Haki’s head rang with pain.

It hurt.

Having his hopes crushed in an instant was excruciating.

Being so thoroughly disappointed was agonizing.

But…

It was also within the range of what Haki expected.

He had come to terms with his naivety as soon as it sprouted in his heart.

The question, however, was what would come next.

“Well? Did you understand my words or are you hard of hearing?” Kutsunga asked again.

Haki droned internally while trying his best not to reel from pain.

Lady Fure said that if he followed her, he would receive food and shelter.

It obviously wasn’t going to be free and he foresaw the abuse that would come from being anywhere near Kutsunga.

The problem lay in how much he could take.

He was determined to find out.

“Y-yes.” Haki wheezed as blood dripped from his nose.

“’Yes’ what, runt?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Kutsunga let out an unsatisfied scoff before kicking Haki in the cheek.

“Ah! What the fuck, old man?” The boy recoiled while sitting up and cupping the side of his head.

“Don’t think you can hide your true self from me. It is he that I want to mould into a candidate.” Kutsunga’s words were cold, and sharp, as if he was talking to an opponent… or an enemy.

Haki bit his teeth as his cheek bled from within.

“You want the real me?”

Kutsunga’s eyes narrowed.

“Fine! Here I am, old man! And don’t think I’ll let you kick me around-“

Haki let out a gross squawk as Kutsunga punched him in the gut, falling to his knees as he reeled in pain.

“Can you use magic?” Kutsunga asked but Haki’s head was too busy ringing for him to catch it.

“Answer your lord.”

Haki bit his teeth as he clutched his tummy.

“W-what… did you say, old man? Couldn’t hear you over the ego-“

Kutsunga kicked the young man in the ribs making him fall to the side.

He was stupid for expecting some sort of cute father-and-son reunion.

Kutsunga wanted something from him.

All Haki had to do was play along.

Even if it hurt.

“I will not repeat myself again. Can you use magic?”

“N-no.” Haki wheezed.

“Then I will have to be comprehensive in my teachings but I was prepared for that much.”

Lady Fure eventually entered the Throne room where she bowed before Kutsunga.

“Prepare a travel bag for me. We are leaving at first light.” The Lord of the house spoke, his voice a deep sigh.

“And the meeting with the other lords? They wish to… offer their condolences.” Fure’s brows knotted ever so slightly.

“I’m sure they do but you have a face and a mouth. Use them aptly. We will be back by the time the last snows thaw.”

Fure clenched her jaw visibly.

“Without informing the-“ she caught herself before bowing.

“Yes, My Lord.” She said as Haki crawled onto his feet.

His eyes met Kutsunga’s, and for a moment, it seemed the two were about to attack each other.

Kutsunga scoffed softly before returning to his Throne where he sat.

“This way.”

Haki glanced, through eyes that burnt with anger, at Fure who gestured towards the door on the right-hand side of the throne.

The young man glared at Kutsunga who glared back but through narrowed, contemplative eyes.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Where… where are we going?” Haki breathed as his mouth pooled with fresh blood.

“You and yours truly will be spending the winter in The Forest of Briars in the domain of House Qaya where you will be made into a man at least passingly worthy of carrying a lord’s blood. Just in time for the Ascension where you, along with the other prospective candidates, will compete for the Ruler’s Charge.” Kutsunga explained making Haki’s brows meet.

“Yes. You will be competing for the most legendary of artefacts and before you inevitably ask, I… am far too aged to be able to compete with the powerful youths the other houses will send.” Kutsunga sighed.

“Mmm…” The middle-aged man sighed as his eyes lowered in thought.

Haki’s brow lowered.

He understood the legend of the Ruler’s Charge very well, and he knew what was being asked of him, so he silently turned and followed Fure out of the throne room and into a grand hallway lined with guards in silver armour.

Haki was then led to the dining room where he was given what otherwise seemed like a simple dinner of bread and a piece of chicken but it was more food than he had eaten in a single sitting in years.

After he finished, Fure then led him to a large room that had several spots on the wall which looked like they once had portraits there based on the pale rectangular spots in the wood.

“This… will be your room from now on although you won’t have much time to get accustomed once you’ve left with his Lordship.” Fure sighed. Her veil was off, allowing Haki to see her solemn expression.

“Tell me, lady. If he knows I’m his son, then why did he hit me?”

Fure’s eyes fell further.

She then took a deep breath before looking into Haki’s eyes.

“I am sure Lord Kutsunga will enlighten you in time but for now, get some rest.” She turned and left the room, leaving Haki with a heavy silence.

He scanned the room, making sure he was alone before taking slow steps towards the one thing he had his eye on since entering.

The large bed at the centre of the luxurious room.

He stood by its edge and eyed the silky duvet that covered the soft lining beneath along with the fluffy pillows at its furthest edge.

He clenched his jaw as he reached down to touch it and his heart melted upon feeling how soft it was.

He sat on the edge and let out the deepest of sighs as he finally lay down.

His face landed on one of the pillows and in that moment, all the pain he felt was washed away.

He couldn’t remember the last time he slept comfortably let alone warmly so he took a deep breath of the sweetly fragrant air and sighed.

What followed was a deep drowsiness.

One he would otherwise fight for the sake of self-defence just in case someone attacked him but he didn’t care.

He was going to savour this feeling no matter what.

So he steadily drifted into sleep.

Just as a single tear fell from his eye.

.

..

[Name: Haki

Race: Human

Coalescence Level: 1

Health Points (HP): 100

Willpower (W): 5

DPH (Damage Per Hit): 1

Defence Rating: 2%

Equipment: None

Skills and Spells: None

Artefacts: None]

“Mmm?” Haki sounded sleepily as several lines of bright writing appeared in his head.

He opened his eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming but his thoughts immediately seemed upon finding that he was in the arms of a large woman.

He tried moving away but one of her arms was nearly as long as he was tall and she firmly held him in her bosom.

She had long, silky black hair that messily draped both she and Haki and pale skin that was cool to the touch.

Loosely hanging from her frame was a black dress that seemed to be made of the night sky itself and her eyes were blindfolded with a similar nightly cloth.

“Mmm!” Haki struggled aloud and this was enough to awaken the woman who sweetly yawned.

Her voice was soft enough to make Haki feel sleepy again but he fought the feeling as she loosened her hold on him a little.

[Good morning, dearest contender.]

She yawned in a voice that seemed to come from inside Haki’s mind.

“Who are you?” He glared.

[I am Maranam, one of the Cycle Sprites or as you may know me… the Goddess of Death.]

Haki bit his teeth.

He wouldn’t have believed her if she wasn’t so big.

She also matched the description of the three Goddesses who were often shown or spoken of as being clad in the night sky and being blind.

“W-what do you want?” Haki quivered as Maranam held him like one would a pillow.

[You have been chosen to represent your house in the pursuit of the Ruler’s Charge and thus are eligible to receive my blessing.] She spoke slowly and quietly as if she was perpetually drowsy.

“What blessing?” Haki frowned as Maranam finally let him go, allowing him to sit up and back away.

Maranam then sat up as well before holding up her right hand.

Wisps of white smoke then appeared in her palm where they swirled and coalesced to form a dagger that was about thirty centimetres long. It was made of a dark metal and traces of the white smoke it came from could be seen rising from its edges.

With a racing heart, Haki stared at the weapon while still trying to process everything that was happening.

[Take it. This weapon, my Aruval, draws power from death and so, as you get stronger, so too will it.]

Haki nervously reached out and grabbed the dagger only to wince a little as some of the smoke touched his skin, chilling it.

He inspected the weapon all while Maranam laid back down to sleep even though the sun was steadily rising.

“So… will you be helping me get the Ruler’s Charge?”

[While I would love to, there is not much an incorporeal being such as myself can do in this world.] She whimpered making Haki’s brows knot.

“What?”

[The me you’re seeing is but a projection. This world wouldn’t last too long if all of Death itself was lying in your bed, no?]

Haki’s eyes nodded in contemplation.

“So… why are you helping me?”

[It is as I said. I am a Cycle Sprite. It's only natural for the sake of perpetuity.]

Haki’s eyes narrowed as he only understood half of what she was saying.

He wondered if the goddess was being coy or whether his own ignorance was to blame but chose not to speak up about it yet.

“Am I the only one who can see you?”

[Yes.]

“Why haven’t you allowed my father- the old man to see you?”

[Because I knew that he would not be the one who ascended the mount.]

“And the others? Will they be getting help from the other Goddesses too?”

[Yes.]

Haki nodded and just as he did, the dagger disappeared.

“Huh?” He exclaimed while looking around to see where it could have possibly gone, something which made Maranam giggle barely audibly.

[You can recall the dagger by focusing on the centre of your palm.] She cooed and the young man followed the instruction only to wince again as white smoke gathered in his hand where it formed a dagger.

The sun began to pour into the room, illuminating Maranam’s full figure which, now that Haki could see clearly, was two and a half meters tall.

He had so much he wanted to ask her and it was nice talking to someone who wasn’t kicking him but as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, Fure called from behind the door.

“Young Lord, it would do you well to awaken now.”

“I’m up!” He replied and before he knew it, Maranam was gone.

[Don’t worry. I’m still here.]

Haki’s confusion was quickly alleviated as he heard her voice in his head.

And so, he quickly made his dagger disappear and went to open the front door where he found Fure who was dressed in a pale green gown as ornate as the one she’d worn the day before.

“Are you ready?” She asked in her usual apathetic manner.

Haki briefly thought about everything that had happened.

It was a lot and he could tell a whole lot more was coming but he was prepared.

He was ready.