Isolation.

Incarceration.

Jail time.

I was destined to be put in a dark and dank room, devoid of any comfort, locked up, and forced to listen to Rubicon’s ‘reeducation’.

“Hell no!”

“And why the fuck would I willingly submit myself to that!? Wouldn't giving me the same punishment that you just gave Sheeno be enough by law? It sounds like you’re doing some petty abuse of power right there just to get back at me for interrupting your precious cultivation!”

I exploded, but I had been feeling like it was only a matter of time for a while now: I’ve been bottling up my usual complaints and rants to ‘become better’, and every day it became more obvious to both me and [Buddy] that it was bound to not last.

“SHUT. IT!” Shouted the [Guild Master], making the air vibrate with the power of his command.

But I faced a [God] and resisted, this was little more than parlor tricks for me; but the same couldn’t be said for Sheeno, who closed her mouth with an audible clack and sent me a panicked expression.

“NO! You SHUT IT! I’m fucking done!” A sphere of [Mana] and [Aether] blasted out of me, colored by what felt like… well, me.

The usual Purple and gold, but with way more streaks of different hues, and just a smidge of green, grey, white, blue, and the tiniest amount of black.

You have learned a new Ability: [Word of Power]

[Word of Power]

Imprint your voice with your Will, and make it into reality.

Influence other sentient entities and make them follow your orders.

Ability evolved to [Command], due to [Unyielding Sovereign], [Mind Over Matter], and [Aether-Touched]

Command:

Imprint your voice with your Will, and let your imperious decreed be obeyed.

Command other entities, or reality itself, and make them follow your orders.

“That’s… well, unexpected; but I’ll take it.”

Those were my thoughts at that exact moment, at least until I had the feeling that I needed to frantically get away, but the sensation came about as fast as the hairy mitt that slammed into my face, palm first, and grabbed my head.

Before I could fully understand what had happened I was shoved to the ground, with a considerable amount of force being used to press me down.

“Now you listen here you little shit: I don’t care that you’re the [Protegee] of a [God], I don’t care that you’re newly [Transferred], and most of all I don’t care about either you being [Anomalous] or [Aberrant]. All that matter to me is to maintain order, and uphold the spirit of the rules!”

After the first bit of his tirade, the [Guild Master] lessened the strength of his hold on my head, not pushing me as painfully anymore.

“So, you either voluntarily comply with a personal punishment from me, which I assure you will be good for you in the long run, or I’ll pile so much shit on you that’ll make the rest of your life a stinking nightmare.”

And after that, I was suddenly released, with Rubicon reappearing where he had previously sat, demonstrating once more his impressive speed.

Seeing that I wasn’t getting up, Sheeno leaned over to get a look at my face, sporting the biggest expression of utmost worry I had ever seen on her face. What met her though was probably the sourest face she had ever seen, promptly causing one of her eyebrows to raise questioningly.

I sat upright the next moment, forcing Sheeno to jerk back, to avoid butting heads, and I immediately started glaring at the [Guild Master].

“And why should I listen to you, uh!? Threatening someone into compliance doesn’t sound like the smartest move right now-“ I started rebuking, but was startled silent by his next words.

“I had to silence two [Assassins] and three [Information Gatheres] that were digging around about you. Kid, a full-on [Murder Squad] was here for you, and after having taken care of it for you the least I expect from you is a bit of compliance, if not at least a smidgeon of respect”, he stated, once more too close for comfort, and poking me in the chest with one hairy digit.

“I had people after me!? Was it [Purity], or someone else? What the fuck: One of the reasons I was okay with traveling to the [Wild Area] was that I was sure I would enjoy the anonymity. And yet here I am, with people already trying to kill me not even a week into the job… was that Cherry girl part of the ordeal? No, her embarrassment at having shot another [Adventurer] seemed too sincere… but that could be the difference between a good [Assassin] and a lousy one…

Fuck! [Buddy], any thoughts?”

My mind was already spinning with all possibilities of danger and fuck-ups that looked to be waiting for me in the near future.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

The [Guild Master] seems to be in a talkative mood right now: Let us ask him before we start building theories on the worst possible situation, as that is your forte.

[Buddy] was right, maybe it’s a bit too soon to start panicking.

“I know that look, but unfortunately for you, I have no more information to give you; even the ‘two [Assassins] and three [Information Gatherers]’ was mostly guess-work by my agents, since the suspects destroyed everything they had, including themselves, to avoid capture and reveal who hired them”, he grumbled with a dissatisfied look.

“[Holy] fuck! Why would I even have people like those after me!? What the fuck did I do to deserve that!?” I immediately exclaimed, after processing the news.

“Well, with your personality, you probably pissed off the wrong people”, he easily responds, which is… fair, I guess, “the wrong people that are stupid and prideful enough to go after a newly [Transferred], I might add, which should have been far harder to find than accidentally stumbling into them not even a full month in the [Nexus], but you still did it, and pretty early on, if my guesses are to be believed”, he finishes, not looking surprised in the slightest, maybe even impressed.

“Man, do I come across that much of an asshole that others can just guess that I routinely piss people off?”

Yes.

“Fuck me…”

Again, incorporeal and not interested.

“You shut your glib window!”

“Ok, but what am I supposed to do about it now?” I finally asked.

Rubicon raised an eyebrow at my question, seemingly surprised that I would ask, but it was Sheeno that actually responded to me.

“He makes me lay low for a while, forcing me to not stand out for two weeks, while keeping you away from the public eye; ergo our punishments”, she explains.

And that.. yeh, that could work, but there was still something that wasn’t clear.

“Why didn’t you say it like that!? You made it sound like I was getting thrown into jail, while I’m instead just getting some sort of extreme house arrest!” I lamented, turning back to the [Guild Master].

That, for some reason, made his face break into a savage grin.

“Oh, you’re going to wish that it was just that: As already stated, you will instead be under my personal care”, he said ominously.

“And that would entail?” I asked cautiously, still doubting how that could be worse than being left at the mercé of assassins and alike.

“Personal training to push your [Statistics] to your natural limits for your [Level], which on its own it will be harsh enough that by the time we’ll be done it will make you wish that those after your life had been successful, and further teachings about how the [Nexus] works on a social level: I know that nobody probably took the time to explain anything that wasn’t mentioned in the [Introduction], either because they trusted in the [Gods] that thought it so irrelevant that they didn’t include it, to begin with, or because they believed that it would have been best for you to find it out on your own.”

I stared at the man that had the audacity to say such a thing to my face, and after noticing that he definitely wasn’t joking I slowly got up.

“Considerthismyletterofresignation-Ugh!” I tried sprinting out of the room but I had barely enough time to blurt out an excuse and turn around before his hairy mitts were once again firmly holding my shoulders, this time much more painfully.

“Now, now, whenever did I say that you had such a choice? But believe me that this will also be of great help to you in the long run”, he said while squeezing slightly more his grip.

Amid my mild panic attack, I had somehow forgotten that the [Guild Master] was unbelievably fast.

“You already said that! Sheeno, please help!” I resulted to begging for help from the only ally I had in this isolated room.

But what I got in return was only a bewildered look. “What do you expect me to do!? I may like fighting, but I’m still able to understand when something would be just suicidal!”

“I’m not asking you to fight him, just help me in some way!” I rebuked, while being turned around and brought to sit on my knees by Rubicon’s heavy hands.

“Don’t bother with her highness, you might not know but she’s already depending on me to keep those lunatics connected to the [Demi-God of Purity] away from the [Rainbow Guild]; so, while she might want to help you out, she feels like her hands are already tied behind her back from being indebted to me.”

His words made the still-sitting Sheeno flinch a little, as if physically affected by the affirmation.

I sent one last pleading look to my companion, but was immediately met with a conflicted look right back, and a mouthed ‘sorry’.

I heaved a great sigh, and Rubicon must have taken it as a sign that I wouldn’t try to foolishly try and run away anymore, since he released his hold on me.

“I do want to request something”, suddenly exclaimed Sheeno.

I turned back to her, almost fast enough to hurt my neck, hope blossoming once more in my withered heart.

“Oh? Then let’s hear it”, Rubicon acquiesced.

“I want to be present during his physical training, to check that you won’t abuse him too much”, I was glad to hear her take my side, but I wasn’t a fan of the added ‘too much’ thought, “and I’ll take charge of his social instruction myself, since I feel bad that I didn’t teach him anything on the subject since we met, even though it should have been my responsibility as the more experienced member of the [Team].”

“Mhh… That sound alright by me, saves me the hassle on the literary part, while doubling as you keeping to yourself for as long as his punishment lasts”, the [Guild Master] ponders out loud.

“Exactly! And to save further hassles I could rent an [Enchanted Mansion] connected to the [Guild] through a [Teleporting Array], where part of this could be done in complete safety and anonymously, while not occupying [Guild] facilities that could be more useful to others with fewer assets”, Sheeno further reasoned with the [Guild Master].

“Wait, no-!” I tried interrupting, but I realized too late Sheeno’s true intentions.

“That sounds both more reasonable and handier than what I had originally thought of, I could also cut you a reasonable price on both the mansion and the portal, since they’re services provided by the [Guild] and I could waver some of the related fees. But you still need to keep his room austere, since this is still supposed to be a punishment”, Rubicon acquiesced to my increasing dismay.

“Done!” She immediately exclaimed, suddenly throwing me a smile that was both victorious and mischievous, to which I could only curse mentally.

I knew I liked her!

She’s a real keeper, I tell you.

Startled by [Luck]’s intrusion I lost my last chance to keep Sheeno from throwing such an obscene amount of money away for me.

“For Darwin’s instruction I’ll provide most of the material, but we’ll need to keep Merglobth out of it, since him being your handler is probably common knowledge to those looking for either of you, and their activities could tip your enemies off”, He recommended.

She agreed readily, while I was still feeling numb at having such an important choice ripped away from my hands once again.

In this world ‘might makes right’ is truer than ever, it seems.

“I still have to ask though: Are you okay with these arrangements?” Rubicon finally turned to me and asked.

I saw Sheeno smile twitch for a moment, probably thinking that my usual stubbornness would trample all over the leeway she had gained.

Honestly, owing her so much definitely beats getting thrown in jail whenever I’m done with my physical training; I’m not unreasonable.

But! I will obviously find a way to pay her back, as soon as I’ll regain my freedom… and some financial stability.

“Of course, it’s fine, definitely better than before at least”, I said, giving Sheeno a begrudging nod, causing her smile to ease up again.

“Honestly: I wouldn’t have given a shit about what you thought, I was just checking how much of an idiot you were. If you were to actually disagree I probably would have slapped your head around until you finally agreed.”

With his new easy-going tone I almost forgot the almost tangible bloodlust the [Guild Master] could emit, but his words remind me that he was indeed a violent person, just unreasonably good at reeling it in whenever he wanted to.

“Now, for the first lesson!” He then suddenly exclaimed.

“Wait!” Was the only thing both me and Sheeno could exclaim almost in synchronicity, before Rubicon clapped his hands right in front of my face, and my vision went white.

“Uh, not the usual darkness this time?”