Adam’s FOV

Someone poked me with something.

I woke up and cleaned the drool off my face. I managed at least thirty minutes of sleep, felt good… sleeping without the past haunting me. Even if just for a little while.

It was Tobin or Robin, whatever name. He had placed a a pile of books on the table and was poking me with a big scroll. He moved his mouth, but honestly my headache is such that my brain couldn’t even bother to give sense to words.

I took the scroll and opened it. It was a map, a world map. Quite detailed too.

“Hmm” I muttered as I looked at it.

It’s quite similar to Earth indeed. The big isle where I was right now, europe and the other continents. There is just an odd factor. Something familiar.

There is certainly less ocean, the continents are smaller and closer to each other, it wasn’t an overlook; this map is very intricate. even having the distances accounted to the particulars.

I took another map from the pile, just to make sure. And yes, the distances are the same.

The continents are definitively smaller, there are countries that never existed on earth and even the flora went as far as having deserts in europe and icy wastes in africa. The only places that are most similar to the ones from earth was really just here. The british islands and some parts of asia too.

There is also certainly more erosion given the little I knew of geography. This world has been around a lot longer than earth. Most land masses clenched and dispersed many times, damn; you could even get to the americas in a single week of sailing from where iberia was supposed to be.

But given the information I had acquired the other day, america was recently discovered, colonized even. Maybe during the last century, less?

It should have been a lot easier to find. So it should had happened long before.

I took the history books and read the random bullshit, about some dimwit who burnt some place and the tragic story of a long dead royal family and some such. The things is, from all these books. I couldn’t find traces from more than a thousand years ago.

All these powerful entities who wielded great power and created the foundation of the magic that exists today?

…

I found it out.

I figured it all out, in maybe a couple of hours of research. Robin was engrossed in some book about fauna, and didn’t pay much attention to me.

I laid back in my chair.

Two words, Farm and world; that would explain the lack of records a thousand years old missing. There is no such history from back there; a library this old and big would be sure to have them, it didn’t.

It’s as simple as that. It’s a world and a farm both.

From what I could figure out every thousand years that passed there would be a whipping, a harvesting, yes. Harvesting.

Some big shot from one of the hells, he owns this world and uses it to farm souls at a secure and methodic scale. A big one.

Even I hadn’t done it this way before. But I had heard of it; and that’s why I recognized this ploy almost immediately. All thanks to knowledge in the structure of the universe and existence itself. An outside view.

Damn, even the heavens couldn’t help themselves but to have a bite from the cake. They had a branch here too. This church where I am standing right now used to belong to them; the ruling caste do love their taxes.

Basically, every soul that is born here instead of reincarnating is harvested by said big shot from hell. Even thought they are weak as fuck due to the lack of arcana in this place, a soul is a soul, there is always market for it and no true demon would say no to free food.

You can make millions by selling toilet paper. Same scheme.

The difference? These are living sentient beings. Some manner of difference from a bit of a dead tree.

It is indeed… bloody diabolical. I did like it!

As for the magic. Well, either he let a bit of it stay and develop, or some of his henchmen stayed behind to keep the things running and ended up going rogue making it public.

As for this place being a replica of earth? Well, it is rare but sometimes it does happen. Being reincarnated with the memories from a previous life. Rare? Yes. But quite popular. And Earth is quite a functional world all things considered. It would only take about three hundred thousand years of sapient existence for them to murder each other and blow up the whole world into smithereens.

Most worlds with magic don’t last half that long.

Earth is a perfect choice, a good reference to create a slave plane based on it indeed. I need to meet this… so called ‘big shot’, it has been a long time since I had met a fellow from back home.

No… never mind, he provably comes from some other alternation.

I stretched around in my seat. It is still about two hundred years until the next harvest, maybe I could speed it up a little?

Bad idea. Given my current state I would be a banquet for him, without even having the power to lift a finger against such being, I would be a sitting fowl. My soul would be worth at least fifty the times what he would get from a single harvest, millions of these weaklings.

My plans remain unchanged. Maybe I will cause a little havoc along the way, but I’m getting out of here. Much to do back home, someone else’s shady entrepreneurial schemes is not of my concern really.

I closed my books and organized the scrolls, and got up.

“Adam, Sir!” Corbin rushed over my side as I walked.

“Ah…, yes you, we are done. Off you go.” I replied to his actions.

“Maybe… Sir, I helped you now you help me. That’s how it works, right?” The boy asked without hesitation.

I casually turned, looking him in the eye. I stood in silence, he didn’t flinch at my sudden reaction. He is quite shy, but it seems he can keep a level head when it counts.

“What is it that you would request of me, boy?” I smirked crossing my arms.

He didn’t hold my stare, even looking around kind of embarrassed. “It’s… Your sister… I… I like her, even though we never really talked… She helped me once with… Never mind that. Can you help me, eeer” He looked really flushed. “Get close to her?” He finally managed to say.

He’s got to be kidding! Ha! I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Sorry kid. I don’t think she is into… Well boys, or men in general.” I replied sort of disappointed. It would be quite fun setting something between these two. I can always do with a good laugh.

The boy gasped embarrassed. “Nononoono! Not that bi… beautiful princess! …she scares me. Your twin I mean, lady Ruth…” He muttered.

We walked out of the library as we talked. Eventually going out walking through the corridors, I stood silent for a while.

What the hell does he see in that mute kid, she saved him he said? I guess I can prove him further.

“What exactly do you like about Ruth, boy?” I asked expressionless.

He didn’t hesitate. “Everything sir! You provably know… She is known as the silent singer among our order. Her mastery over magic is unbeatable! She stands invicta among those who aren’t masters!” The boy clearly has an obsession, I noticed it as he raved on. “Your older sister managed to grab all the attention last year when she beaten the test to become a master. But Ruth… Ruth is the real talent all those who are any good know that! And her eyes… Such beautiful shades she has…” He was showing a dreamy expression as he said it.

I inwardly felt some level of disgust. He doesn’t seem to have the purest intentions towards her… Well maybe I can put up a test for her then for the nearby future, still… I could arrange them to meet.

I really wonder what would happen, her reaction to such a person.

“Very well. I will introduce you to her. Come on.” I don’t really have no gratitude nor feel like I owe him anything… but, now I’m feeling quite curious.

We walked towards the training room and I pushed the door open. Earlier I had noticed both girls entering this place, and honestly I’m curious to see what these so called ‘sorcerers’ are really capable of.

Pushing open the old rustic door, both of look around taking in this place. A grand circular room, at the centre two figures are engrossed in a seemingly tense duel. The floor was made of the same dark stone as most of the underground. But here it used to be polished at some point, due to the wear and tear many cracks and holes can be seen in this ground. Some holes are actually big enough to be used as advantage in these duels, if one had the mind to take advantage of them.

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Like all the rooms there are no windows, we are underground that would be silly.

A large ring of seats carved of the same black stone surround the duelling ring. There’s nothing here for the onlookers to hide behind, forcing the many who where here right now watching the fight to use their own means to defend from stray spells.

Not a place for the common acolyte.

I casually approached the fight, it was indeed a heated one, Maria and Ruth were pushing themselves out of their limits in this fight, both going all out. I could see a couple of masters readying medical equipment at a safe distance for once the fight was finally done.

Torbin followed me close behind muttering something. A defensive spell? Honestly I could notice the so called masters gasping in awe, they recognized the might that both girls were showing off. They obviously noticed by now that they both got hand of a powerful contractor.

Silly girls, we should keep our aces up in our sleeves for whence one needs them, not before.

As I approached the fight, an old master that was waddling around came to me. “This is a private duel, interference is not permitted. If you wish to fight, sign up and wait your turn.” He said with a frown.

“Move aside. I will be taking over the… arbitration!?” I answered amused, ignoring the older man and walking like he wasn’t even there.

“You arrogant little! … Wait you are…” He quickly changed his tone. “I’m sorry young master, go right ahead.” He let me pass.

Good boy. I moved not paying him any more heed.

Both girls noticed me, but didn’t stop their fight. I just stood there observing the fight, where should I start? Terrible. They can’t fight for shit.

Maria noticed me smirking at them and lost no time to shout. “What are you smirking at! You jerk.” Which she quickly regretted as Ruth threw a impressively precise firebolt at her face, she managed to deflect it in time with a barrier but it did almost knock her off her toes.

“Damn it.” She reacted, shouting in anger.

She sprinted towards Ruth throwing firebolt after firebolt which in turn she easily defended against. Once she closed in she started summoning something like… a fire spear? She jumped up and tried to stab it in Ruth’s face. She quickly responded with a force shock wave sending maria flying back and landing with a back roll. She immediately got up and resumed her offensive.

“Wrong, wrong and wrong you two!” I shouted in amusement. They both stopped the duel and looked at me flabbergasted.

Ruth made an ‘what’ expression with both her hands and face, while Maria just complained and made rude remarks about… the lack of hair in my chin? as she crawled out of her butt, Anyway. I took no time to start teasing them both.

“Who taught you two to fight, a couple of drunken ogres? Maria you are always in the offensive! This reckless behaviour will only tire you out and create openings that would cost you your life in a real fight. Ruth! You are always in the defensive and you spent the whole time sitting in one place! Footwork girl. The predator stalks the prey and strikes when it is weak. You shouldn’t have pushed her away, instead dragged her in into your dagger. The pull would surprise her and make her lose her balance making her dumb strike to miss or easily avoidable. Maria! That was a spear. You are meant to throw spears not to make silly poses with it.” I instructed them.

Ruth was surprised then made an angry expression, she then responded me with a obscene gesture while Maria just scratched the back of her head embarrassed.

“Training alone is good for discipline, but don’t do it. It only embeds your errors.” I finished.

Ruth stomped her foot and made a gesture pointing at herself and Maria then at me.

I quickly understood her intentions. “Very well, you two come at me and… You there.” I pointed at Robin. “You join them, three against one might be slightly fun mayhaps.” I smirked.

Maria panicked. “You can’t be serious! I refuse.” I noticed that she wasn’t actually afraid for me like the others but from me. She knew what I was.

Ruth just spat in her general direction, deeming her a coward maybe?

“You don’t… understand Ruth he… he is.” She quietly hushed as my gaze fell on her. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt any of you.” I said as I took a rapier from one of the sword racks nearby. “Much…” I laughed at the notion.

The next one to speak was the boy, Tobin. “As scary as you may be Adam, sir… Even if you were a master three against one is… unfair. I kindly ask that you yield.” He readied himself in a silly attack pose.

“Agreed.” The same old master that was watching over the fight from before spoke. “Duels between a master and two acolytes are not unheard of, but three against one? And one of these three is a master? Young master… don’t let your pride get the better of your judgement. People can get really hurt in my arena, less often than I would like though.” He said with a light sadistic smirk.

“Enough talk, you four. Let’s make it even more fun, old goat you must be bored of watching; come join! Four against one! The notion makes my blood boil… Even if just a little bit.” I flourished the rusty old rapier, as the four of them quickly cornered me.

This is going to be fun.

“Your move.” I smiled.

—

Maria’s FOV

He made a quick flourish with his blade and just stood there in the middle of the four of us with a easy smile on his face. One that made me nervous, I know we can’t win this. There is no way such a monster can be felled by simple folk like us.

Luckily… He isn’t out to kill us yet.

We paced around him. And he just stood there with his eyes closed, undisturbed holding the slender blade up between his eyes, the anticipation is killing us. Fear is creeping up my spine, even though the others aren’t afraid; they are just thinking of the best to way to engage making motions with their eyes silently crafting a plan.

He opened his purple eyes and looked directly at me; into me, and he knew… He knew I was afraid, even thought I am not showing it and he smiled.

I never expected to feel quite so much fear, not from a smile.

Master Yaspin was the first to make a move. He was a master after all, confident in his abilities and Adam was just a boy in his eyes.

He hadn’t even coordinated an attack with us, he just charged summoning flaming fist around his hands. He sprinted towards Adam and attacked in a flurry.

What I saw next was unbelievable. A quick motion that even human eyes could follow, not even as fast as the blur that Yaspin’s fists made has they missed the boy.

What I saw was precision at best. I was paralysed, didn’t even had a reaction to that.

Three slashes was all it took, he casually sidestepped the flurry like one would avoid a rock in the road. And in an arched slash he easily cut the tendons below the shoulders the armpits, first the left one; then he made a fancy spin behind the man’s back and slashed the other side. Making his flaming fists useless as the man’s blood literally splashed into the stone floor, like a stroke of a brush...

He was flabbergasted as he turned his head back and looked into Adam’s purple eyes.

“Haha…” Adam laughed nonchalantly. And the older master’s eyes were now filled with fear.

“Pathetic.” The younger boy; Adam mocked.

In a blur, a faster move than before he made a single cut at the man’s tendons behind his knees, making him fall on them. Casually he stroked the hilt of his sword against the back of the man’s head making his head smash down against stone with a thump. Almost an audible crack.

This was no magic, his speed wasn’t superhuman either. It was pure skill, whatever it was… I couldn’t tell; describe it elsewise.

He flourished his blade again painting the ground blood.

“You were four, now you are three. Come at me as such, don’t make the same mistake as this dead fool.” The boy stood beside the knocked out man, holding his sword in a causal manner.

I looked at Ruth and she nodded and the meek looking boy too. I was going in the offensive, Ruth would cover me and the boy would cover us both. I knew what Ruth was good at and him… no idea, it is up to him to make himself count.

I summoned the flaming spear again. The first spell I choose from the contract with that devil… Seth was his name, I had read it in the contract that was burned into my memory. These were spells that pacts would grant us, like the shock wave Ruth made earlier, I could have picked that one too, we had the same pact after all.

I choose the spear; I hadn’t lost most spells from my previous contract tough… our patron was so weak that he couldn’t grant us the powers directly, only able just teach us how to use them after years of study and practice.

Fire gathered in my hands and soon the greater spell surge forward. I lifted my arm up from a safe distance and shot it towards Adam; just like he had instructed. It worked! This does not only work as a weapon summon but also a projectile. Truly a prize from a greater contract!

Pure fire was launched in the shape of a spear, Adam just smirked like the usual. Think you can just dodge a greater spell with ease? I doubt it. It’s speed is more than any human is capable off.

I could see the fire getting empowered as the spear flew. It really shines as a thrown weapon! Its absorbing the oxygen as it rotates to kindle the flames up and maximize its performance. These spells don’t come with accurate description. One has to use them to learn them, good thing that fool explained it to me.

Ruth started moving too. It seems she also took the advice to hearth, she rushed along the spear as it flew, now he had not to avoid one attack, but two!

Now he is screwed. Or… I thought he would be.

He was just standing there, with his usual annoying expression the spear reached him and instead off ending him right there he casually caught it up in the air, and with a spin reversed it.

In Ruth’s face.

Ruth’s FOV

I Rushed along the fire spear. I could have picked this spell too from the contract, quite an impressive weave, still shock-wave is nonetheless good. It can break bones and adds to my defensive fighting style.

Still, we are three against one. The sow went on the offensive, so I’m better off making a follow up. He won’t expect that I am sure.

Or so I was.

He didn’t parry it and he didn’t dodge it either! The spear was faster than me even while I’m using speed enchantments. What he did was really unexpected.

He caught the damn thing mid-air in the shaft and used his body to reverse the spear’s direction towards me! Fancy spin and all!

*BOOM*

It crashed against all of my barriers and prepared defences. I even crossed my arms in hopes of saving myself. It didn’t matter, the explosion reeled me backwards sending me flying.

Pain.

As I landed, my back smashing against the stone floor, I coughed blood. Checking myself both my arms and most of my ribs ended um broken. My defences managed to save me from the fire, just my arms got themselves singed.

I’m done. I admitted.

“You think you are done for? That you are saved? Time to give up? No, my dear. You either break or I break you. Even if we are just playing you must pay for your weakness.” A voice from back where I came from…

I heard steps through the cold slate floor. My brother didn’t let up; he was already above me thrusting his sword in a lunge.

He meant to impale me!

I took the chance that he was already in the air and punished his stupid move. Shook wave!

*FWOOOSH, BOOM*

This spell is most powerful on airborne enemies. There is nothing to hold himself on, he would fly off in the distance only crashing against the walls and breaking every bone in his body.

But it didn’t happen! He pulled something like a fucking barrier out of his arse! He managed to parry the spell hardly flinching at all.

Now I was done. His rapier aimed at my chest as he descended towards me.

Adam’s FOV

Got her.

Suddenly, my steel crashed against something. To my demise it wasn’t tender flesh or bone. A shell, the boy Robin or whatever, was on me parrying my blade with some kind of turtle shield.

I stepped back, measuring him.

“Sir, you went too far. This is only practice” He stood his ground, shield up. “I WON’T LET YOU HARM HER!” He shouted, anger and determination in his eyes.

Ruth was behind him in pain. Still she managed to cringe at his words her expression clear.

I chuckled and lunged at him, breaking his defence with a quick flurry of slashes. Was this shield all the magic he knew? I wonder…

It didn’t take long , his shield flew off and disappeared into the air. The boy was untrained, just toying with him made him exhausted.

I lunged again, aiming for his shoulder. I wouldn’t kill him or anyone, the old fool back then could take it. He will survive, as for this meek boy a little pierce in the shoulder would do the job, given that he would have medical attention ready beforehand, which he has.

As for Ruth? A good beating should be a good lesson. That’s one of the things pain is good for.

Impressively enough the boy didn’t just stay there like a bag of potatoes, he actually found a way to fight back!

Electricity cracked up through his right arm and hand. And he took the stab into his palm, my rapier pierced his palm, and a powerful jolt of electricity was conducted by the steel… electrocuting me! He even managed to cast some kind of rain cloud, spell leaving me drenched!

This boy is good! Quite Smart too.

I took in the pain as he melted me. And haa… What a sensation! The pain even muffled due to my current state was sharp... There is nothing better to remind us that we are alive.

I took a few moments to enjoy the moment. Soon I heard footsteps from behind. Maria was closing in.

“You… Are enjoying this!” The boy exclaimed fearfully.

“Why shouldn’t I? ” I smirked. “Wonderful job indeed, boy!”

I pushed the sword with all my might, the electrical current rushed all over my body making me tired and weak. Still good enough to end him.

I pierced his hand and then his shoulder. Leaving him pined and impaled on the ground in a pool of his own blood.