No matter what, I would make the guards pay for what they’re trying to do, or rather the orders that they’re following, which is just downright idiotic at this point. From my perspective anyways.

If I do, then maybe this influence will disappear, or be placated somewhat and I could be myself again.

So, I turned back towards the guardswomen, all of whom were now trying to leave, excluding the one that was crushed into the floor. Well, I think I know the first thing I’m going to do to get back at them.

"Stop." My voice rang out with an echo and everyone nearby did just as I had commanded, and stopped moving.

I could feel a rush of exultation run up my spine, making me crack a slightly devious smile. Especially with what I was going to do next. Clearly, I was doing the right thing according to my blood.

I was still in front of the guardswoman that was on the floor, so I used my [Astromancy] to create a magical bind around her and lift her up.

Once in the air, I then threw her, or I guess flung her would be more accurate, at the other guardswomen, of which there were three, causing them to all fall to the ground in a dishevelled pile.

They all cried out in pain as they were all wearing armour, which made the pain worse. I could also feel blood boiling slightly less after that, another signal that I was doing something right.

In the corner of my eyes, I could also see the poor souls that they were abusing just before I arrived. And thankfully, I didn’t see them the same way. Though, they still seemed to be afraid of me because of the power I put on display.

Looking at them though, gave me an idea on how to properly deal with this situation whilst also letting them get a little revenge and reparations out of this.

"Hey." I called out to them, making them quiver as they slinked back a pace. "I’ll let you take any valuables off of them. Think of it as my way of saying sorry for firstly scaring you, and secondly, bringing them upon you since they were after me. Don’t worry, I won’t take anything."

While I spoke, I also lowed the pressure I was releasing form my [Bloodline Aura] to hopefully make them feel a little more comfortable.

And while they still seemed to be a little hesitant to go and basically loot the guardswomen, they did seem to be a little less afraid of me after lessening my Aura. I think.

They then turned their heads to look behind me for a few seconds before they gulped and got up, slowly slithering over to the guardswomen, hesitantly looking at me as if asking for permission again.

I nodded and gestured towards the guardswomen, who were still lying in a pile and groaning in pain. Probably with more than a couple of bones broken too.

They couldn’t get up either because I was currently focusing most of what little of my [Bloodline Aura] that I was releasing, onto them. But some of it still seeped out into the general area because of whatever was influencing me.

Soon though, they reached the guardswomen and started to pick away at their armour, slowly hastening their pace until they had torn off all their armour. Then they feverishly started to tear away at anything they could likely pawn off for money, as well as simply any money they could find on them.

Once they had looted the guards of everything they could grab a hold of, they then scurried away quickly, not wanting to earn their ire when they got up.

They were out of sight in less than a minute, leaving the guards naked in a pile with their armour scattered around them.

And finally, I could feel myself calming down to what should be my real feelings about all this. Although, this encounter is over now, so all I feel is satisfaction over the result and relief that I can be myself again.

Genuinely, that’s all I feel, even my Soul Scroll says as much.

"T-Traytora?" Shirayaa called out to me, nowhere near as scared, but still somewhat hesitant and unnerved by what just happened.

"I’m fine now. Got it all out of my system." I tried to reassure her, but she was clearly still perturbed by this event.

The air between us got a little awkward fast so I suggested something, "L-Let’s just keep searching for David. We’ve only covered a third of the slums. I can’t imagine Ash and Asty have done much more than us."

"I-I’d rather not keep searching. Not after that. I think its best we go find them quickly and just get out of here. I-I don’t want a repeat of... That." She gestured back towards the still groaning guards some metres away.

I turned back to her with a wry smile and agreed, "You know what? You’re right, we should just get outta here as soon as possible to avoid as much trouble as possible. We can probably just look for David another time."

And with that decided, we hurriedly left this area to meet up with Ash and Asty ad get out of the slums. And by that, I mean I searched for them with my vision abilities, which revealed that the whole area was teeming with guards looking for us.

We teleported in front of the two and then into some random back alley somewhere just outside the slums district.

I didn’t have time to explain as I could sense more guards nearby and being this close to where they were searching, I decided to find somewhere else to hide for now.

In the meantime, Shirayaa explained what happened and why I was doing this before I teleported us inside of a building.

And this was a very special building, because it was overrun with members of the Sect of Naga.

The moment we ’arrived’ inside, they swarmed us with weapons in hand, but quickly pulled back as I let out just a tiny amount of my [Bloodline Aura], enough for them to recognise me as someone important to them. Though, they probably don’t understand why.

A clear and sonorous voice then called out a woman, "Who are you?" The lady whom I believe was in charge was dressed in bright orange and yellow metal armour, a Cinder Custodian if memory serves correct.

Instead of answering her question, I instead asked my own, "Do you know where you are? In this building specifically."

"That is none of your concern. Now answer, who are you all?" She repeated, remaining stoic in the face of the unknown, otherwise know as me and my friends plus one. Though, I could feel that she was somewhat nervous as if she didn’t know the answer to my question either.

"I’m here to use the teleportation formation to get to the capital." I once again ignored her question and stated why I was here.

And that clearly shook the woman, who didn’t know how to respond to that. The reason she was here should be to maintain this building for easy movement around the kingdom for the Sect, but this building is supposed to belong to one of the oligarchs.

At least I now have a much clearer picture on how this time alteration has affected. It doesn’t reveal everything, but the fog has been parted somewhat.

From what I can gather, my kidnapping still took place somehow for some reason, whereupon I then got brought to the Capital. I don’t know how much else has changed, but of that, I feel confident in saying all that still happened, regardless of how it might’ve happened to others.

As for the rest... I think the attack on the royal palace should still have happened, seeing as I still have the Destruction Core. And as for the meeting? That should’ve happened as well. But I won’t know until I get to the capital.

So, apart from trying to flee from the Duchess and her forces, I also want to confirm these things. But before I can do all that, I need to actually get to the teleportation array. Which is actually just on the other side of the corridor outside this room.

As for why I didn’t just teleport into that room directly, I had a feeling that that would break or at least partially damage the formation.

And I didn’t want to harm anyone from the Sect, because they should still be my allies right now. Which is why I was trying to be as civil as possible and forcing them to remember why they’re here. I’m hoping it works.

And it did seem like it was, with the Cinder Custodian pondering over my words and her orders, wondering why she was doing this. Though, she seemed to be struggling quite a bit on that front.

And to clear her doubt she asked this of me, "What do you know about all of this then? Since you clearly know more than me."