Seventh Realm Part 1: A LitRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 8)

by Michael Chatfield

  Mistress Mercy’s carriage continued into Zahir City. She sniffed the air, her face screwing into a grimace. The mana in this realm was so thin it was slowing down the amount she could gather. She looked outside of the window. People moved to the side, shaking at the powerful presence of the beasts pulling her carriage. If just one of them went on a rampage, there would be nothing the city lord could do.

  The carriage stopped at the city lord’s manor. A muscular man wearing mid-Apprentice-level armor with a silver chain stood ready to receive her. His guards lined up on either side in formation. They had low Apprentice and even Novice level gear.

  She had been searching for information for months. Everything led to Zahir City.

  Her guards opened the door to her carriage. Mercy walked down the steps and looked over the assembled men. The city lord and his guards bowed deeply. The wind drifted through the courtyard.

  “Rise.” She looked the man up and down. “You are the lord of this city?”

  “Yes, Mistress. I am Abdul Zahir.” He cupped his fists and bowed again, his body shaking.

  “Good. Let's talk inside.”

  He led her and her guards into his manor. He took them to a private room with two couches and refreshments. Mercy grimaced at the food and moved to a couch, sitting down. The mana was so thin in the food it was useless.

  Zahir paled at her reaction. She waved for him to sit opposite.

  As he did so, two of her guards stood behind Mistress Mercy, a third behind Zahir. Two others moved about the room.

  Mistress felt a little pleasure seeing the anxiousness written on Zahir’s features. “What can you tell me about the Silaz Trading house?”

  “It is a large trading house with a major location in Zahir. It used to be the headquarters, but that was shifted to King’s Hill. They have several locations in the Beast Mountain Range outposts and different kingdom capitals. They deal in many trade goods, but they are best known for trading in monster cores and mana stones. They also trade in beast par—” Zahir shut his mouth as Mercy raised a hand.

  “Who leads the trading house?”

  “Wren Silaz.”

  “What about his family?”

  “His father was a great driving force. He took the whole house to a new level. Wren expanded into the outposts and has built on his father’s past achievements. Do you know of Domonos Silaz? He had the honor to join your venerated Willful Institute.”

  Mercy’s gaze chilled, making the mana shift.

  “Where are Wren and his father now?”

  “His father retired from the business. It's said that he is exploring trading in the higher realms with his last son and cultivation-crippled daughter. Wren lives at the headquarters in the King’s Hill Outpost.”

  Mercy frowned. “What about this King’s Hill Outpost and Beast Mountain Range?”

  “All the outposts in the Beast Mountain Range banded together, created an alliance. The city in the middle of the outposts is called King’s Hill. They trade with everyone, and created a consortium that trains talent from across the First Realm,” Zahir said hurriedly, catching his breath after.

  “When did this happen?”

  “Years ago, before I was the city lord.” Zahir grimaced.

  Mercy clicked her tongue. “Where is the old city lord?”

  “He abdicated and disappeared with his children. There was an attack on him that nearly killed him.” Zahir shrugged. “He might have actually been killed. I’m not sure.”

  “We’ll head to King’s Hill.” Mercy rose from her seat.

  She made it to the doorway, her guards opening it and walking ahead.

  Mercy turned to Zahir with a frown. “What was the name of the last lord?”

  “Uhh, Chonglu something,” Zahir said.

  “What?” Mercy snapped.

  “Lord Chonglu.” Zahir’s shoulders rose.

  “The two children, were they twins? One boy and one girl?” Mercy’s mouth was moving as fast as her brain.

  “Yes!”

  “Feng and Felicity? Were those their names?”

  “I think so?”

  “Do you know?”

  “I-I’m pretty sure it was!”

  “What happened when he was attacked?” Mercy’s lips rapid fired.

  “There were two assassins. They nearly killed him. I heard two people saved him from the brink. Then a strong fighter appeared. They disappeared with some of the guards and the old lord’s people.”

  Could those two people be from Vuzgal?

  “The two that saved him; were they men, women? What did they look like?”

  “Two men, I think, and they were strong.”

  Mercy’s brows furrowed. She held her head, looking at the ground and pulling her thoughts together.

  Chonglu, Silaz, and the Vuzgal city lords were all connected somehow. Then there were the massive changes in the Beast Mountain Range. There was something more here. She needed to report this to Elder Cai Bo.

  Yui Silaz checked the mission board in the Vuzgal command center. The door opened and Domonos walked in, gathering silence from everyone in the room.

  “You need a shower.” Yui’s face split into a smile. Domonos’ flat expression brightened as the brothers hugged.

  “Ahh, smells like you need one too.” Yui laughed as he patted Domonos on the back. “Come on, the others won’t be here for a bit.”

  “Attacked Vuzgal directly. Bold of them.” Domonos’ tone was light, but Yui could tell he was barely holding back his fury.

  “It means that the Associations have gotten a better deal. If we stay or if we go, they’re covered.”

  “Any movement on their side?” Domonos asked.

  “Nothing official yet or in the city. We’re not planning to do anything either way. Most of the issues have come from the traders and the bandits that have cropped up.”

  “What’s the intel saying?”

  “That someone—not the Willful Institute—is targeting us. Our sources indicate that they’re linked to the surrounding cities. Dad’s looking through it. How are things on your side? How have my people been?”

  “You their mother now?” Domonos cracked a half-smile and rubbed his worn face.

  “Willful Institute is playing the waiting game. Most of the sects don’t understand this shit takes time. We can’t just run in and take it. The conflict has pulled the Institute together, but not everyone else. They’re vultures looking for the biggest prize.” Yui shook his head. “They’ve increased in number and hired more mercenaries to help out. If not for Dad’s spies, we would have been led into a few bloodbaths. Your people have done well. They’re well-trained, switched on. Haven’t had any issues, yet. Even with the battalions being different, they are working together as if they’re one unit. I trust them as much as I trust my own people.”

  “What about the halls being hit?”

  “Are you asking what I think, or what the reaction has been?”

  “Any of it.”

  “The military members understand. It is a hard decision. Erik and Rugrat trained with us every chance they got. We know they’re not cold, unreachable sect heads. The guild members, we mostly trained them. They don’t know Erik and Rugrat. They’re pissed that they weren’t told. They’re looking at their people being hit. Don’t see how they tried to limit the damage. How Erik and Rugrat’s primary focus is to defend the people of Alva. Don’t acknowledge how their own families have been hidden and protected. So they’re pissed at Erik and Rugrat, but it will pass with time. In the meantime, it’s increased their rage toward the Institute.”

  Domonos coughed. “The people that haven’t been trained here and don’t know about Alva, they’re more driven than ever. All of them that can have been signing up to join the battlefields.”

  “How is the guild on the battlefield now? There were issues in the past.”

  “When we started, they were fighting like mercenaries. While they’re not soldiers, they’re coming together. Having
the Tiger and Dragon Battalions fighting alongside and supporting them, they’ve matured quickly. One has to learn fast in war.” Domonos stared at the opposite wall, tapping his finger softly against the table. “What about Mistress Mercy?”

  Yui frowned. “She’s looking for information.”

  “You’re not happy?”

  “She’s poking around in the Second Realm. Went to see Elder Hui that recruited you and teleported into what was Chonglu. Zahir, it’s called now. Talked to the lord there, then disappeared.”

  “Do we know what she found out?”

  “No, but she’s got a direct line of contact with Cai Bo. There’s no knowing what they’ve learned.”

  The door opened. Rugrat and Glosil walked in. Yui and Domonos snapped to attention.

  “Be seated.” Rugrat returned the salute, his voice somber. He moved to Domonos and held out his hand.

  Domonos shook it.

  “Good to see you back here, boy.”

  “Sir.” Domonos nodded.

  Rugrat patted his shoulder and moved to his chair. “All right, Glosil, how are things going out there?”

  “We lost nearly one hundred guild halls in the attacks, and nearly one thousand dead. Since then, half the guildhalls have been closed with the fighters consolidated. The Willful Institute lost sixteen cities at last count, over a third of their total holdings. Twenty-five locations are under attack or monitored by at least one sect army. The guild has been hired to watch seven different cities. Their tactics have changed, which Domonos can expand upon.”

  The room looked at Domonos.

  “The enemy are not idiots. They call the special teams wraiths, assassins that appear out of nowhere to cause chaos. The effects of Operation Doomsday persist. The different factions work together, but they don’t trust one another. It’s dropped their combat effectiveness. They’re used to duels and battles between small groups, not siege warfare. Still, they’re learning.” Domonos sighed and leaned back, battle-weary. “Lives are cheap to them and it shows. Certainly cheaper than pills and concoctions. If someone isn’t strong enough, doesn’t have the connections, or doesn’t offer enough contributions to the sect and they get wounded, there is no coming back. While infections might kill them through a graze, our casualty rate is high, but the number of them that die is incredibly low.”

  “How is that on our people?” Rugrat asked.

  “Reassuring. They know that if they’re hurt that someone will look after them, so they work more like our military than a group of fighters. The Guild members have matured a lot. Sieging is supply intensive. It takes us a lot more people and supplies to take a city than it takes for them to defend it.”

  “Don’t worry. You will have all the supplies you need. We finished the latest factory and are building another two. One in Vuzgal and another in Alva,” Rugrat said.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “How are things on the ground?” Glosil asked.

  “People are focused. We haven’t had many issues. A lot of them are pissed off with the sects. The one we’re fighting primarily, but we’re always butting up against the sects we’re allied with. Right now, the leadership has had to play games with the sects to get them to dedicate more resources.”

  “Such as?” Rugrat asked.

  “We make a feint, not for the enemy but the other sects. We make it appear that we’re going for a treasury. Looks like we’re getting more rewards. Then they’ll take more risks and push their people harder. They only care about the rewards.”

  “It makes me think of medieval feudal systems. Going to war for profit gain.” Rugrat shook his head.

  “Anything major?”

  “The leadership might be annoyed by what happened, but the general guild members are angry at the Institute. All of our people understand it. We’ve started to pull out our people from leadership positions, turning them over to the guild members. We’ve been able to reform squads to use as quick reaction forces. Fighting is slow. That is it.” Domonos coughed, pulled out a canteen, and drank.

  Glosil picked up from where he’d finished. “The Institute has been searching for information around Vuzgal in any way they can find it. After the guild attack, Elan wiped out most of the Institute spies. We know who the remaining ones are and where to find them. We have to watch out for not only the Institute but other powers moving against us. We’ve set up a lot of hidden fallback positions across the realms, but we’re still low. Something that should be fixed shortly.” Glosil glanced at Yui and Rugrat. “The Institute is pulling together but they’re on a shaky foundation. There are plenty of others interested in gaining a new city or settling old debts. Here is the information book.”

  Glosil took out the tome and slid it to Domonos.

  “Light reading.” Domonos opened the book, getting caught up on the operations of the rest of the Alva army.

  Elder Lu Ru re-read the orders he had just received.

  “Understood,” he said to the messenger, putting the scroll on his desk.

  The messenger bowed and left Elder Lu Ru’s office.

  Elder Lu Ru stood and moved to the windows that looked over the Fourth Realm Blue Lotus Headquarters. Through it, he commanded all the Blue Lotus locations across the Fourth Realm.

  Lei Huo marched into the office wearing her armor. Cui Chin came with her, wearing his scholarly robes.

  Elder Lu Ru turned from the impressive view.

  “An agreement has been reached between the Blue Lotus and the Willful Institute in regard to Vuzgal. Cui Chin, Lei Huo, make the necessary arrangements to remove families from the city and prepare for a warring state.”

  “Sir…” Lei Huo’s frown deepened. “There are honorary elders among the Vuzgalians.”

  “The Blue Lotus comes above personal relationships. The other Associations have all agreed. We have made it clear that they are to try their best to not kill the honorary elders. You will have to tell them to evacuate. If they do not, they will not be under our protection.” Elder Lu Ru couldn’t hide the harshness in his voice or the way he gripped his hands behind his back.

  18

  Shifting Landscape

  Erik’s focus centered on the alchemist cauldron in front of him, and the flames dancing around it. Beasts moved around in the flames, refining the ingredients.

  A large slumbering wolf lay in the center of the cauldron. Inside its half-translucent blue body was a small, slowly revolving mass of pink and neon yellow liquid.

  Flame beasts charged the wolf. Their flames mingled with one another as the prepared ingredients within the flame beasts were combined. The pink and yellow liquid changed to greens and reds, blacks and golds, combining ingredients.

  Sweat beaded on Erik’s forehead as he controlled the flame beasts and maintained the perfect conditions throughout the cauldron.

  The cauldron rumbled slightly as the beasts continued to consume one another, combining their ingredients at an ever-increasing rate. The flames of the sacrificial flame beasts turned into the greatest supplement for the central fire wolf.

  With minimal movements of his fingers, threads of red, green, and black energy entered the cauldron. They merged with the flame beasts, altering the flames. The pure fire, earth, and metal affinities were a tonic to the ingredients.

  The ingredients changed. Grasses that had been dried and turned into a fine brown powder took on a deep azure appearance with metallic hints throughout. A rough metal-looking ingot of silver and black drew in the earth element. It bloomed. The covering cracked, spreading to the sides as it opened like a flower. A healthy, pale, fruit-like flesh opened. Inside, a pale fuzzy pear rested upon the petals, inviting one to take a bite.

  Erik used his connection to the earth and metal elements. They had become part of his refining process. “Reinforce. Compress!”

  The cauldron stilled while the ingredients shuddered.

  The last combinations were completed, leaving just three flame beasts around the wolf.

  They turn
ed and charged the large wolf. It stood and howled, causing a tremor in the reinforced cauldron.

  The beasts struck the fire wolf like rain hitting the surface of a lake.

  Their ingredients, like a hidden payload, continued on. Flames embraced the ingredients and the partial concoction.

  “Increase compression, decrease the temperature, and increase revolutions,” Erik said. The elements leapt to his command as the ingredients were pushed together. Impurities and smoke came off the bean-shaped item forming in the middle of his cauldron.

  “More earth and metal mana.” Threads spread from Erik’s moving fingertips, passing through the flame holes of the cauldron and into the forming concoction.

  The beasts wrapped together, combining with one another, forming a nebulous cloud of pure blue flame. The concoction rested in the middle of the cauldron and its flames.

  The cauldron strength and temp were good, the ambient air temperature, too, and the pill’s internal temperature was low. If he increased the metal content of the pill slightly, it would heat up faster.

  As he thought it, the black mana threads danced in response. The cauldron was a realm of its own, and Erik was the god controlling it.

  Erik’s eyelids were closed, but his eyes shifted underneath. His newly altered senses allowed him to see the cauldron, the flames, and into the concoction. His senses had all locked onto his task.

  He took a slight breath as the concoction spun. It was a myriad of ugly colors spreading into one another. Smoke continued to rise.

  Slowly, painfully so compared to the action of moments ago, the concoction became smaller and rounder.

  A large chunk cracked and released a powerful black gas, smoothing out a large part of the concoction.

  Crap. Erik’s fingers flew, altering the flames. Come on! Stabilize, will you?

  Erik’s clothes were covered in sweat. The mana in the room danced to his rhythm and command.

  The concoction stabilized, its molasses-like surface hardening.

  Newborn pill. Erik relaxed slightly. He rolled his tight shoulders and neck, refraining from trying to clear the sweat on his face.