand before impending annihilation and not even wince.”

I just sat there looking bewildered by the extreme confidence of my bludgeoning training partner.

“Since the Will is protecting us, can you explain why I only get things told in drips? I realize now that this training is far too much for me, it is insanity.” I expressed my resentment and resignation.

“You are facing something most cannot survive. Your future across lives as an awakened is at stake, drastic measures have been taken to give you the best chance possible. We cannot speak of it, not even many of the repercussions. That is why we call it the interference. I am pretty sure that by now, you have an idea. We are tiptoeing around it as much as we can. There are…heavenly restrictions, so to speak.” Krigsain sounded truly apologetic.

“Akathos was the same, this is bullshit!” I kicked away a small feet stand near me.

“Let me level with you, my man. If you really believe this is too much, I can slice your throat right this instance. I told you I would help you and I will. You either awaken or it is over. If I kill you now or you die later, it is all the same. The FEAR is talking, not you. Trust your elders.”

The air inside the carriage became different, weird. I didn’t understand the phenomenon.

‘Strange powers, Krigsain version.’

He turned unusually cold and sober, it felt like I was talking to somebody else entirely. Another long and uncomfortable silence ensued.

“I just want an honest and clear answer, is that too much to ask?” I was exasperated.

“Do you give a small child a sword? You don’t. You teach him how to wield it and the rules to protect him. In time, through knowledge, understanding and experience he master’s it. The rules are no longer a constraint but a guide for he has wisdom. Now, the evident question is, what is wisdom?” He motioned me to speak.

“Isn’t it the condensation and unification of all your knowledge and understanding into an applicable form?”

“Let me tell you a story from Erel, the Divine Sword.”

“The Zurian king, right?”

Krigsain nodded.

“In his younger days, when he was barely king, Erel travelled his kingdom in disguise. He wanted to understand the life of his people. He worked as a hewer, a carpenter, a baker, a sailor and many other disciplines and crafts. Though out his journey he discovered that whenever he did his job properly, most of the time his efforts wouldn’t even be recognized. But when he made a mistake, he would be reprimanded harshly, fired and in some cases even beaten.”

‘A king, an awakened one suffered humiliation from the hands of ordinary folk?’

“He went around his entire kingdom confirming his findings. Once he helped two unrelated homeless men the same way, one sold what he had received and started a pawnshop that has remained in his family’s care to this day. The other, sold what he had received and bought liquor and women and in time died in a ditch. In the end, the king wrote, ‘The heart is wicked, who can understand it but God.’”

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“True wisdom lies in deciphering the hearts of men then, according to your words. That sounds pretty hard.” I said.

“Harder than fighting ingrained fear not as hard as figuring out the gods. People who consider themselves good exalt others when convenient and mock them in their time of need. We may tease you quite a bit, but we are here to help you. Freslia is forceful, Akathos is absent but they mean well. It will get worse before it gets better. To awaken, you must conquer your own heart first. Master yourself so that you may live. Don’t give up, my man.”

A third pause, and an even longer silence occurred.

“Wicked hearts, huh? Don’t you play with women a bit much? Kletay is injured because of her attraction towards you.” I pointed out the obvious.

“I never lie, there is no need to. Is it wicked of me to entertain them or is it wicked of them for desiring what shouldn’t be theirs in the first place? Is it wicked of me to use my status and attributes or is it wicked of them for allowing said status and attributes to blind them? Do you think any of them truly know me?”

The questions were clearly rhetorical, he had his own answers already.

“You are a lot smarter than you show yourself to be, chosen one…wait, does that mean the brutish fighting style is also a part of your act?”

“You catch on quick, that is why Akathos likes you. Don’t tell anybody.” He smiled.

“Why reveal yourself to me though? There was no real need to do that, I think.”

“You have doubts because of how things are being handled, it may cause you to surrender or worse, deviate; it is only fair that I extent an olive branch, as the Zurians say. My secret for your pain.”

“I see.” Nothing to be but pensive for another hour.

Krigsain broke the silence with an interesting statement.

“The Andurin are fatebreakers, if there is fate, we will challenge it. So, it will be hypocritical of me to tell you that I can see the future. Just think of it as an extremely elaborate metaphysical calculation of probabilities. You are going to be my left hand one day, provided that you survive.”

‘More meditating and decision making.’

“Ah, our previous secret conversation becomes clearer. Then let’s do as before, big guy.”

“I’ll take the second of my three wishes, now.”

“Oh! And what would that be?” Krigsain looked intrigued.

“Be my friend, wicked heart.”

‘I need support, advice and someone I can trust. This man filled with secrets to the brim is a wise one. Even if things do not pan out perfectly, this is a bet I am willing to make.’

I stretched my hand for a shake.

“When the war is over, wicked heart.”

“When the war is over, left hand.”

After a while, a question popped inside my head.

“So why where you sent here with me and not an elder if this is so complicated?”

“This was my suggestion to Lord Sarkan, I didn’t know they would approve it. This is not a cheap or easy thing to obtain. Unless you are a blessed one or someone like me, you could never know the proper information without the corresponding channels. If any other than me showed up at their door, they would have fled or retaliated immediately. These are war times. Worry not, I have already done all the preliminary work.”

I was surprised to say the least.

“This is when you will tell me where we are going, right?”

“Not even our guards know the details, so don’t say anything when we go back out. We are going to one of the places where the Malgrunians are hiding. We are going to the Pleasure Pavilion of the Soaring Dragon Demonic Sect.”

“There are demonic cultivators within the Zunar Kingdom?”

“Pleasure many times overrides intellect, my man. The high class indulges in pretty unsavory dealings just as much as the dregs of society.”

“Malgrunians will cause problems, they are our enemies. This sounds like a plan from the reckless one.” I countered pointing at him.

“They are our current enemies; it will recede like the tides, in time. Live and let live. Precepts Sachear.”

“So you are telling me, we are going to get me laid? You think a fuck will undo all that has been done?” I asked sarcastically.

“We are going to get you a woman and not just any woman. Entire noble lineages have fallen on account of one woman. Wars have been fought. Malgrunian women are unparalleled, much to the chagrin of our sisters. You will never doubt the commitment from your elders again, I promise.” The mischievous smile appeared once more.

Krigsain activated a retractable table that the carriage had. From his temporal ring, many delicacies from the castle appeared. Additionaly, an orgon infused board with many tiny and different pieces of military units and awakened practitioners. Krigsain quickly but deftly setup the board with unique figurines.

“What is this?” I asked muscle mass.

“This is Andukros. One of the masterworks of the Archsage. This teaches you strategy, tactics, situational awareness and the general known abilities and powers of all shadow factions and cultivator forces. This board also includes ethereal beasts and the like. We are going to play until you get it right.” He explained.

“A good way to pass the time I suppose.” I interjected.

“No, this is a strategy meeting. Prewar council, you cannot lose on the first night my man.”

“Oh, I see. What do I do?”

“I’ll play as the Malgrunian forces, specifically Dark Moon Blade as the Queen piece, she is a Malgrunian Cultivator legend. You will play as the Andurin with Or Patriarch as the King piece. I’ll start, you just try to counter. We will talk how to do everything, do not worry.”

“Let’s eat while we are at it, you’ve earn it.” He ordered.

I ate some biscuits and drank from the Thurskan bottle.

“Let me teach you about poker face…” Krigsain went into an extensive monologue on how to play cards, the board, tactics, women and the counters to beauty.

It was extremely confusing at first but the more he talked the more it all made sense. A strange and convoluted plan was birthed. It would be a lie to say that I wasn’t a little fired up by his exposition on the matter.

I was dumbfounded and elated in equal measure, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

‘Is this really going to work? When in doubt, poker face? I have never played poker, that’s a game in the empire!’

The long dissertation went from undergarments, materials, brands, magical devices and even how to undress yourself using rings. I forgot my pain for a while and all I could see were the adventures of “Knickertwister Krigs” playing in my mind.

He went into great detail about the famous Malgrunian consorts of renown, the sisters under the Blood Lotus. The Silk Thorn Flower, The Pleasure Maiden, the Lustful Witch, Touch of Malgrun Asele, Iriniya the Love Formation Master, the Blood Vampire, the Singing Phoenix and finally he spoke glowingly of the only one capable of standing on equal footing with the Blood Lotus. Ethereal Sonyeo, the Easterner. He gave me an overview of the pleasures on offer.

It all sounded like Knickertwister Krigs knew them.

‘My secret for your pain. I wasn’t going to rat on my new friend. I may not have much but I do have honor. However, the repeating question was there… Who the fuck are you?’

With all the sexually charged material, learning how to play Andukros became a casual affair, pun intended. My master’s words came again.

‘Love, peace, hate, fear, regret, desire and the Will. This is the core of true mastery.’

“I guess this is desire.” I was looking forward to it, unapologetically.

After many, many hours, the Will powered covering dissipated.

The Ialpilgar hooves galloped vigorously through the road.