Magus Reborn

153. A new territory

The world blurred into chaos the moment Amyra opened her eyes. Everything moved so fast it felt like she was trying to catch up with a story already halfway told. One moment, there was silence—her body heavy, her thoughts swimming through fog—and the next, the princess and her maid was standing over her, summoning Knight Killian and a group of maids with a voice sharp enough to give her another slight headache. Everything was too loud—and too messy for Amyra to relax, especially with the churning questions in her head.

The maids ran in first, their hands and feet quick as they pulled her into her room and arranged it, pulling curtains open and letting sunlight flood in like an uninvited guest. Knight Killian strode in soon after, his armour clinking with every step. Before Amyra could speak—before she could even process what was happening—Killian's strong hands gently but firmly guided her back into bed.

"Stay," he commanded.

She wanted to protest, to ask questions, but the swirl of activity left no room for her words. A healer was called, his name tossed into the air before she could even see his face, and a tray of food appeared at her side like magic.

She hadn't realized it before, but hunger struck her like a bolt. It wasn't a soft, polite kind of hunger—it was a gaping void, a black hole demanding to be filled. Before she knew it, her hands were moving, scooping up bread and fruit, her body acting on instinct. Relief flooded her entire body with every bite. And a small reprieve from the emptiness she hadn't noticed until right now, began to fade.

All the while, Knight Killian stood nearby, arms crossed. But his eyes never left hers. The princess stayed too, her expression curious but unreadable—mainly because she hadn't seen her before, ever. Amyra didn't know what the lady was thinking, or even assuming. Even the maids stayed back, their eyes flickering toward her now and then as if they couldn't believe she was awake.

She propped the final piece of bread inside her mouth and gulped down the tumbler of water.

Soon, the healer arrived.

He was no Mage, no wielder of glowing runes or chanting spells, but his knowledge of the human body was evident in his sure movements. His hands pressed lightly against her arms, her wrists, her temples. He asked her questions she answered automatically, his tone was proof that he'd done this at least a hundred times before.

When he finally straightened, the verdict was delivered without hesitation. "You're fine. No signs of lingering damage. But..." He frowned, his brows knitting together. "You need to be monitored in case you relapse. Falling into a coma again would be..."

"I won't," Amyra cut in. The dead world lingered at the edges of her mind, a hollow, lifeless void she had no intention of revisiting. "I'm done with that."

The healer seemed unconvinced but didn't argue. He just packed his tools, gave a few final instructions to Knight Killian and the princess, and then left the room with a swish of his cloak.

Finally, the whirlwind settled. The maids stepped back, lingering at the room's edges, while the princess took a seat nearby, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Knight Killian remained where he was.

Amyra looked at him and noticed the usual scowl masking his face. She drew in a slow breath. "Well... What happened?" she asked at last. "What happened to Veralt? The beast wave? The Vermorga?"

Killian's expression softened—just barely. He glanced briefly at the princess and maids and then back to Amyra. His eyes met hers with a kind smile.

"We won," he said. "After you... passed out, things moved quickly. Lord Arzan killed the Vermorga. The rest of the beast wave was already thinning by then. The frays and the guards swept the streets, clearing out the scattered beasts. It's over now."

Amyra's chest tightened. Relief mingled with disbelief, but then she realised something. "Does that mean... a lot of time has passed?"

Killian shook his head slowly, his armour catching the light with the movement. "Not too long. Nearly two months. You've been out for that long."

He exhaled deeply, as if a weight he had carried for weeks was finally lifting. Amyra watched him carefully, noting the slight droop in his shoulders, the way his gaze lingered on her.

Two months. The words echoed in her mind. The world had kept moving while she lay trapped in stillness, and now that she was awake, she would have to find her place in it once again. But for two months, she'd lost a part of her life.

"I'm sorry," Killian's voice came in a low whisper. He cleared his throat and sighed. "I wasn't able to protect you then. You were the one who ended up saving me... saving all of us. As a knight, I failed."

Amyra blinked, caught off guard. His words tugged at a memory she wished she could bury—the moment in the beast wave when the mana fiends had swarmed her, when she'd felt death clawing at her heels. Knight Killian had been there, standing between her and the monsters. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't even have a conscience to come back—she'd have been dead. Experience tales at empire

She shook her head firmly.

"No. You did your best to protect me. It was me who was weak... the one who had to hide behind you. Don't be sorry, Knight Killian. I'm very thankful to you. Truly... I'd feel awful if you kept burdening yourself with this."

Killian's jaw tightened, and he gave a small nod, but his eyes didn't meet hers.

Kai nodded. "It feels alive. Even the capital didn't have this much energy."

They continued down the main road, the castle looming closer with every turn. Built of polished blackwood timber reinforced with stone, the castle looked... magnificent.

As the carriage pulled into the castle courtyard, Kai spotted a group of people waiting at the front steps. Servants in crisp uniforms stood at attention alongside a tall man. The moment the carriage came to a stop, one of the servants hurried forward to open the door.

Kai stepped out, his boots crunching lightly on the gravel as he straightened to his full height. His gaze immediately landed on the man waiting for him—Leopold Blackwood. The blonde, young man with a friendly aura that he had befriended back in Hermil.

"Baron Arzan," Leopold said, a smile playing on his lips. "Or should I say Count Arzan now?" He shook his head, a hint of admiration in his voice. "I've never seen someone rise through the ranks so quickly, but for what you accomplished, it's well deserved."

Kai smiled back, stepping forward to clasp Leopold's hand. "Your forces helped make it possible," he replied. "And you can call me whatever you like, Leopold. We're friends, aren't we?"

Leopold chuckled. "That we are, Count Arzan. That we are."

Leopold's sharp eyes flicked to Knight Darian and the others as they dismounted from their horses and moved to join Kai. With a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Leopold said, "I see you've brought them back alive."

Kai chuckled softly, glancing over his shoulder at the knight and his companions. "I did my best to keep them intact," he replied. "They've earned some rest after all they've been through."

Leopold nodded. "Good to hear. You always seem to take care of your own—something not all nobles bother with. I respect that." He gestured toward the castle's grand entrance. "Come. I hear you're not staying long, so let's not waste time. My father is in his study, eagerly waiting to meet you. I can't remember the last time he showed this much interest in another noble."

Kai raised an eyebrow as they began walking. "Is there a particular reason for that?"

Leopold gave a knowing smile, his hands clasped behind his back as they moved to enter. "Let's just say you've exceeded his expectations—and mine. House Blackwood doesn't align itself with any faction. We pride ourselves on staying neutral, watching, and assessing. But when a noble rises as quickly as you have, we pay attention. My father has been keeping an eye on you for some time now."

Kai nodded silently, signalling his agreement, and followed Leopold deeper into the castle. Behind them, the servants began unloading the carriage while Knight Darian and the others peeled off to handle their respective tasks. The quiet bustle of activity faded as they moved through the corridors, Kai's sharp eyes wandering to the details around him.

The walls were filled with tapestries showing battles against the beasts they'd fought over the years. The details of them were immaculate, vivid and striking. Between them hung portraits of House Blackwood ancestors, their gaze felt eerie, calculating and judgemental. Kai also noted the torches that stood along the hallway.

Soon, they reached the third floor where the Duke's study was situated.

"Just right there," Leopold said while walking towards a large door that had a craving of blackwood trees and wolves snarling at unseen prey.

Leopold rapped his knuckles against the door twice. From within came a deep, gravelly voice: "Come in."

Kai hesitated as Leopold opened the door. The moment stretched as he reminded himself to breathe. He needed to make a good impression here—more than good, flawless. The Blackwoods were famously neutral, but gaining their respect could sway the balance of his future dealings.

He straightened his robes, took a steadying breath, and stepped inside behind Leopold.

The room was a testament to a lifetime of triumphs. Mounted heads of ferocious beasts lined the far wall—massive tusks, snarling jaws frozen in eternal defiance, and piercing eyes of taxidermied predators that seemed to track his movements. Below them, medals and parchments gleamed under the sunlight streaming through a tall window, chronicling the Duke's achievements in extreme detail by how long they seemed to be.

But Kai's attention didn't linger long on the trophies. It was immediately drawn to the man sitting at the heavy desk in the centre of the room.

Duke William Blackwood was nothing like Kai had envisioned. His burly frame filled the chair, muscles rippling beneath his garments, which were—unexpectedly—bright crimson, it stood out due to the muted tones of the room. A thick black beard framed his weathered face, with streaks of silver threading through, and his long hair was tied loosely at the nape of his neck.

The Duke's piercing, silver eyes landed on Kai, narrowing slightly as wrinkles etched deeper into his forehead. His expression was unreadable—neither welcoming nor hostile but weighed with expectation.

Finally, he leaned forward slightly. "So, you are here. Arzan Kellius. I've been meaning to talk to you."

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A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription for both of them is on too.