Chapter 17: Entering the world of cultivators

An unusual tension hung over Duskfall that morning. Word spread like wildfire. Roric, the tyrannical leader of the Blackmaw gang, was dead. Nobody knew what happened behind the scenes. All they knew was the notorious gang had changed its leader overnight. Varlan, the second-in-command, took over the entire gang, seemingly out of nowhere.

Furthermore, many of Roric's trusted minions were found dead in different parts of the town. Some were found murdered in their houses, some on the streets, and some in the outskirts. It was a massacre.

Varlan's name was already being whispered among civilians. Fear and shock filled the civilians' minds. It wasn't hard to figure out what happened. There were rumors about internal conflict in the Blackmaw gang. But nobody expected it to escalate so quickly.

But nobody mentioned the name Ren. Not many people knew he existed. Even those who knew didn't suspect him, not even for a moment. After all, he was just another orphan the Blackmaw gang picked up from the streets to move crates and sweep floors.

Hence, Ren—or Cerdic—remained completely unnoticed in Varlan's home.

At the moment, Aldric was asleep in a corner. Cerdic was awake and vigilant. He still didn't trust Varlan completely. A criminal, in the end, was still a criminal. Despite Varlan protecting him and Aldric from Roric multiple times, Cerdic wouldn't leave Aldric with him if he had any other choice.

A few minutes later, he heard a knock on the door. Cerdic didn't speak. He walked closer and tried to peek through the keyhole.

"Open up already, brat. This is me," Varlan's impatient voice came from outside.

Cerdic opened the door. Varlan stood there, worn out. He had dark shades under his eyes. It was obvious that he had a sleepless night.

"How did things go?" Cerdic asked as Varlan stepped inside.

"It went well," Varlan said. "I am in control of the Blackmaw gang. For now."

"Great," Cerdic exhaled deeply. He then turned towards his brother. He saw Aldric slowly getting up, yawning deeply. He had just woken up.

"So, can I leave Noll in your care now?" Cerdic asked.

"I told you. I will protect him. But only if it doesn't backfire on me," Varlan said.

"Don't worry. He won't cause you any trouble," Cerdic said. "It's not like a ten-year-old can kick you out and take over the gang."

Varlan gave a grunt that almost sounded like a laugh. Cerdic ignored him and stepped outside. The sky was clear, with white clouds drifting away and the sun shining overhead.

"It's time for me to go," he sighed. "That old man said he would return in the morning."

Varlan said nothing. Aldric heard Cerdic and approached him with eyes full of worry.

"Cer—I mean Ren," Aldric nearly called Cerdic by his real name before switching to his alias. "Will you be okay? That man wants you for some weird experiments. Not as a servant or follower."

Cerdic didn't say anything. He had no idea himself. He was about to reassure Aldric, but then a sudden burst of wind swept past them.

"Boy, I hope you finished what you had to do."

The voice belonged came from above. Cerdic and Aldric looked up. Their eyes widened.

Marlowe was descending from the sky—his long white hair whipping in the wind, his robes fluttering. Cerdic felt like an invisible mountain pressing down on his shoulders. The old man slowly landed—his presence overwhelming.

"Lord Marlowe," Varlan stepped out and bowed. Marlowe gave him a thoughtful look.

"One night, and you turned Duskfall upside down," Marlowe said, grinning. "Good, you might be more useful than that fool Roric."

Varlan's face lit up. If he had Marlowe's support, then there was no fear of rebellion within the gang. He kept his head bowed.

"Thank you, Lord Marlowe. I will do my best to serve you."

Marlowe nodded and turned to Cerdic.

"Boy, come on, let's leave," Marlowe said, gesturing to Cerdic. "I have no more time to waste."

"All right, Lord Marlowe," Cerdic didn't want to test the old man's patience any further. He gave Aldric a nod. The boy still looked gloomy and reluctant.

By then, Marlowe had already grabbed onto Cerdic. Then he felt himself being lifted into the air. Cerdic felt weightless as Marlowe rose to the sky with him. Aldric, Varlan, and the buildings soon became smaller and smaller in his vision. A strange mix of fear and exhilaration filled his mind as they soared into the skies.

On the ground, Aldric stood rooted on the spot. His fists clenched. Watching his brother—his only family—turn into a dot in the sky and disappear into the horizon.

***

Cerdic's eyes were full of awe as they flew through the sky. The view was breathtaking. Vast fields spread across the land. Flowing rivers looked like threads of silver in the middle of lush green forests. Unknown cities scattered here and there like islands in an ocean.

Cerdic had no idea where they were heading, but he assumed that they had passed the borders of the Veylan kingdom. Since he had never travelled by air, he wasn't sure about the distance they had traversed. But the speed was incredible. He was sure they had covered many times the distance they could traverse if they were going by foot. It felt so surreal, like he had left his previous world and entered a new one.

Cerdic noticed that despite the speed they were flying at, he didn't feel the wind battering his face. But he could hear it howling all around them. It was as if the wind itself was making way for them.

Then he saw something. As they flew, there was a faint ripple in the space around them. Like a distortion. He also noticed it when a bird came across their path. It was flung away like it had hit some hard-moving object. Yet there was nothing to hit it—at least, not in Cerdic's vision.

"A barrier?" Cerdic wondered. "That's most likely the case."

Cerdic had heard of the incredible methods of cultivators before. But this was his first time seeing them. Although the assassins who attacked their mansion were strong, by this time, Cerdic had guessed they weren't cultivators. Because although strong, they weren't as superhuman as the cultivators he had heard of in legends.

After a long time, Cerdic felt their speed lowering and the two of them coming to a slow and steady stop.

"We have arrived," Marlowe said. "Let's land now."

Cerdic looked downward. They were in a hilly region. He couldn't spot any sign of human habitation nearby. He was a bit puzzled as they descended to the ground.

As they were halfway down, Marlowe raised his hand. Cerdic hadn't noticed when a strange-looking red flag appeared in Marlowe's hand. It somehow materialized out of thin air.

Marlowe then threw the flag straight down, aiming at a random spot near a rock, which Cerdic thought to be completely ordinary.

But the moment the flagpole pierced the ground, the air distorted. The vision before them changed. In front of Cerdic's astonished eyes, a large structure came into view. It was a three-story building that looked like a mansion at first glance. But on closer inspection, it was evident that this building was not meant for permanent residence. It had the architecture of a prison rather than a house. But seeing it appear out of nothing made Cerdic's jaw drop in amazement.

Marlowe saw Cerdic's stunned expression, and he laughed.

"Welcome to the world of cultivators, boy."