Chapter 7 The Gift

A door opened on one of the walls and out came a man wearing a black robe with a pointed hood.

It was obvious that the man was dangerous and Edwin had instinctively backed away until his back was up the wall.

"Good you're awake" said the hooded figure.

Edwin was still in shock and couldn't move his body or even think.

"Oh don't worry i wont hurt you" the figure said "at least not that much".

The figure then moved closer to Edwin stepping over the piles of dead bodies and torn limbs.

Edwin tried to move but remained motionless 'Dammit i'm going to die here' Edwin thought.

'He left the door open maybe if i could run past him i could escape through it' but it was all fruitless thoughts as the figure suddenly appeared in front of him. 'He teleported?'

"I know what you're thinking, the door is open and you can probably run past me and escape, right?" the figure said leaning close to Edwin.

Up close Edwin could see the Figures face only that he didn't have one, no eyes or nose, just a pale blank face, his mouth, the lips looked dry and were cracked. The figure smile revealed sharpened teeth.

Edwin screamed "Please let me go, I won't tell anyone please!!" Edwin pleaded. Even though Edwin is technically in his twenties he is currently only a child with his body. And especially because Edwin had never seen anything like this at all whatsoever no self help book said anything about any of this.

Edwin could only gulp propmtingthe hooded figure laugh. Then with an Evil and sadistic smile the Figure turned back to Edwin as his vision started to get cloudy until he blacked out.

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SOMEWHERE DEEP IN THE FOREST

A man is running frantically.

Hu hu hu

The man stops to catch his breath and looks around looking for clues on where he is.

The man's name is Luther the captain of the city of Rome's garrison and as a garrison captain Luther is tall, an imposing figure at the height of 6'5 weighing 230lbs packing muscle. On top of that he is also wear his armour a plate armour resembling a Roman legionnaire armour but instead of metal strips laced together it was two big metal strips one longer covering his whole chest and stomach and a second rounder and smaller covering his chest both pieces were strapped together by leather. Underneath he wore chainmail covering his whole upper body as well as his arms. His arms and legs too were plated but the armour wrapped around his limbs. He wore a helmet closely Resembling a cassis or galea (helmet on latin).

Even though the whole armour weighed around 70-100lbs Luther was still able to run with it due to his physic and stamina but due to his use of magic. Yes Magic while there many types of magic connected with the elements there are those called Free magic which are a whole different category from elemental magic. Such as a small scale levitation or in Luther's case weight magic.

Catching his breath Luther continued Running.

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THE ROAD OUTSIDE THE ROYAL CAPITAL

A column of horse cavalry is riding hastily with the King Leading them. They wore heavy black armour resembling knights from medieval england but with plumes on them again resembling Roman helmets.

"Hurry men to Granblue forest we have to reach Luther before he kills himself" Victor yelled.

With that the whole group picked up speed and rode to Granblue forest.

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AT THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBER

Edwin wakes up with a headache 'Ugh my head that's the second time today'.

Edwin tries to move but realizes that he is strapped onto a wooden table with all sorts of contraptions surrounding him. 'How come this happens to me every single time' looking around for something to get him out. 'Helpless again, I've been too trusting of people here Vera and Carl have lied to me'.

A noise to his left he sees the Faceless man which Edwin had decided to call him along with two other people. They walked around Edwin, one of them studying him while the other two messed around with their concoctions.

"Wha- what are you going to do to me?" Edwin asked the figure.

The Figure only smiled back to Edwin walking over to the two "He is ready, prepare the ore" he said to them.

From a box on one of the tables one of the hooded figures pulls out a glowing red orb.

"Are you sure that this one is ready? The others we have chosen have all died especially the last one" the man holding the orb said. "It was a pity he had such fighting spirit only to succumb to the orb eventually rotting away".

"This one should do the orbs powers are unpredictable we don't know its purpose but if the Patriarch says to imbue it to a boy then we shall do it, We should never question the Patriarch for he has been to the planes of our god Cybele the god of blood our blood god. (A: This cult is an actual Cult in Ancient Greece although i've changed it this cult is inspired by them). "The patriarch says that the orb will awaken Cybele and this child shall become his vessel.

"Please let me go, I won't tell anyone" Edwin pleaded he has never faced anything like this before he has never been this helpless. Now he is scared shitless as he is truly helpless.

"Ahh dear child you see we can't, We're here to offer you a gift" The Faceless man said.

"But I don't want It" Edwin continued. "I'm nobody so why choose me, their are even better candidates for this, a noble or something they're better off for your gift".

"Ohhhh my naive child Cybele does not care, he needs a young body because your soul is still young and untainted, and he can just reshape you in any way he wants, that is our god" The faceless man said, throwing his arms in the air. "The god of blood, of life and all things pure" as the faceless man says that his face begins to contort and change. Revealing sunken deep bloodshot eyes with no eyelids. Then his nose forms well sort of just revealing two holes on his flat face. "You see this?" the faceless man said, his voice growing hysterically. "Cybele gifted me this face, this beautiful and perfect face, the face of a disciple worthy of his love" The faceless man hugs himself smiling.

"And you will take this gift, you will take it and love it as he loves you" the faceless man's hysterical and joyous voice is now gone. Replaced with an echoing demonic one.

"Take it, take it, take it" as all three of the hooded figures say in unison while cutting Edwin open with just their hands.

Edwin screams.