As the first mate of the Knuckleback walked off, Esau asked, “What's the Silk Cloud?”

  Micheal fastened the coin bag to his belt, then said to the boy, “Uh, definitely not a place you should know about. Anyway, let's see what we have here. Some spices, gemstones, luminescent rocks, enchanted items…”

  As Micheal's eyes went further down, he couldn't help but groan. They would be walking around the lower ring for a while.

  “Come on.”

  The two boys continued along the path that was illuminated by lanterns.

  …

  In a tavern that also served as a brothel, a daunting number of sea folks sat around wooden tables, drinking the night away as they traded tales of old. Occasionally, they would pause their squabbles and whistle at the fair maidens who swayed their hips seductively as they moved around with trays balanced on their hands.

  Usually, the men were the ones after these beauties of varying figures. However, in the month of Virella, the roles were reversed.

  Passion was in the air, more so for the women.

  “Darn, this one ‘ere is a temptress!” One of the men, a haggard looking fellow with a gold tooth, slammed his palm on the table, reeking of anticipation.

  His eyes flashed with the hunger usually seen in a predatory creature. The maidens didn't mind— in fact, they teased harder. Some leaned closer, purposefully pressing their supple bosoms against the men, while others blew kisses.

  Those who couldn't hold back their desires any longer, picked their woman of choice and paid a good sum for a lovely night upstairs. The others who couldn't afford such luxury could only watch on in anticipation and torture. Of course, there was always the choice of going to a less fancy brothel to vent their needs.

  The door to the place opened with a creak and Odin stepped into the brightly-lit area. His presence brought an undeniable chill and sense of oppression— the kind that accompanied a Paragon.

  The entire place went quiet, and heads turned.

  When they saw who it was, they exploded with cheers:

  “It's the King o’ the sea!”

  “Stormbringer!”

  “All hail the lightning trapper!”

  Odin’s lips stretched into a grin. He spread his arms as he received the praises wholeheartedly. When the cheers died down, he moved closer to the counter and rapped the edge, “One mug of your finest ale.”

  As Odin awaited his serving, he turned around to listen to the drunk men and women alike. Their conversations mostly revolved around their ‘plans’ for the night, and a new killer gracing the streets of the lower ring, as it would seem…

  “Saw ’im myself, I did! That was no fleshly entity!”

  Odin’s eyebrow raised.

  “Then what was he made of?” Another sailor, who, like Odin, didn't speak the Archipelago's native dialect, asked.

  “It!” The drunk man from before corrected. “Ghastly white an’ reeked of ash! I watched in horror as he gutted a mate of mine. Darn me bowels, I turned on my heels and made a break fer it!”

  “Sure ya weren't drunk as piss, mate?”

  The folks gathered around the table burst into laughter. The drunk man's face flushed as he frantically tried to convince them of what he saw.

  Odin chuckled and spun around. He wasn't concerned about whoever was going around killing people in the city. Who in their right mind would attack a Paragon?

  Although there was a law that prevented the use of extravagant and unregulated magic on the island, he could incapacitate most foes with his presence alone.

  Ghastly white and reeked of ash? Interesting…

  A mug was placed before Odin, snapping him out of his thoughts. The lady who served him leaned in and said with a smile, “Your room has been prepared. She's waiting.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Odin responded with a kind smile and placed five Moppets on the table. Then, slowly sipping his beer, he weaved around the crowd and went up the stairs. He soon arrived before a door at the far end of the passage and gently knocked on the surface.

  “It's open,” a sweet voice announced.

  Odin nudged the door and stepped into the dimly-lit room. His eyes ignored the competent furnishings and instead landed on a lady nestled on the edge of the bed. The dim glow from the lantern gently framed the side of her face, showing off her soft, yet alluring smile.

  The lady was beautiful, her round eyes bearing hints of childish innocence. Of course, working in a place like this, she was anything but. She carried a head of thick, red hair, wearing a silk robe that scarcely covered her figure.

  “Adeline,” Odin nearly gasped when she teased a view of her breast.

  The beautiful courtesan, Adeline, outstretched her hands. “Come to me.” she said. Her voice was warm and gentle, yet it carried a hint of compulsion. Every subtle gesture of hers was elegant and magnetic. As one of the top courtesans of the Silk Cloud, it was a necessary skill to keep her patrons aching for more.

  Odin trudged towards the bed. He towered over her lithe figure and stared into her enchanting emerald eyes.

  “What tales have you brought?” She asked.

  “What secrets have you kept?” He responded.

  Adeline smiled. She swung her arms around his neck and pulled him closer for a kiss. Both went at each other with fiery passion, finding solace in a long awaited warmth. They shuffled around in bed for a little longer, before she finally spoke:

  “The tower’s doors haven't opened since your ship left. Merchants on the middle ring speak of a strange noise in the dead of night.”

  “Hm…” Odin frowned.

  Adeline pressed her lips against his and whispered, “Also, there's a fool going around the city killing folks. It's been going on for a week, but I suppose that shouldn't bother you…”

  “Haha, it really doesn't. However, I am quite surprised that the fellow has managed to evade the Council for that long. As much as I hate their guts, I cannot deny their swiftness in handling matters. Anyway, I'll be around for—”

  Adeline hushed him.

  “We should make better use of those lips.”

  Odin was slightly taken aback. After a brief moment, he chuckled and lowered his head.

  …

  Esau and Micheal moved from shop to shop, carving their way through the list of items they needed to acquire for Maddy. The moon was high up in the sky now, and both boys were starting to grow tired.

  As they left another shop, Micheal turned to look at the younger one.

  “What's wrong? You keep staring at the monoliths.”

  Esau’s gaze shifted from a dark pillar on the edge of the street to Micheal. His lips quivered a few times, before saying, “Today would've been when my Essence Pool takes shape.”

  Oh… Micheal had learnt at some point that the young prince, despite seemingly being a Blessed, couldn't use magic. But he never knew why. Now that the conversation veered in that direction, he decided to pursue.

  “What exactly… happened?”

  The young prince smiled, although his face was completely devoid of joy.

  “I'm not too sure. I am a Dreamer… well, was. I kept getting pulled into these strange dreams that did not belong to me nor anyone around. Nightmares, really. The last one was especially horrifying, so much so that it severed my connection to Essence and split my mind.”

  He chuckled. “Even now, I'm still scared of whatever it was I saw. See, my hands are trembling…”

  He stretched his hand so Micheal could see.

  Staring at Esau, Micheal's focus was on something else. This was the first time the boy would say so much at once.

  He must've really loved the idea of wielding magic. And, considering his bloodline, he would've been a Luminary. Perhaps even a Paragon… Micheal couldn't help but feel sorry for the child beside him.

  It was one thing to be born without talent, it was another to be born with great talent and have it mysteriously ripped from you.

  The world was a strange place, even more so when it was the month of Umbra.

  Micheal seemed to remember something. He held the cloth sack tighter and asked, “Split your mind?”

  Esau paused in his tracks. He frowned and unhurriedly said, “Don't pretend like you haven't seen me talking to myself.”

  “I mean, I have… but…” Micheal stopped talking when he saw Esau raise a finger.

  “We're being followed.”

  “W-what?” Micheal's feet tensed instantly.

  One of the previous stall owners had called them brave for wandering the streets alone at night. Michael hadn't thought too much of it then, but he suddenly realized that he was carrying a bag of precious gems and materials.

  Being with nice people on the Knuckleback had dulled his instincts, so Micheal had forgotten what life was truly like. He had been robbed multiple times back when he was still surviving on the streets of the capital. And that was Theradon— a prospering city.

  Valkara, on the other hand, was a hub for pirates, adventurers, shady traders and all sorts of weird sea folks.

  That damned first mate! This is why he shouldn't have wandered off!

  Micheal tried to calm his palpitating heart and asked, “How can you tell?”

  Esau replied, “He has been chuckling and looking behind me for a while now. He only does that when he has noticed something I haven't. Harmful, mostly.”

  “Well, what do we do? Do we make a run for it? I can go quite fast with my magic…”

  Esau nudged his head in the direction of the monoliths arranged at intervals along the street.

  “Unregulated magic isn't allowed in Valkara. The city would've long collapsed otherwise.”

  “I know that!” Micheal gritted his teeth and tried to turn around. Fear, however, held him back. “How can you be so calm in such a situation?!”

  Esau didn't respond and merely reached inside his cloak, pulling out a glistening blob.

  At that moment, a deep chuckle came from behind them. The voice that spoke was deep and jarring, and it sent shivers down Micheal's spine.

  “How amusing… it would seem that I've been discovered.”

  Esau’s expression didn't change a shade. He calmly turned around and observed the appearance of their pursuer. It was a hunched figure wearing a hooded cloak. Beneath the cloak, something squirmed ceaselessly.

  The figure’s face wasn't particularly visible, but one could still see sharp rows of teeth dripping with a strange liquid.

  The smell of ash lingered in the air.

  Esau looked at the Orbulus and asked in a whisper, “Can you protect us?”

  The adorable creature blinked inquisitively, then slithered off Esau’s palm.

  It fell to the ground with a plop.

  “Wha—” Micheal wore an incredulous look as he stared at the baffling scene.

  What is that tiny pet of yours supposed to achieve?! Dammit, at this pace, we'll have to hand over everything we have. That's better than getting beat up, at least. I can't let any harm come to the boy. Odin shouldn't mind wasting a few Darlét. It's his fault we're in this mess in the first place…

  As Micheal thought of how to escape unscathed, the Orbulus had slithered halfway to the strange, hunched fellow.

  Wind wafted by in silence.

  Just as Micheal planned to negotiate their safety, the blob suddenly burgeoned and writhed wildly. In the next instant, it had swelled to a size that completely dwarfed the cloaked figure.

  “...”

  Micheal stared in absolute shock as the Orbulus parted its mouth and prepared to devour the figure whole.

  That didn't happen, unfortunately. The smell of ash intensified as the hunched figure lunged forward. The cloak flared as a swift strike moved across the visage of the giant blob.

  In the next instant, Esau’s magical companion was split in half, both halves separating and falling to the sides.

  “...”

  Micheal's face twitched.

  “Ah… perhaps we can try running as you mentioned.” Esau raised a palm to his mouth in contemplation.

  “You think?!” Micheal snapped. “Ah, why did I listen to a child in the first place!”

  “...I'm not a child..”

  By now, the cloak concealing the hunched figure was gone with the wind. The entity’s full form was revealed. Bathed in moonlight was a masculine figure with abnormally pale skin. Countless snakes bored in and out of his skin and eye sockets, with some even constituting his entire arm.

  Two skulls extended from his upper spine, forcing a hunch in his gait. Ash wafted from the hollow sockets of both skulls.

  The man's appearance seemed like something an Usher would piece together.

  “I don't think he plans to rob us…”

  Micheal drew in a cold breath. “Esau… run.”