1-8 Boundless Cultivation - [Isekai Progression Fantasy with Light LitRPG Elements]
Chapter 1 - The Luminous One
Alaric was exhilarated. Today was the day he would finally attempt to bloom his crown chakra. The 7th chakra - Sahasrara - was the seat of divinity. Once you succeeded in fully unfolding all the petals of the crown chakra, you could merge with true divinity itself.
However, in all his years as a chakra cultivator, he had not managed to unfurl a single petal of the 7th chakra.
After years of preparation - consuming the appropriate elixirs, performing the proper karmic actions, and synchronizing his subtle body with the cosmic energies of the world - he believed today was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to overcome this hurdle.
In a cave high above the 'Titan Peaks' - his personal cultivation chamber where a significant number of the ley lines converged - Alaric positioned himself in the lotus position, eyes closed, his hands resting gently on his lap. His pristine cultivation robe - a mix of purple and black - billowed like a sail that caught the wind, as he directed his Qi.
With unbroken concentration, he visualized all the seven chakras of his subtle body - Muladhara (Root Chakra), Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra), Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra), Anahata (Heart Chakra), Visuddha (Throat Chakra), Ajna (Third Eye chakra), and Sahasrara (Crown Chakra).
His first six chakras were in full bloom and pulsed gently to the rhythm of his heartbeat. The final chakra still remained in the bud form but he was ready to change that today. With a deep breath, Alaric cycled the Qi through his body, filtering it through the first 6 chakras and refining it to convert it into cosmic energy.
It took over an hour to perform the purification ritual and stabilize the cosmic energy, which was now personalized to his own vessel.
With an effort of will, he contained the volatile energy - which demanded to be released - into his 7th chakra. Every beat of his heart amplified force, and he commanded it to open the final chakra. It was working. A burning sensation radiated from the crown of his head and rippled through his whole body.
He felt his heart pounding wildly. A sheen of perspiration coated his whole body, but he was lost in the process with no sense of time. Hours went by, testing his willpower to the limits, but he retained control of the potent volatile energy.
His danger sense alerted him to the arrival of a person deep below the cave. Even with his eyes closed, his 'True Vision' ability allowed him to see through every obstacle in his vicinity for miles in any direction. Everybody had been strictly notified to not disturb him during this special ascension ritual. After all, it took him his whole lifetime to prepare for this, and another opportunity might never arise.
So, he knew something was wrong when the leader of the 'Iron Mountain' sect came limping to his cultivation chamber, a hand clutching at his bleeding chest, the other one severed from the elbow.
The leader of the 'Iron Mountain' sect, Jiang, being one of the few Immortal-grade cultivators in the world, was the strongest cultivator in this country. Whatever calamity had befallen him that left him this gravely wounded could not be taken lightly.
A few seconds later, Jiang forced himself into the cultivation chamber, collapsing to his knees with his head pressed to the ground for breaking protocol and disobedience.
"Your Grace," he exclaimed with passion, "forgive the intrusion but we need your help..." He hacked up a mouthful of blood before choking and fell forward unconscious. For a moment, a sliver of anger and irritation flickered in Alaric's mind before he squashed it with his force of will.
He was so close to walking the steps of divinity but it would take him several hours or perhaps, even days to bloom his crown chakra.
If he gave up this opportunity now, Alaric doubted he would ever be able to harness such a powerful cosmic alignment and resources for his advancement again. A smile spread across his face. So be it. Such is the nature of fate. I will never abandon my followers and build my power by spilling the blood of innocents.
Ever since the monster horde's onslaught on his village 17 years ago where he lost his family, he yearned to become stronger. It was due to a kindhearted cultivator that he and the other children in the village survived. For that, he was eternally grateful. All those years ago, in the midst of pain and anguish, he vowed to become strong to protect the weak - to never experience the same despair again. It was his whole reason for becoming a cultivator in the first place.
And now, his people needed his strength. He would seize or forge another opportunity to progress.
Alaric snapped open his eyes. With a grunt, he redirected the energy enveloping the 7th chakra center to the energy channels of his body. He pointed a finger towards Jiang and unleashed a healing spell. A translucent green glow surged into Jiang's body. The injury to his chest healed rapidly, and his severed elbow regrew at a visible rate. Within a few minutes, Jiang regained his vitality and consciousness.
When Jiang refocused his attention on Alaric, he averted his eyes, a look of shame crossing his face. He struggled to rise and bow again but Alaric stopped him.
"No need for formality. Which region?" Alaric prepared a teleportation spell while waiting for Jiang to recount his story.
Apparently, an Elder Dragon soared over the Northern Capital of Ennora, wreaking havoc in its path. Currently, all the capital city sects were battling the Elder Dragon, striving to minimize the devastation, while other sect members scrambled to aid city dwellers in evacuating the region. Unfortunately, even with the combined efforts of all the powerful capital city sects, they were failing to subdue an Elder Dragon.
The "Iron Mountain" sect along with the 'Golden River' sect - two of the strongest sects in the country that had initially offered support - suffered the most damage and were almost shattered.
But that was not the most alarming part. Alaric had vanquished many Elder Dragons in the past, and he would do so again. However, an Elder Dragon never abandoned its territory or attacked "puny" human civilization unless it was provoked or it was fleeing from an even stronger enemy.
A shimmering blue portal materialized in front of Alaric. He seized Jiang and dove into it. A split second later, both of them emerged at the Northern Capital. The stench of blood, smoke, and decay assaulted Alaric's nose. Screams and deep, reverberating explosions echoed in the air. The once beautiful capital city was now marred with violence and death.
From his vantage point a few hundred feet above the capital city, he observed thousands of wrecked houses alongside an equal number of corpses. Flames ravaged a section of the city, with thick tendrils of smoke clouding visibility.
Alaric had witnessed massacres by demon armies and monster hordes but usually, they were committed during times of war. To slaughter innocents was unforgivable. He expanded his perception and 'True Vision' to the limits and locked on to the large black dragon engaged with numerous cultivators in combat.
A second later, he teleported next to the dragon and smacked it in the snout with an 'Empowered Fist'.
The neck of the Elder Dragon whipped back from the force of the impact. Its massive body hurtled through the air and crashed into a mountain peak with a tremendous boom. A massive dust cloud and a cascade of dirt obscured the whole mountain, causing the ground beneath to quake.
All the cultivators from the various prestigious sects froze for a moment, their mouths agape. A second later, a unanimous roar of appreciation erupted in the air.
"The Luminous One is here…the city is saved," somebody shouted.
"Your Grace…""The Transcendent Emperor has emerged from seclusion…"
All around him, the cultivators erupted in joy, some shedding tears of happiness. The cultivators bowed deeply. One by one, they gathered together and withdrew from the scene of the fight, content to witness the clash between the two powerhouses from a distance. All of them realized they would only hinder Alaric if they tried to help.
Chapter 2 - The Anomaly
Alaric remained focused on the Elder Dragon. He recognized the creature by its energy signature, and that worried him. It was corrupted with a foreign energy he had never sensed before. The Elder Dragon was 'Tiberian', the guardian of the 'Shadow Pass', a magical region infamous for its high probability of spawning dimensional rifts.
He recalled his brief interaction with Tiberian when he visited 'Shadow Pass' to seal an extremely dangerous dimension rift that threatened to obliterate the whole region. Tiberian was a sensible Dragon and kind-hearted. It doesn't make any sense for him to attack a human civilization…unless… Alaric ignited his 'Throat Chakra', preparing a special incantation.
Tiberian heaved himself up from the wreckage of the destroyed mountain peak and unleashed an earth-shaking roar. His eyes were clouded and red with rage. There was no trace of sanity in them. The Elder Dragon inhaled deeply, his maw agape as tiny particles of mana swirled together in front of it. A blazing fireball the size of a golf ball formed, and in a split second, swelled rapidly to become as large as a house.
The temperature in the area soared to extreme levels. Tiberian compressed the fireball further, as its glow turned red hot and released his signature technique — Elder Dragon's Breath. A beam of pure red energy surged towards the capital city, threatening to level it to the ground.
The cultivators gasped, too shocked to release any type of defensive technique. Not that it would have mattered. The Elder Dragon had been toying with the 'puny' humans all this while and only now exhibited its true might.
Alaric clapped his hands sharply, conjuring a golden shimmer that blanketed the entire capital city in the blink of an eye. The fiery beam of pure destruction splashed against the defensive barrier and dissipated harmlessly into nothingness. All the cultivators erupted in cheers for Alaric and sang his praises.
Tiberian prepared for another breath attack, but Alaric's special chant - fuelled by the power of his 'Throat Chakra' at full bloom - had reached its climax. He traced a cross sign in the air and quietly mumbled - "Release." Tiberian spasmed for a moment before collapsing to the ground. A moment later, his clouded red eyes, filled with rage, turned white as he struggled to rise.
"What's…happening? Where am I?" Tiberian groaned, turning to Alaric with a glint of recognition in his eyes.
Alaric released a sigh. Just like I expected, he was being mind-controlled. If there was a cultivator strong enough to control an Elder Dragon, it was bad news and the threat was not over yet.
"Guardian of the Shadow Pass - " Alaric gestured towards the scene of havoc caused by Tiberian, "It looks like your age is catching up to you." Tiberian knew exactly what Alaric implied. His willpower had degraded. It was no longer strong enough to resist being mind-controlled, and in his compromised state, he broke numerous vows.
The Elder Dragon, unexpectedly, dipped his head in acknowledgment instead of rebutting him.
"I thank you… Luminous One and beg for forgiveness due to my failure," Tiberian blurted, "I was defeated by a creature that emerged from a rift and…".
Suddenly, a portal tore open in the region, and out came a creature unlike anything Alaric ever saw before. It was a humanoid figure, towering over 10 feet tall that resembled a golem. However, instead of a body made of rocks, its form was composed of something that resembled liquid-metal, reflecting the scene of carnage below. A rhythmic pulse of purple energy emanated from its core, rippling through its body every second with a resonant hum.
"It's the same creature..." Tiberian roared as he rose to his full height ready to battle again.
Alaric didn't need the warning to realize that he faced a truly formidable entity. He hadn't sensed its presence before it teleported into the area. Even now, the creature didn't emit any type of mana signature, Qi, or aura. That changed as the wave of purple energy, previously pulsing through its body, suddenly expanded to envelop the entire region.
A suffocating pressure descended upon the capital city, flooding it in purple light. Cultivators crumpled like marionettes with their strings cut, unable to endure the oppressive aura. At least, the energy behaved like an aura. Even Alaric's skin prickled with unease, and his throat tightened for a fleeting moment. All around him, cultivators were overcome with wild fury, their eyes glowing red with rage.
He sensed the malicious aura invading his mind, attempting to seize control. Alaric traced a cross in the air and bellowed, "Break!" The oppressive aura shattered, and the color of the world returned to normal. Below, the cultivators regained their composure. The figure cocked its head at Alaric, evidently reevaluating its strategy.
Alaric smirked. It would take a lot more than that to invade my mind and break my will. The creature—or whatever it was—analyzed him just as he was scrutinizing it. Through his 'True Vision,' the creature's form blazed with foreign energy—not mana, Qi, aura, prana, or even cosmic energy.
It was something utterly alien. As his sight delved deeper into its essence, Alaric observed that the being had no bones, blood, or organs akin to a living creature. Tiny inscriptions—strange, unfamiliar runes—were carved into every part of its body.
With heightened focus, he perceived the creature's outer shell giving way to its subtle body. To his surprise, the enigmatic runic inscriptions were embedded within its subtle body as well. There was no sign of chakras in its subtle body, confirming that the being was not alive. It was an advanced automaton—a construct unlike anything chronicled in any legend, myth, or grimoire known to the world.
The only energy that resonated with Alaric's senses was a peculiar spatial energy often found inside dimensional rifts. Alaric theorized that whatever this being was, it did not originate from this world—it was a true outsider. Had it crossed through a rift from another dimension? The sheer power radiating from the construct was sufficient to destabilize any rift in the Shadow Pass.
Moreover, Alaric noted that the being's magic was powered by the special runes rather than mana, aura, or cosmic energy—a profound anomaly, as traversing rifts traditionally required the use of all three energies.
Alaric spotted Tiberian amassing a tremendous amount of mana. Tiberian released Elder Dragon's Breath at the thing, hoping to incinerate it. The humanoid creature thrust a hand forward and released a purple beam of its own, which met with Tiberian's in a clash of thunder and explosion.
Unfortunately, it was pretty clear Tiberian was not a match for the thing as the purple beam easily overpowered Elder Dragon's Breath.
Alaric formed his golden protective barrier over the city once again to shield it from a shower of flames and residual sinister energy. He cycled the cosmic energy he'd prepared for his ascension and compressed it into his core. It seemed mana-based attacks were utterly useless against the thing.
Meanwhile, the creature screeched and released a green beam this time, which radiated far more power than before. The green ray of death widened to engulf the entirety of the mountain, consuming Tiberian whole and leaving behind a vast, empty valley stretching as far as the eye could see in the heart of the mountain range.
No blood, no bones, not even smoke. The Elder Dragon was no more — erased in an instant.
Chapter 3 - Sacrifice
The residual impact of the beam collided with the golden barrier protecting the city, and a spider-web of cracks raced across its surface. Alaric froze in disbelief. Even he was unsure whether he could stop the thing without sacrificing his own life. His instincts screamed that the creature had far more devastation to unleash beyond the green ray of death that had annihilated an Elder Dragon and an entire mountain range.
The alien creature emitted a sound that resembled a snicker. The ripple of purple across its body shifted to green and swelled outward to smother the region once again. The ground trembled and buildings crumbled as cultivators were pulled to the ground, unable to withstand the might of the attack.
This time, Alaric had to cycle his cosmic energy to the absolute limit to keep his spine straight. He gritted his teeth and roared — Release.
Once again, the oppressive pressure subsided, but many cultivators remained unconscious. The ones who were still in their senses shouted like maniacs and scrambled to flee the area which was sure to become their grave.
Through his 'True Vision', Alaric saw the runic inscriptions on the thing's surface scramble and rearrange itself. The green ripple on its body turned red. It was preparing for something. There is no way around it.
Alaric mentally prepared himself to sacrifice his life force — the most potent form of energy available to him — and prayed it would be enough to save the city.
He had sacrificed his Dao Energy in favor of wielding cosmic energy, but he knew even his Dao wouldn't have been a match for this abyssal energy, which seemed limitless in his 'True Vision'. Cosmic energy, on the other hand, was much more versatile, powerful, and capable of merging seamlessly with other energy forms.
Fusing the entirety of his Prana, or life energy, with the cosmic energy he nurtured for his ascension, he forged a barrier that enclosed the thing. With an immense surge of willpower, Alaric clapped his hands together, shrinking the transparent barrier trapping the creature.
The barrier's walls steadily closed in, forcing the thing to get into a fetal position. Just a little more…
Unfortunately, it looked like whatever the thing was trying to do was complete. The red ripple expanded and struck the energy barrier from within. Once. Twice. Thrice. Each impact formed another crack on the barrier's surface. Alaric gritted his teeth, straining his willpower to the limits. Chanting a final incantation, he bellowed with all his might — Obliterate.
The inside of the barrier turned into a black void, but Alaric could still feel a tremendous pressure threatening to readjust the scales of power at any moment. Suddenly, he felt the pressure turn up a notch as a red spiral surged out of the center of the black void.
Little by little, the red energy ate away at the black void. Alaric observed the red ripples pulsing multiple times a second, vibrating with a high-pitched tune.
It's not enough. The thing will break out of the barrier any second. Alaric felt a deep sense of regret in his heart. For failing to protect humanity. A series of images flashed before his eyes. All the training he underwent with his mentor. The happy moments he spent with his peers as a child. All the disciples who depended on him and saw him as an infallible figure — the stuff of legends.
No, I cannot give up. Not like this. Not now. Not ever. Alaric decided to change his strategy and bet everything on the following attack. Even if it meant committing a taboo and erasing his existence from the cycle of life and death.
He quit channeling cosmic energy into the barrier to channel it fully into his heart Chakra — Anahata — to the limits.
The barrier restraining the thing burst almost instantly. Even faster than that, Alaric created a shimmering energy funnel in place of the barrier and linked it to his heart and soul to siphon in the tremendous energy within the barrier — now released — before it could wipe out the entire city. The thing was momentarily taken aback, confused by what happened.
Then it focused its hollow slit-like eyes and released a roar.
Alaric barely managed to restrain the tremendous energy — a mix of his own and foreign — and channeled it towards opening his Crown Chakra. The whole process took barely a minute before a single petal bloomed and time seemed to slow down until it stood completely still.
A wave of insight staggered him, and he found himself adrift in an ocean of pure nothingness.
A single petal was not enough to merge with 'True Divinity', but it was enough to allow him access to Karmic Energy. Time resumed, and with a final intention of sacrifice, he swore a Karmic Oath in exchange for momentary power. Every soul that left its mortal vessel was reborn into a different body, world, and circumstances, depending on its previous life karma — good or bad.
Good karma led to good destiny while bad karma led to bad destiny and misery.
This karmic manipulation was not possible unless you were blessed by 'True Divinity'. Now that Alaric had managed to partially bloom his Crown Chakra and could manipulate Karmic energy in a limited capacity, he decided to exhaust all the good karma he had accumulated in this life. That meant he would be reborn into misery after he died. Or he would not be reborn at all for committing this taboo.
However, there was no sense of regret in him due to that if it offered him a chance to save his loved ones, friends, and humanity.
As the Karmic Oath settled into place, he felt an ocean of golden energy flood every inch of his being. It was pure and serene, untouched by any other form of energy. The golden energy squashed the foreign energy in his body like a candle flame snuffed out by the wind. A sense of serenity radiated from his body, which seemed to calm down every cultivator that was fleeing for their life.
With a lazy gesture, Alaric formed a fist and chanted — Obliterate. A golden barrier formed once again, trapping the thing in it. This time, the red runic energy vibrating within the barrier was utterly useless in shaking the barrier by even a single hairwidth. As the barrier constricted with ease, the red energy turned to black.
However, even that was extinguished by the radiance of the golden energy. The golden barrier shrunk down to a pinpoint with a plop and obliterated the alien creature.
Alaric released a sigh of relief. The world is safe, for today at least. He closed his eyes, savoring the happy old memories from his childhood one last time as his body began to disintegrate from the edge of his limbs. His knowledge of what happens in the afterlife was all conjecture and shrouded in fog. But he supposed he had committed a grave taboo.
Still, there was not a thread of regret in his heart. He followed his path to his last, dying breath. He heard a familiar echo of a voice in his mind — his master's. You did well, young Alaric.
Before his body disintegrated completely, he shed a single drop of tear. Suddenly, he was greeted by an ocean of black void. Only his sense of 'I' -ness remained. But this sense of 'I' was utterly different from the one which inhabited his body and mind complex.
It was just him, a being that existed and remained aware of only itself.
There was no thought, no understanding, no feeling, no movement. Time and space lost their meaning. Suddenly, he regained his sense of intellect along with his mind and memories. His emotions were numb, but there was no movement.
A flicker appeared in his mind.
Greetings Soul #19892321. You are in the process of being reborn.
# Error Detected #
Initializing…Please Wait. Process Resolved. Due to your contributions in defeating a wanted Anomaly, you have been awarded the following:
Experience points (adjusted) - Once reborn, you can utilize the experience points to improve your stats.
Memory Retention - You retain access to the memories of your previous life.
Rebirth Customization - Select your region of rebirth, identity, and status.
Choice of cultivation resource - Choose from a list of resources to gain a head start on your cultivation journey.
Signature Title - Ally of the System (Unique).
Would you like to proceed forward? Yes/No.
Chapter 4 - The System
To say Alaric was baffled would have been an understatement. There he was, absolutely sure he died, but instead of meeting his final end, he was very much alive. Well…at least he felt alive with his familiar consciousness, mind, and emotions, although he couldn't feel his body. On top of that, he was seeing weird letters imprinted in his mind.
What is happening?
As if in response to his query, a flood of information entered his mind. Instead of dying and being reborn into misery like he feared, the act of defeating the foreign monster and saving the world had tipped the karmic scales in his favor. Now, instead of being punished for committing what he considered a taboo, he was being rewarded by this…system. Some kind of soul afterlife management system?
Alaric couldn't physically laugh at his own joke but he did feel some mirth. I still don't understand what these choices mean. It was a lot to process, especially with everything that happened just a few seconds ago where he was locked in a life-and-death battle.
The incorporeal words flickered for a moment before another line appeared below.
Subject [Soul #19892321] requests assistance from an administrator.
Initializing…Request granted.
Alaric sensed another presence enter his awareness. A calm presence that felt benign but powerful beyond imagination.
[Greetings, Soul #19892321... Ah, Alaric is it. You must be somebody special for being granted access to an administrator. Let's evaluate the Karmic deeds of your previous life. Hmm…interesting, exceptional…what? That's not possible.]
Alaric chose to keep quiet. He didn't want to inadvertently offend this powerful presence or entity. Besides, he didn't have a clue about what he did that was not possible.
[A mere soul from a system-less planet managed to defeat a class 3 Anomaly?]
Suddenly, the black void he occupied blazed with white light and eventually transitioned into the familiar fight scene with the Thing. Alaric felt as if he was witnessing a replay of his fight with the Thing from a different perspective. After the conclusion of the fight, the scene reverted to being a black void.
[I retract my words. You are not a mere cultivator. Consider me impressed. Ask your questions.]
"I thank you…honored administrator." Alaric decided to show the proper respect. "Can you let me know what this system is and what that entity was?"
[You can simply address me as administrator. The origins of the system cannot be disclosed to you…at least, at this current moment. Just know that the system will guide you in the new world, as it does to any cultivator. You will be rewarded by the system based on your effort. Don't worry, you will learn more about what the system represents and does when you are reborn in the new world.]
Alaric was not disappointed. He figured as much and continued to listen intently.
[I can disclose bits of classified information about the Anomaly since your role in defeating it was absolute. However, you are strictly forbidden from sharing this classified information with anybody. Doing so could incur severe penalties from the system.]
Alaric nodded in agreement.
[Anomalies are usually considered enemies of the system. These could be any type of creature, entity, or construct that acquires power outside the scope of what the system permits and uses it towards their personal advancement — often at the cost of innocent lives. The Anomaly you encountered was not especially strong — only class 3 — but extremely powerful for a system-less world. It appears the Anomaly was able to open a dimensional rift into your world — somehow without triggering the system's alert.]
"It was trying to destroy our world — an easy target — to fuel its own growth?"
[Correct, we apologize for that. Typically, we have defenses in place to prevent that sort of thing. An Anomaly is not just a threat to a world, but also a threat to the system itself. By defeating it, you have done a great service and, hence, earned your rewards. Aside from that, you have been rewarded for your extraordinary karmic actions.]
"Are there any more of those Anomalies in the new world?"
[There are, but they have been either incapacitated or in stasis. Don't worry about them anymore. The system will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused this incident. Now, let's focus on your new life and the choices you'll have.]
Alaric was ready. He felt a huge weight shift from his shoulders. I don't have to bear the burden of saving the world anymore. I did my part. Now, I can start my journey once again. A new life.
[Okay, here we go. First of all, you will retain the memory of your previous life — as stated before. Use that knowledge however you see fit. Second, to make your transition into the new world smooth and advantageous, you can choose your point of rebirth in the new world.]
Suddenly, the black void transformed to show a huge stellar object that quickly zoomed in his vision. The new planet? How beautiful. The new planet looked like his homeworld. Alaric had soared up the skies numerous times in his life and saw what his homeworld looked like from space.
Even with his emotions numb, Alaric appreciated the thread of nostalgia that tugged at his heart.
Focusing on the planet below, he could see multiple land masses. Half of the continents sparkled with tiny motes of light in the dark. It was night-time. The other half was a mosaic of deep green, crimson, yellow, white, and black. Everything else was a shade of deep blue - the ocean. Of course, without his senses and power currently active, he was utterly oblivious to what was going on in each region, the mana concentration, or even any sounds.
"The planet is beautiful."
[It sure is…from a distance. Planet TSR-0351, locally known as Gaia, is every bit as dangerous as it is beautiful. After manual review, the system decided this planet would feel the most familiar to your original homeworld. Now, are you ready to choose which part of the planet you want to be reborn?]
Alaric considered for a moment. "If I am being given a choice, that means there are good and bad options. If I am being rewarded, why can't the system simply designate a favorable location for me?"
[Ah…I forgot to mention. Your rewards are based on your accumulated Karma Points in the previous life, system merit, and experience points you earned for defeating the Anomaly. These will be distributed based on the choice of location, identity and status, and cultivation resource reward.]
"Now I get it. It is a balancing act. If I select the best option from one category, will I only be able to choose mediocre options from the other categories?"
[Yes, you are partially correct. Your choice of selection in one category will determine the future available rewards in other categories based on your remaining Karma points. It will also adjust the final experience points you will receive.]
"I see. Can I see all the available options I'm eligible for in all the categories first?"
[You want to view and sort through all the 7891 different options currently available to you without any adjustments?] The administrator sounded a little playful.
Alaric, on the other hand, released a sigh. Well, I tried. Too many options will only serve to confuse me. "Er..no. Let's proceed normally."
Alaric saw more lines added to the system message.
Available regional rebirth options are as follows:
Zephraxis - The mighty empire, Zephraxis - once considered an equal to the Aurion Empire - suffered a mysterious catastrophe 500 years ago which resulted in its decline. Now known as the 'Fractured Empire', it is controlled by a fractured monarchy with rival kingdoms led by warlords and noble houses.
It is home to expansive river systems, fertile plains, rolling rivers, and crumbling fortresses. Currently, it is in a state of civil war with multiple noble houses waging war to claim the 'Zephyr Throne', which has been waiting for its rightful ruler for 20 years.Nereid's Veil - Bordering the unexplored 'Dark Continent', Nereid's Veil is known as 'The Archipelago of Mists'. It is governed by a loose union of merchant captains and pirate lords known as the 'Confederacy of Pirate Kings'.
It features thousands of islands, sunken ruins, coral ruins, underwater runners, and fog-shrouded shores. A humid subtropical climate dominates the islands with mild storms and occasional typhoons. It exists in a state of shifting alliances with pirates often switching sides for gold and forming new 'Fleets' every year.Isfrost - The southernmost continent of Gaia - Isfrost - is also known as 'The Glacial Dominion' due to its eternal winter and constant snowfall with only brief periods of sunless twilight. The 'Theocracy of the Eternal Frost' - frost priests who worship the "Frozen Saint" - reigns supreme in this region.
Frozen seas, tundras, glacial valleys, and ancient ice-locked ruins adorn this continent. This continent is under religious tyranny, and heretics are subjected to harsh punishments by frost priests for their sins. Ignavus - The northernmost continent of Gaia - Ignavus - is home to constant volcanic tremors, scorching heat, and toxic fumes. The volcanic landscape, ash deserts, lava lakes, and underground magma caves give it the name, "The Ashen Peninsula".
The Monarchy of the Flame Sovereign is the final power which exercises its power through martial tyranny. The volcanic warlord king rules by fear, crushing rebellion with fire-based cultivators.Verdalen - Verdalen hosts sprawling jungles, dense forests, ancient tree spires, and hidden ruins. It is also known as 'The Verdant Crown' due to its perpetual canopy of green mist and warm, humid climate.
It is a mysterious place which is surrounded by a magical barrier that keeps outsiders out. Rumour has it that it is ruled by a druidic council that governs forest tribes known as the ''Council of Rootbound Elders'. Krotaar - Home to black stone deserts, jagged mountain peaks, colossal stone effigies, and underground caverns, it is another landmass that borders the 'Dark Continent'. Also known as 'The Iron Wastes', it features frequent sandstorms and harsh winds.
Here, warlords compete for the last remaining water sources. It is ruled by the Warlord Confederacy.The Aurion Empire - It is known as 'The Heart of Civilization' due to its prosperity and relative stability compared to the other major continents in Gaia. It is home to temperate forests, fertile plains, silver rivers, and majestic mountain ranges on the northern border.
Four distinct seasons, with relatively pleasant summers and gentle winters, make it a suitable place for prosperity. The central powers - 'Imperial Monarchy' and 'The Orthodox Church of the Radiant Flame' - are delicately balanced by the strong local autonomy of noble houses and guild associations.
Chapter 5 - Reviewing Options
After reviewing all the available options, Alaric took a moment to consider how to proceed. No matter how he analyzed it, there was only one suitable option that he could consider - The Aurion Empire. All the other continents or regions were either under the grip of subjugation, tyranny, or war.
He definitely didn't want to start his new life living in constant fear or competing for resources, just to survive, let alone progress in his cultivation journey. Although, if he selected one of the bad starting regions to be reborn, he would secure a better reward on the following selections. And, if he could survive in one of those lands, he would definitely grow stronger.
Still, he already had a good option and it made no sense to wait for something better when he couldn't be certain it even existed. On second thought, Alaric judged the system was doing him a favor by feeding him information about some of the major powerhouses on the new planet.
This would definitely help him get some context and prepare more effectively in the future.
[Only 'The Aurion Empire' can be considered a powerhouse among the list. Don't worry. You will learn all about the major powerhouses of your new world in time. Now, decide your option.]
No matter, my mind is set. As he mentally made the choice, the system accepted his response.
Would you like to select the option - The Aurion Empire?
"Yes".
The system screen cleared and another message appeared.
Available identity and status options are as follows:
Noble-born options -
Legitimate child of a noble house - You will be reborn as a full-fledged member of a noble house with access to the house's wealth, elite education, private tutors, noble connections, and rights to inheritance. This role comes with the prestige of noble status but also with significant oversight from the family.
The bastard child of a noble - You will be acknowledged but have lower status than a full-fledged member of a noble family. Gain moderate access to resources, connections, and education. Inheritance can only be claimed if explicitly granted. You will have access to limited noble perks but more autonomy and significantly less scrutiny from family members.
Orphaned ward of a noble house - You will be treated as a 'guest' rather than a family member, under the guardianship of a noble family due to loyalty, family debts, or politics. Gain access to basic education and protection under the influence of the family. No access to noble perks or the house wealth.Tradesman's family options -
Child of a blacksmith - Be reborn as the child of a skilled artisan with respectable social standing. Access to weapons, smithing knowledge, and armor. Opportunity to learn forging techniques. Wealth is stable but dependent on the family's trade income.
Child of an Alchemist - Be reborn as the child of a skilled alchemist with moderate influence in local communities. Gain access to basic alchemical knowledge, potions, and alchemical ingredients. Enjoy moderate financial security.
Child of a merchant - Be reborn as the child of a successful merchant with a focus on trade, negotiation, and wealth. Gain access to business knowledge, rare items, and connections. Successful merchants can become very wealthy, some rivaling or even eclipsing the wealth of minor noble houses.
Religious background options -
Child of an Orthodox Church member of the Radiant Flame - Try your luck as the child of a priest, deacon, acolyte, or other church official. Gain early access to spiritual training, divine teachings, and church blessings. The Church's wealth belongs to the institution. Unless you are reborn into the family of a high-ranking official, you will not gain access to much wealth.
An orphan raised by a religious organization - You will be reborn as an orphan under the care of a monastery, temple, cult, sect, clan, or church, expected to join its service and absolute loyalty. Gain access to basic divine or demonic blessings, special cultivation techniques, education, and sacred knowledge. Limited access to wealth and influence unless you rise up the ranks.
Other Influential Family Options -
Child of an adventurer - Be reborn as the child of an active adventurer or a former adventurer who has settled down after years of exploration. Gain access to survival training, knowledge about rifts, dungeons, and monsters, adventuring gear, and connections with adventurers at an early age. Access to wealth depends on the reputation and rank of the adventurer.
Child of a soldier or an officer in the Imperial Army - Try your luck as the child of a soldier or an officer serving the Imperial Army. Gain access to military connections, martial training, and possible entry into the army. Access to wealth could be steady and immense depending on rank and military pay.
Child of a sworn guard that serves a noble house - Be reborn as the child of a sworn personal guard of a noble house. Gain access to special resources, support from a noble house, and prestige associated with a noble house. Access to wealth depends on the rank and power of the sworn guard.
Alaric reviewed all the identity and status options one by one. Hmm…interesting. He immediately ignored all the religious background options and tradesman's family options. He was from a different world, and it was unlikely he would find it appealing to follow the ideals and doctrines of some religious organization.
He also didn't fit the mold of a tradesman. No, he respected them but first and foremost, he was a cultivator at heart.
After doing some more thinking, he decided to choose the 'bastard child of a noble option'. Alaric was convinced that if this new world was anything like his homeworld, status and peerage carried immense weight. He would need some amount of status to build good connections, get access to valuable resources, and avoid unnecessary trouble.
Being a 'bastard' instead of a full-fledged noble offered him the best compromise between freedom, responsibility, and status.
Would you like to select the option - Bastard child of a noble?
He mentally selected that option.
The letters on the system screen cleared and another line appeared.
Available cultivation resources options are as follows:
Alaric reviewed the options and raised his non-existent eyebrows.
Evolving Dimensional Storage (Soul-bound) - A special pocket dimensional storage tied to your soul and the system. It will grow in size and functionality as your cultivation advances. All items stored within the personal dimensional storage space will be kept in a state of stasis. Thus, consumable items such as food and potions will remain fresh.
Soul-bound weapon (Growth-type) - Try your luck and get a unique soul-bound weapon (sword, bow, spear, gauntlet, etc.). The weapon will evolve in power, form, and abilities based on your cultivation path and achievements. It can 'absorb' defeated enemies to gain new traits, techniques, or elemental affinities.
Temporal Training Chamber (Time Dilation Space) - A private space bound to your soul and the system where time moves slower inside compared to the outside world. Suitable for extended training sessions. The time dilation ratio improves as you grow in cultivation. Some restrictions apply.
Cultivation Sanctuary (Personal Cave / Mystic Retreat) - A portable pocket dimension cultivation cave with an ideal environment uniquely suited for your cultivation path. It features elemental fields, dense spiritual energy, meditation spots, and more. The sanctuary will evolve as your cultivation advances and if you offer it the correct resource.
Spirit Companion / Familiar (Evolving Guide) - Try your luck and obtain a sentient, shape-shifting spirit bound to your soul. It can fight alongside you, offer advice, and evolve as it absorbs ambient energy. It can serve as a combat companion, trainer, or even a scout. Its power and form can change as it absorbs your karmic energy.
Ancestral Relic (Living Artifact) - Test your luck and get a fragment of an ancient living artifact that grants you access to ancient knowledge, skills, and rare cultivation techniques. Beware, living artifacts possess a will of their own and may challenge your authority unless you prove your worth.
All the cultivation resource options were truly extraordinary. They were not one-time upgrades. Instead, they would remain useful to him throughout his cultivation journey. It was not difficult for him at all to choose his selection. First of all, he eliminated options two, five, and six because they included an element of luck.
Who knew what kind of weapon, spirit companion, or relic I would receive? And, they might not be immediately useful to me. Besides, I am not used to fighting with any type of fancy weapon or artifacts.
Alaric felt a tingling of mirth in his awareness. He became one of the strongest cultivators of his homeworld by forging his own path. New world or not, he was not ready to forsake his old cultivation practices in favor of untested 'ancient' knowledge.
He also eliminated option three. To be clear, a temporal training chamber would be immensely useful…for any other cultivator. Fortunately, he was a 'Chakra' cultivator and he had his own methods to extract the most out of the available hours of the day for training. That left options one and four. Although option one was not bad, he believed it was the least valuable option out of all the options presented.
There must be spatial storage devices in the new world. Perhaps they would be very expensive, but I can get one of them later.
A personal cultivation sanctuary, on the other hand, sounded immediately useful. Since it was a pocket dimension, he would be able to meditate in peace and boost the growth of his cultivation from day one. But what really attracted his attention was that it would be uniquely suited for his cultivation path.
As a 'Chakra' cultivator, finding the resources to awaken the chakras of his new body and blooming them would be incredibly hard without the proper resources.
Would you like to select the option - Cultivation Sanctuary (Personal Cave / Mystic Retreat)?
Alaric approved and the screen cleared.
[Congratulations Alaric. You are almost done. Just a reminder, you cannot disclose the process of your rebirth or any information about the Anomaly you witnessed in your homeworld with anybody, except under special circumstances which the system will determine.]
Alaric mentally acknowledged and gave his assent.
[Now, since you are currently not in your mortal form, your system status screen is not active. You can view your title and gain access to your experience points after you settle down into your new mortal body. Now, prepare for transit.]
Faster than Alaric could mentally prepare, the void flashed white and shifted through all the shades of the rainbow before he lost consciousness once again.
Chapter 6 - The New Identity
When Alaric regained consciousness, he was assaulted with a sense of weakness that gripped his entire body and mind. He didn't even possess the strength to pry his eyes open without straining his eye muscles. His head throbbed gently, and his bones ached with an intense fatigue.
The warm weight of a blanket draped over his body, and he could feel somebody dabbing a wet fever cloth on his forehead.
Where..am I? Even his thoughts felt sluggish. Alaric tried to open his eyes and move his body. He barely managed to part his eyes into a slit before the brightness of the light pierced his vision and nearly triggered a headache. Closing his eyes once again, he drew in a deep breath. He inhaled through the nose for four seconds, held his breath for four seconds, and exhaled through his mouth for four seconds.
Breathing deeply for a few repetitions allowed him to feel a little better. But he dared not move his body again or open his eyes.
"Sweet child, are you awake?" a melodious, tender, female voice inquired.
"Aagh..Uh," Alaric grunted, unable to articulate words through his mouth.
"Shh…no need to speak, now. Don't worry, you will feel better soon." The voice tried to reassure him and it somehow succeeded in calming him. Whoever it was, the voice felt familiar to his sluggish mind, and he could feel only positive emotions associated with it.
"Here, sweet child, have some broth. It will help you recover." The woman gently caressed his forehead as she lifted his head. A warm spoon pressed against his lips. He smelled a mix of vegetables, spices, and meat. Eagerly, now feeling hungry, Alaric sipped on the broth and relished its taste. It tasted savory and delicious.
He could feel the warmth of the liquid spread through his mouth, throat, and stomach, and it helped to cheer him up a little.
The lady gently rested his head on the soft pillow once again. He could feel the delicate hands rubbing warm oil into his feet and hands. Once his extremities were warmed up properly, he felt sleepy once again. Alaric felt safe, knowing there was somebody in the new world who tended to him.
The last thing he heard before transitioning into dreamland was a melodious prayer dedicated to his swift recovery.
***
Alaric woke up to the pitter-patter of rain striking the closed windows of his bedroom. It was dark and quiet except for the sound of the rain and the muffled howling of the stormy winds outside. No, not quite. He could hear a faint snoring by his side.
Inspecting his body and senses from within, Alaric felt much better than before, albeit still pretty fatigued. It seemed the worst of his sickness was now over, but he still needed to rest for a few days. Opening his eyes, he noticed the soft glow of a few candles barely reaching the dark recesses of the large room. Some of them had been snuffed out.
This bedroom is quite big. I wonder what time it is.
Discarding that thought, he decided to inspect the room in the dim light. The walls looked old with scant decoration, and the carpeted floors looked a little dusty. Although, it could just be the darkness playing tricks on his mind. There was a small study table by his bedside and a small tea table with two chairs in the far corner.
A woman lay dozing on a chair next to his bedside table, which contained a glass of water and some containers. He noticed the fever bandages on a dustbin below while fresh ones were arranged on the table.
The lady is still here beside me?
Overall, it was acceptable. He hadn't expected much, being a bastard child. In his old world, many nobles fathered multiple bastards under the influence of alcohol, youthful vigor, and fleeting romance. It was pretty common for bastards to be admitted into an orphanage or be completely left on their own with their fates in their own hands.
In this regard, Alaric considered himself in a much better position since he had a roof over his head, clothes over his body, and food in his stomach. Sure, he had chosen the option to be reincarnated as a bastard himself, but frankly, he hadn't known what to expect.
Reflecting on that, he suddenly became more aware of his current physical vessel. How old am I? After some preliminary inspection, Alaric decided he couldn't be more than six or seven years old by his best estimate. He mentally groaned and a sense of irritation took hold of his mind.
Aah…I should have discussed this with the administrator. What should I do when I recover…play games? He mentally reprimanded himself for this oversight.
Although, in his defense, he had never reincarnated before with his mind and memories intact. Well, at least, I don't have to start as a toddler. I have a few years of headstart. Another thought crept into his mind.
Wait…the child was sick. Did I take over the soul of this body after it died? Or was my soul always the rightful owner of this mortal shell and I just gained the knowledge of my reincarnation and all of my previous memories?
He shook his head. No, dwelling on this is pointless at this stage. There is no way to confirm any of the hypotheses. Alaric decided to believe the second conclusion, for the sake of his mental peace.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he observed the lady who had nursed him during his illness. She appeared to be around thirty, with hints of age lines adorning her face. Long, auburn hair woven into a thick braid graced her head. Fair complexion. There were no ornaments on her ear, nose, or wrist. She leaned back on the chair, her chest rising and falling slowly.
A look of tenderness and kindness was etched into her sleeping face. A knitting tool and cloth rested on her lap. She wore a brown dress that was nothing too fancy but seemed better than what most maids would wear.
Hmm…a practical woman. I wonder what her name is…
At this thought, a series of fractured images and mental impressions surfaced in his mind. Memories and feelings of his childhood years, when he was just a baby. It was not comprehensive, but it was enough to produce a very favorable impression of Elara. Yes, that was her name.
She was the personal maid of this 'bastard child' and temporarily acted as the nursemaid during his illness. As expected, the countess didn't deign to spend a single moment with the 'bastard child'. And, since his own mother was absent, it was Elara who had spent the most time with him and taken care of his needs. The nursemaid or his personal maid was practically a 'second mother' to him.
That explained the feeling of warmth and comfort he felt towards her.
Alaric felt the pull of drowsiness calling to him once again. Releasing a deep sigh, he closed his eyes, ready to get lost in the lands of dreams once again.
***
Alaric was not amused when he woke up. He had a nightmare where he found himself battling a large pink horse that refused to bark.
What was that nonsense? Never in his life did he experience such an irritating dream. He could only chalk it up to the sickness or the mental impressions of a kid. A slight grin spread across his face.
Well, I am that kid now.
It was early in the morning. Thick rays of sunlight pierced through the windows of his bedroom, perfectly illuminating it. In the light of the day, his bedroom looked not too shabby, but he could recognize the signs of neglect. A little bit of dust lined the edge of the door, lint and dirt clung to the sides of the carpet, and some marks on the furniture were not cleaned properly.
For the first time, he detected a slight musty smell in the room. Possibly due to the damp weather. He shook his head.
Alaric was used to staying in mansions meticulously maintained without a speck of dust. They were decorated pristinely and looked after by hordes of junior sect members. After he ascended to the 'Immortal' realm, even a little bit of dirt, dust, and odor felt irksome to his superior senses of sight and smell.
Perhaps it was the habit of expecting perfection from all the junior members that reared its ugly head back.
He decided to temper his expectations. Different worlds should have different standards. Or perhaps, it was because he was the bastard child that the servants didn't prioritize cleaning his rooms properly. Either way, Alaric was not really upset. It didn't bother him as much — now that he had lost his superior sense of smell and sight.
He surmised that he would get used to it after a while.
Alaric scanned the bedroom and noticed Elara was absent. Maybe she is busy now. He shrugged. Feeling much better, he decided it would do him good to stretch out his limbs. He tossed aside the thick blanket and immediately felt the cold air seep into his bones. Suddenly, he hesitated to leave his warm spot on the bed. When the realization hit him that he was still just a child, he mentally groaned again.
It will take a while to get used to this body.
Alaric pulled himself off the bed, a surprisingly difficult task now, considering his short height. But he managed to accomplish the simple task. Turning around, he spotted a large wardrobe with a full-length mirror. He approached the mirror slowly and took stock of his appearance.
His short, disheveled black hair matched the green of his eyes perfectly. A look of cute scowl was locked into his face. His cheeks were chubby, his neck short, and his body more plump than he'd have liked. Naturally, he was of short height like any child, with stubby arms and legs. Alaric released a deep sigh.
Looks like I have to work on this body a lot. Thankfully, I am prepared to work out a lot and get fit.
With that thought in mind, Alaric tried to visualize the seven ever-present chakras of his subtle body that had been with him ever since he set foot on the path of cultivation. It was strange. The fully bloomed chakras that shone like suns in the sky were no more. He expected as much. After all, he was starting from scratch.
The real problem was that he couldn't even detect a hint of his subtle body, let alone the chakras. A thread of fear slithered into his heart and he felt his face sweating.
The more he tried to concentrate and visualize his subtle body and the chakras, the more he felt his focus slipping. His mind refused to bow down to his will. It was like trying to catch a slippery eel. He felt his heartbeat rise and his emotions getting out of control.
"What in the heavens is happening?" Alaric muttered.
"That is exactly what I would like to hear, young master." A stern voice interrupted him.
Chapter 7 - Memories
Alaric whipped around to see Elara gazing at him with concern in her eyes. For a moment, he didn't know what to do. It felt awkward. A part of him lit up from the inside when meeting the kind woman who always took care of him, cheered him up, and told him fascinating stories of adventurers who conquered dungeons. Another part became paralyzed, not knowing how to answer her question in fear of getting caught. He did the only thing he could — flashed a sweet smile.
"Come here, now." Elara approached him swiftly and raised him up by the arms. Placing him down on the bed, she bent down and wrapped the blanket around him, and continued, "Why are you out of bed so early? Especially when you are so sick."
"I…feel fine. I'm more sick of staying in this bed."
A look of disbelief crossed her face. "Nonsense. The physician said you would have to rest for another week." She pressed the back of her hand against his forehead and raised her eyebrows. After quickly checking the temperature of his cheeks and arms as well, she paused for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes gleamed with barely constrained tears. She continued, "Thank the Radiant Flame. Your fever is finally down." She wiped a single tear that leaked around the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief.
Alaric placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "I'm really fine now. You don't need to worry anymore. Thank you for taking care of me all this time, Ms. Elara."
Elara gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. "Young master, you never called me by my name before." Alaric winced internally. Did she notice I'm not the same kid?
She beamed at Alaric. "It fills my heart with joy to be acknowledged." Elara leaned closer and pulled him into a tight hug. Alaric noticed that she called him 'sweet child' when he was barely conscious and addressed him as 'young master' now.
After a moment, she released him with an impassive expression on her face and stood up.
"The fever could still return, so you need to take your medications and rest for a few more days," Elara said softly. "I'll inform the maids to bring you your breakfast. Might as well have it now since you are awake. The physician will check on you later."
Alaric raised his hands in mock surrender. "As you say. I'll be a good child and stay in bed." Elara sported a look of confusion and doubt. Then, she shrugged and released a smile. "You mischievous boy, I'll be watching you with my powers."
Alaric mentally snorted but kept his face playful and nodded. Yeah, right. Okay.
Elara left the room and he settled down on the bed. Alaric liked his personal maid. She didn't disrespect him for being a bastard and genuinely performed her duties. He had no doubt that Elara was mocked, maybe even shunned since she was responsible for raising the bastard.
Alaric didn't notice any type of wedding ring on her fingers.
It looks like she is not married, nor does she have kids of her own. If that is so, it makes sense for her to form an attachment to the only child she is raising. I wonder what her story is.
Putting that thought aside, Alaric decided to revisit the issue of not being able to sense his subtle body and his chakras. After probing his mind for a few minutes, he reached a conclusion.
The concentration of this mind is abysmal. I have to train it properly and get control over it before I can concentrate and visualize the subtle body and chakras. Alaric was not happy with that fact.
Of course, it was to be expected, him now being trapped in the body of a child. The more concerning thing was that he had no idea how long it would take to develop sufficient concentration. In his first life, Alaric started training on the path of 'Chakra Cultivation' when he was 16 years old.
Back then, the difficulty of visualizing and detecting his subtle body came from not understanding exactly what his master instructed and not knowing what to expect. However, his mind was sharp and willpower strong.
Now, his problem was completely reversed. He knew exactly what he wanted and how to achieve it. Alas, his mind was dull and filled with distractions. It refused to obey. No matter. I have overcome tougher obstacles. Alaric settled down into the lotus position. To his annoyance, even crossing one leg over the other was difficult at this stage.
It strained his knee joints. And, he couldn't keep his spine straight without experiencing discomfort.
When he closed his eyes to meditate, the pain in his joints and the discomfort in his body added to the distraction. Alaric decided to ignore it but he quickly realized his capacity for withstanding pain and discomfort was also not as strong as before. After only a few minutes, he couldn't maintain his posture.
And, as if that was not enough, he couldn't focus on his breathing for more than a few seconds before his mind was pulled toward another thought.
He relaxed and ended his meditation session. This will have to be enough for now. He was distracted when somebody knocked at his door. It was the maid who was supposed to bring him his breakfast. The maid looked much younger than Elara with her bright blue eyes and golden hair. She was quite short and approached his bedside timidly, avoiding eye contact.
Hmm…probably about 20. An introvert, I guess.
"A very good morning to you…Ah, Miss Iris." Alaric grinned at her.
The maid looked unprepared for the interaction. "I…uhm, I.." She slightly bowed her head and mumbled, "Gud' mornin."
After placing the food on his bedside table, Iris bowed again and left the room in a hurry. Alaric smirked. What am I…a tiger? He shook his head and eyed the food. A large plate included two hefty slices of buttered bread, two boiled eggs cut in the middle with some pepper sprinkled over them, some type of cheese, and an assortment of fruits like oranges, apples, and bananas cut into thin slices. Along with it, there was also some tea that smelled delicious.
His stomach grumbled at the smell of food. Alaric cheerfully picked up the fruit plate and bit into the bread slices. He popped an entire egg slice into his mouth. The combination of soft, chewy buttered bread and the eggs tasted heavenly.
He sampled the cheese which carried a slight tang and then tried the fruits one by one. Once he had devoured the food, he sipped on the warm tea, relishing its sweet and complex flavor. The tea tasted distinctly different from what he was used to in his homeworld. There were hints of spices, and he got a slight kick out of it.
Once done with his breakfast, he released a burp, feeling satisfied and content. The food was great. During his childhood, he belonged to a poor family, and that meant rationing food. More than once, he had to leave his home for work on a half-empty stomach. It was only after he became a powerful cultivator that he got to enjoy delicious meals every day.
Alaric contemplated his new life for some time. He couldn't help but replay the battle with the Anomaly in his mind for a while. His life in his village as a child, the memorable moments spent with his friends, becoming the disciple of the 'Chakra Sage', spending time under the care of the 'Elder Witch of Night Peaks', and more.
One by one, all the memories of his past life flashed by in his mind and he suddenly realized, there might come a time when he could forget about his previous life. It would have been great if he could document the thoughts and memories of his previous life, but that would be too dangerous and risky.
A simple curious thought by somebody to check his peculiar habit of writing could expose his secrets. Alaric released a sigh. I'll have to settle for reviewing the memories in my mind.
Settling that thought, Alaric tried to recall the memories of his childhood years — his life as a young bastard. For some reason, his memories as a young child were a lot more fragmented and mainly consisted of mental impressions compared to the vivid memories of his previous life. Images, voices, and faces flashed through his mind.
He got lost in it for some time, trying to unwind the tangle of memories from his imagination.
Apparently, the bastard's name was Alaric as well. He couldn't help but chuckle at that coincidence. For some reason, he had a suspicion that the system had a hand to play in this coincidence. Well, I'm happy about it.
Digging deeper into his memories, all he could discern was that his father was a Count and he was mostly left to his own devices by the servants and maids. He spent most of his time and interacted mainly with Elara.
Everybody else simply opted to ignore him, unsure of his status in the mansion as the bastard. He faintly remembered seeing some guards training on a practice field. Trying to recall the layout of the mansion led him to nowhere. It seemed that baby 'Alaric' mainly kept to himself in his room after being scolded by the Countess once for 'crossing his boundaries' while exploring the mansion.
This is getting me nowhere. I have to figure out the layout of the mansion. Alaric propped a fist under his chin. I have to learn the hierarchy of the servants, the schedules, and their attitudes towards the 'bastard'.
He caught the faint sound of shouting from a distance. It was coming from outside the windows. He pulled himself up from the bed and shambled towards the large window.
Outside, he observed a sprawling, well-maintained garden. A gazebo stood in the middle with an assortment of beautiful flowering plants adorning the sides. Two exquisite fountains lay to the north and south sides. He noticed a few gardeners tending to a few plants — cutting branches, clearing the fallen leaves on the ground, watering the shrubs, and so on.
Beyond that, close to the estate boundary wall and a line of small buildings — barracks — he could see a mass of people clad in light armor practicing sword swings. A larger man in heavy armor and a crimson feather affixed to his helmet barked orders as the group of people followed his every command.
That must be the training grounds, and those must be the houseguards. Alaric leaned on the window sill and observed the training for a while.
Chapter 8 - Captain Aldric Farrow
Alaric felt a surge of excitement, and a grin spread across his face. It was difficult to see properly from such a distance, but he was satisfied with what he witnessed. By his estimates, there were currently 30 to 50 guards training. He spotted other guards busy doing various activities such as transporting weapons or tending to their armor.
There must be even more guards on duty around the mansion. That is quite a lot. All of this indicated to him that the Count must be very wealthy and a shrewd administrator of his estate.
Suddenly, Alaric had the urge to train after witnessing all the guards practicing in the training grounds. A few simple push-ups should be fine. He lowered himself onto the ground with his palms pressed firmly against the floor, shoulder-width apart, and ankles drawn together in the center. With some effort, Alaric pushed with his palms, engaging his pectorals and bicep muscles.
He could barely do 5 push-ups before he felt exhausted.
Either this body is weaker than I thought or the sickness is still taking its toll. He gasped for air and felt lightheaded. After resting for a few moments, he decided to attempt another 5 push-ups. It was more difficult this time, his arms trembling with exhaustion and the initial burst of energy completely gone. His heart throbbed, and the dizziness intensified.
A sheen of sweat covered his body.
Just a few more. Alaric decided to try once again but he could hear the sound of approaching footsteps. Breaking his posture, he scrambled back to his bed, lay down, and wrapped the blanket over himself. Moments later, Elara peeked into his room.
"Young master, did you eat well? How are you feeling now? Huh…" Elara scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.
Alaric gave a slight smile. "The food…was delicious."
"Why are you sweating? And, you look like you are out of breath." Elara rushed into the room and checked his temperature again.
"Sweet child, are you feeling sick again? Should I call for the physician?"
"No…no need. I'm fine, truly." Alaric tried to reassure Elara who was overly concerned for his health. He was still a little out of breath.
"You don't have a fever, but why are you so sweaty?" Suddenly a thought occurred to her. She placed her hands around her waist and glared at him softly. "Young master, were you up to some mischief?"
Alaric struggled to maintain his best poker face. Somehow, being scolded like a child was irritating and amusing at once. "Of course not. I was just watching the guards train outside." He pointed towards the window.
Elara remained silent, waiting for him to continue. "I may have tried to exercise a little…" Alaric admitted in a meek voice. "To recover quickly," he added when he noticed the glare on her face turning into a scowl.
Why am I acting like I did something wrong? It makes no sense.
Elara slapped her forehead. "You did what? I spent two weeks nursing you, praying to the Radiant Flame to cure your illness. Not eating or sleeping properly, worrying about you day and night. And now…the moment you feel a little better, you do this?" She gestured sharply with her hands. "Stress your body again? Do you think this is a joke?"
Alaric felt a sense of guilt crawl into his chest.
He was more worried about upsetting Elara, who had taken care of him during his illness, than getting sick again. She had a point, though. Exercising and stressing his body before he recovered fully could land him into his bed again. And, that would delay his progress even longer.
"You're right. I didn't realize…I am sorry." Alaric shook his head. "I promise I won't exercise again until I've recovered fully," he said with a look of embarrassment. What else could he say? That he couldn't wait to get stronger or that he felt excited watching the guards train? Those reasons wouldn't make sense to Elara.
At the acknowledgment of his mistake, Elara seemed to calm down a bit and her features softened. It seemed she was preparing to try to make him understand the error of his ways. To counter the excuses Alaric would say in order to avoid being reprimanded.
However, contrary to her expectations, Alaric admitted his fault and even apologized to her. Bastard or not, somebody with noble blood in their veins never apologized to maids. For the first time, Elara sensed something different about Alaric. She couldn't quite explain it yet but it made her feel odd.
"You really mean what you said?" She looked intently.
"I do." Alaric nodded solemnly.
A kind smile graced her face. It looked like the nurturing side of her won over the side that was frustrated. She couldn't stay upset at Alaric any longer and nodded approvingly.
She dragged a chair to the bed and sat down. "Here, I came to read you your favorite story." She opened a book titled, "The Adventures of the Dungeon Explorers" and began narrating it to him. Alaric released a sigh, happy to have eased Elara's worry.
He settled down comfortably on his bed and tuned into the story - which, surprisingly - sounded interesting due to her storytelling skills.
This must be a part of our regular routine. Well, this is not so bad…Training can wait till later.
Captain Aldric Farrow's POV
"Swing your swords harder, you dimwits. Didn't your momma feed you as a child?" Captain Aldric Farrow bellowed at the squad of new recruits assembled for training. They had been at it for only an hour and already, he could spot many of the wannabe guards dripping with sweat and faltering significantly.
He felt irritated but couldn't really blame them. Being a soldier or a guard took time. You couldn't master it in only a few weeks of training. Besides, they were all working their asses off for honest coin.
Still, it didn't do anything to improve his mood watching the imperfect forms and exhaustion of his new squad of guards. How am I supposed to rely on them when the enemy strikes? He shook his head.
Captain Farrow had served Count Eustace de Vermond - lord of Montreval - for the past few years. After retiring as an adventurer, he took the position of the Captain of the guards of House Vermond, and it had been smooth sailing for the most part. It was peaceful in this area, south of the kingdom, with almost no conflicts over territory between the nobles.
Sure, a few thugs and bandits dared to try their luck at looting the border territories, but the Lord swiftly crushed them by deploying his squad of knights.
The most he had to fear in all these years was when a group of thugs attempted to storm the manor treasury while Lord Vermond was out on some mission with his squad of knights. The fools bit off more than they could chew. They severely underestimated the houseguards and paid the price for it.
Well, all that changed when Lord Vermond acquired the rights to the 'Greyheaven' mana mines that shared a border with his northern territory and the southern territory of Count Valeran de Clairmont. Apparently, Count Clairmont had been illegally exploiting the 'Greyheaven' mana mines prior to that incident.
Now, he could do nothing legally as the order had been sanctioned by the Royal Council.
Count Clairmont was a nasty man and vindictive by nature. At first, he tried to negotiate for the mines with Lord Vermond. When that didn't work, he subtly threatened the lord. The audacity of that scum... The wretched count wouldn't dare to attack his estate while Lord Vermond was present with his knights. However, the lord had to leave frequently for important missions.
He predicted that Count Clairmont would use the lord's absence and strike the estate with his squad of knights. He could chalk up some excuse later since there would be no higher authority present at the manor during the lord's absence.
Lord Vermond, being the shrewd man he was, doubled the number of guards around the mansion for that reason. And now, Captain Farrow had to forge these greenhorns into capable defenders before an attack or invasion could happen.
He scrutinized the forms of the trainee guards for a few moments before calling his vice-captain, Garret Holt. There was nobody Farrow trusted more than Garret, who was almost as formidable as him despite being much younger and far less experienced. Garret arrived and saluted Farrow.
"At your service, Captain Farrow."
Captain Farrow turned around to face him. "You take over. If anybody breaks form…" he spun around, "make them do 50 push-ups." The trainee guards flashed looks of fear and began practicing their swings more meticulously. Farrow chuckled.
"As you command, captain." Garret faced the trainee guards and began barking orders.
Farrow strode towards the garden and sat on a bench that faced the mansion. He took out an apple from his storage bag and bit on it, savoring the juicy taste. Hmm..delicious. It had almost become a routine for him to retreat to the garden at this time. He gazed upwards, and there he was…the boy peering intently while leaning on his windowsill.
He had heard that the bastard had been sick for a few days but had recovered now, somehow. However, he had strict orders from the physician to not leave his room for a few days. At first, Farrow assumed the bastard was simply bored.
Who wouldn't be when they are stuck in their rooms while they have the energy to roam around?
However, he had noticed the bastard scrutinizing the training of the guards for the past four days. That was not the part that unsettled him. It was the look in his eyes. Even from this distance, Captain Farrow could clearly see the sparkle and look of intense focus on those child-like eyes. It was eerie, as if the boy was trying to soak up every detail.
More than once, he saw him mimicking movements, as if swinging an imaginary sword at an invisible enemy.
Farrow straightened and chuckled. Another noble brat charmed by the legends of knights and soldiers. He will get bored eventually. He shook his head and got up. There was important work to do.
***
Alaric was curious. He liked watching the guards train, swinging their swords, and drilling their combat moves. It was only a shame he still couldn't visit the training grounds and practice on his own. His body was still weak. Exercising for more than ten minutes was enough to sap the air from his lungs and invite intense physical exhaustion.
Fortunately, he was getting better.
He had never trained in sword fighting before. His path had been different in his old life. In this life, he wanted to try it. Do something different. Also, he had a suspicion that being a noble now — albeit a half-blood — he would be challenged to duels to settle personal and formal disputes.
Like any other noble. So, it was essential to learn the art of sword fighting. His suspicion had some basis of fact, based on the stories of chivalry and noble honor that Elara had shared with him over the past few days.
Well, he was up for a challenge, especially one that would help him to purify his Root Chakra.