Chapter 304 - Servants of Darkness
Nathan Evenhart:
I was on my usual morning run.
I liked waking up, taking a cold shower, and running shirtless. Even though my body reinforced itself with mana, I couldn't neglect physical training. I aimed for a perfect balance—the key was performance. I didn't wear armor in battle, relying instead on mana for protection, so I focused on speed and agility. My training always prioritized those muscle groups, ensuring I never gained unnecessary weight, keeping my physique lean yet defined.
A true fighter couldn't be overly muscular—too much bulk would reduce agility and disrupt the aerodynamics of sword movements.
I kept running, completing laps along the path in front of our dormitory. This was a private area, reserved for students like me. I trained shirtless, letting the wind and the sense of freedom help me focus. My goal was to refine my electrical perception, tuning into the constant flow of electricity running through my body. Thanks to this heightened sensitivity, I could detect when something—or someone—entered my proximity field.
However, this ability was nearly useless if my opponent was too fast or if I was in an environment where I couldn't react in time. What I truly needed to train were my reflexes.
Reflexes were instantaneous reactions—like electrical impulses traveling through the nerves, making the body respond to danger without thinking.
But what I sought was beyond normal reflexes—I wanted to enhance this ability using my own electricity. My idea was to train my brain to generate faster electrical impulses, allowing me to move or adjust my stance the moment I sensed something approaching. This would create an almost automatic counterattack—where my body reacted on its own to threats.
"Ahh!" I heard Princess Melina yelp in pain.
She had struck a tree with her sword, but the blade hadn't cut through, slipping from her grip.
"That hurt…" she said with a sheepish laugh.
Melina was an Emitter-type mana user. This meant she had far greater potential for long-range spellcasting, making direct combat unnecessary for her. She was a Shooter Mage, while I, as a Combat Mage, didn't have the same long-range capabilities or massive mana reserves to rely on spells alone. I had to engage in close combat—but I didn't mind. In fact, I preferred it.
"You're messing up your stance again," I said, stepping closer.
Melina had asked me for pointers. Even though she had access to the best sword instructors, she was too embarrassed to ask for help. Her family had already given up on teaching her swordsmanship, but she was determined to improve.
"Where did I go wrong, Professor Nathan?" she asked.
She had this habit of calling me professor whenever I trained her.
The only downside to helping her was that sometimes, she would start chatting about random teenage topics for hours. Even though she was technically an adult by law, I had noticed she was mentally still a bit childish—probably because she had been raised in an overly protective home.
She had told me some odd things that I just let slide—like how she always stayed in her room when at the castle and had confessed that she still played with toys. But she made me promise to keep it a secret—I was the only one among her friends who knew.
I wasn't particularly comfortable spending time alone with a girl like her, but I had seen her cry more than once over her lack of sword skills. So, I decided to help her.
"You don't need to call me professor, we're classmates and friends," I said.
"B-but you noticed things that none of my other instructors did—things about my stance that I was getting wrong," she said proudly.
"Alright…" I conceded.
"Pick up your sword again."
I moved closer, adjusting her grip with my fingers.
A single mistake in how she held the sword could cost her in a fight. If she used the wrong wrist movements, she'd tire herself out too quickly in prolonged combat. Everything had to be precise—there were moments where only the wrist should move, and others where the entire arm had to be engaged.
"Stand straight, keep your feet firmly planted. Hold your sword aligned with your center—it helps both with posture and the speed to parry incoming attacks. If your sword tilts too much to the left, you leave an opening on the right," I instructed.
Her stance is completely off...
When I placed my hands on her back to straighten her posture, Melina let out a small yelp.
"What was that?"
"N-nothing..." she stammered, her cheeks turning red.
Is she sick? Her face is way too flushed.
Once I corrected her posture, she resumed practicing, striking at the tree again.
I took the opportunity to do some sit-ups—I had run enough for the day.
Melina kept training, but I noticed she was getting even redder.
"Are you okay?" I asked. "Your face looks like a tomato."
"I-I'm perfectly fine, Professor Nathan," she said nervously.
After finishing her training, she sat down on the bench beside me.
"Want some water?" I offered her my canteen.
"Yes!" she quickly accepted.
I thought about my next tasks—there was still some time before the first class of the day.
Melina started talking about how happy she was to be improving and learning new sword techniques.
"Melina, I know you want to be skilled with a sword. But don't neglect your magic. You're one of the most talented mages of this generation. Don't waste your potential," I told her.
"I-I know, Professor!" she replied, then conjured a bright, radiant ball of purple fire and hurled it into the sky. It shot up at an incredible speed before exploding in the air.
I whistled, genuinely impressed.
"The fire from your bloodline is really unique. It's stronger than blue fire, and its flames consume everything even faster," I analyzed.
"It's because of my family's mana lineage," she whispered as she leaned closer. "I'm the only one of my generation with this fire. Even stronger than my brother," she said proudly.
I stood up and stretched. "That is impressive… Being able to naturally produce something of that intensity is a huge feat."
A normal mage has to be extremely skilled just to create blue flames. And for me, modifying my lightning's color to make it stronger practically tears me apart from the inside. Yet, she can naturally unleash the highest intensity of fire with ease, even in its most basic form. Truly remarkable
"Are you leaving already, Professor?"
"I have to. I need a bath, and I've got a few tasks I still need to finish," I replied.
She seemed to understand.
"Alright. Thank you so much for your time, Nathan," she said. "You're the only one I can talk to about these things. Being a princess is hard… I'm never allowed to make mistakes."
"I can imagine. Being the public figure of an entire kingdom… That's not something just anyone could handle," I said. "But don't keep everything bottled up. Always have a friend by your side to share the burden, even just a little."
"O-okay… Thanks. You always know just what to say," Melina responded.
I left feeling relieved.
Managed to get through that conversation by just repeating what the monk used to say. Thanks, Sifu.
I never tried to keep her at a distance out of malice, but someone like her—mentally fragile yet forced to be an unshakable pillar due to her position—would naturally start developing feelings for anyone who simply listened to her and offered advice.
That was why I always made a point to keep a certain distance in our friendship and avoided spending too much time alone with her. Whenever we were alone, I steered the conversation toward neutral topics—her training, class subjects—anything that wouldn't create misunderstandings.
The last thing I wanted was a rumor spreading about me being involved with a princess.
Besides… I already had three fiancées.
If one angry fiancée was a problem, imagine three. That was definitely something I couldn't handle.
As soon as I stepped into my room, Cylla was waiting for me.
"Why were you outside, shirtless, with Princess Melina?" she asked.
I glanced down at myself.
Oh… now I understand why the princess was so red…
"I can explain!" I quickly said.
Cylla stomped her little paws on the floor in disapproval.
"The only one allowed to see my husband's naked body is me!" she declared, slightly irritated.
"I wasn't naked, don't exaggerate…" I sighed.
***
After classes, I was back in my room.
Cylla was lying down, calmly nibbling on a fruit while I sat at my desk, staring at the mess in front of me. Dozens of spoons, made from all kinds of metals, were scattered across the surface.
I had been experimenting, trying to refine my control over electromagnetism.
No common metal could properly contain Lightning Mana, except for Akonium Stone. But something peculiar had happened when I used my purple lightning—the energy seemed to attract metals or even make them float.
The secret was somewhere in that phenomenon.
"For now, silver and copper are the best conductors of electricity," I murmured, analyzing my test results.
Mages with Transmitter or Emitter mana types were usually capable of coating their weapons with their elements. A skilled Fire Mage, for example, could heat a blade until it glowed red-hot or even engulf it in flames—simply by conducting their mana through the metal.
However, trying to manipulate mana to acquire electromagnetic properties was something that, so far, seemed beyond my reach.
I took off my shirt, placing several spoons made from different metals along my body. Then, I began generating electricity, aiming to keep the spoons stuck to my skin while also trying to manipulate them into moving.
Silver proved to be the best metal for this—but my results were still inconsistent.
"My body naturally has some magnetic properties due to electricity… Maybe I can't turn metal into a magnet, but I can become a magnet myself," I mused, analyzing my findings.
The spoons kept falling off, but occasionally, they stuck for a few seconds.
I was attempting to channel my electricity in a way that turned it into an electromagnetic force before it even left my body—but that goal was still a long way off.
After some time, I decided to set the experiments aside.
I grabbed my journal and began writing down my observations.
"Maybe one day, I'll be able to control molten metal… or even melt it, shape it while it's hot, and hurl it at an enemy," I sighed as I scribbled my thoughts.
Then, I remembered the piece of Akonium Stone I had been gifted.
Once, I asked Professor Adrihna about the price of that material. I was shocked to learn that it was worth twenty-five thousand gold coins.
That tiny fragment I carried was worth nearly half of my duchy's entire annual wealth.
Professor Adrihna had given me something invaluable—far beyond any payment she had received for teaching me and Chloe over those months.
Akonium Stone was incredibly rare. It was only produced in small quantities once every hundred years, thanks to the giant worm farms that Adrihna's family maintained deep within their cavern estates.
Her family owned numerous mines and was one of the wealthiest and most influential noble houses in the Elven Kingdom.
After all… she was the daughter of a duke.
Setting aside my experiments with magnets, I returned to my daily training, focusing on mastering purple lightning.
Unfortunately, I couldn't properly test my hypotheses—using that power was far too dangerous. It was a destructive force that, if mishandled, could end me just as easily as my enemies.
The core of my training was improving the circulation of electricity within me while simultaneously developing the ability to cut off the flow of mana in specific parts of my body.
This went against conventional magic logic—mages were trained to always keep mana flowing at high speed. But that constant flow was precisely what caused purple lightning to start destroying me from the inside.
My solution was to train myself to restrict the mana's circulation, concentrating it solely in my mana gem and arms.
If I ever had to use purple lightning, my plan was to channel it only through those points.
But the risk was enormous—funneling all that energy into just one arm meant there was a real possibility it could explode.
"Everything depends on lowering the electrical charge's intensity after it turns purple," I thought. "But at the same time, I need high intensity to reach that level of power."
I let out a deep sigh, frustrated by the limitations and the risks.
The real problem with testing this… was that I had to be willing to lose an arm.
It wasn't worth it. This power was something I could only use in true life-or-death situations. The risk of permanently crippling my body for the sake of an experiment was simply not a fair trade.
With that conclusion, I shut my journal and glanced at the scattered spoons on my desk. For now, my priority was finding safer ways to expand my abilities without compromising my physical integrity. That was my true goal. I couldn't rely on my Special Eyes, let alone the Celestial Eyes. I had to focus on my true power—thunder.
Not even wind magic, which I had some mastery over, could compare. I needed to become the greatest Lightning Mage in history—to prepare for what I feared was coming in the future: Darkness and Demons.
William Halldam:
It was nighttime, and I walked through Apsalon's commercial district. The central street was illuminated by glowing orbs of magical light, and the flow of people was constant. Housewives and noblewomen strolled with their children, carrying shopping bags; children ran excitedly with new toys, while others carried bundles of fabric or baskets filled with fresh fruit.
Apsalon was a city where luxury and simplicity intertwined. Nobles and commoners coexisted in the same space, but the social divide was evident in the marketplace. Some stores were exclusive to the nobility and required identification at the entrance, while others catered to the rest of the population. Interestingly, there were nobles who served other, more powerful nobles as vassals. I myself came from a noble family, but we were mere vassals. High-ranking or extraordinarily wealthy nobles had lesser nobles as vassals to bolster their prestige and influence.
As I walked, my thoughts drifted to something far greater than the bustling streets of Apsalon.
I had been invited to be part of something grand… something terrifying.
I had uncovered the truth about this world and its hidden order.
There exists a supreme being, an absolute power, far beyond everything and everyone. He is known as the Great Lord.
This being resides in a distant land, alongside his people—a kingdom whose power surpasses anything I have ever witnessed. He can be benevolent, but he is also ruthless. His mercy is reserved only for those who stand by his side. For those who dare to oppose him… their fate will be worse than death itself.
Even his servants frighten me. They are far beyond any mage or warrior I have ever encountered. If his followers are like this, then what could be said about the Great Lord himself? He is a god. A god who, in the past, was betrayed and wounded by those to whom he had shown mercy.
We are the descendants of one of those people who rebelled against him.
And now, the Great Lord is preparing to return and exact his vengeance.
He does not forget.
He does not forgive.
But he offers a second chance.
The Great Lord does not seek only to destroy; he seeks to rebuild. He wishes to shape a new society, offering mercy to those who accept his sovereignty. Those who support him will be spared and will become citizens of his new world. The chosen ones, like myself, will hold positions of power in this new order. But those who resist… will suffer a fate worse than death.
I have seen what they are capable of—their soldiers, their power. I've caught only a glimpse of what they can do. And I have also seen… a fraction of their kingdom. That place is the pinnacle of existence; nothing compares to it. No matter how hard we try, we will never be able to stand against a deity. Yet, even so, he will spare the chosen ones and grant them authority when he reshapes this continent—and the other one. There will be no kings or queens; everything will be under his dominion. But we, the chosen, will be the new nobility of his world.
No one can stand against Lady Sindra, let alone the Great Lord and his army.
I have become one of the chosen, a part of his new world. What he offers is a land of peace for the chosen, a world of true power. I have seen the level of strength wielded by those who serve him, and that is real power. He also promises wealth, influence, and something no one else can offer—time. He can extend our lives so that we may enjoy the wonders of his realm. Those who serve as his acolytes… are practically immortal.
I reached a narrow alleyway, stopping in front of a simple wooden door. A faded sign indicated that the place was a bar. I knocked twice—neither too hard nor too soft—following a precise rhythm known only to those who belonged.
"Who is it? We're closed," a voice called from the other side.
"A lone wanderer enters the tavern, his eternal journey never abandoning him," I recited calmly.
There was a pause, the voice taking a moment to respond, the air thick with tension.
"Why does he walk alone, yet never remain empty-handed?" the voice asked, deep and cautious.
"He is alone, but the Darkness walks with him," I replied firmly.
Silence settled once more, broken only by the faintest sound of movement behind the door.
"Only those who are not embraced by the night fear it. What did the wanderer say to the moon?"
"Long live the Darkness," I murmured.
A sudden chill ran down my spine as I felt the cold pressure of a blade against my back. A presence had appeared behind me without a sound.
"Long live the Darkness," the voice behind me repeated, the knife still pressed against my skin. Without resisting, I raised my hands in surrender.
The door creaked open, and I was shoved inside.
The interior was shrouded in dim light. Cloaked figures in dark robes moved through the space, each wearing wooden masks. Every mask bore the same expression—empty, sorrowful, as if embodying the melancholy of darkness itself.
The door behind me was firmly shut, and one of the masked figures approached, yanking off my storage bracelet and examining it carefully.
"Only the basics," I muttered as another figure, with precise movements, returned the bracelet to me.
"William Halldam…" a voice echoed from among the masked figures, cutting through the silence. "The meeting has already begun."
I fastened the bracelet back onto my wrist, preparing to follow.
"You may proceed, Leader William," one of the masked figures said, gesturing toward a wall that suddenly slid open behind the bar counter. Most likely, one of them was a mage manipulating the stone.
Stepping through the opening, I found a spiraling staircase descending into the depths, faint torches casting flickering light at irregular intervals along the way.
"Just follow the path, Leader William," the voice repeated behind me.
I began my descent, and the echoes of conversation grew louder.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I found myself in a long, narrow corridor. The voices became clearer, mingling with the crackling of the torches.
Finally, I arrived at a dimly lit circular chamber. The torches cast restless shadows along the stone walls. In the center, a group of cloaked figures in black robes and wooden masks stood in eerie silence. Above them, seated on an elevated chair like a makeshift throne, was a familiar figure—Theodore Borir.
"Well, if it isn't the true star of the night," Theodore said with a smirk, his voice echoing through the chamber. The murmurs ceased instantly, and all heads turned toward me.
"Come, I've been expecting you," he gestured, beckoning me forward.
I walked toward the center of the room under the heavy stares of the masked figures. Theodore, unmasked, maintained a composed expression, sitting like a king among commoners.
"We were just discussing you. Some of these people will be there to assist you," he explained, his tone rehearsed. "But now, I want to hear it from you—how is the progress with Viktor Saul?"
I knelt, attempting to show my respect.
"Don't do that. You don't need to. I'm not Lady Sindra—that woman is terrifying even to us," he said with a laugh, and the others chuckled along with him.
I quickly stood up.
"My apologies," I began, the weight of failure pressing down on me. "I've been trying to recruit him for some time, but he has only ignored me. He interpreted the invitation as something from the underworld. I didn't want to push too hard—I had to be careful… I failed."
Theodore remained silent, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I feared his reaction.
Then, he smiled and gestured for me to relax.
"Relax, boy," he said smoothly. "You don't control everything. If everything depended on you, I have no doubt you would never disappoint the Great Lord."
"Of course! I would never do that," I responded with conviction.
"Then there's no reason for me to be upset," Theodore said, his voice as calm as ever. "The first contact is what matters. At the right moment, when Viktor Saul understands the true scale of things, he will come to you. Don't worry. Soon, many others will join our side, and we will have plenty of work—and rewards—for everyone." He chuckled, his expression dripping with superiority.
I nodded, showing my understanding.
"I want to be useful and be rewarded as well," I said with determination. "I promise I will do everything as you instructed for the day of the expedition."
Theodore folded his hands and tilted his head slightly.
"And what about Sebastian? Do you think he will handle things well? Did you notice any hesitation or anything unusual about him?"
"No," I answered directly. "Sebastian is just… himself. Everything will flow as planned. On the day of the expedition, the timing will be perfect. All the students will be gathered, and the headmistress, along with most of the professors, won't be able to interfere."
Theodore nodded, satisfied.
"Excellent," he said, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "I want you to keep an eye on him and make sure everything goes as it should. You will also be responsible for a crucial part—opening the portal for us inside the tower. Did Sebastian's father give you the instructions?"
"Yes," I confirmed. "He was clear and consistent with what you had told me."
Theodore smiled almost paternally, though his tone still carried the weight of authority.
"Perfect. Let Sebastian believe he is the leader of the team. But don't forget—you are the true leader. You are one of the chosen. If you fulfill your role well, you will have a position of great importance when these kingdoms finally fall."
I agreed, but there was something I needed to say, even if it risked making me seem ungrateful.
"I have spent all these years studying at Apsalon as a convert," I began, carefully choosing my words. "I have done everything that was asked of me. I manipulated, deceived, and recruited more students for our cause. I'm not complaining about what I've received—I am grateful. But… it feels like Sebastian is the one receiving all the glory. He was named the second leader of Princess Elara's elite Sky Knights and even became engaged to Her Highness Alice. I just feel that, despite everything I've done, he gets more recognition."
A heavy silence fell over the room. The masked figures stared at me, and the tension was palpable.
"Are you complaining about the reward granted to you by the Great Lord?" one of them asked, his voice sharp.
Before I could respond, Theodore raised his hand. A force of wind magic crushed the masked man, sending him to the ground with a scream of agony. His leg was shattered with a grotesque crack, the sound of bone breaking echoing through the chamber.
"Ahhhh!" he screamed, writhing as Theodore held his control effortlessly.
"Take care of him," Theodore ordered the others, his voice cold. The masked figures quickly moved to drag the injured man away.
Theodore turned his attention back to me, his expression a mix of calm and authority.
"It's alright. He wasn't wrong," he said. "Indeed, Sebastian has been rewarded more. However, what he has received is merely the reward of this kingdom. What awaits you is in the next kingdom, when everything falls under the Great Lord's dominion."
I swallowed hard and lowered my head.
"I understand. I apologize for my complaint."
My eyes involuntarily drifted to the injured man being carried away.
Theodore stepped forward, his voice taking on a more provocative tone.
"But the Great Lord is generous to those who serve him. Tell me, would you like to have a position as prominent as Sebastian's? Would you want to be engaged to Alice Asalon, just like him?"
I hesitated, unsure how to answer.
"Come on, be honest," he pressed, a sarcastic smile on his lips. "Who wouldn't want that?"
"I suppose… yes," I murmured.
He studied me, touching his chin in thought.
"You see, we made the right moves to ensure he became engaged to Alice Asalon. But you've overlooked something."
Theodore paused dramatically, his voice heavy with expectation.
"There are two other women from the human royal family," he continued, stepping down from his elevated seat with calculated steps. "I'll let you choose—what do you think of the valiant Elara? Strong, fearless… a warrior. Or perhaps you'd prefer someone more reserved, like Melina Asalon?"
Theodore walked slowly toward me and stopped at my side, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.
"When everything goes according to plan, we can set you on the path to one of them," he said, his voice calm, almost fatherly. "I know the rewards the Great Lord has prepared for his arrival are extraordinary, but I agree—you deserve more. That's why, if you do your part well and ensure that things unfold as planned, you, William Halldam, will rise from the vassal of a duke to a member of the royal family."
He finished with a light pat on my shoulder.
His words echoed in my mind. My heart nearly stopped at what I had just heard.
"Really? Are you sure?" I asked, incredulous, unable to contain my excitement.
"But of course," Theodore replied with a smile. "With the right moves, I can set you on the correct path. You just need to fulfill your role. Soon, your moment to shine as a hero will come, and until then, we will make sure you grow even more powerful. You will be recognized for your own merit. Sebastian only got where he is because of his father's fame in the war. But you… you will rise through your own strength, through your own efforts."
Theodore then took my arm, gently pulling up my sleeve, exposing my skin. From within his cloak, he retrieved a black stone that pulsed like a dark, beating heart. As he brought the stone closer to my arm, something happened. Small black veins began to spread beneath my skin, twisting like living roots.
"I see you're adapting well to what you've been given," he said, observing my arm with evident satisfaction.
"Yes. I am very grateful," I replied, trying to remain composed, even as the strange tingling sensation coursed through me.
"This is how the servants are blessed," Theodore continued, his smile turning sinister. "Even Lady Sindra herself possesses a high concentration of this within her. Demon blood strengthens the chosen. What you have received is something not even Sebastian or his father could obtain. It makes you stronger—the blood of a demon."
He pulled the stone away, and the black veins vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
"Are you ready for what must be done?" he asked, his eyes locked onto mine.
"Yes," I confirmed, my voice heavy with determination. "I must kill that important person."
Theodore studied me for a moment, assessing my words, then nodded with a small, satisfied smile.
"Go and fulfill your mission. When the time comes, you will be rewarded even further."
He returned to his seat, crossing his legs as if there were not a single worry in the world.
I straightened my posture, my gaze fixed on him, then turned to the masked figures watching me.
"Long live the Darkness!" I declared, raising my voice.
"Long live the Darkness!" they all answered in unison, their voices echoing off the dark walls.