Chapter 12: The Mask of Reydon Leyn
Ravi entered inside the masjid in front of the Red Arena Academy and offered the Asr prayer with the jamat. He left the masjid after reciting the Holy Quran for some time.
Ravi had once commanded the Elite Blur Task Force. A snap of his fingers could bring an entire battalion to formation. He had outdueled rivals from neighbouring villages and quelled internal disputes through sheer skill and presence.
His mastery of swordsmanship and essence manipulation placed him among the elite—second only to his elder brother and father. In Azure Village, power wasn't a luxury; it was a requirement for leadership and commandment.
And now, he bore the label of a traitor and killer. He was accused of the assassination of the Emperor. It didn't matter that he had fought the Dark Monarch, that he'd landed the final blow after his father—the Ghost Monarch—was fatally wounded and died due to Essence Exhaustion. The truth had been rewritten.
Corral Fukasaku, leader of the Fukasaku Clan and head of the Empire's Intelligence Force, accused Ravi of betrayal—claiming he had colluded with the secretive Scorpio Order and helped the Dark Monarch infiltrate the village.
The worst part? People believed it.
Soon, word would spread across the Empire of Turks: Ravi, son of the Ghost Monarch, had turned traitor, and he would become the most hated person. He might never see Zaara again, especially not like before.
But he wasn't done yet. There was one thing he knew with certainty—the Scorpio Order was involved, and Corral Fukasaku had worked with them. During the fight, he learned that the Dark Monarch was likely a member of this secret organization. If he wanted to turn things in his favour, then he'd have to learn and hunt this organization.
He decided his first stop: the Land of Aqua Hospice. A border city, neutral and obscured by lawless zones. He would be able to obtain the required cure for his cursed mark there.
Rain lashed against the street like iron needles. His grey robe repelled the water, remaining nearly dry despite the downpour. Shadows clung to his hood, hiding his face.
A modest building stood in the alley, its roof emblazoned with an iron symbol: three arrows inside a hexagonal frame. Warm light poured from its windows, along with the low hum of voices and clatter of cutlery. It smelled of stew and old parchment.
Inside, patrons chatted, ate, and drank non-alcoholic brews—alcohol was strictly forbidden in these lands and Empire of Turks.
A barrel-chested man with a thick grey beard and arms like tree trunks crossed his arms as Ravi stepped through the door and came near the counter
"What do you want, kid?" he grunted.
Ravi smiled easily. "I'd like to join the Guild of Action," he said, handing over a neatly folded stack of documents.
The Guild Grade is divided into Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron, and Wood. This guild is only at Iron Grade.
The man raised an eyebrow as he read. "Reydon Leyn?"
Ravi nodded. "That's me, now."
The name, forged by Zirak, came with a believable history: a former adventurer who'd gone on expeditions from a young age and later settled to the border city of Urlden. The papers were airtight.
Ravi's appearance had changed drastically. His black hair was shorter, his usually sharp features hidden behind subtle shadowplay—creating faint dark circles, giving him a tired, older look. With wooden sandals, a plain robe, and an average-looking sword, he gave off the perfect image of a weary wanderer. One of his distinguishing features was his eyebrowslessness.
The guild master squinted, clearly sceptical. Ravi looked too soft and too forgettable.
"Can I ... " Ravi stammered suddenly, glancing around. "Can I use the bathroom?"
The man blinked, then pointed gruffly to the left. "Down the hall."
Ravi rushed off, legs flailing awkwardly. But he didn't forget to recite the dua of before entering washroom because of his act.
The guild master snorted. "Guild of Action, huh?" he muttered. But he flipped through the paperwork again, and his expression shifted. "Still ... the resume's solid. Can't judge a book by its cover."
Inside the dim washroom, Ravi stood before a scratched metal sheet acting as a mirror. He stared at his altered reflection—gaunt cheeks, tired eyes, unremarkable.
He decided this method to enter the city as a precaution.
He ran a hand through his hair, whispering to himself, "For now, I'm Reydon Leyn. And I will find the truth ... whoever's behind all of this."
The Scorpio Order had made him a ghost. Now, he would haunt them.