Zeal of the Mind and Flesh: A Cultivating Gamelit Harem Adventure (Spellheart Book 1)

by Marvin Whiteknight

  “I suppose that would have worked for me as well.” I said. “Though it might have taken a bit longer. Still, this is better in many ways. We’re not starting from scratch. There’s plenty of history to the Songstone Clan, with old wealth, connections, and reputation. There’s also other people here who know how to run a clan so we don’t have to figure it out ourselves.”

  “I know, but still...”

  “If you want a leadership position, I can see that you get one. I am the patriarch after all. And you’ve been talking to Nela, right? I think she likes you.”

  Sava smiled. “You were worried about me. I thought for sure you wouldn’t want me around anymore, now that you have better options.”

  I kissed Sava on the cheek. “You were wrong.”

  Sava was every bit as beautiful as Nela, though in very different ways. Where Nela was proud but uncertain, Sava was practical and driven. Nela was refined, Sava was protective. I found both of them wonderful in their own way, and I didn’t want to give up either of them. And in this world, I wouldn’t have to.

  “I suppose you’re right. Thinking I could keep you all to myself was just a deluded fantasy. Even if we managed to establish a clan, without power we’d be wiped out by the next enemy to come along. But these Songstone survivors surely have a few secret mystic art manuals. I’m just sad that I never got to name a clan. I’ve always wanted to come up with the name of a mighty sect or clan.”

  “Well, why can’t you name this one?”

  “They’re already the Songstone Clan though?”

  I shook my head. “I haven’t brought it up yet, but they can’t really use that name anymore. They’ve got old enemies. When they were at full power they might have been able to frighten those foes off, but now that they’re as weak as they are, they don’t have anywhere near the power required to resist even the least of their old foes. They need to pick a new name and then lie low until they gather some of their old strength back.”

  “Hmm, in that case, what about the Sava Clan?”

  “That might be hard to sell to Nela and the rest of the clan members.”

  “Fine. You said you walked here from another world. How about the World Walker Clan?”

  “It has a nice ring to it, but it’s a bit ostentatious for a small clan that’s out in the middle of nowhere, living in the woods.”

  “Oh, alright. The forest we are in is called the Hearthwood forest. We can call ourselves the Hearthwood Clan.”

  I tapped my chin in thought. “By picking this name, we’re subtly laying claim to this entire forest. Are there any major powers around her that would take offense at that?”

  “A couple are on the same level as my Riverweed tribe. I was invited to join by a few of them. As far as I know, none of them have any mage acolytes, so they should be on the same level of power as us. We might be pushing it, but as more Riverweed survivors rally to us we should be able to keep the title.”

  “Good. I like the sound of it and am curious to see who will complain. I’ll declare it tonight. From now on, we’re the Hearthwood Clan. It will be good to cut any overt ties with the old Songstone Clan. Perhaps it will make the Songstone Clan members more accepting of you as well. They still seem to treat you like a bit of an outsider, despite the fact that you’ve spent the last few weeks making herbs to heal their wounds. Some of them might never have recovered from the injuries they picked up fleeing their clan if not for your care and attention.”

  “It’s won me a few new friends, I’ll admit.”

  Sava and I shared a long quiet moment, just enjoying each other’s presence after several days apart. I suddenly realized that while integrating with the Songstone Clan had only been a little hectic for me, for Sava, it was a big deal. She must have grown up in the Riverweed tribe, surrounded by elves she’d known since childhood. And now she suddenly had many new people bustling around her. It must have been very disconcerting. I would have to do my best to comfort her.

  “Now, tell me about this mysterious attacker your orc friend is so worried about.”

  “You heard about that?” I asked in surprise. I had made sure I was alone when talking to Yorik.

  Sava smiled. “You did better than most, but I’m on the edge of reaching the eighth layer. My hearing is better than yours. Also, you know I have a fondness for trees. One of the things you learn is that people rarely look up.”

  I grinned sheepishly. “Well, I’m glad that you’ve got a habit of keeping an eye on things. You wouldn’t happen to have seen anybody who could be our mystery attacker, would you?”

  “I haven’t. But I do know that if you want to hook a fish, you have to put some bait on your hook.”

  My eyes sparkled. “You want to set a trap.”

  “We play this right and we can draw them out into the open. Then we can deal with them.”

  “We know they’re using mind magic. I’m far more resistant to that kind of magic than you or anybody else here, so I’ll be the one to confront our opponent.”

  Sava nodded. “We’ll put the orc out in the open. I’ll tail her and try to startle the spy, if she really exists. It will be up to you to spot her though, since you can see through mind magic. If you or the orc can figure out how to disable it, we can capture her.”

  “A good plan. Let’s set up our trap first thing tomorrow, once everyone splits up to complete their various jobs.” I turned to leave, but thought I should make one last point clear. “Also, I know you don’t really get along with Yorik, but try to make sure she doesn’t get hurt.”

  Sava let out a slow breath. “I’m not that close minded. Despite being an orc, she’s done nothing but help us. I should try… no, I will be nicer towards her from now on.”

  I nodded and left. The bait was ready and the hook was prepared.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  THERE WAS SOME grumbling as I introduced the new clan name. Several people flat out refused to let go of the name Songstone. I ended up saying that they could continue to think of themselves as whatever they wanted, but if they didn’t want the same calamity that befell their old clan to fall on them again here they had best start using the name Hearthwood Clan. That finally shut up the naysayers.

  It also struck a chord with many of them. What finally tipped the balance was Nela voicing her support for the new clan name. From henceforth, the Songstone Clan was dead, and the Hearthwood Clan was born. It was small for the time being, but I had big plans. Sava had confessed to me that my great-grandchildren would likely come to dominate the whole forest with their strength and numbers alone. And with a lifespan extended by cultivation, I’d live to see that for myself. I had higher hopes for my children though, and I know Sava did too. She promised me a forest, but I wanted an empire.

  With that matter settled, I sent everyone off to work. There was much to do and little time to waste. Nela sensed my anxiety. She noticed that Sava was staying behind with me. Most mornings, she would have already left to go hunting. Still, she didn’t ask any questions and instead returned to tending the young spirit fruit trees that were her pet project. Her hands, once clean and flawless, were now speckled with dirt. Her fingers, once smooth and tender, now were a bit rougher. But most noticeably she moved with a comfortable rhythm and had a small smile on her face. She was enjoying herself, despite having scoffed at the idea of growing her own food a few weeks ago. She’d taken my criticism to heart. Or maybe Sava had won her over. Whatever it was, it was a good change.

  “What’s going on Theo?” Nela asked, dusting herself off. With her hair tied back and a worker’s apron on she didn’t look like the prim lady I’d previously met. She had a more practical air about her now. She was steadier now. Before she’d felt like a tower built by the sea. Impressive and imposing, but ready to topple when the storms came. Now she was a fortress, hunkered against a mountain. Not as elegant, but far more reliable. Honestly? I liked her better this way.

  “Remember the Unblinking Eye you told me about? I have reason to suspe
ct they’re in the area.” I admitted.

  Nela dropped her trowel. “Should I get my weapon?”

  I shook my head. “I’ve just got some suspicions. It might be nothing. Just let me handle this for now, please.”

  Nela nodded slowly, bending up to pick up her trowel. She went back to work, but I caught her whispering a few words in Ghessa’s ear as she peered back at us.

  I’d filled Yorik in on most of the plan already, but I wanted to make sure she knew what role she had to play.

  “So, you need to expose yourself for a bit. Just stay here chopping some firewood. Act immersed in your task. Sava and I will stay hidden. With any luck, this mind heart wielder will reveal themselves.”

  “I will chop wood.” The orc thumped her chest in salute. Maybe orcs had some degree of military organization. Everything Sava had told me had led me to believe that the orcs were composed of tribes of barbaric savages. That might have been a bit of an exaggeration on her part though. After all, orcs were the historic enemy of elf-kind, and elvish texts weren’t likely to accurately portray their foes.

  As Sava and I lay in wait, Yorik went about her task. I made a big show of loudly stomping off into the distance, towards where the woodcutters were clearing timber. After more than a week of work, they had already gotten quite a bit of land cleared. Having superhuman strength and abilities was incredibly helpful for mundane tasks.

  After I was sure I was out of sight, I started doubling back. Quietly this time, like Sava had shown me. I kept my eyes peeled the whole way, watching for anything out of the ordinary. I mentally prepared myself to combat the inconspicuousness spell that Yorik had shown me. Hopefully my full concentration could overpower the effects of the spell, even if it was significantly stronger than the version that Yorik was capable of.

  I made it all the way back and crouched behind a doorway. I didn’t dare get any closer, for fear of upsetting the ambush.

  Suddenly, a figure peeled out of the shadows. It was clearly female. An elf, slightly smaller than average. She looked a little young. If she were human I would have guessed early twenties or very late teens.

  She was a brown haired mousy girl wearing a pair of brass spectacles, of all things. I’d have thought she’d be more at place working as a librarian than a hired killer. The way her clothes flapped a size to big and how she nervously readjusted her spectacles made me suspect she hadn’t done this sort of thing before.

  I could take her alive.

  Eager, I prepared to leap from my position. Yorik was still feigning obliviousness to the girl, who was approaching her from behind. She held a small dagger clutched in her right hand. The tip glistened with some type of purple oil.

  This was clearly an assassination, but something didn’t strike me quite right about it. The young elf had a sense of hesitation on her face, as if she were bracing herself for what she was about to do. She must be particularly unsure of herself, because with the orc stereotypes I’d heard I doubted it was sympathy restraining her. She was walking clumsily, making noise. If it weren’t for her magic, any elf with a bow would have shot her full of holes.

  Perhaps this was some sort of training mission? I couldn’t believe that whatever shadowy organization Yorik had upset by possessing a mind spellheart could get into a position of power with assassins as clumsy as this.

  It didn’t surprise me that they didn’t send their best though. A single orc, hiding in the woods? Sure, she’d caused some disasters like trying to rob a building in broad daylight using mind magic, but she was alone, wounded, and not particularly strong. It made sense that they’d use her death for training purposes. Too bad for that trainee that things wouldn’t work out for them today.

  Mentally, I shifted my plans. It would be far better to capture her than to kill her. And I didn’t just make this decision because she was a pretty elf girl. Gaining information should always be the first move in any engagement. Frankly, she looked like she was someone who could be easily coerced into giving up such information. I gave Sava a hand signal, indicating that I was seeing something. Sava knocked an arrow and scanned the area my eyes were peering at. She knew someone was there, but couldn’t see for herself.

  Then the girl stepped on a dry stick, making a loud cracking sound that reverberated through the air. That must have been enough to shake Sava out of the spell. She wasn’t the best hunter, but she’d spent enough time in the woods to have the instincts of one. A second later an arrow was soaring through the air towards her target, in the direction the sound came from.

  I cursed mentally. Sava’s arrow was aimed right at the girl’s throat. A lucky shot considering she was shooting blind. Worse, in the split second the arrow was released the girl didn’t even notice. She’d be dead and never even realized what killed her.

  I picked up a big clump of dirt using the power of my spellheart. I’d gotten quite good at throwing these things with magic recently. Maybe I could knock the arrow off target. Then I could knock the girl’s legs out from under her with a second throw.

  I hurled the lump of dirt with my full strength... and missed completely. That would have been it, but I was a bit closer, and Sava was using a small game hunting bow rather than her usual full-size bow. That meant that my throw managed to reach its destination before Sava’s arrow. I might have not been able to knock the arrow out of the way, but I hit my secondary target.

  The girl was hit in the small of her back by my clump of dirt. Despite being loosely packed and fairly soft, the projectile was still heavy and moving quickly. The blow knocked the girl off her feet, sending her stumbling to the ground. She must have lost concentration on her inconspicuousness spell then, because Yorik spun around a moment later, glaring down at the fallen elf with a sneer on her face and hammer held high.

  “Yorik, stay your hand!” I shouted as I came running out of hiding. Yorik had raised the axe she had just been chopping wood with, prepared to strike downward at her would-be assassin. “Sava, fetch some rope!”

  Before the girl could recover, I kicked the dagger out of her hands and reached for the necklace around her throat. Just about everyone I’d met kept their spellheart on a necklace. I pulled the silver chain off her neck, withdrawing an amber colored stone. It was approximately the same size and quality as my own earth spellheart.

  “Yorik, sit on her,” I told the orc. She was heavy, and the elf was still blinking away confusion at having been suddenly attacked. Now that she was disarmed, she was much less of a threat. From her futile struggling it was obvious that her physical strength wasn’t much to boast about.

  Sava soon returned, and we bound her hands and legs. We took her mind spellheart away first. We were about to let her be after that, but I spotted a second blue gem hidden on a bracelet.

  “What’s this?” I asked, poking at the tiny light blue shard.

  Sava leaned over. “A second spellheart. Ice aspect it looks like. How tricky of her. Too bad it’s only at the first layer of zeal accumulation. She probably couldn’t raise it higher without disrupting her mind spellheart bond.”

  “Well, any more tricks up your sleeves?” I asked the bound girl.

  “Let me go? Please” the girl asked hopefully. Sava chuckled.

  She glared at us, shaking nervously. I stepped out of the room while Sava gave her a more thorough search and returned to find her dressed in borrowed underclothes.

  “Don’t fret. I just want to ask a few questions is all,” I’d messed up my last interrogation with Nela terribly and it was only good circumstances that allowed things to turn out as well as they did. This time I was determined to ask my prisoner the right questions from the start.

  My preparations proved to be unnecessary, however. As soon as Sava took the gag out of the girl’s mouth she started blabbering.

  “P-please! I’ll do whatever! D-don’t torture me!” She cried.

  “Uh… you’ve got nothing to fear as long as you answer my questions,” I said comfortingly.

  The gir
l glanced at my face and her expression softened a little. But then she glanced at Sava and Yorik who were both glaring down at her and anxiety appeared in the creases around her eyes.

  “Tell me a bit about yourself, starting with…”

  The girl didn’t need any prompting, and I got the odd sensation that this wasn’t her first time being captured and interrogated. As soon as the question was asked she started spouting out information as fast as she could.

  “My name is Illiel. Illiel Amber. I’m an apprentice Secret Keeper, for the Worshipers of the Unblinking Eye. The branch I’m a part of serves to silence those who use our magic in the open. My mother is a high-ranking member of the cult which is how I got my position. I don’t really like it though. I’m really, really sorry about trying to assassinate the orc over there. I was ordered to do it and I didn’t have any choice. My mentor is waiting for me to report back and she can be really, really mean if she doesn’t get what she wants. I wanted to— “

  I cut her off. There was a lot of information there and little time to process it.

  “Alright Illiel, is it? I want to hear a bit about your organization, you called them the Worshipers of the Unblinking Eye?”

  “The Unblinking Eye is the name of the thing we worship. I’m just a low-level member of the cult so I don’t know much about it, but I do know it’s a thing from beyond the void. It’s a creature that hails from lands unknown and wields vast mastery over the powers of the mind. Its magic is far beyond what spellhearts can do. And even those who have merged with their spellhearts to become acolytes can’t fathom its power. The mind-aspect spellhearts we use are made by it. We’re known as the Cult of the Unblinking Eye to outsiders that know about us, though part of the job of Secret Keepers like me is to keep the number of outsiders who know about us to a minimum.”

  I held up my hands to stop the fountain of information. “So, you guys are like some sort of Illuminati? A secret society?”