My eyes opened but this time there was no surprise or excitement. Above was a familiar chandelier which could only be found in the Blackwood family residence.
"That means we got rescued." I mumbled.
But then I frowned as I noticed something—different. My breathing was much clearer and the air had a refreshing taste. Even my weak limbs felt extraordinarily energized, far beyond my past peak capabilities.
{You broke through to the second stage of the mortal realm. Your core has been refined further and that is the reason for the changes.} Lin explained but I paid no attention to his words and focused on the change—even the world was much more colorful.
"Who saved us?" I asked, knowing lying unconscious in the middle of the forest was never a good idea.
{William regained consciousness half an hour after you passed out.} Lin responded and I frowned.
"Does he suspect something?" My eyes revealed a threatening emerald glow.
{Does he suspect a 15 year old, slaughtered a fox spirit and a three century old magic beast? Even if you told him that story, he wouldn't believe it.} Lin scoffed.
It made sense.
Who would believe a 15 year old peasant killed a peak mortal realm fox and a common beast all alone?
Even if he sincerely tries to take credit for everything, they'll probably just laugh at him.
"After witnessing the deaths of the last two death magic users, I understand why you chose me and waited for my sister to die. I have no ties and I don't even like humans…" I sat up while speaking.
The first died because she couldn't kill her family and the other died because he couldn't kill his people.
{Only a fool repeats a mistake and expects a different outcome. You are correct.} Lin was honest and direct.
This whole story involving the god of death, the church of the four pillars and the past hosts was beginning to excite me.
"You know, I'm looking forward to going to the magic academy." I said while I wondered what the world outside the walls was like.
I slept in that day and met everyone the next but was stunned to see William who looked like he had aged a decade. As expected I was questioned about the events that happened and I lied with a straight face. I told them, I met Mrs. Lotus and Vito were fighting when I arrived and I used the distraction to drag Williams out.
I claimed that the head was tossed over from the otherside of the valley after I crossed the bridge. Following that the bridge was collapsed by vines.
Before I could explain how I passed out, they already assumed the pressure from the battlefield must have been too much for me to handle. While this was not entirely false because I had to wait while William's dough, it was still annoying to have someone you saved call you weak.
It doesn't matter though, he only has five years to live—let him have his fun.
With that the fox spirit case came to a close but not before the Whispering Lotus properties and fortune was seized while all wealthy families found on the funding ledger were forced to pay a fine. This was the slap on the wrist punishment I talked about earlier but at least it got us some gold because we needed it.
The magic academy was competitive and as such to secure the top spot during the entrance exams,noble families arm their descendents to the teeth with magic wands, grimoire and many more magical tools.
There is no rule against this in the academies, giving students with noble backgrounds an edge while forcing talented peasants with magic talent to ally themselves with a house just to keep up.
That way new houses of magic families are not born and the current noble houses only grow stronger. However, most of these people joined magic families as family members but as hired mages serving a noble family.
One could say I was lucky with William. That was why Andrew didn't want me at first. It wasn't that he hated me, he just didn't think I was qualified to be a member of the Blackwood family.
Stupid butler. I would have gotten rid of him if he wasn't the heart of the Blackwood family. He had served the family for so long, everyone knew and loved him. Including William's granddaughter, plus he was reliable and capable.
I had far too many reasons to keep him around after William died.
A week later, the coffins and tombstones came in. When I saw the second, I instantly realized William must have been aware that his time was coming to an end and made preparations beforehand.
Lucy's funeral came a week before my departure. I watched her laid to rest in the Blackwood family cemetery where Father Corbin said some prayers for her before she was put into the ground.
Honestly, I was numb. I felt Annie and Chloe were more emotional than myself. Maybe it was because I knew this wasn't the end. As long as I master this power given to me and become the new God of Death, I can bring them back.
So no, she was not dead. To me, she was only resting temporarily alongside my parents while I prepared the perfect world for them.
No, I won't cry for her because it's not over yet.
____ Night before departure ____
I stepped into Williams study room but unlike usual it was dark and quiet. He stood by the windows, staring into the vast piece of land he called home.
Death was closer than ever—I could see it and he could feel it.
"You requested my presence?" I asked as my eye drifted to the desk which was filled with documents, parchments and scrolls.
William glanced at me and a small smile played on his lips.
"Come, stand beside me." He said in a low voice and I did as I was told.
I walked over to his sight and stared out the window. Surprisingly, from here there was a good view of the military training camp. Even now there were still soldiers sparring.
"This world is a sad and cruel place. Life doesn't always go as planned but we must learn to adjust and forge ahead. I'm sure no one understands this better than you." William began and I casually nodded to his words.
William placed his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye before saying;
"The House of Blackwood will vanish as soon as I am gone because I have no biological heir with magical aptitude after Robert's death. But now, you are here and I have only one request for taking my throne…"
"Protect Annie and Chloe and make sure they marry into respectable families when you are gone?" I cut him off with what I believed was the answer but William was patient and simply shook his head.
I raised an eyebrow in obvious surprise over the response.
"Then what is it?" I asked.
"Protect my granddaughters and when they are of age, take them as your bride."
Buzz!
I frowned and stepped back instinctively. This was the most shock I have ever experienced since awakening this power.
{Don't blame yourself, even I didn't see this coming.}
Even Lin agreed with me.
William chuckled lightly, he probably felt proud to have stunned the boy who didn't seem to react to anything.
"I'll be honest with you. I have treated you kindly all these years. Not because I am a good person or I am obligated to do so. But solely for my granddaughter's benefit. If I marry them off to other noble families, they will still be treated poorly like every other woman without magical talent and this will also mean the Blackwood lineage ends."
William paused and allowed these words to sink in while he walked back to his seat. It took a few seconds before I could make sense of his argument.
"You want the Blackwood family lineage to continue through me, in this home." I asked and William nodded.
"Only within these walls, surrounded by the faces that knew and honor my memories can they truly be protected." William said.
This was a problem.
I had no plans of getting married or even having kids. I don't even think I have ever entertained such thoughts.
"Alright." I lied with a straight face.
In five years they will only be 11, William will be long dead before they reach 18. By then I doubt I would still be in this empire, especially when there is an entire world to explore outside the walls.
When the time comes I'll have Andrew find suitable mages without noble backing who will get married into the family. With me on the Blackwood family throne and the fact this place is surrounded by soldiers loyal to the Blackwood bloodline they will be treated right and I will maintain my freedom.
"Thank you." William let out a relieved sigh as if he expected some resistance.
{You are a bad boy…. It seems I hit the jackpot this time!} Lin chuckled
_____
Leaving Blackwood for Emberlands, the capital of the Loth Kingdom, wasn't hard. It was neither my home nor was I attached to anyone there. My only regret was leaving the Eternal Thicket behind, which I vowed to explore when I was strong enough.
The journey to Emberlands was quiet, just the way I like it. As the heir of the Blackwood family, I was given a personal knight—an exceptional 18-year-old with unique snow-white hair.
Edward was quiet and different. For some reason, he has white hair, white eyebrows, and even pure white eyes that make him stand out. His temperament was as calm as ice; nearly as indifferent to everything like me.
The only difference was that he lacked magic and all that energy was dedicated to his sword technique.
As a person, he is interesting, but outside that, there was nothing more spectacular about him. His sword arts were impressive but nothing compared to the power of magic or magic knights wielding swords.
In the end, all that talent is wasted on him.
To get to the capital, we traveled for over 12 hours non-stop, barely making it by dawn the next morning. The walls were towering, nearly 20 meters in height, and decorated with sigils that pulsated with blue light.
Strangely, there were no battlements or ballistic weapons mounted on these walls; instead, they looked smooth like pearl stones with no gate.
There was no exit or entrance!
Once we arrived, we quickly realized we weren't the only ones who made the trip as today was the nationwide magic academy entrance exam. Everyone was gathered outside, and honestly, I expected the number to be much greater, but it made sense.
If mages were common, then becoming a mage would not be a necessary criterion to be considered nobility. Including my carriage were 9 others each carrying the banner of each house. Outside were barely up to 20 peasants on foot, also waiting for the non-existent gates to open.
Doesn't that mean, this session, Loth only produced 30 or so mages, and this happens once every three years?
"30 mages in a kingdom with millions in population is crazy." I couldn't hide my shock as I returned to my seat.
Edward only glanced at me once before returning his attention to the empty seat beside me. I paid him no heed and stuck my head out the window again—I needed to see how the walls worked.
Hummmmmmmm!
A faint buzzing sound rang from the smooth wall as the sigils pulsated with blinding light and then, a portion of the wall slipped up slowly like an automated gate.
At the other side of the gate was a battalion of armed soldiers holding up the flag of the Loth Kingdom—it was a diabolically bad drawing of a kingdom, surrounded by a wall of fire.
Whoever designed this flag should be imprisoned and not celebrated.
The army had striking orange-colored armor, which I found amusing because the only army who were allowed to wear gold were the imperial forces in the empire's capital.
Buzz!
Suddenly, the soldiers moved apart, and a beast rode forward. From the distance, I was shaken by the size of the 8-foot tall firecat—a fiery feline beast with a strong affinity to the fire element.
The firecat was like an oversized muscular cat with a fiery mane and black stripes that fit perfectly into its reddish skin. Its claws were made of fire, and the crazy beast had a human-like gaze.
On the beast was a hulking man nearly 7ft with bright amber hair, a mustache, and an excited grin that looked more terrifying than exciting. His entire body was covered in his orange fur cloak.
Suddenly everyone began exiting their carriages, leaving me confused.
"That is King Emberfall. This is where we get down and kneel." Edward said in a dull tone that irritated me.
'Do I sound like that?'
{Nope, yours is much more annoying. Edward is just bored; you, on the other hand, lack passion for everything in closing and communicating with people. Fear not, he cannot outdo you.}
'Fuck you!' I couldn't let this guardian spirit troll its master without consequences.
By the time we got off the carriage, everyone was already on their knees. Reluctantly, I lowered myself to a knee and lowered my head just like everyone else.
The face of the king was familiar but I couldn't pl—no, I remember!
My eyes dilated as I remembered the forest vision I saw. This wasn't the man who attacked the death magic host, but they had a striking resemblance.
"The last host was from the Loth kingdom royal family? You have guts." I mumbled with a frown.
{I believed that would be the safest place. If only she trusted my words and kept her magic hidden, she wouldn't have died such a painful death} Lin lamented with a heavy sigh.
I couldn't argue with him because it made sense. Who would suspect royalty?
So far, attachment, sentiments, and love are the reasons the previous hosts died. Fortunately, I'm alone in this world and incapable of love. I'm damaged beyond repair and suspicious of everyone.
The only people I love are dead and that's why I was chosen.
I am the perfect host, so I won't fall the same way.
{Never use death magic within the capital. This isn't Blackwood Thicket; they will know instantly, and you will be surrounded even before you are done casting your spell.} Lin warned….
I don't doubt him.
But I wasn't scared. Instead, I felt—excited. I understood I was entering a new phase of life, one more dangerous than my peaceful life in Blackwood Thicket but it was exciting nonetheless.
"I'll take you all on!" I grinned devilishly as my eye revealed a burning green light.
This word will face a God of death void of reluctance and hesitation. For the first time in a long time, they will be on the defensive!