As dawn crept ever closer, June had made no progress in warding off the pestering woman. She begged him continuously, going on about her entire life story. That was when he learned her name, Eirilla Palliford, and how she was an indentured member of the Reavers Guild. Tenith, having found his courage, spoke up as well, explaining his situation.

  June waited with the patience of a crocodile, listening to them ?before reassuring them he didn’t hold either of them responsible for what the Reavers Guild had done or planned to do to him or those who followed him. Their futures were theirs to do with as they wished.

  However, he refused to take on any personal servants, as Eirilla requested. Instead, he pointed her in the direction of the Shining Arrow Guild. If she wanted to serve him and his future endeavors, he told her that was her best way of doing so.

  With great reluctance, she acceded to his decision and left him alone afterward. Tenith had also returned to his sullen silence as peace once again fell over the bar. But the peace of mind he sought hadn’t gone quite as planned. After what he had just experienced with the Kor’valin and the Queen, he really wasn’t in the mood to mingle with others.

  So he paid the barkeep for his drink and ordered a breakfast feast for everyone staying with him at the inn. On his way out, he gave both Eirilla and Tenith a ring. It was the same storage device he had given to all the former prisoners of Castle Dumar, with the same contents.

  With that, he left the inn but not the area, as he leaped onto its roof and sat down. He fell back on what calmed him most: Cultivating.

  Taking out a Soul Crystal, he effortlessly absorbed the Soul Remnants and bolstered his True Soul. However, the amount he absorbed was minuscule, having done very little to add to his strength. But that mattered little to him. Every drop of Essence and Energy helped, no matter how small.

  As time passed, the roiling tide that was his emotions and mind soothed to the slow ebb of Lake Erie on a warm summer day. During that time, he had contemplated Sarah’s plan and found no real faults with it besides his own moral standing, to which she had readily supplied an answer. He’d be an idiot not to make use of the Kor’valin.

  With a sigh, he drained the Soul Crystal in his hand dry before shaping it into the object Sarah had shown him. Allying with the Kor’valin ?was the best option for now. He could decide her fate later down the line, as Sarah gave him a mental nod to his decision.

  After he finished, he continued Cultivating for a couple more hours before Elnori slowly peeked its yellow rays over the horizon. Dawn was upon him, as was a new day.

  He rose and leaped from the rooftop, landing before the inn. There was much to do today, but before that… breakfast. Entering the inn, he found Quin there with several of those who remained, already eating. He greeted them before mentally informing Quin of the Kor’valin.

  I will eliminate that monster! Quin said through their telepathic connection. Her rage was palpable by the heat that radiated from her thoughts as she glared toward Garn’s manor.

  There’s no need, he said before explaining to her what his intentions were regarding the Kor’valin.

  Is that wise, Father? The dangers of having such a creature near you and those you care for far outweigh the benefits.

  I agree, but I believe that having such an ally would aid in the coming battles with the others in the Divine Realm and the Corrupted. The Xarkor are one of the oldest races out there.

  Quin went silent for a moment before speaking. I understand, but if the bitch even thinks of harming anyone—

  Kill away, he finished.

  Finished with his greetings, he gathered up a tray of sausages, bacon, and two bowls of porridge before heading upstairs, where Keyvarah stirred awake. After satisfying her Vampiric needs, they enjoyed breakfast before he went about his day, completing various tasks for the coming endeavor.

  Keyvarah wanted to remain with him, but he had other plans, saddling her up with Quin. Together, they’d take a census of the freed prisoners who remained with them, who they are, and what they did. It would aid Layhanna in her preparations when she could finally claim Castle Dumar and its surrounding lands as her own. They’d be her first citizens to settle there, along with her Guild.

  Meanwhile, June made his way to the market district. He needed to buy a wide range of supplies, from food and farming equipment to cloth, linen, and building materials. He admittedly didn’t need to buy any of this, seeing as he could just create them with his Essences.

  But a part of him was still an entrepreneur, and it went out to the small stall owners and merchants. He still remembered the days of toiling with Elias to get Iron Sentinel Systems and Defense off the ground and profitable. If he had to spend a little to help make their lives a little easier, he would.

  At the same time, his clone in Lystrum was in a meeting with Estrella and Layhanna, working on officiating Layhanna’s claim to Castle Dumar, which Layhanna vehemently demanded to be changed to Castle Milliadry. He found it a tad dull and suggested she change the name to one befitting a city.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  When asked why, he stated plainly that he planned to build one there.

  The projected image of Layhanna contemplated for a moment but came up empty-handed. He understood, having just put her on the spot.

  “How long would you need to get the deed and title officiated?” he asked, turning to Estrella.

  “Another day, two at most.”

  He nodded before turning to Layhanna. “And how long do you need to get your Guild and affairs in order to begin the move?”

  Layhanna turned to speak with someone out of frame, Matil by his guess, before turning back to them. “Four days.”

  “Then you have three days to come up with a name.”

  Layhanna nodded before they moved on to other topics.

  Back in Revelcroft, having completed his foray into the Market District, June made his way to the slums. There, he spoke with ?many people, asking them about their daily lives, who they were, and what they wanted in life. Many of them avoided him, believing him to be a con artist or worse.

  But there were a select few who spoke to him, and he discovered they had a leader, someone to whom they turned for help: Neera. With their help, he found her quickly, and it didn’t shock him one bit where she resided. A brothel.

  Upon entering and asking for her, the women at the front quickly escorted him to her. Again, it didn’t come as a shock to discover she was the madam of the establishment as he entered a lavish and cushioned office. She was an older Vyshtani woman who appeared to be in her 40s in Earth terms, with bunny ears drooping over her jet-black hair. She wore a lavish, low-cut blue dress that stressed her ample bust.

  Neera glanced up from her desk, and her eyes widened in shock before she shot up into a bow. “What can I do for you, my lord?”

  “I’m no lord,” he said with a wave of his hand before sitting in the chair in front of her desk.

  “Perhaps not, but you have the power to rival one,” Neera said, following his lead and returning to her seat.

  “You’ve heard of me?” he asked with a quirked eyebrow.

  “Why, yes, my lord. There are many rumors of you doing battle with an Adjudicator above the city floating about. Yet here you sit. If those rumors are true, then…”

  He chuckled at that. “True, however, I did not come here to talk about rumors.”

  Neera leaned back into her chair. “Then what, my lord?”

  “I was told that you’re somewhat of a leader, that those in the slums look to you for help. Is that correct?”

  “Why do you ask?” she asked, crossing her legs and leaning forward, putting her chest on display.

  However, beneath Neera’s flirtatious demeanor, her body had gone taut. The light wrinkles around her eyes crinkled as she hid behind a smile. Everything about her told him she wanted no more of this conversation.

  But that didn’t deter him. “I have a proposal if you’re interested. However, before I get to that, I have another question I’d like ?you to answer first.”

  She nodded for him to continue.

  “Would you still do this type of job if you had the choice to?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “What kind of question is that?”

  “Just humor me for a moment.”

  She remained stone-faced for a while longer before breaking it with a sigh. “If I had the choice, then no, but life isn't like that. People like me have no choice in their lot in life. We can only make do with what we are given.”

  “I see,” he said as he stood. “And those you care for, do they share your sentiment?”

  Neera scoffed. “My girls would rather be anywhere else but here. Alas, they’re all orphans with nowhere left to go. It's this or being some noble lord’s personal wench, and this is by far the better deal.”

  “And those in the slums?”

  “What do you think?” Neera spat. “Why would anyone choose to live in that squalor?”

  He shrugged. “The answer might surprise you.”

  She frowned, but before she could respond, he continued. “What if I offered you a way out…” he pointed up and drew circles with his fingers, “of all this? Somewhere you can make your own choices, to dictate where your life leads?”

  Neera crossed her arms. “I’d say you’re nothing more than a charlatan or a man with ulterior motives, and forgive me, love, but it’s usually the latter in my experience.”

  “And I’d agree with you, but my offer is genuine,” he said before pulling ?a communication crystal from his spatial dimension.

  “We leave in four days. Take that time to gather any information you need regarding me. I’d suggest speaking with the Guild Master of the Shining Arrow Guild, Layhanna Milliadry. Be candid with her. Tell her I sent you and to answer any of your questions about me.”

  He held up the communication crystal before placing it on her desk. “Once you’re done, you can reach me through this with your answer.”

  With that, he turned to leave, but stopped when her chair scraped against the wooden floorboards. “And what happens to us if I reject your offer, now or later?”

  He turned to face her with a small shrug. “Nothing. You’ll just continue to live out the rest of your life here, content with your lot in life.”

  He then turned and exited without another word.

  Three days came and went. In that time, June helped those who stayed with him and the Shining Arrow Guild prepare for the coming adventure. On the third night, Neera contacted him and said she, her girls, and most of the slum residents would join them.

  It was a sleepless night for him as he rushed through the slums, helping everyone prepare, but that was of little consequence to him. By morning, they were all ready and gathered by the gate through which his initial group had entered the city. Many had come, but there were a few who scurried off at the last second, their fear of the uncertain getting the better of them.

  He stood with Neera and her people, which were close to several thousands, helping them along as Layhanna led the procession out of the city. Children clung to their mothers as they filed past him, their parents' eyes filled with trepidation and hope. In their eyes, they were taking a huge risk following him into the unknown, and he commended them for putting their trust in him.

  He wouldn't fail them.