Darius Bone

Chapter 7 – Darius Bone

Darius Bone.

Soon-to-be forty, he was the son of some wandering acolyte before joining the Ivory Tower owned by Magus Rutherford, one of the few magi known in the Dalian Kingdom. When his affinity with magic was found out to be a mere grade 1 talent, he lost hopes of reaching the realm of magi.

Rather than strength, he began to eye status and wealth instead.

Hence, he decided to sign a contract with the Arcane Faction, the strongest and wealthiest faction within the tower. Even back in the days, it was led by an advanced rank acolyte. The contract bounded him for fifteen years, and required him to infiltrate the most frightening criminal organization at the time: The Black Widow Brotherhood, an order of necromancers and acolytes aiming at becoming dark magi.

Though their means were despicable, the black widow brotherhood possessed strong links between its members, including friendship, a rare sight in the Ivory Tower, where most people kept to themselves in fear of betrayals.

Giving information about the trades, acts of banditry and warnings of raiding from the Black Widow Brotherhood dramatically increased the Arcane Faction's roles, prevented numerous assassinations of influential acolytes in the tower and even led to some of the brotherhood's members punishment by Dorian Sylvester in the past few years.

"Darius…You did a good job", the elder spoke with some gratitude, "It must not have been easy, having to deal with those monsters for such an extended period of time. And yet, I can't think of anyone who contributed more to the downfall of the last criminal organization in the tower. As promised, I will prepare a high-rank meditation room for you as well as access to the Arcane Faction's spell matrixes. It is only a matter of time before you become one of our intermediate rank acolyte executives"

The elder was infamous in the tower, for he was one of the three advanced rank apprentices among the 68 acolytes within the tower, as well as the oldest. Alchemy master, golem manufacturer as well as rune crafting, he was a well-versed artisan who created the mighty Arcane Faction, trading rare raw materials for low-grade magical artefacts and enchanted gear. People called him Merlin.

"Thank you, Elder Merlin. I shall take my leave", Darius said with gratitude.

Becoming an intermediate rank acolyte was by no means an easy feat for a grade 1 talent like him. Without access to high-rank meditation room or reactive elixirs, it was near impossible to do so.

As days passed, Darius Bone began to enjoy himself, as if the privation and abstinence of the past fifteen years of service within the Black Widow Brotherhood only served to increase his desires for food, women and gambling.

Most individuals living in the tower, including guards, knights and acolytes, thought little of it. After all, there was little value to unused money.

One day, however, Darius decided to follow a prostitute in a small camp outside the tower, regardless of the danger. A month had passed already since he had talked to the elder Merlin, and his magical attainments were improving faster than ever. In a few years, he would reach the intermediate rank. That was a certainty. His life could not get any better, truly.

"Come on, Laylah…I am a regular. Do you want me to follow you until we reach the mountains from where you come from? Is that what you want?", Darius spat, as he grew quite impatient.

Laylah was a native from Narth Island, a woman who was cursed with good looks. Though it saved her village from destruction, she was shamelessly sold to the tower so as to serve in the 'House of Pleasure', which was the most visited and profitable establishment belonging to the Arcane Faction within the tower. It was a whorehouse.

"Come on, dear…You know you love me because I am brave", she smiled seductively, only resulting in Darius growing increasingly more impatient. The man could not wait any longer.

"That's it. Unclothe yourself", he said, possessed by his desires.

Laylah could only obey. But just as Darius put his robe on the ground alongside his magical wand, a low-grade magical artefact he had gotten as a reward from his successful mission with the Black Widow Brotherhood, a bolt accurately shot aimed at his throat.

Luckily for him, he managed to move at the last moment, using his shoulder to block the incoming crossbow bolt.

*SPLASH*

Blood sprayed on the ground, shocking the poor woman.

The attacker calmly walked towards Darius, with only one attention: killing him.

It was an assassination attempt.

In the eerie silence of the night, Darius' mind flashed with a flurry of feeling. The man who was approaching was a predator. And Darius was the prey.

*Gloria Glacians*

The incantation of the spell [Frozen Touch] reverberated in the night.