After a well-rested body and mind, The gang huddle together for a dinner. As for the elephant in the room, swallowing after only a few five bites Akatosh was like a horse continuously feeding his mouth ending his dinner in mere minute.

“Don’t you have any etiquette.” Ashalain implores.

“I do I’m just too lazy to use it.” Akatosh replies followed by a chuckle.

Ashalain sigh, and resumes her form of eating. Akatosh follows and starts going for some desserts.

“Curious brother Akatosh, how did you end up with those injuries.” Riya says towards Akatosh who’s by far detach from his surroundings. Neglecting her words, Riya slowly became embarrass until Chifya mildly elbows his abdomen enough to stimulate his senses.

“Wha…” Akatosh implores at Chifya.

“Our friend ask how you douche yourself in pig slop.”

“No-no-no, what I mean is, what did you fought before teleporting here.” Riya quickly replies.

“Funny you ask, Chifya didn’t have the tenderness to let me teleport with her after we done our rutting in the sewer. I can still remember how good and cranky her technique was, oh she sure is a feisty viper.” Akatosh replies seeing Sei and Reith holding their laughter. “Speaking of the devil…” Akatosh continues right after looking at Chifya who’s somewhat hit by his jest.

Understanding that proceeding with another joke Chifya would give him a smack, he turns at Riya and tell his vague answer.

“I was caught up with your history’s unfinished business. An affair with dead and undead, but that’s enough I have to sleep.” Akatosh says stuffing the whole dessert then went towards Chifya’s room.

At around midnight, the traveler awoken from his sleep ready for an escape but the room was sealed similar to what Ashalain had done.

“Bollocks… Rag, help me with this shit.”

“Fuck you bitch I had enough of you! Do it on your own.”

“Fine then… guess I’ll do it with my own barehand.” Akatosh implores returning to his slumber.

Morning came and still the seal from the room wasn’t lifted nor his partner didn’t dispel the seal. To kill some time, he instigates a conversation with his partner.

“Do tell, what do you know about that god we’ve met and those two associates.”

“Karangax, I say the god of undead and dead… Additionally the name Karangax is nothing more than a title. Not much is told about who or how many have taken turns but what I dearly avoid are those two corpses.”

“What about them?”

“A thing or two… They are not to be meddle with even those higher up gods would curl their balls to those two. It is said they’re the overseers of life and death even to the gods… I don’t know if it’s true about a certain god who tried to conquer the two only to be erased and replaced.”

“I’ve been questioning… what’s your real deal with Karangax.”

*Ugh…* “Before the stillmage crisis which I the cause did some shenanigans. I was hungry, hungry for more to the point it backfired. I did many deeds as I could, gaslighting the abyssal gods, causing the fall of that one specific Lord of all dragons, shifting the balance of the realm. But there was that encounter that really…” The stillmage pause somewhat hesitating to continue. “The one who lead me through the place we are now occupying.”

“You mean the island.”

“Yes… You do know the story of those old heroes who battled and seal the corrupted dragon of Azarus?”

“I do, What about it.”

“I was there, back when I was a power-hungry man. Following our separate ways after the crowning of the first archsage. A new crisis emerge so too are heroes guided by Azageis and the crowned archsage Ethos. As for me, I had a different plan… thinking to myself that If I could obtain the power of a god, things would be different. Not only did I want a divine power but also to satisfy my curiosity.”

“And were you successful?”

“It went south, I was a stupid fool thinking that I could take takedown the avatar and taking the spoil all to myself. My first encounter was like a peasant to a mountain crumbling down on me. And as you can say, I cowardly run that day.”

“Then how did those heroes resolve such crisis, I mean--”

“Bah! Their help was nothing more but shit. When I tried my third attempt it was at that time that the avatar was now fully corrupted and ready to fuck the world. That’s when I witness another more terrifying creature.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Let me guess another god.”

“I don’t know, it was a dragon but much bigger and more powerful. I still remember how it thrashes that avatar like it was a new born baby. I cannot tell if it’s an intervention with the gods but I was sure it wasn’t considered he was the one who shepherd me through that island—and I know how to differentiate a god when I encounter one.”

“He?”

“Yes, it was a male.”

“I see… it seems there is much for you to apprise me of your history. And by the way what happen to that avatar.”

“Weaken to its deathbed, and not sure why did its adversary halt its final blow for those inept heroes to do the finishing job. Also, it was a hilarious seeing those heroes struggling to seal the avatar who’s at death’s door. Anyway… I think we should postpone our trip to the world tree I have release too much of my aura and that old bastard knows I’m not yet done… too, I had a feeling he knows of my return.”

“If that’s your decision there is a place I like to visit, and things I like to do before taking the road. Also, there’s something I like to try.”

“As for your question about my dealings with that god of corps--” Amaragnum stops when his partner notice Chifya and Ashalain staring and observing Akatosh talking to himself.

“Oh… is the food ready?” Akatosh implores right after seeing Chifya and Ashalain witnessing their man speaking to himself.

The two look at each other in disbelief yet somewhat curious, unwinding a word Akatosh ignores their silence and headed for breakfast. When he went down, he saw the northern girl that he saved looks at him as if a daughter to a father.

“I ain’t no father to this girl.” Akatosh thought.

The girl didn’t utter a world but she glances at him going for a breakfast. While Chifya and Ashalain follows, right away the northern girl went after Akatosh. She didn’t sit by him nor hug or thank him, she stood at his side a meter apart and like a statue she waits for Akatosh to give a command.

“Ugh… need something?”

“M-my lord I’m waiting for your order.”

“My what?”

“Your order my lord.”

“Good lord… Fine but eat first then I’ll give you your order.”

“Sire, we’re done with our breakfast. It’s only you who didn’t have breakfast.”

“Oh, then go kick out those two women over there.” He implores pointing towards the two lasses.

“Hesitating to fulfill her duty, the girl decides for a second then went to carry off her work.”

Just as the girl take action, Ashalain rushes towards Akatosh ready to pounce at him. Akatosh however didn’t waste time and rushes at the backdoor after seeing Ashalain’s furious reaction. Thankfully the door wasn’t seal nor lock allowing him to escape the danger. But when he was about to exit the place, the grass quickly come alive, groping around his feet entangling him as it drags him closer. Quickly accepting his fate, he closes his eyes waiting for some physical injuries.

“Fuck me, welp it is what it is…”

Sensing he was being lift on the ground, he relaxes his body for a beating but as second pass there was no physical assault to be taken.

Opening his right eye, he saw an upset Ashalain. And from her side was the girl clutching her clothes as she pleads towards her.

“Please… please don’t do that to her again. It vexes me that kind of treatment to my kin.”

“I’m not forcing her; I do understand your sentiment. But for her to swiftly brainwashed her mind would lead to her discomposure.”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking.”

“Being a slave to one’s mind is an addiction especially to the young. It’s like a young horse chained that if it grows, even a puny string won’t let it escape for in its mind the horse was already bound from birth until its death. And hasting to re-educate her mind would only lead to her confusion. It’s best to take it slow.”

Akatosh waits for her respond, seconds of no respond he continues.

“Did my words get to you? Or should I have to explain it more to your primitive brain.”

Suddenly released by Ashalain’s hand, he then goes to have a word with the slave girl.

“Sorry for what you’ve seen, by the way I didn’t get your name.”

“It’s “slave girl” my lord.”

“The fuck… Do you by any chance remember your parents?”

“I don’t know my lord.”

“Oh, I see.” Akatosh implores patting her shoulder only to for him to saw her past.

He saw her as a baby wrapped in a blanket on a snowy place. Crying, waiting for predators to have her as a feast, but by the favor of the gods a woman holding a lamp came. Taking her away from the wretched winter, the woman who was then revealed to be a slave by one noble family. Secretly nurturing her, unfortunately the family’s servant dogs found out and added her as slave. There her nightmare would begin, at a young age noble children would harass her and done unspeakable deeds to her. Unable to see her being molested, her foster mother gave light and helping her escaping the place. But she would soon be caught by slave hunter which delivers her to Endregar. Until the travelers appear before death could take her.

Withdrawing his hand, Akatosh was filled with emotions. Hiding his malice, he decides on what to do with the girl’s recovery.

“Tell you what, you see these two women.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“They’re my wife…” Just as he said, Ashalain and Chifya directed their eyes towards Akatosh piercing in disbelief and shock. “So, they are your second master.” He continues going to resume his breakfast.

Just as he was about to take a spoon of his meal, the northern girl follows.

“Didn’t I told you to serve those two women over there.”

“Um… I was taught that the first master is the one I serve. Only then will I serve the second master when the first master is away.”

Akatosh smirk, “You heard that princesses it seems I’m--” Before he could continue Ashalain suddenly sits by his side as she grabs his left wrist, and at the same time she slowly added pressure.

“Honey you talk too much, it would bad if you show your swearing right in front of a child.” Ashalain deviously smiles.

“Woman--”

Before Akatosh would retort, Ashalain delivers her abilities, a spell that was used from when they met at the mansion. Though it wasn’t as strong when he first received her magic it was enough to send a message at the traveler not to make an arrogant action.

“Fine-fine--” He replies. “Just let me finish my food.” He continues munching the food like a cow.

After his munching, Akatosh went upstairs prepping his items for his next plan. And as usual the girl follows, intently waiting for an order coming out from his savior’s mouth. Through that, Ashalain became agitated by the girl’s action. When finished, he went towards the exit.

“Milord may I ask where are you going?”

“Master is going to buy some milk.”

“Umm… If you’re going to go shopping, I can do with carrying stuff.”

“Look missy, the milk I’m going to buy is rather more sophisticated. It would good to stay here and I don’t know… just help those two lasses.”

“But master--” The girl stammer, somewhat afraid to be ordered by either Ashalain and Chifya.

“Sorry can’t talk right now—bye-bye.” Akatosh replies quickly closing the door.

“Now where was I?”