The next morning, Lin Wao dangled limply from a tree branch, groaning in agony. His mind was a storm of despair. Where had everything gone wrong?
Nivaan strolled back, snacks in hand, a sly smirk curling his lips. "Did you enjoy last night? Was it cold up there?"
Lin Wao's voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. "Just… kill me… you damn monster."
Nivaan chuckled softly. "Monster? That is a flattering title for such a humble human like me." He let the words linger in the air before continuing. "You have two choices. Become my loyal servant… or remain trapped in an endless cycle of pain."
Broken in body and spirit, Lin Wao did not hesitate. "I'll serve."
From thin air, Nivaan conjured a shimmering contract. Ancient runes glowed across its surface. Lin Wao scrawled his name, unaware that the authority of Lumivahn bound it. To betray Nivaan now would mean instant death.
With a snap of Nivaan's fingers, Lin Wao's body vanished from the tree and reappeared on the ground. Nivaan tossed him the snacks, then touched his forehead lightly. A translucent bubble formed, glowing faintly, tiny streams of light linking into Lin Wao's mind.
The bubble contained every memory Lin Wao possessed. At any moment, Nivaan could pluck, sift, or devour them. Absorbing the knowledge, he paused, thinking.
"Tell me, Lin Wao," Nivaan asked at last, "who is the strongest candidate of Brahm?"
Lin Wao hesitated, then answered slowly, pacing nervously. "Xi Qin, from Guangdong. I have never met him, but in his last three battles, he killed every opponent with a single sword slash. They say he has already unlocked his sword intent."
Nivaan's eyes gleamed. "Interesting. Bring him to me next Monday."
Lin Wao froze. "But… I cannot defeat him. His swordsmanship is leagues beyond mine. And I don't even possess a weapon capable of piercing his golden skin."
Nivaan tilted his head, smiling faintly. "Who said you have to fight him? You just need to bring him to me. I will handle the rest."
Lin Wao bowed, relief and dread mixing in his eyes. "Understood, sir."
Nivaan gave further orders. Lin Wao was to gather information on every other Chinese candidate. The plan was simple: eliminate the competition and crown his own piece as king.
A swirl of wind gathered. A portal opened. Nivaan stepped through, returning to his room. He scratched his head, a low, triumphant laugh slipping from his lips. A servant for life, secured at no cost.
Ambition flared. He would annihilate the Indian candidates and seize their lands. Yet the hunger for conquest quickly dulled, replaced by boredom. He grabbed his console and played Rash Coyle. Two humiliating losses later, he sighed and tossed the controller aside.
His gaze drifted to his phone. A month had passed since his Chinese girlfriend last replied. "Maybe she isn't interested anymore," he muttered, scratching his head.
Loneliness pressed down, heavy and familiar. Nivaan stepped outside, whispering a wind incantation. Leaves swirled in a graceful spiral around him, cooling his skin.
"What am I doing," he whispered bitterly. "Wasting time in this dull world, when fragments of ***** lie hidden across the universe? I should be collecting them."
He raised his hand. A crack split the sky. Without alerting anyone, he stepped through and vanished.
When Nivaan awoke, he stood in a dark alley in an unfamiliar town. Looking at his hands, he realized he now inhabited another body. Arthur, fair-skinned, long-haired, a boy about his own age.
His clothes were filthy with dust and grime, but a flick of magic cleansed them instantly. Rising into the air, Nivaan surveyed the surroundings. Rows of houses stretched endlessly, mansions sprawling in every direction. And towering above all, a magnificent castle perched on colossal pillars, breathtaking in its splendor.
He probed the boy's memories. A life unraveled before him, family, friends, a secret romance with a duke's daughter, and betrayal. Arthur's family had been condemned to execution on false charges of corruption. The mastermind was Duke Marcello of the Jelo Kingdom.
A cold smile crept onto Nivaan's lips. "How amusing. The boy's misfortune ends here."
His outfit shifted, morphing into a sleek black suit. Dark sunglasses slid into place.
With a thunderous crash, Nivaan descended onto the streets. Dust billowed. Citizens froze, eyes wide with fear. Adjusting his shades, he conjured a microphone and speaker.
"Duke Marcello of Jelo Kingdom," his voice boomed, carrying across the city. "I, Arthur Keinz, declare this, surrender, or face the wrath of Heaven's war. You have one hour to save yourself."
A hush fell over the streets. Fear rippled outward. People fled from the suffocating aura pressing down on them.
A knight charged, sword flashing. "You fool! You dare to declare war? Today will be your grave!"
Five soldiers flanked him, hands glowing as they etched runes into the air. A spell circle snapped into existence, compressing space itself to crush Nivaan.
He stood calmly, hands in his pockets, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Is this how Duke Marcello welcomes his guests?" His voice was cold. "What a joke."