The eye watering heat of the forge hit Aenon as he exit the soul realm of the former daggers. He removed his hand and took a step back as Borin immediately picked up the ingots and started examining them closely. Aenon was unsure how long he was inside the soul space, but the dwarf had barely moved from his spot. He started making some notes and marking the now cold pieces of metal, completely oblivious to the outside world. There was a System notification demanding Aenon's attention, but he chose to ignore it for now.

Seeing that he was not needed, Aenon started to leave when he remembered something. He pulled up his inventory and withdrew the Black Marble he had gotten some time ago. The unassuming thing had not reacted to his Mana Sense. But he hadn't tried his Sovereign's Eye then, as he had assumed it was not a living object. But after learning about soul ores, he had a hunch. He focused on the cold surface, and before he knew it, he was back in another soul space. It too was pure white, and he was not sure how large it was. He wanted to explore further but decided it could wait till after he got back. But when he opened his eyes back in the real world, Borin was standing in his face.

"Where the bloody hell ya get that?" he asked while his gaze didn't budge an inch away from the marble. Even when Aenon moved his hands around, he never looked away from the thing, as though afraid it would melt into thin air if he did.

"It was a System reward," Aenon said flatly.

"Well, do ya want me to use it in the daggers?" he asked while finally turning to look at Aenon.

"I thought it already has soul ore in it?" Aenon asked.

"Bah. That be a smidgen compared to the lump ya got here. I had something real nice planned, but if I can use that then the outcome will be much better," the dwarf said in a gleeful tone.

"Is there anything else I could do with it?" he asked with some thought. The System prompt from his stalker mentioned it had several uses.

"Sure. Could make an enchantment quill, but ya don't look like an enchanter to me," the dwarf said. He stroked his beard with a thoughtful look before continuing, "There be one more thing ya could try I suppose. A soul ring."

"Soul ring?" Aenon asked with confusion.

"Uh huh. Wee little thing that will help ya fend off attacks from other soul mages, or hexes designed to target your soul. Pretty popular artifact amongst the bloody nobles, cause they the only ones who can afford one. That little bead ya got there will cost enough to buy this whole town ten times over," Borin replied while crossing his arms. "Not to mention you can make more than a dozen of those with the amount ya got."

It was then that Aenon realized why he was rewarded with this. If he had such a defense, then he would have been better prepared against the attack from the crown prince. He could ask Borin to make a ring and use the rest for his daggers, but he had a much better idea.

"Let's go with the ring then," Aenon said with a nod as he handed over the marble. "But not just one. I need sixteen."

Borin raised an eyebrow at that, "Ya only got 10 fingers lad. And having more than one is pointless anyway."

"Only one of them is for me," Aenon said while shaking his head. "I have…plans. I will send you the designs for the rings. For now, focus on the daggers. Use a little bit of the ore if you can get a better version but leave enough for the rings."

Borin gave him a complicated stare but said nothing for a while. He finally nodded in acknowledgement.

"Got it," the dwarf replied crisply. He gingerly took the black orb and turned away towards the forge.

Aenon decided to leave the shop to let him focus on the project. He would send the ring designs when he was done drawing them out. Eight of them were for his pack ofcourse. The rest were for another crazy idea of his.

He put on his armor and surreptitiously left the building and took to the streets, attracting a lot of unwanted attention as he moved across town. But he ignored all of it and just kept walking at a brisk pace. The thought of finally leaving the city for his next mission was the only thing pushing him ahead.

Aenon entered his mansion and made a beeline for his office. A servant stood by the door, to whom he handed a few instructions. He then entered the room and collapsed on his chair. Bane emerged from his shadow and sat next to him.

"What is bothering you, Alpha?" he asked with concern.

"Nothing to worry about. I am just not used to interacting with these many people," Aenon dispelled the wolf's concerns and closed his eyes. He just lay there enjoying the silence when he heard a knock on the door.

"The people you requested are here, my liege," Henry announced from outside.

"Enter," Aenon said while sitting up straight.

Eight people entered the room and bowed. Front and center was Gorin, who was back to his former health. The only thing missing from the imposing man was the confidence he once sported in Aenon's presence. The Guild Leader looked hesitant and seemed to want to be anywhere but here. Right by his side was Thalindra, who was furtively glancing at her immediate boss with nervousness. Ignar's party stood behind the two guild leaders while Henry walked up and stood beside Aenon. Jenny was the last person to enter, but unlike last time she looked like she belonged to this meeting.

"Have a seat," Aenon commanded at the empty chairs. Once everyone was seated, Gorin was the first person to speak up.

"Before we begin, I'd like to apologize for my prior behavior," he said with a formal bow.

"Apology accepted," Aenon replied with a nod. The man probably had other things he wanted to say but Aenon continued, "Now before we begin, let me clarify something. Many of you may have guessed it, but I am trying to set up my Domain. My takeover of Jadefall was part of that plan. However, the thing I didn't anticipate was this city. I had no intention of taking over, but things just progressed in that direction. I wanted to mention it before someone assumes that this was some secret plot to upend the current status quo. If your former Mayor wasn't abusing those under him, I would have been happy to just maintain formal relations with the town."

Several people exchanged glances but didn't raise any questions or concerns. So Aenon continued.

"Now, moving on to the main topic of this meeting. I have some missions for you all. Things that I want to accomplish before the tutorial phase ends. And yes, it is to secure my Domain in the long run. I envision establishing a place that will benefit everyone involved. To that end, we need to accomplish three things: Raise the average level of the town, secure our surroundings, and scout out the neighboring cities and villages. Not to expand, mind you. Merely to watch out for potential threats."

"We understand, Lord Fenrast. We have been working towards creating such a place. And I speak for everyone when I say, we are glad that you at the helm," Thalindra said politely.

Aenon observed her soul and saw that she was being overly cautious with her words. He wasn't sure what she and Jenny discussed, but there was a wild mix of fear, curiosity, and even wonder coming off her.

"Now, I believe it is time to switch gears," Aenon said as he put forth a bunch of sealed envelopes on the table. "These are your instructions for what you will be doing for the next two months. Ignar, you and your party will be going to the forest south of Reality's Edge with Jenny to clear it up. Speaking of which, Reality's Edge will be my private domicile. A very select few will be granted access to it, and the portal to the village will be heavily regulated. Anyone foolish enough to try going there without my approval will regret it dearly."

Aenon had given Nocthrya a strict list of people who were allowed to go to Reality's Edge. Anyone else was to be swiftly dealt with. The fewer people that knew about the World Tree and Talia, the better. Since Nocthrya took root within the village, he no longer had to worry about the citizenship requirement. It was protected whether someone settled there or not.

"The Guild will be responsible for scouting out the dungeon south of Neverhelm. If possible, clear it so we don't have another dungeon break on our hands," Aenon continued while looking at Gorin. "Watch out for any irregularities though. The dungeons in the area have been tampered with. The details are in your instructions."

"Yes, sire," Gorin replied formally, although his nervousness and curiosity spiked when he mentioned the outside interference. Aenon had already explained the gist of it in the sealed letters and was in no mood to elaborate. He continued.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"As soon as Ignar has cleared the way, you are to setup a protected route to the goblin dungeon there," he instructed Henry. "Coordinate with the noble houses and make the arrangements. Remember, the priority is to increase our average levels. I will not tolerate any price gouging for entry or things like that. I don't mind them earning from it, but if I even see a hint of abuse, they will be answerable to me.".

"It will be done, sire," Henry too replied with a deep bow.

"Bane, you and the wolves are to scout the surrounding area. Clear out any threats that can hamper the city's safety. But I also need the entire pack close to level 100 by the month's end."

"Understood, Alpha," Bane replied calmly.

"What I have just told you are just the general instructions. The sealed letters have additional details. You are to open them when alone. The System quest will update when you do. With that, you may ask any questions about your respective missions now," Aenon said as he regarded each person at the table.

"I have one," Jenny said with a raised hand. "What about you?"

"I will be tackling the Fire Ant dungeon," Aenon replied.

The people in the room had various degrees of shock and concern written all over their faces. Even Ignar's party exchanged worried glances.

"With all due respect sire, that dungeon needs a full raid group," Henry was the first one to speak up. "Hive creatures are a scourge that many worlds have fallen to. We do not question your power, but it is ill advised to do it alone. At the very least you will need a healer,"

"Your concerns are noted," Aenon replied. It was obvious no one was convinced, but he ignored them. "Now, if no one has any questions about their missions, then I would ask everyone except Thalindra to get going."

Aenon felt everyone holding themselves back from saying anything further as they each got up and left the room. Finally, it was just him and the other soul mage in the room.

"I hope you had enough time to think about what I asked," Aenon asked the older woman.

"Yes, I did," she replied but paused in hesitation. "But I have a few questions before I give my answer."

"Sure, go ahead. I will answer them, if I feel it is necessary," Aenon replied as he leaned back into his chair.

The woman hesitated before getting herself under control.

"Why do you insist on going solo on such dangerous missions? Even the first time we met, you were coming out after a near suicidal one," she asked with a frown.

"I work best when alone," Aenon replied simply, not feeling the need to explain further.

"But that's…" Aenon could feel the frustration from her. But she relented and continued to her next query. "Ignar feels that you are not a noble. Is he right?"

Aenon didn't answer immediately. On the one hand, he wanted to continue keeping his secret. But he also couldn't discount the invaluable support of the experienced bureaucrat.

"No," he finally stated. "I am a Player from Earth."

He didn't reveal anything more, but looking at the shocked expression, he didn't really need to. But Aenon did have something he wanted to ask too.

"Since we are talking about our origins," Aenon said cautiously. "Your soul. What is wrong with it?"

Aenon saw her stiffen suddenly, guilt and fear rising within her soul.

"That is none of your concern," Thalindra blurted—then immediately realized her mistake. "I am sorry Lord Fenrast. I really am…"

But Aenon waved off her apology.

"We are all entitled to our secrets," Aenon said. "I was merely curious."

Thalindra squirmed in discomfort, warring internally about something. Aenon was hoping she would open up, but in the end, she chose not to.

"My last question," she continued, "How are you so confident that you will survive against such ridiculous enemies? The list you dropped on me last time, I know powerful kingdoms who would break under the pressure, my former family included."

Once again Aenon weighed his response before speaking. But there wasn't much he could say to defend his choices. It was just who he was.

"I am not," Aenon said with a shrug. "There is a very real possibility that we will all die within an hour of the tutorial phase ending."

His response stunned the Assistant Guild Leader who continued to flounder around for words.

So, he continued, "Have you heard of chess? It's a board game of wits between two players."

"I… I have heard about it," she replied in confusion.

"Do you forfeit the game before it begins just because they are smarter than you?" he asked.

"Well, no. But this is hardly that. If we are to compare, it would be like you playing an opponent who has all their pieces, while you only have your king," Thalindra said in frustration.

The example made Aenon chuckle, "It is, isn't it?"

"See, that is what I mean. How can you laugh at something like this?"

"Because of the way you put it. My enemies have a full board, while I stand alone. Doesn't that make my next move obvious," he asked with s sharp look. "I need to set up my side of the board."

Thalindra's eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place. Everything Aenon had done—Jenny's sudden growth, the seamless takeover of the city, the chain of Awakenings around him—none of it was a coincidence.

Individually, they could be dismissed as impressive but isolated feats. Together… they formed a pattern she could no longer ignore.

"Although, there are a few key differences between me and them. They go for quantity, whereas I focus on quality. There are no pawns on my side of the board, Thalindra. No one is expendable to me. And unlike them, I won't be giving commands from the backlines. I will be leading the charge. Which is why I need to be the strongest piece there is," Aenon concluded, letting her digest the facts.

The room stayed silent for a while as Thalindra continued sorting through her feelings on the matter. There were still hints of uncertainty within her, but they were starting to die down. Yet, it never truly left her. It was like she was hung up on something, a past trauma perhaps.

"I'll meet the girl and see what I can do," Thalindra finally replied.

Aenon noticed that she buried her doubts deep within her, instead of resolving them. But he decided not to comment on that. He would address it later when he had the time. Right now, he had too many things to deal with.

"Good. Here are your instructions," Aenon said while he withdrew another envelope from his inventory. "I might be out of reach for the foreseeable future, so rely on this."

"Very well, Lord Fenrast. I will look forward to our next meeting," she got up with a bow and left the room.

Aenon stared at the retreating woman in silent contemplation. Her soul was fascinating, and unlike any other he had seen. The closest thing that he could compare her to was Talia. Both had rigid chains within them. But while Talia had obvious foreign influence, Thalindra's restrictions looked self-inflicted. It was like she was afraid of her own power for some reason. He would perhaps get to the bottom of it one day, but for now he had bigger fish to fry.

Of all the pieces he had set in motion, the one that needed the most work was himself. He had started to stagnate in levels and skills over the last week, since he was getting bogged down with planning and politics. But now it was finally time to cut loose. He dismissed Bane, who ran to gather the other wolves for the hunt. Once he was truly alone, Aenon pulled up his System notification that was starting to bug him.

Title achieved: Soul Cleanser | +10 all stats | You are not only adept at inflicting damage, but also vanquishing soul remnants left behind by the unfortunate. Again, since you did not use it to your benefit, but rather for the eradication of a potential malignant entity, you get a Title and not a penalty.

Title absorbed: Soul Cleanser into Unfettered Soul | +75 all stats | ???

The warnings about using his soul powers for personal benefit continued. Not to mention, the cannibalization by his Unfettered Soul Title. But his attention was snagged by the new notification that popped up. And this one had major repercussions for him and the settlement.

Class: Void Stalker | Titles: Unfettered Soul | Synergy found between unique Title and primary Class, thus triggering a Class evolution quest. Complete the quest to further improve your Class.

Warning 1: Evolved Classes cannot be forfeited.

Warning 2: Once started, an evolution quest cannot be abandoned. Failure of the quest will strip you of the Class and Title.

Warning 3: Be very careful of your choice, my little predator. This decision will have a major impact on your Path. But should you succeed, you would have achieved the bare minimum qualification to meet me.

Accept Evolution Quest?

Y/N

This was a curveball Aenon had not anticipated. He had known Classes could evolve, but not the significant risk associated with it. A loss of either his Class or the Title would be a major blow to his power level, and he almost reflexively turned it down. But the last warning made him hesitate. Getting to meet this mysterious System Admin was something he really wanted. If nothing else, he needed to analyze if this person was a friend or foe.

"Hey. What's this evolution quest about?" Aenon asked while entering his outer soul space.

The System Nurse was floating about with a deep frown on her face. She didn't respond immediately, having some internal conflict. And since she was a blank canvas to his Sovereign's Eye, Aenon couldn't read what she was feeling.

"It's a standard Class evolution quest," the Nurse finally responded. "People get them from time to time. It's a core mechanic to tailor fit a Class to the user."

Even without the emotions, Aenon could sense hesitation in her voice. Like she was hiding something or wasn't sure how to talk about it.

"What about the System Admin…," Aenon began to ask but the Nurse cut him off.

"Just keep doing what you are doing," she said rather abruptly.

Aenon was taken aback by the sharp response. Whatever was bothering her, she was very reluctant to talk about. So he decided to leave the topic for now.

"Well, I am considering taking up the quest," Aenon changed the topic. "The risk is great, but I am hoping so will the rewards."

"You are right about that," the Nurse relaxed at the diversion. "Especially since the evolution quest involves your unique Title."

"Unique?" Aenon asked in confusion.

"Again, read a damn book," the Nurse said crossly but explained anyway. "Unique Titles are related to your Path. It does a lot more than just giving you access to your outer soul space. That is why if someone has not found their Path by the time they are level 200, the System grants them a weaker version. It will not allow them to tap into their innate affinity from their outer soul, but grants them access to using their Aura. But without their innate affinities, the Aura will be inferior."

Aenon pondered about it for a bit but didn't ask anything further. He decided to find out about it on his own, or through a book. Looking at him thinking about something, the Nurse didn't interrupt for a while. But she eventually lost her patience.

"Are you sure about the soul ore?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Aenon asked in confusion.

"Do you really intend to use it for soul rings for your allies?"

"Yes," he stated boldly. "I will need allies to go up against my growing list of enemies."

Aenon didn't explain further, but he felt it wasn't needed anyway. The Nurse had a knowing smile on her face.

"Finally. Some sense finally managed to enter your thick skull," she said humorously.

"Yep," Aenon replied with a smile of his own. "After all, I will need some very powerful pieces on my board to counter the army heading my way."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.