Unfortunately, the warlock Mordred needed wouldn't be able to meet him for a few days. So, after a short ride, the carriage, dragged by two horses, entered the Arclore residence.
However, when it stopped in front of the main residence, there was another carriage halted in front of it.
'Vandir vorthian Arclore,' the youngest son of the Arclore family head and the younger brother of Mordred Vorthian Arclore, stepped out from his carriage the very moment Mordred's carriage came to a halt.
Mordred, dressed in his dark suit, stepped out. His charm was otherworldly, and the demeanor he showed even while walking was the true epitome of someone on a higher level of dignity.
"Brother, fancy seeing you here."
"Right back at you, little brother."
The two brothers greeted each other with a smile. Vandir had two maids and a butler following behind him, while Mordred only had Vanessa as his maid.
"Are you here to see Mother?"
"Not correct. Since I've been admitted into the academy, I need to know more about the subject I study. Where else but the library would be a better place for it?"
"Ah, I see. Congratulations on being admitted into the academy, brother."
A sweet smile showed on vandir face, but unlike Mordred, who is a mediocre villain in the game, vandir is one of the most terrifying villains.
Hidden under that smile of his is his incredible jealousy toward his brother, who is beloved by their mother. As a result of this jealousy, in his heart, there was born an obsession to be like Mordred, to replace him one day. In the whole family, vandir is the only person who knows about the underworld business run by Mordred. Imitating that, he also joined the underworld, committing heinous acts.
It was only after Mordred was killed that vandir finally showed his true colors. Dominating the whole Arclore family, at the end he became the head of the family. Along with his unique class, Doom, and unique catalog, Absolute Obsession, with power and money by his side, he became a nearly unbeatable challenge for the player.
Making him one of my allies is impossible. Either I have to subjugate him or kill him for good... But now is not the time for that.
Since I'm still alive, vandir will hide his jealousy and continue to wait in the dark for his chance. Since that's the case, let him wait until I'm prepared on my own.
The two brothers arrived inside the main mantion where they separated and went their own ways.
Walking in a corridor decorated with colorful stained-glass windows, Mordred came to the library of the Arclore family.
"Young Master, how may I serve you today?"
The librarian asked respectfully as he bowed to Mordred in a gentle way with the most articulate manners.
"Is there a world map?"
"A map of the world? Sir must be joking. We all know the terror in the sea doesn't let anything cross past it. It's such a shame, really. But if Lord wishes, we possess a complete map of our continent. Would you like me to get it for you, Young Master?"
"That would be sufficient."
. . . . . . .
As the sun in the east slowly drowned into the sea named Horizon, the lamps in the Arclore residence lit up to brighten the night of darkness.
Dressed in her maid uniform, Vennesa was back in her usual maid performance. Pouring a cup of tea, she presented it to Mordred, who stood in front of a table.
Slurp!
While gazing at the large map spread on the table, Mordred took a sip.
The map of the Destiny quest—it's the same as in the game, except for the part that still hadn't been discovered by people in this world.
If that woman in the sanctuary meddles in the very first thing I've done since coming to this place, she will definitely have the capability to interfere with my future plans. Two can't play this game, woman. If you screw me, I'll definitely screw you. The only way I could escape from her all-seeing grasp is by focusing her eyes on another side.
Thud!
With a pin, Mordred marked a certain place on the map.
If the lore is correct, this place has a seal holding a herd of dark creatures from fallen gods.
Slurp!
Taking another sip, he leaned on his comfy seat; the leather seat was like a soft hand massaging his back. If not for Vennesa Being here and his dignity of villain trait working overtime. He would scream like a woman.
"Send someone to check on this place. See if there's anything like a deep, dark cave or a huge hole underground."
"Yes, Master."
Gazing at the map, Vennesa memorized the place pinned on it.
Tok! Tok!
"Master," Negun's voice was heard from the other side of the door.
"Enter."
Clink!
Negun, who was now also dressed in his butler uniform, entered the room and bowed to Mordred.
"About the young girl, Master..."
"She needs to wait more time. Keep her somewhere dark and alone. Let her feel the loneliness and sadness—to the point where she craves the warmth of someone else. That will set the mood for the future plans."
"At your words, Master."
Leaning in the chair, Mordred took another sip, but the healthy tea didn't feel enough for him.
"I crave something intoxicating."
At his words, Vennesa quickly moved, bringing a bottle of high-quality wine and pouring a glass for him.
"Mmm..." The rich taste of the wine was something refreshing to him. Gazing at the night sky through the window, Mordred thought about his future plans while enjoying his glass of wine.
---
Sanctuary of the Holy God:
In a giant hall where four towering god statues stood in four different corners, all the holy candidates that the holy knight brought gathered in.
"From today, you will be nominated as candidates for the Holy Knights. We will train you and guide you in the path of light to bring the justice and kindness of our god to this world. It's one of the greatest purposes you could fulfill in life, and I hope to see every one of your faces at the end of your training."
A woman wearing light armor was giving a lecture to all the holy candidates. Among them stood Desire, who was very confused about the place and the state he was in.
"Sister, where are you?" In his mind, he was still searching for his dear sister.
After the woman finished speaking, she gazed at all the holy candidates. To her, most of them looked confused and stunned, just as she had expected. She remembered when she was also chosen as a holy candidate and brought to this place—she had the same reaction.
Other than them, she also noticed a few who seemed excited, which was very rare.
"Assign them to their rooms, let them rest for today, and begin training tomorrow," she ordered the nearby knight before turning to leave. However, Desire, who had been looking for someone to talk to, approached her.
"Excuse me... Did you see my sister?"
Aliyah looked back to see a kid talking to her.
"Your sister?"
"Yes, that knight uncle said he'll look for her."
Aliyah glanced at another knight. The knight shook his head in response.
"Oh, your sister... Well, you see, your sister is in a very good place, but you cannot meet her right now. Only if you promise to train very hard to become a holy knight, I'll let you see her."
"But... I want to see her now."
"Tch! Such a child."
At that moment, another holy candidate overheard their conversation and came closer. Aliyah looked at the kid who had given the heartless response. Upon seeing him, she recognized him as one of the rare kids who had been excited to become a holy knight.
"Can't you understand? Being a holy knight is the best thing that could happen to you. Your sister probably didn't want to make you worry for her, so she ditched you."
Even though he appeared heartless, he gave a very convincing reason. Who is this kid?
"I'm Giben, and I say you should become a holy knight to show her that she doesn't have to worry about you anymore. I bet she's someone who really cares for you."
Upon Giben's words, Desire remembered how his sister took care of everything for him, and the sweet smile she gave him anytime he felt sad. In his heart rose the feeling to look after his sister and take care of her, to protect that smile of hers.
"I...i will become a holy knight that my sister can be proud of and eradicate every bad thing from this world."
A warm feeling rushed through Desire's body with those words, as if his body was responding to his decision.
The warmth was not illusory, and Aliyah actually felt it.
"This... What is this? The warmth is similar to the light of the god... This kid is something special."
Aliyah was very happy. Not only was there a kid with a very brave heart and words, but there also one with an extraordinary aptitude for the light of the god.
"Seems the future generation of holy knights is going to be promising."
. . . . . . .
"Olivia, take care of your brother until your mother and I come back. I promise this time I'll bring that dress you wanted so much..."
Ever since that day, even after a week had passed, my mother and father never came back to us. I... We waited, starved, and stayed alone until Desire couldn't hold his hunger anymore.
Did our parents abandon us? Did we become a burden to them?
With a slight headache, Olivia opened her heavy eyelids. The first thing that greeted her eyes was deep darkness that seemed to have no end, making her doubt whether she had actually opened them.
She tried to stand up, but her legs were too weak—her body had been starving for a while.
Where am I?
She had difficulty remembering what had happened to her. Searching through her memories, she suddenly remembered her little brother.
"I hope he isn't starving, wherever he is."
Laying on the floor of the darkness, she still worried about her clumsy brother. She tried again to stand on her feet, but her weak legs shook even more with the effort.
"Those two people... they bought me from that man. Did they do this to me? Why?"
Clank!
While Olivia was lost in thought, she heard a sound similar to a metal door being opened. A piercing bright light instantly lit up her surroundings, but the light was so intense that Olivia had to close her eyes for safety.
She felt something hit her in that moment—something soft. With her eyes closed, she moved her hands around to find what had fallen on her, and she discovered something that felt like a soft bun in her hand.
In the next moment, she heard the door closing, and the brightness disappeared once again.
"Wait... Please let me go. Why are you doing this to me?"
Olivia pleaded, but her captors remained unmoved by her words.
Back in the darkness, Olivia began to munch on the bun in her hand. Her starving body slowly regained enough strength to stand, but she could see nothing in the dark. She moved carefully in the direction where she had seen the light come from.
Ah!
Walking like a blind person, Olivia tripped over her foot and fell to the ground. Although no injuries occurred to her physical body, her strong mentality was slowly weakening, bit by bit.