Chapter 70 – MasterofPaths

At first, Cassius fought the monsters one at a time all to get used to it, to refine the control of his essence, and to sharpen his body coordination.

Afterwards, he got bolder, or rather needed stronger stimulus, and began accepting two or three at a time, fighting with every ounce of focus he could muster.

It was far harder than he expected. Ravagers were physical monsters through and through. Their strikes were heavy, penetrating, and fast enough to tear wounds into his body. Especially when they attacked simultaneously.

Beyond the Bone Path ones, his family had managed to capture Ravagers of the Metal Path and Stone Path as well.

Their explosive attacks sent Cassius sprawling across the ground more than a few times, back-bending in pain, thus triggering his Snake of Adaptability when he pulled himself up with blood smearing his face and launched back toward them.

A Snake Loop began to form, this one tied to the Adaptation of fighting multiple enemies at once.

The Loop wouldn’t make him miraculously untouchable. But the Adaptation would dramatically increase his ability to manage several enemies without being overwhelmed.

Something he would absolutely need at the Academy. And beyond.

So he pushed through, without pausing once since he had started.

Cassius had no Master yet, his parents were all too caught up in their own affairs to give him a full day. Still, for now, the Last Born of the Desdemona was doing what he could, anticipating the day he would find someone to guide him.

Cassius was arrogant and confident, but not arrogant enough to believe he could do this completely alone.

Honestly, with his Innate, having no Master wasn’t crippling. But it would take him far longer to reach where he wanted to be than if he were properly guided.

Besides, there was something else to having a Master. Because not just anyone in the Badur Kingdom was given that title.

’To be a Master, you must first be a student. Then you graduate from that state and walk the path of a Teacher, for only by teaching does one fully incorporate what they have learned within themselves, making one with it, thus achieving a higher degree of understanding... reaching the Realm of the Master.’

Those words, for once, had not been written by The Fool in his illustrious and world-famous Tales of The Fool; but by another great writer, albeit of lesser prestige, whose pen name was MasterofPaths.

A man who had studied deeply the different Paths of Monsters and the Origin Pools themselves.

A man who had shared his knowledge in his famed book series Master The World, where he wrote about anything he was interested in and had mastered: from monsters to arts, from music to dance, from drama to poetry...even to romance itself, for one of his most famous works was written for an unknown lover: Ma Belle Dame à la Voix Douce.

Where The Fool was philosophical, deep and profound, a being who looked at the sky to ponder the immensity of the world. MasterofPaths was frighteningly talented and far more grounded, which made him relatable to the masses.

He was the one who had set into place the concept of Master: an honourable title given to anyone who reached a high level of knowledge in a single domain, regardless of which domain it was.

It was a title the Badur Kingdom held very dearly and did not hand out lightly. And that was precisely why Cassius intended to find such a Master for himself.

And it just so happened there was one at the Academy. The same Master who would take in Emrys Stormblessed and teach him until the man became someone capable of slaughtering Cassius’s entire family with his overwhelming blessings and aspects.

But now...

’I can’t allow that, can I?’ Cassius thought through gritted, bloodied teeth, barely managing to block the heavy tail strike of a Stone Snake Ravager in front of him, his mind disturbed by a Mind Crow Void flapping its wings around him.

Cursing in the Queen’s name, he clenched his jaw until it popped and pushed through, fighting without holding anything back.

And so Cassius continued his training, intending to stop only when his body could no longer move.

All the while, his Goddess — Ananke, Queen of Fate — watched over him like an unmovable guardian, pleased to see him exerting himself to improve.

Then suddenly, she froze.

She lifted her head, watching a small thin thread approach and weave into her wheel; and the wheel hovering above her began to turn, turn, turn, faster and faster still.

Instantly, a sea of threads burst into existence inside her Gate, and Ananke watched numerous threads of Fate throughout the Kingdom shifting — some destroyed, others modified, new ones appearing where none had been — the sight sending a slight chill through her body.

’Ah, and why ever not? His actions have now reached such a level of disturbance, it seems.’ She mused quietly, then closed her eyes, feeling how it felt like a deep hot lava was slowly but steadily clawing its way back toward the surface of the world, preparing to burn everything in its path.

She exhaled and turned her attention back to Cassius.

"What’s done is done." She said.

The only thing left was to make sure the consequences of all these actions landed mostly in their favour.

"What a troublesome Blessed I’ve gained."

A faint wry smile touched her lips, already anticipating a life full of uncertainty with the two of them swimming beneath a turbulent river, trying to reach a safe shore without being drowned by merciless waves.

Cassius Desdemona had promised her a thrilling story to witness.

"Well," she said fondly, "deliver me that story, then, my dear Blessed."

No matter the ending.

’Journey before Destination.’

...

"What do you want?" Klaus asked lazily, not even bothering to open his eyes.

He was sitting comfortably on a reclining chair inside his own realm, once again wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers.

His Wind Elemental Spirit, Windy, was nestled in his hair, smiling with overwhelming joy while sniffing his scent like a drug addict.

The young heir nearly swatted her away, but stopped himself, trying to be gentle and kind today.

His words were directed at Nao, standing before him in her usual black and white maid dress, wearing her ever-present smile.

"I have completed the task you gave me, Young Master."

"I give you many tasks each day, Nao." Klaus retorted. "Be more specific."

"The one related to your marriage." Nao clarified. "Your mother has spent these last days searching for a suitable match for you."

Her smile grew wider, unable to hide the amusement and excitement filling her chest. She didn’t know exactly why, but she was deeply grateful to serve Klaus Silicin Handoff. And she became aware of that on days like this.

"Well, who’s the lucky one?" Klaus asked, grinning, now fully opening his black eyes as though Nao had just secured his complete attention.

"I believe you already know her, Young Master." Nao said. "Aside from being the second daughter of the Runic Tower’s Chairman, she is also quite famous on the Net."

"Famous for what?" Klaus arched an eyebrow. "And do I look to you like someone who wastes time on the Net like those damn losers?"

"My apologies, Young Master." She ducked her head slightly. "She is known for being chosen to represent many of the Kingdom’s major brands."

"A model, you mean."

"Aye, Young Master."

"Hoho." A second eyebrow lifted. "Interesting. How old?"

"Your age, Young Master. She will be attending the Academy alongside you."

He frowned, displeased. "Didn’t I say I wanted older?"

Nao’s smile didn’t waver. "On that point, the Matriarch told me she would accept your request if you stopped lazing around and trained seriously for one week. In fact, she has reduced it to three days."

"And I’d still refuse even if she’d said a day." Klaus scoffed, waving his hand lazily. "Anyway. Who even likes older women? Cassius is just a strange bastard. Still, when will I get to meet this wife of mine? And what’s her name?"

"Her name is Love de Bayard. As for the wedding date, it is not yet confirmed." She replied. "You will meet her at the Royal Event. Everything depends on you, Young Master. We cannot force the Runic Tower into marriage."

"Leave it to me." He said confidently. Windy nodded along in agreement. "Now if you’re done, don’t overstay your welcome, go back to whatever you were doing."

He shooed her. Windy mirrored him with a big, obnoxious grin.

Nao shook her head faintly, watching a Spirit being corrupted in real time. Then, with an oddly serious tone, she parted her lips. "There is one more thing I need to share with you, Young Master."

Noticing the shift, Klaus opened his black eyes again and settled them on her, waiting. "Don’t test my patience. Speak already."

"It concerns the bastard son of the Tier Three Jurish Family." She said, her hands tightening.

"What about him?"

"He has been murdered, Young Master."

—End of Chapter 70—