CHAPTER 31: WEIGHT

Hadrian made his way to the sewers, turning forty rats into his vessels.

He’d chosen forty since he’d started sensing "himself" being corrupted by the vessels.

I haven’t made that much progress in the "mind" part of my authority.

Another important factor, however, was the two essence cores.

Their magical essence, when channeled through his channels, were very repellant.

Bagdona did say the space and elemental paths are usually in conflict. In the pandemonium realms at least.

Perhaps there’s a method I need to merge them well together.

As of his current abilities, area of effect abilities like the heat and stinging mist affected his vessel with the space path essence core.

When not channeling that specific essence, he wasn’t immune from it.

The rat vessels were to be his meal and healing substitutes. He planned to go for a hunt.

He’d exposed himself and was certain they were looking for him.

They’d also be prepared against me.

That’s the problem with Mages and people, they could make schemes.

The creature’s would probably be easier, but how long will I stall my plans? I need to infiltrate their ranks right now, before they adjust. Not to mention, the spawn’s soul core and the mages have a different feel to them.

This was more than just them being different paths. Of course, it was something Hadrian could only confirm with more soul cores. Maybe because the spawn is a corrupted creature?

His head turned south as he wondered about how Alia’s mother was doing.

It’s only been eight days. Compared to my previous life where days merged together, it seems a lot has happened in just those few days.

It was a cool evening and the setting sun stroked the sky with orange brush strokes.

"You two." Someone called out to them. Hadrian turned to see three men, all skinny, grinning at them.

"Those are quite fine horses for kids like you." One of them said. "We’ll take them off your hands."

Not mages.

Hadrian had already peered into all their soul cores. When the one in the middle took a step forward, he called at his essence fog.

The man’s essence did fight back, but for Hadrian who was now a mage, it wasn’t too much for him to handle. It would still take some time, of course.

When he made contact with the man’s essence, the grin on the man’s face died. You could see his face go from confusion to anger.

His eyes went wide with craze and he came rushing at Hadrian shouting. Seeing this, the other two followed.

Hadrian, using the space path abilities of agility, didn’t need to fight back. He dodged and weaved their attacks until the clearly hungry men grew tired.

After that, one by one he turned them into his vessels.

Some people had observed the fight, others had even tried pulling the horse’s reins and stealing them for their own. But the horses didn’t follow or even get startled by their attempts.

When it was all over, they dispersed.

Horses are a sign of wealth. I cannot blame them.

It’s why the thought of them bringing more attention to him still bothered him.

But fate did bring you to me tonight.

He walked while pulling the horse’s reins. This way it would look like they weren’t his own but like they were moving them.

With the five of them, it might even be believable.

The fragmented memories he received were disorientating at first but he managed them.

The three men were all in their early twenties. Like most other people here, they were born and grew up in this district. Well, one of them was born in another and made his way here.

His heart weighed heavy with all their emotions of fright and regret at the last moment.

Hadrian’s eyes narrowed in thought. In his previous life, he’d always felt like everything was happening to him unfairly.

Now, finally seeing this from different people’s perspectives, he’s realized there’s more that share the same fate as him, or worse.

Yet they get up and do it. But there are those who will be crushed down by the weight of the world and not get back up.

"Life is pain.... " he remembered someone he used to know saying that. "And death is freedom. There are those who will burn till the end and there’re those who jump out."

I don’t agree.

Hadrian’s lips pressed tightly.

There was a point in my life I had truly thought like that. But I, like the others, still got up everyday and did it.

Fate might play a funny hand, but no one can see the future. I can only live for now and find temporary solutions to temporary problems.

The sun set and the night breeze got cooler.

I don’t have the same problems anymore.

Hadrian’s head turned to the Alia vessel and then to his other vessels.

I haven’t really thought about it, but aren’t I practically immortal? Unless one kills all my vessels. But they’ll always miss that one rat. And no matter how anyone crushes me I’ll always rise from that pit. And take my revenge on the bastard first, of course.

A hundred metres away from the metal work shop, he sent Hawk Hadrian to investigate.

It was as loud as it was the other night. Metal clanking. After half an hour of observing, he saw a familiar face walk into the place.

Haldon.

Eh, have they not changed anything? I’m not much of a threat to them it seems.

Hawk Hadrian’s head tilted right and left observing the area. He had not sent in the rats yet since Haldon had seen him shift into one last time, he didn’t want them to be aware he was watching.

I wonder if Truston is still there. With his condition, perhaps I could even bargain with him for his own life.

After a quarter of an hour, Hadrian left the place.

I killed someone there yesterday, yet today it’s like nothing happened.

He made his way to where the first mage had caught him.

Since he’s dead, they must have replaced him. And I did see three mages that day pass by. Time to make some vessels.