Using the cover of the night, Arthur snuck out of the orphanage before the headmaster locked the gates. He followed the trail of the carriage into the city as he asked the Memories Warden.
'Can I use my ability?'
'No,' The Warden answered. 'You can only use the abilities you were given.'
'This person is a non-awakened.' Arthur grumbled in his mind as he stopped to take a break. This body tired out easily.
'Hmm,' The Warden thought audibly. 'Alright, I'll give you a power called the Ultimate Finger. Point at someone and call UTltimate to activate it, killing them. No one can withstand it. If you kill the wrong person, you fail.'
Arthur felt relieved that he wouldn't have to come up with a way to kill someone a lot stronger than him. This way, he was only left with the question of who was the owner of this sinful memory. Despite hating the thought of him yelling out 'Ultimate,' he was still grateful.
Kids being kidnapped and funding being cut short. Are these two related, or is he reading too much into it? Was the count behind both incidents, and was he a fallen one too?
Arthur was heading toward the count's castle to find out. It seems this estate was a small one in the rural parts of the countryside. Houses were scarce and they were mostly farmers doing their bidding. Arthur walked through the streets that began smoother as he approached the count's mansion.
'If I can find information about what's going on, it should be at the count's mansion.' Arthur stood a distance away, eyeing the giant mansion that was lined with guards. 'But how should I get in?'
He looked around and saw a bar on the side of the road. He cleaned his robes and headed into the bar, looking for any way of value. Even though it was night, the bar was still lit brightly.
"Hello," Arthur walked up to the bar as he placed a currency he didn't recognize, but it was a paper currency. "I want a cup of your best drink." He said and placed another paper. "I'm also looking for some help."
The bartender glanced at him before sweeping the money with his towel, stuffing it into his pockets. He played with his beard as he nodded at Arthur.
"What kind of help?"
"I'm from the orphanage and I fear it will be closed soon. Do you know anyone that can get me a job at the count's house?"
"I've heard about that." The bartender nodded in understanding. "It seems you've done your last job carelessly, losing so many children." He clicked his tongue as he poured Arthur a cup.
"Unfortunate circumstances, yes." Arthur sighed and tried to fake regret. "They say that they're still looking into it."
"Hah, it's an evil mage I tell you!" The man spat to the side. "I've been with my brother; he works as a hunter. Strange things are happening in that forest."
"What kind of things?"
"Dying ones, for sure. The forest is dying as if life has abandoned it." The bartender wiped the counter. "I've seen a monster so strange and yet so tormented that I didn't know whether to fear or pity it."
"What do you mean?" Arthur frowned. This was another confusing piece of information. What was going on in this place? The count's issue, the missing kids, and now tormented monsters?
"I don't know, it's hard to describe." The bartender shook his head and didn't say more. "I think there's a job as a stable boy in the estate. Ask Dilan, he's the count's clerk. He usually comes around here in an hour or so. I doubt he'd hire you, though. He'll be too busy with those." The bartender pointed with his chin at a few women wearing revealing clothes in the corner.
'Ah, I see.' Arthur nodded and suddenly had a plan in mind. He walked up to a woman and whispered in her ear. She looked confused but agreed easily once Arthur gave her half of his savings.
This money was in the room he woke up in, so it was probably belonging to the owner of this body. Arthur questioned how he can gain so much money, but he wasn't about to look through some embezzlement criminal.
All he had to do now was wait for the clerk, Dilan, to show up. Sure enough, a scrawny man walked into the bar and headed straight to the prostitutes.
He ended up accompanying the girl Arthur had a deal with, who was also the most beautiful one in the group. Arthur began his act and started drinking, despite faking it mostly.
He glanced at the woman and she was sweet-talking Dilan the clerk. He averted his eyes when she pointed at him. Dilan looked on skeptically but didn't say anything.
Arthur had paid the woman to talk of him to Dilan, hoping to get a job. He had bet his money on the fact that Dilan wanted to show around his authority, and a beautiful woman was the best audience for that.
Of course, Dilan wouldn't be the one to go after Arthur. That's why Arthur stood up from his seat and pretended to walk outside when he stood in front of Dilan's table.
"A-aren't you master Dilan, Sir?" He stuttered and looked with wide eyes. The clerk nodded with a haughty glance. Arthur fell to his knees immediately and brought his hands together. "Sir, I've heard of your generosity and kindness for so long. Please, let me work for you. I have nowhere else to go."
His eyes teared up slightly as he begged. He heard the woman call him 'poor boy' in a pitying tone to Dilan's ears.
And that's how he got the job. Master Dilan wrote him a paper that he showed to the guards and was allowed entry to the mansion.
He was instructed to sleep in the stable for today, but Arthur had other plans. He slipped into the kitchen and looked for a servant's clothing. He found some in the laundry room and put the ones that fit on and started roaming the mansion.
With servant clothes on, no one questioned the average-looking joe. Arthur was amazed at how lax the security was and attributed it to the fact this was a rural estate with zero offenders.
He made his way deeper into the mansion and asked a servant about the Count's study. When faced with suspicion, he said that he was a new servant hired by Master Dilan and showed the paper.
Arthur found the study at last. He kept walking around the place until he was able to slip in without being noticed. Once he was inside, he was able to breathe in relief.
He hadn't felt the existence of anyone here, so he didn't fear being found. He looked around the room, scrutinizing it. It had two giant bookshelves at each side with a desk in the center, a window standing behind it.
Arthur headed straight to the desk as he began looking through the drawers. He then found several letters hidden deep inside and took them out to read them.
They were exchanges between the count and someone else, agreeing on a time and place for them to meet. However, this was a month ago. There were also mentions of the orphanage and how that person's visit would be facilitated.
'Who is this person?' Arthur frowned. 'Does he have anything to do with the kidnappings?'
It was then that he heard the door's handle move. Arthur slipped into the space between the bookshelves and the wall as he used his insignia. Luckily, he was able to use it even though he couldn't use his abilities.
He hid his existence as he heard people come into the study. There was a thud and a low threatening shout as two people seemed to be fighting.
"Are you mad, Ilian?" The woman's voice was angry and panicked. "The emperor is looking for his son and you're working with this crazy woman?"
"I don't have a choice. It's either we help her or she ends our house's standing in the capital. She said it would be quick." The count's voice was shaking.
"Quick!" The woman laughed. "Have you heard of the monsters appearing in the forest? It's all their fault. They are… To those children…"
Arthur's mind raced as he tried to glance at the woman. He peeked from behind the shelve but he could only recognize the count, cornered by his desk. The woman looked frightened and disgusted by something.
"The emperor will get wind of this soon. At that time, our standing is the least of our worries. You need to stop them…" She paused as she sniffed with her nose.
Arthur hid into the shadows as he hoped she didn't notice him.
"Have you been drinking?" The woman asked as she smelled her husband. "It's not from you…" Arthur sighed in his mind. The smell of the alcohol he consumed earlier seemed to be giving him away.
"Who's there?!" And there it came.
Since they would find him sooner or later, Arthur leaped from the bookshelves and threw himself through the window. The glass shattered as he fell to the bushed beneath.
"Intruder! Guards!" The Count roared as Arthur began running away madly. There was only one place he can flee to.
The forest.