Training went a little better over the next couple of days. I even cheated a bit and borrowed Tarstil's Blunt Weapon skill for the first ten minutes of sparring against Jessa yesterday and got a few glancing blows in. That may have been a mistake in retrospect because she felt both challenged and embarrassed at having being struck by a day three novice to combat so she upped her game significantly. This resulted in a broken forearm that had to be healed and by then the duration of Mimic had ended and we continued.
Tarstil said I was soaking up instruction like a sponge and gaining ability quickly but to remember that I'd always be outclassed by someone with combat skills. Which would be true for most, but I'd be able to gain those skills myself in a few more days so I wasn't too worried.
No more stat points had been gained but when I asked Tarstil about it he said that was normal. I'd only gained two in Con due to the merciless beating that Zafas gave me that first day, which was more punishment than training. He'd told me that I probably wouldn't see more for at least a week and maybe once a month or less after that unless I was undergoing incredible stress and training.
This was the day that Carmen would be speaking to her father. I had no clue when that was going to happen as she wasn't sure when he'd have time to speak with her so I made sure I was as ready as I could be. I had purchased a sturdy leather backpack for 50 copper. A significant portion of my funds but a worthwhile investment. I also bought a skinning knife, some flint, a bit of rope and a bedroll. All that left me with 30 copper to my name but I'd rather have it just in case. As the day began I'd packed all this and all my clothes into the backpack with some rations I'd filtered from the kitchens last night. I was as ready as I could be.
The morning and afternoon went as normal apart from my incredible nervousness. At one point during lunch Derk had asked me if I was alright but I told him I was fine. I was training that afternoon with Jessa when a contingent of the royal guard swept into the training grounds like a storm. Zafas met them halfway to the pavillion and he did not look happy.
"What is the meaning of this?!" With a scowl he turned and shouted "No one said stop. Keep training!"
"By order of his majesty the king we are here to arrest one Cidrakas Lasalis. You will give him immediately into our custody." The royal guard lieutenant demanded.
"And what are the charges? He's not left the Cathedral grounds for several days." Zafas was not moving.
"I am not privy to the charges, only that OUR king ordered his capture. You will hand him over." The lieutenant was taller and stockier than Zafas but didn't have a fraction of his presence. He got in Zafas's face and tried to stare him into submission.
"Boy if you think I can be intimidated then you know nothing about me." He gave a savage smile at the man.
I was going through the motions with Jessa, unable to see a way out without drawing attention to myself when she asked "What did you do?"
"Nothing. I saw someone important do something bad and now I'm going down for it." It really was unfair, then again I was a fool to have believed the royal family would act any differently. I was a commoner after all.
"What did you see that would send the royal family after you?"
"Remember the murder? I saw who did it. I don't want to get you in trouble too though so I won't be sharing who." The shouting had stopped and it had gotten quiet when I saw Jessa looked over my shoulder.
I turned to see Zafas heading toward us with the royal guard in tow. He was several yards in front of them having apparently just walked away without telling them to follow. I'd begun to lose count of the number of times I'd thought this but I was screwed. I handed my mace to Jessa and waited for them to arrive.
"Cid, it appears the royal guard are here for you." He leaned in close where only he and I could hear. "Why?"
I was stuck. I could tell him and his position would likely protect him but what good would that do me? So instead I just told him enough to make him believe I wasn't guilty of some horrible crime. "I saw who killed the man in the Cathedral."
"Back away from the prisoner!" The lieutenant shouted.
Zafas stepped back and glared at the man so hard I thought he'd catch flame. "Burn you. I'll not let this rest." He was in a righteous fury.
"Cidrakas Lasalis, you are under arrest." Some of his men moved forward and grabbed my arms. I was put in shackles and surrounded as I was marched out of the Cathedral. Outside there was a guard wagon that I was summarily stuffed into. I was alone in the back save for two guards.
"What am I" Whack! I was backhanded with a mailed fist.
"Prisoners do not speak unless spoken to!"
I was awake quick learner. He'd torn the skin on my left jaw pretty badly and I was bleeding.
We traveled for nearly 20 minutes until we reached the castle. I was shoved out and stumbled to the ground only to be hauled up to my feet by a person I'd genuinely hoped to never see again.
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"Hello little rat. I heard you like sneaking around and seeing things you shouldn't." Arns asked with a malicious scowl. He had a thick mountain accent that I hadn't noticed the night of the murder.
"I don't know what you mean sir." I didnt know what they knew so I decided to play dumb.
"Is that so? Well a few days in our luxury accommodations should help your memory." He shoved me back into the arms of the waiting guards. I was dragged down two sets of stairs before being hurled into a cell with a thick metal door. There was a slot for them to pass food through but that was it. There was no light but before they shut the door I could see a pad in the corner and a hole in the middle of the floor.
They removed the shackles then stepped out. The door slammed shut with a clang. "Try not to break your leg in the shit hole. You won't be getting healed even if you do." The pair of guards walked away laughing.
I took a moment to calm down and went over what I could. They needed something from me or I'd already be dead. Most likely to find out who I'd told. I asked myself if I thought Carmen could have betrayed me but discarded that idea immediately. She'd given me the three days she promised and if she wanted my capture there's no way she would've done that.
As for what I had, it wasn't much. A rat chewed mat to sleep on and a hole to relieve myself in plus the clothes on my back. I'd been searched thoroughly before being tossed in. And I had my mind and skills. They likely knew I had Advancement and would assume I had no others. Maybe I could use that. Since there was nothing I could do until I either knew more or capped Advancement I decided to get what rest I could.
About three hours later my cell door swung open and prince Ferdin walked in behind Arns and another guard. "Hello rat." Arns and the other guard set light globes in the corners adjacent to the door before closing it.
Ferdin was just as arrogant and insufferable as he was the night of the murder. I wonder if being an asshole could run in someone's blood. I'd made no move to stand or speak, wanting to see how he'd react.
"Oh NOW you're a quiet little rat. That might have saved you before had you been smart but not now. My poor naive sister pleading for father to punish me. As if he didn't know all along what I was up even if he didn't know the how. Honestly if little Carmen wasn't so useful to the family with her soul magic she'd already be dead. Now are you going to tell me who else you told willingly, or does Arns get to play with you for a bit?"
I did not like the grin Arns gave me at that. "I haven't told anyone. I wouldn't have even told Carmen had she not already connected me to the murder and figured part of it out herself."
He looked at Arns who delivered a vicious kick to my ribs. I felt two of them break and slumped over onto my side.
"She may be naive but she's still your better initial every way. That is Princess Carmen to trash like you. Her little infatuation with you will be your death. Now I'm sure you'll forgive me for not simply believing you. I'm afraid we'll have to ask a bit more... forcefully. Hahaha."
I groaned and sat up again, wanting nothing more than to throttle the life from this arrogant bastard. "I'm telling the truth. I told no one that you stole the life and skill of one of your subjects. I told no one that you weren't jealous of something owned by a peasant. And I told no one that you fled like a coward when you were about to be discovered and have your reputation and image ruined." I knew I'd pay for that but the prick deserved to be told the truth at least once in his life.
He was shaking with fury as he spoke. "You think you're a clever little rat. Well I'll be leaving the dungeon after this to a life of plenty and privilege. You, well you won't be leaving this cell. Not alive anyway. I'm not even going to ask any further questions today. I'll simply let Arns show you your place."
Arns grabbed me and pinned me to the wall by my neck, my feet dangling 20 centimeters off the ground. I couldn't breathe but was distracted from that by him grabbing my right hand and squeezing it with a terrible strength. I thought I had some clue of how strong he would be based on his size but was totally unprepared for the reality of it. It felt like a castle wall fell on my hand. The agony was immense and it felt like every bone in my hand was turned to small gravel. For the first time I screamed.
He let go of my hand and let me drop and I curled into a ball around my ruined hand moaning in pain. Prince Ferdin began laughing.
"That was just a taste rat. You'll be getting more pain than you can imagine in the coming days. We're not in a hurry. You have plenty of time to suffer and learn your place." As soon as he finished speaking he spun on his heel and walked away without Arns. The other guard collected the light globes and i was once more left alone in darkness.
I chuckled despite the pain. I knew something they didn't. Since Paragon was a heroic skill it would heal the recipient upon gaining it. This was thought to be because usually those who recieved it were injured or dying when they got it. And since I'd just touched Arns who had it...
Mimic activated: Choose one of Arns's skills to target.
I ignored the list and picked the one that would heal me.
Paragon selected. Duration 10 minutes.
Instantly the pain vanished. I began to glow faintly and I also began to grow. My hand went numb as did my ribs. I stretched and widened until I was well over 2 meters and more solid than before. When I stopped growing the feeling returned in my hand and ribs without the pain. I felt better in every single way. I flexed my hand and made a fist, all without discomfort. My clothes had torn at the seams in places from the growth. Not ideal but I'd need a way to hide my recovery and this would be perfect.
I waited until the duration of Mimic wore off and tore a strip off my ruined pant leg to wrap around my hand. If I could stay alive for two more days Advancement would be capped and might have a chance to get out of here once I could steal skills and cap them easily.
The plan, such as it was. First, survive. Much easier with access to a form of healing from the one injuring me in the first place. Second, steal Paragon and cap it. Third, with the increased stats from skills and leveling break out. Fourth, find Carmen and escape.
I was uncertain of the layout of the dungeons, let alone the palace. I had no weapons. I had little skill and few skills for now. But I'd had hope and a desire not to die. That would have to be enough.
From the prolific reading I'd done at the library I knew what PParagon all the way to its cap. Plus I'd read the description when I borrowed it.
Paragon- Become more in every way. +2 to all stats.
As a heroic skill it only had one perk tree. You gained +2 stats per tier and +8 at the cap for a total of +16 overall. I'd still have no armor or weapons, but I'd have raw power and surprise on my side. Hoping that would be enough I went to sleep. The pain and stress of the day catching up with me.
