Chapter 18: Chapter 18 – Rebuilding

“Summoner Skill: Oceanus Founder. It’s a hybrid skill that modifies the General Summoner Skill with the Authority Path.”

“How does that even work? I have trouble enough learning normal skills.” Leo tilted his head.

“I’ve come to learn something important Leo.”

“And what would that be Theseus?”

“All Seven Aura Paths are an illusion.”

“What do you mean?”

“Scientists say Aura is an element that can fundamentally change its surroundings. If a person wants to use aura to turn into fire, aura changes its nature to fit fire. If scientists want to use aura as energy, they change its property to power artifacts and create electricity for cities.

The Seven Paths are how people have adapted to the use of aura, but at the end of the day, the only real path is the Authority Path. Our minds and imaginations drive all aura use.”

“Who cares? Maybe that just means you identify with the Authority Path, right?” Leo looked as if he had shrugged. He didn’t understand what Theseus was talking about. All he wanted to know was how the Oceanus Founder skill made Theseus stronger.

“Maybe, or maybe I understand aura better than others.” Theseus teased.

“Make sure you don’t tell Gemini, or else he might start inventing his own skills too…” Leo worried the kid would take up Theseus’s bad side.

“No promises.” Theseus winked.

***

Elsewhere, a gigantic, brooding figure sat in the shadows on a throne cloaked in shadows.

“Lord Darkin, There’s been a change among the Suzerain Lords. Lord Virgo has been overturned.” A trembling Captain reported.

A deep, rich voice was heard in the darkness.

“Captain, did I or did I not say not to disturb me?” Lord Darkin said quietly.

“Please forgive me Lord Darkin. This is of utmost importance.” The Captain fell on the floor in fear and bowed with his face in the ground.

“A simple revolution is enough to disturb me?” The towering nine-foot-tall figure stood up but still spoke in a whisper.

“Sir, I-“

“Silence young one.” Darkin motioned with his hand to stop talking. The Captain shivered uncontrollably in fear.

“Unless we were under attack, did I or did I not say not to disturb my seclusion?” Lord Darkin got closer to the quivering Captain, but his face was still shrouded in darkness. His red eyes pierced the darkness of his throne room.

“You said not to disturb you, but I thought it would be okay because the new Suzerain Lord is in violation of the Treaty.” The Captain gasped out. He really screwed up this time. Coming here in the first place was a risk of his own life. Only the Head Captain was allowed to see Suzerain Lord Darkin.

A small laugh escaped Lord Darkin’s mouth.

“Who cares about the treaty? Our territory’s growth is already the greatest. We have more Captains than any other territory. It won’t be long until I unite the seven territories under my banner. Let the other Lords fight and overthrow each other.” Darkin laughed menacingly.

“Sir, the new Lord has a Captain matching your power.” The Captain squeaked out.

“Another D Rank King has appeared?” Lord Darkin asked with a frown.

“Yes, sire.”

The Captain knew Darkin could kill him at any moment.

“It is no matter. I am close to my breakthrough. Once I reach the C Rank, I will personally take control of the entire Oceanic Realm. Even a strong upstart can’t stop me. Leave.” Lord Darkin went back to his throne laughing to himself. New Lords came and went, but he understood the Captain’s concern. Although Lord Darkin was the harshest, cruelest, and most vile Suzerain Lord, he was also the most calculating and knowledgeable of the seven.

If this new Lord solidified his territory and expanded too quickly, he would grow too weak, and he would personally come to reap the rewards laid out by this foolish upstart.

“I’ll keep this is mind.” Lord Darkin said and sat back down on his throne as the Captain hurried out of the room, as if his life depended on leaving as fast as possible.

***

In the beginning months of Theseus’s third year in Floor One of Hell, the crumbled buildings of Oceanus had been repaired and even built up greater than before. The small town of Oceanus was growing into a city. Trade bustled in and out of the city, whose walls were now made with brick instead of wood. Outside the walls of the inner city, roads, marketplaces, and homes were erected. The old capital of Lord Virgo’s territory was overseen by Aires, who begrudgingly followed the progressive policies Theseus brought forth.

Slaves fled Achilles and Jezebels’ territories for the rumored free haven set up by Theseus, and it yielded spectacular results. The freedoms allowed in Lord Theseus’s territory were seen as revolutionary ideas compared to the other Lords. Some former citizens of Agate had tears in their eyes; this new territory resembled their past homes closer and closer by the day.

Average citizens freed from Lord Virgo’s tyranny felt safe knowing two Suzerain Lord level powerhouses were protecting them. In reality, both Aries and Theseus would lose to any other invading Suzerain Lord. Theseus’s new skill was his trump card that was slowly developing and growing in his mind. When the Oceanus Founder skill was complete, his Aura Realm would finally be comparable to the other Lords. In the midst of the explosive growth of Oceanus and Theseus’s creativity, Theseus sat down with Elder Gerald.

“Lord Theseus, because of your non-restrictive policies, trade, agriculture, and business has soared in Oceanus and the Lord Virgo Territory.” Gerald complimented.

“Elder, I thought I told you so many times; you don’t have to call me Lord Theseus.” The stressed Theseus sighed.

“I know you have a lot on your plate, so I thank you for this meeting.” Gerald said, ignoring Theseus’s plea.

“Tell me, what’s on your mind Elder?” Theseus responded.

“As you may know, our territory is expanding in number rapidly. Our food resources can’t keep up with the unprecedent growth. I have a proposition you may like.” Gerald smiled.

“Go on.” Theseus didn’t have time to beat around the bush.

“In the previous world, there was the Adventurer’s Guild. I propose we set up a similar system.”

“What does that have to do with our dwindling supplies?” Theseus asked.

“I propose we hire these adventurers to explore and tame the Phaunus Forest. Our territory is objectively the smallest, but if we develop the outskirts of the forest, we can gain new farmland, hunting grounds, and space to expand.

If we put this under the banner of the nostalgic job of Adventuring, we could even grow our army. There is no way the adventurers would abandon us in a time of crisis.”

“Wow Gerald, this is a wonderful idea!” Theseus exclaimed.

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“Thank you sire. I can approve the plan right away.” Gerald asked.

“Please do. Is that all?” Theseus asked. Gerald could tell Theseus was too tired to continue the conversation.

“That’s all, Lord Theseus. Please, get some rest.” Elder Gerald smiled.

“Thank you Elder, and don’t call me Lord Theseus!” He called out as he bounced out of the room swiftly.

Riding Leo to his new cabin in the outskirts of Oceanus, Theseus could barely keep his eyes open. Being a Suzerain Lord was tough! Sage Realm experts needed to sleep substantially less than mortals, but they still needed to sleep at least once a week. Theseus hadn’t slept for over a month. Collapsing onto his bed, Theseus snored loudly, making Leo laugh.

***

Heaven Floor One.

Once again, Theseus was dreaming of his past life climbing Heaven. It felt like a lifetime ago, but Theseus’s heart and mind in the afterlife were foundationally shaped by his friends, victories, and failures on that mountain.

Astrid, the powerful A Rank Sage and most reliable damage output in the party walked alongside Theseus.

“Theseus, do you have what I asked for?” Astrid asked flatly. She had long red hair and brown eyes. Theseus had had a crush on Astrid for years, even before their climb up Heaven. He had been too scared to say anything because he knew Astrid cared for the Hama, the earth mage who frequently partied with Astrid.

Meanwhile, Hama was in love with Lydia, the other girl in the party, who was head over heels in love with Alvaro. This love chain was awkward at times, but Theseus didn’t push the drama. If he caused a scene, it could jeopardize the stability of their party.

“Yes! Here you go!” Theseus smiled at Astrid with beaming eyes. Handing over a copy of the map, Astrid unfolded the scroll.

“As impressive as always Theseus. Thanks.” Astrid smiled briefly and went back to walking with Hama and Ju Long.

Alvaro, who was walking quietly next to Theseus grinned.

“So, Theseus, when are you going to make your move?” He teased.

“Stop! Someone might hear!” Theseus turned to Alvaro with big eyes.

“No one cares! I could yell whatever I wanted, and no one would care. Watch.

I love Lydia!” He screamed into the horizon.

“What?” Lydia and Berringer, who were walking in front at the moment, both turned around awkwardly. Lydia’s face went bright red.

“I was just trying to get an echo, that’s all.” Alvaro shrugged and put his arms behind his head. They turned back around with confused looks.

“See, nobody cared!” Alvaro grinned at Theseus, who facepalmed.

“Anyways my friend, you can’t get what you want if you don’t work for it. Astrid is one hot woman. I can see why you like her. Go for it my man! If she says no, just go for the next girl.” Alvaro winked.

“You think it’s really that easy?” Theseus furrowed his eyebrows. Sometimes Alvaro said the strangest things.

“Yep. It is that easy. We’re all middle aged now. It’s time for you to make a move. Why do you think I get all the ladies?” Alvaro skipped ahead of Theseus and put his arm around Lydia, who was shocked.

“What are you… you doing?” Lydia jumped out of Alvaro’s arm and looked around at the spectators. She slapped him weakly and said,

“Ask a woman before you touch her, Alvaro!”

“Fine, can I put my arm around you?”

“O-Okay…” Lydia said silently. Putting his arm around Lydia, Alvaro turned around and gave a thumbs up to Theseus.

“What an idiot.” Thought the whole party at once.

That night, Theseus mustered the courage to talk to Astrid alone.

“Astrid, there’s something I want to discuss with you.” Theseus told her earlier in the day. Astrid saw no reason not to agree with the private meeting.

“What’s this about?” Astrid asked. They both got up from the nightly campfire and met a short distance away from the party. With Alvaro telling campfire stories and some attempting to sleep, nobody noticed or cared about their absence.

“Astrid, I thought I would make feelings known. I think you are a beautiful woman.” Theseus awkwardly confessed.

“A man as smart as you must know I like another. Did Alvaro put you up to this?” Astrid plainly stated.

“Y-Yes…” Theseus stuttered.

“Don’t listen to that moron Theseus. You are the smartest person here by far. I respect your smarts and researching skills, but don’t get it twisted, I do not have any feelings for you.” Astrid said coldly yet logically. She was saying what Theseus already knew.

“I thought I would try nonetheless.” Theseus sighed.

“One day, you’ll meet someone befitting of your smarts. I’m not that smart Theseus. Think about it. Our adventuring is about all we have in common. I like to learn and know about the paths we take on this expedition, but even then, I can’t make sense of these maps. I ask for them out of curiosity, but my curiosity is as far as my mind can process it.

We will never be able to have the intellectual discussions that I know you want to have. For a deep thinker like you, you need another researcher, don’t you think?” Astrid said.

“Even then, the heart is different from the mind, don’t you think?” Theseus cogently countered.

“Fair enough. Then you must understand how I feel about Hama. If I change my mind, I will let you know.” Astrid didn’t take Theseus for a fool. He could pick up on the signs whereas the idiots, Alvaro, Berringer, Hama, and Ju Long were more clueless.

“I understand.” Theseus said.

“Don’t take this the wrong way. You have your own good qualities, but it is not what I am looking for. One day, you’ll find someone who loves you unconditionally.” Astrid said and walked away.

***

Lord Jezebel laughed manically from her throne. Her feet were propped up onto one her Captain’s backs.

“Soon little Theseus, you will be mine!” She cackled, imagining the dirty things she would do to him.

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