Darkness pressed in around Aric, suffocating and endless. The air was thick with whispers. He was dreaming yet there was nothing.
Only voices.
"Pathetic." Seraphina's voice echoed coldly.
"You disgust me. Every breath you take is an insult to this household."
Aric flinched, though he couldn't see her. Her hatred radiated through the shadows, clawing at his mind until it felt raw and exposed.
He tried to speak but no sound escaped his lips. Instead, another memory surfaced—a cruel, twisted one that dragged him further into his nightmare.
The darkness shifted. Light spilled into the scene, revealing Claire standing before him, trembling slightly as tears welled in her eyes.
His hands moved of their own accord, gripping her wrist tightly. Pulling her closer despite her resistance.
The scent of whiskey filled the air, sour and overwhelming, clinging to him like a second skin.
"Come tonight." Vayne's voice growled—low, lewd, and dripping with command.
"Wear something easy to remove."
Claire whimpered softly, her gaze dropping to the floor as she nodded hesitantly. Her compliance only fuelled the cruelty in his touch, his fingers trailing along her jawline before shoving her away roughly.
"I'll be waiting." he sneered, watching her stumble backward before fleeing the room.
The scene dissolved again, plunging Aric back into darkness. But just as quickly, new images flooded his consciousness—this time, Claire appearing later at midnight, dressed exactly as instructed.
Her clothes were sexy, designed for access rather than modesty, and shame coloured her expression as she approached him silently. Tears streamed down her face as his hands roamed over her body, touching parts of her body she hadn't willingly offered.
Her soft cries and whimpers pierced Aric's soul, each sound driving home the reality of what he was witnessing: Vayne's depravity laid bare.
Aric vomitted, or tried to from watching this. He felt disgusted just watching first-hand of what Vayne did to Claire.
It wasn't enough to degrade her emotionally; he sought to strip her dignity entirely, leaving behind only pain and humiliation.
"No!" Aric whispered hoarsely, trying desperately to close his eyes and force himself awake.
"This isn't real! This isn't me!"
But the nightmare refused to release him. Instead, it morphed once more, dragging him deeper into Vayne's fragmented memories.
Now, he found himself in his office, fucking Lady Callista Duval from behind. He pulled her hair from the base, eliciting a sharp gasp from her lips.
She moaned loudly, arching her back as he thrust harder, faster, driven by a primal hunger that sickened him.
''Ahh fuck.''
Callista smirked wickedly, glancing back at him with red eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Oh, Vayne." she said seductively,
"So eager to please me. Tell me, does your wife know how much you adore me?"
He ignored her jibe, focusing instead on the rhythmic motion of their bodies colliding. Yet even as pleasure coursed through him, guilt gnawed relentlessly at Vayne's subconscious.
Something about this moment felt wrong—not just morally, but strategically.
"She's pathetic, you know that?" Callista continued,
"Seraphina thinks she controls you, but really? You're mine. My little toy. And every time you come crawling back, I tighten my grip."
Between each thrusts, she leaned forward, grabbing a quill and paper from the desk beside them. Thrusting the quill into his hand, she guided his shaky signature onto the document beneath them—a loan agreement granting her immense leverage on ownership over House Arkwright.
The agreement stated that for every month it wasn't paid, she gains a portion of Arkwright. Vayne didn't see this as he was high on drugs but the memories was clear as day for Aric.
"There we go." she cooed triumphantly, tossing the signed paper aside.
"Now, fuck me harder! Show me how grateful you are."
As realization dawned on him, Aric froze mid-motion.
This was why Vayne cheated on Seraphina—not out of love or passion, but because Callista dangled power and pleasure like bait. He also probably liked Callista and she used that to manipulate him by indulging his insecurities and darkest desires while simultaneously trapping him financially. Not only that, she created a false sense of security, convincing him she was stronger than Seraphina.
Revulsion surged within him, threatening to choke him. With every ounce of willpower, he clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and screamed internally, begging to be awoken from this nightmare.
Please. I need to get out of here.
Sweat soaked his skin, plastering strands of raven-black hair to his forehead. His chest heaved as he struggled to steady his breathing, his heart pounding wildly in his ears.
For a moment, disorientation gripped him—he didn't know where he was or who he was supposed to be. Then reality crashed down around him.
He was naked, sprawled on the cold marble floor of his chambers. Scars crisscrossed his torso, remnants of yesterday's fight with Seraphina. It was now 12pm the next day.
They still stung faintly, though they no longer bled. A dull ache throbbed on his dick, evidence of his human body working despite the nightmare's lingering effects.
[Well, well.] Ivy teased, materializing on the screen
[Someone's been busy dreaming naughty things, huh?]
"Shut up, Ivy." Aric muttered groggily, dragging himself to his feet. His movements were sluggish, weighed down by exhaustion and self-loathing.
Glancing toward the door, he was relief that it remained locked—thankfully sparing anyone from witnessing his current state.
[Hey, don't be so 'hard' on yourself.] Ivy said sincerely while making a pun.
[If anything, you're looking pretty sexy right now. Handsome face, a decent body… oh, and let's not forget—you're packing eight inches. That puts you in the top 1% of men, Aric. You're packing quite the stuff there.]
Aric let out a humourless laugh, shaking his head. "Are you seriously praising my… dick right now?"
[Compliments are given where they're deserved, darling.] Ivy replied smugly.
[Besides, someone needs to remind you that you're not defined by Vayne's sins.]
Aric turned his attention inward, focusing on Creation Magic.
"Does it allow elements?" he asked abruptly.
"Like fire, water, earth? What kind of magic can I create from imagining it?"
Ivy raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden shift in conversation.
[Creation Magic is tied to your imagination.] she explained.
[In theory, there are almost no limitations—you can manifest whatever you envision, provided you have sufficient mana in your body and understanding. Elements included.]
"So healing magic would work too?" Aric pressed.
[Yes. But it requires precision and control. Why? Planning to patch yourself up?] Ivy tilted her head curiously.
Without answering, Aric closed his eyes, channelling his magic. Images of glowing runes and soothing energy flashed in his mind, attempting to conjure a healing spell. However, after several moments of intense concentration, nothing happened.
Ivy crossed her arms, raising both eyebrows skeptically.
[Hmm. Guess we've got some practicing to do.]
Before Aric could respond, a faint golden glow enveloped him as Ivy initiated an upgrade to his stats. His durability and endurance surged from D+ to C tier—still far from impressive but noticeably stronger than before.
More significantly, his Mana and Mana Control skyrocketed by 100,000 points, bringing it closer to mastery.
"Wait, what?" Aric blinked in confusion, staring down at his trembling hands.
"Why am I getting upgrades now?"
[Because, darling.] Ivy replied matter-of-factly, shifting into her slutty teacher outfit—a sleek black dress.
[Your wife isn't just any noble. She's arguably the strongest person alive right now and in history. Magic is a lottery. You're either born with it or you're not. But even those lucky enough to have it can only grow stronger through relentless training—pushing their limits, refining their mana. Nobles have the advantage, with elite academies designed to hone their abilities. Vayne had no magic but you're special since you have me but the principle remains the same—use magic to grow magic. Channel mana to expand your reserves. However your wife stand in a league of her own. Her dark magic surpasses even the most infamous demons in history. If she wanted, she could wipe out entire continents without breaking a sweat. The only reason she hasn't is because of her sheer desire to protect her family legacy, House Arkwright and well, dealing with you.]
Aric's jaw dropped slightly while also understanding how magic works,
"She's… the strongest person alive? Seriously?"
[Dead serious. If she wanted you dead, you'd be dead already.] Ivy confirmed, adjusting her glasses with a smirk.
[And let's not forget—you've survived multiple encounters with her over the past month, despite being utterly insignificant compared to her power. That alone is worthy of recognition.]
As if on cue, Aric's status screen appeared before him. New titles had been added, along with noticeable improvements to his overall stats:
Updated Status Screen:
Name: Aric/Vayne Arkwright
(LVL 20)
Potential: EX
Age: 22
Height: 6'1"
Blood Type: O-
Magic: Creation Magic
Sub Abilities: Matter Manipulation
Main Stats:
Strength (STR): D+ (0/1000)
Speed (SPD): D+ (0/1000)
Durability (DURA): C (50,000/100,000)
Endurance (ENDU): C (50,000/100,000)
IQ: S (0/950,000)
Mana: SS (100,000/999,999)
Mana Control: SS (100,000/999,999)
Mental Strength: SS (0/999,999)
Mental Resilience: SS (0/999,999)
Charisma: E+ (Improved!)
Reputation: E (Improved!)
Titles:
The Spark of Innovation
The Keeper of Preservation
The Bridge Between Races (For fostering collaboration and innovation between humans and dwarves)
The Redeemer of Broken Lives (For improving the lives of others despite widespread hatred)
The Architect of Unity (For contributing innovations that benefit diverse communities, including dwarven cities)
Perks Unlocked at LVL 20:
FUTURE: Gain glimpses of potential outcomes when key individuals shift their opinion of you. Think of it as premonitions or deja vu moments tied to specific people (e.g., Seraphina, Claire, Evelyn, Darius, Alden). These visions will guide your actions toward better futures.
Aric stared at the updated screen, overwhelmed by the changes.
"Wait, I have new titles? What's this 'Architect of Unity' thing about?"
[Remember Thorin buying all your inventions for four notes?] Ivy asked smugly.
[Well, he didn't waste time implementing them in his city. The dwarves there are already benefiting from your air conditioning units, heated floors, and lighting systems. Your reputation among them has skyrocketed—which also boost your Charisma and Reputation stats.]
"But why does it matter so much?" Aric muttered, still processing everything.
"I mean, it's nice, but…"
[Nice? It's crucial!] Ivy snapped, pointing a finger at him dramatically.
[You need allies, Administrator. People who believe in you—not just tolerate you. Right now, everyone hates you because of Vayne's sins. But these upgrades give you a fighting chance to turn things around. Keep building relationships. Show them you're different.]
For the next few hours, Aric continued attempting to heal himself using Creation Magic. Each attempt failed miserably, leaving him frustrated and exhausted. Finally at 9pm, he slumped against the wall, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he exhausted a good amount of mana.
"I don't get it." he admitted quietly while biting on an onigiri he conjured up.
"Why can't I conjure healing elements? You said my imagination was limitless."
[Healing magic requires precision and control.] Ivy reminded him again.
[It's not just about visualizing something—it's about understanding anatomy, energy flow, and balance. We'll work on it later. For now, tell me about your nightmare.]
Reluctantly, Aric recounted the vivid details of his dream—the groping, the degradation, the whiskey-soaked betrayal. He described Claire's tear-streaked face, Lady Callista's seductive manipulation, and the suffocating weight of guilt pressing down on him.
When he finished, Ivy frowned deeply, her usual sarcasm replaced by genuine concern.
[Aric, I have… fragments of memories regarding those events in clearer detail. You may think it's just your imagination playing you but I have it.] she lied carefully.
[Do you want confirmation of what Seraphina accused you of? About Claire?]
Aric nodded grimly, "Yes. I need to know."
With a heavy sigh, Ivy projected fragmented memories directly into his mind. They weren't hers to share but shielding him from the full truth seemed necessary for now. Ivy chose to lie to protect Aric.
He watched helplessly as he hurled a glass plate at Claire, smashing it onto her face.
He saw himself stepping on her head, forcing her to wear revealing attire, and degrading her relentlessly. Every cruel word echoed painfully in his ears:
"You're worthless."
"No one cares about scum like you."
"Do exactly as I say—or else."
''You're just a pathetic bitch! Is it so hard to bring my whiskey!?''
By the time the vision ended, Aric was shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I… I did that?" he whispered hoarsely. "How could I be so monstrous?"
[That wasn't you.] Ivy reminded him gently.
[It was Vayne. But whether you like it or not, you inherited his consequences and part of his memories now. Redemption means making amends even for sins you didn't commit directly.]
After several minutes of silence, Aric wiped his tears away and took a shaky breath.
"I need to apologize to Claire. Properly. Not just throw things at her or give her gifts—I need to show her I'm sorry."
[Good idea.] Ivy agreed, crossing her arms thoughtfully.
[But you'll need to approach her carefully. Claire's been traumatized severely—not just physically but emotionally. Here's what you should do;]
[Acknowledge the pain: Be honest about what happened. Don't sugarcoat it or make excuses. Simply admit that you understand the harm caused and own up to it.]
[Offer genuine support: Ask her what she needs—not what you think she wants. Whether it's time off, relocation, or simply space, respect her boundaries.]
[Prove Change Over Time: Actions speak louder than words, you already know this but show her through consistent behaviour that you're different from Vayne.]
Aric listened intently, nodding slowly.
"That's really solid advice. I wish you were my therapist before. Thank you, Ivy."
[Don't thank me yet.] she replied dryly.
[This won't be easy—for you. But it's a step in the right direction.]