The only way to be cleansed of them was death. That was how Soul Scars were seen by the people of this world, yet what Xyrene did not know was that even death could not erase such a scar or rid one of it.
And this was exactly what Cyn understood and was certain of.
Soul Scars were something fantastical that allowed their bearer to possess spiritual senses, glimpses of the future, telepathic communication.
Soul Scars had more than one role, especially incarnation and controlling others as if you were dwelling inside them. Many abilities existed, yet there was no information or knowledge about them.
There was too much to learn from just this single session . Cyn decided to leave afterward. His reason for coming was not only this; he wanted to ask about Xyrene's sudden decision to share him with the King's other wives.
But she said she would explain it another time, when the moment was right. Cyn withdrew quietly and did not press further.
The palace was immense, adorned with golden and silver engravings along the sides, a true architectural masterpiece. Paved outer paths, breathtaking nature, and gardeners tending to the gardens and trees as if they were infants needing meticulous care.
There was a training ground for the palace knights, a training area and a section dedicated to weapons and defensive gear, everything one could need for training. By that he meant human meat bags made of slaves.
Cyn observed those training sessions. Most of the knights used the slaves as human punching bags, beating them to the point of death. Many died there, but that was their role in exchange for staying alive. If one possessed tremendous will, he could survive five years and earn his freedom.
Some of them, at least.
Cyn was sitting on the grass when someone approached him from behind. He was wearing the official knights' uniform. That person was Kassal, a high-ranked knight. The atmosphere around him was normal, giving no sense that he was unusual.
Kassal greeted him. "Hey!, Cyn. I'm glad you came. It's been a month since we last met. Sorry I'm late—still not used to you being the one to call for a meeting. Did something happen?"
Kassal came closer and sat beside Cyn. The latter said nothing for minutes and didn't answer him. Footsteps approached them; it was Miguel, who also apologized for being late. "Unfortunately, there were obstacles. My apologies."
Cyn had gathered the two because he had known them for a long time. Miguel had betrayed his friend Loyd for Cyn's sake and for his own. Kassal was a corrupt knight yet a loyal subordinate to Cyn.
For the past ten years, Cyn had not merely watched. He had built multiple connections and established for himself an information network and a bandit network.
Cyn asked Kassal, "How are things going lately?"
Kassal sighed. "Horrible. We're being struck from every direction—not by the knights or other defense units, but by other bandit networks. Especially in the south, robberies have increased, and we now have competitors. But soon the kingdom will launch a large-scale sweep to clean them out again. That's why I suggested we pull back a little and observe the coming developments."
Cyn listened in silence, and Miguel spoke. "I recently heard that a barony in the south was robbed and its entire household killed. Did our network have a hand in that?"
Kassal released a stifled laugh. "Of course. Who else? Our network, Raven Bloodline, is capable of that. We found an unprecedented fortune. We can't use it now or suspicion will fall on us. I spent a little to buy several restaurants and taverns in the capital, in one of the northern districts. We couldn't and still cannot move all the money and treasures because of the risk, so I left them in Duncan Duchy in one of the storage warehouses. Don't worry, they're well protected."
Cyn said, "Why not move them to a nearby forest and store them somewhere no one knows?"
Kassal replied, "Eyes in the forest are sharper than in the city. Any carriage carrying something into the forest will be suspected."
Cyn had not been interested in this kind of work until recently, since it brought them significant income. Due to his identity, he couldn't leave the palace whenever he wanted; he didn't have full freedom. He could be considered a slave as well.
He would try to leave this palace soon, but it was clear how difficult that would be. Perhaps the palace was safer than the outside environment, especially after learning several things.
Cyn lowered his head slightly and stared at the grass. He asked Kassal, "Do you know how to make Doses?"
Miguel and Kassal were shocked. Miguel in particular quickly asked, "Did you manage to awaken the Scar?"
Cyn cut him off. "No, not yet. I only want a method to make Doses so I don't rely on Xyrene to bring them for me. Church and Temple members are hiding inside the palace. There's been an increase in guards and patrols lately. I feel suspicion gathering around me."
He continued, "At dawn that day when I returned, I found a note on my desk. It said there is a third party. You know what that means, Miguel."
Miguel was stunned. Someone else knew about it? Who? He spoke. "Impossible. If someone else knew, you wouldn't still be here. The number of people allowed to carry Scars inside the palace is extremely small—countable on one hand. And none of the people I know from the Church or Temple show any suspicious behavior or spreading rumors."
Kassal responded. "But since a note exists, someone does know. And that person chose to inform Cyn, meaning it benefits him. The same applies to the third party who didn't report it to the Church or Temple, meaning it benefits him as well.
"Also, the person who sent the note listed three sides. The first is you, Miguel. The second is Lloyd. The third is the unknown person, not counting the one who sent the message.
"You know what that means? If anything, it means the sender doesn't know that I, Kassal, or Xyrene know that Cyn is a Scar bearer. Meaning he's someone who discovered it by chance and is at the very least ignorant. Do you suspect anyone, Cyn?"
Cyn agreed with Kassal, and Miguel also found some logic in Kassal's words. Cyn answered, "Not necessarily. I don't interact closely with anyone, but I suspect one of the king's wives mentioned by Vance that day. Astrida might be behind this, especially after Xyrene changed her mind about me."
Miguel took a moment to think. "Someone entered your room and dropped a note on your desk without anyone noticing among the harem consorts present that day. That means the person knows what he's doing. And perhaps, as you said, one of the king's wives had one of the favorites sneak into your room and place the letter so you'd see it. Meaning the sender is someone of high status in the palace. The good thing is that he doesn't know about the others cooperating with you.
"But as for the third party, who could that be? He didn't inform the Church or the Temple, nor the knights, meaning he knows he wouldn't benefit from doing so. It seems this person is just an amateur who discovered the matter by coincidence."
Cyn told them to drop the topic for now and forget it. "We won't reach anything even if we keep discussing it. Patrol rotation is about to end. They will grow suspicious if they find us gathered like this."
Cyn focused on the important part. "We can't trade or buy Doses because their price is too high, but there must be a method for making them somewhere. From what I've heard, the overwhelming majority of Scar bearers avoid making them and instead find a way to steal or purchase them. Isn't there an auction in the black market or the underworld where we can find something like that? Staying in this palace longer will be negative. Do what you can, Kassal."
Cyn continued, "The time I can leave without being noticed is from midnight until dawn. That gives me six hours at most. Of course, there are times when I must remain in the palace when Xyrene summons me.
"Send some slaves and samples to my lab behind the coastal Hills. As for the money in Duncan Duchy, don't leave it there. There's no harm in using it. The kingdom is enormous. Distribute it across our networks. They can buy and open shops selling weapons, cloth, anything—even jewelry. Keep some as reserve."
Kassal nodded and then sighed. Cyn asked him, "What is it?"
Kassal told him, "There's another issue. It's still small. I didn't want to trouble you with it, but it's better you know. Someone in Agaris has started paying attention to us. Among all the factions there, he chose us—Raven Bloodline—to attack. There have been small fights and minor losses for both sides, but the other side is truly strong. Our branch supervisor there sensed something coming and informed me that someone is plotting against us."
Cyn's mind wandered, but his lips moved. "Anything else?"
Kassal answered, "The barony we raided—we captured one of their people and sold him to the black market. Don't worry. There's no evidence pointing to us. But I heard the group we sold him to was killed entirely.
"What's stranger is that this person was recently sold in Agaris in a public auction. And guess who the seller was."
Miguel responded, "It was that man?"
Kassal nodded. "Yes, him. His name is Chibi. Huge, bald, said to be a madman who kills with his fingers alone. He founded a guild and registered it. He attracts strong individuals and they work as mercenaries. They have branches across most of the kingdom. Their roles vary, but their main task is war mercenary work. They send mercenaries to join external wars for large sums of money."
Miguel suggested, "I think this is the right time to establish an information network inside the palace. Cyn and I can't access this information. We're cut off from news of the outside world. We'll need a report from you about what's happening, Kassal."
Kassal didn't speak at first, then finally nodded and said, "He sent a message to our branch in Agaris and its contents were somewhat shocking.
"He told them, 'I know you're being supported from inside the palace.'"
Miguel was stunned, speechless.
Cyn smiled with empty eyes. "So! it's Chibi. He looks like a nice guy."