I stepped out of the diner, pockets a little lighter. Food was good, sure, but I couldn't stop thinking about how I just spent more money again. I let out a breath and shoved my hands into my coat pockets, walking down the stone streets of the capital. Well... "my" house. Can't really call it that. It's not mine. Not really.
I tilted my head up, staring at the sky. Sunlight poured down, warm and annoyingly bright. I squinted, throwing a hand over my eyes to block the glare.
"So damn bright today..." I muttered, my voice lost in the chaos around me.
The city was alive—carriages rattling over the cobbles, merchants shouting about fresh produce, fish, or magic charms, people laughing, children chasing each other like the streets were their playground. Nothing really changed here. Same old capital.
I passed by a food stall and froze.
'Ooh, those cookies look good... Should I? Eh, screw it.'
I reached out and grabbed a full box.
"How much?" I asked, barely glancing at the vendor.
"15 silver."
I blinked.
'What the hell? For cookies?'
I sighed, dropped the coins into his hand, and grabbed my sugary loot.
"Thanks, come again!"
I waved lazily and kept walking, shoving the box under my arm. But then—sniff—a smoky, rich smell hit my nose. Barbecue.
Goddamn it.
I stopped in my tracks and stared across the street. Juicy meat, sizzling, dripping with grease. The kind of smell that could make a man forget all his plans. I clenched my fists and forced myself to turn away.
"No... no, no. I need to save money. I already gave away 15 silver for cookies... and now this barbecue's calling out to me like a damn siren."
My stomach growled in betrayal. But I kept walking.
"I used to eat high-class stuff all the time. Maybe that's why this street food hits different..."
Still, I walked.
"Now what? What's the goal after I reach Cassian's level? What the hell do I do then?" I muttered, lost in my thoughts while the crowd buzzed around me.
People brushed past, not sparing me a glance. No one really noticed me. I guess that's a blessing.
I reached the front of the house and climbed the creaky steps. Pulled out the key and unlocked the door. Inside, it was dark, still, quiet.
And dusty.
---
"ACHOO!"
I sneezed the moment I stepped in, nose burning from all the crap floating in the air. I wiped it with the back of my hand.
"Ugh... not again. Don't tell me I have to clean this place again."
There was a faint trail of sunlight filtering through the windows, revealing dust hanging in the air like fog. I sighed and kicked the door shut behind me.
Then something caught my eye.
A letter. Lying on the floor. Sealed, fancy. I crouched down and picked it up, eyeing the emblem on the wax.
"The royal family's insignia... Another one from the emperor?"
I walked to the dining table, dragging out a chair. The wood groaned under the weight like it hadn't been moved in weeks. I sat down, opened the letter, and pulled out the paper inside.
My eyes scanned the text, and my face gradually scrunched up.
'From the Emperor: Vincent. Recent investigation tells us that Cassian was not a swordsman. He only trained with the blade for survival. He was, in truth, a mage...'
I blinked. Then read it again.
"What the...?"
My hand trembled slightly. I slammed the letter down.
"CASSIAN WAS A MAGE?! Are you fucking kidding me?!"
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "Not only do I have to train my body to reach his damn level—I gotta become a freaking mage too?!"
My eyes went back to the letter.
'...More specifically, an Expert 3rd Circle Mage. He possessed one of the rarest physiques: The Magic Body Physique. The same physique you possess, Vincent. It allows the wielder to learn both swordsmanship and magic—something that's normally impossible. It seems your similarities with Cassian go deeper than just appearance.'
I let out a long breath and folded the letter. I tossed it back into the envelope, walked to the cupboard, and shoved it inside. I opened the second one and placed the cookie box in it. The first cupboard already held 20 other letters from the emperor.
"Great. More work dumped on me. I've got school to attend too now, huh? Just my luck..."
Then... something hit my nose.
"...What the hell is that smell?"
I sniffed my shirt... and instantly gagged.
"Oh god—UGH—I smell like a damn corpse! I haven't bathed in days! That explains all the dirty looks I've been getting..."
I pulled my shirt off and tossed it over my shoulder. My body had recovered decently. Still not how it used to be, but not bad. Muscles were back, but nowhere near what I had before losing everything.
The stairs creaked under my feet as I climbed up. I reached my room... and stopped cold.
The lantern was lit.
"What the...?"
I looked around. Drawers were slightly open. The closet too. No signs of forced entry.
"Someone's been in here... but how? And what the hell were they looking for?"
I clenched my jaw, walked over, blew out the candle, and shut everything tight.
The sunlight beamed through the curtains, lighting the room in a soft golden hue. I glanced at the bed.
"...Shit. The sheet reeks too."
Another chore.
I grabbed a fresh sheet and some clean clothes, stripped the bed, and made it anew. Then I turned around and headed downstairs, straight into the bathroom.
I replaced the water and tossed my shirt and bed sheet in. Scrubbed, cleaned, wrung it all out, then finally washed myself.
The hot water hit my skin like heaven. I leaned back, closed my eyes, and let out a long exhale.
"Finally... Clean. For once."
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- End of Chapter
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