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Chapter 338: A Weapon Against Him
🕑 Added 2021-06-18 15:59:13 +0000 UTCCAERA DENOIR
Night birds twittered softly from the treetops as I wandered through the orchard outside Corbett and Lenora’s Central Dominion estate, having been released for a brief moment of leisure time after dinner—an awkward, tense affair due to Grey’s failure to show up.
But then, I knew he wouldn’t, which I’d tried to explain to the Highlord and Lady. Grey must have seen right through their tactless attempt to manipulate him. After all, they sent Lauden of all people to High Hall to put an end to the sham trial.
Kicking a large seed pod that had fallen from the branches above, I watched as it bounced down the path before tumbling into the thicker grass beneath the trees. Something small and quick moved in the twilight gloom, scurrying through the undergrowth to inspect the commotion.
Although I knew Grey wouldn’t come, I still found myself disappointed, an emotion that frustrated me more than the cause itself. It had been three weeks, but I was still struggling to come to terms with how I felt about the man, or what I wanted from him.
Perhaps I should be asking myself: what does Grey want from me?
I released a deep sigh into the warm night air as I pondered the question.
Soft steps crunching in the gravel path warned me that someone was approaching. I conjured a layer of mana to cling tightly to my skin and peered through the gloom. It was unlikely that I’d be attacked here of all places, but only the High Sovereign fears no treachery, as the saying goes.
Just as I finished that thought, the air shifted behind me, and a length of solid shadow coalesced from nothing, swinging toward my neck. I ducked under the attack, letting the motion carry me into a standing sideways flip as the shadow hissed past my ear.
My own scarlet sword was in my hand and burning with black soulfire in an instant, but I couldn’t sense anyone else in the orchard, nor determine the source of the black edge that had nearly taken my head off.
Which meant it could only be one person.
Spinning, I brought my long blade around in a wide arc over my head, black flames spreading out from it in a destructive nova. There was a ripple in the flames just to my right, but by the time I snapped out with a short, sharp strike, she was gone, and a razor-thin shard of purest black mana was pressed against the side of my neck.
“Tsk, tsk,” Scythe Seris said, appearing as if from her own shadow. “If I were an assassin you would be—”
Soulfire leapt from my flesh and raced along the edge of her blade. With an amused huff, she let the conjured weapon disappear, but the soulfire still hovering in the air between us condensed into a flickering arrow that launched toward her throat.
In the space of a heartbeat, a mist of dark energy was billowing around her. My attack dissipated as the aura hungrily devoured my mana.
“Your control over the soulfire is progressing nicely,” she said, her lips twitching up at the corners. “It appears the mysterious Grey has pushed you past your most recent plateau.”
I stowed my weapon, turning my eyes to the gravel at our feet. “You give me too much credit,” I replied evenly, ignoring the flushing of my cheeks at Scythe Seris’s teasing. “It is thanks to your training and mentorship that I have reached this level.”
She rolled her eyes pointedly and turned, her hair—normally pearl-colored, but now a deep amethyst in the low light—swirling after her. “You’ve never been a kiss-ass, Caera. It’s one of the things I like most about you. Don’t start now.”
Biting my lip to keep from smiling, I followed as my mentor walked deeper into the orchard. “I wasn’t expecting you this evening, Scythe Seris.”
“I’m going away for a little while. I wanted you to be aware.”
“To the other continent again?” I asked, clasping my hands together behind my back. “Are you ever going to—”
“Yes,” she said, her voice low and heavy with intent. “To both questions. But now is not the time, Caera.”
We walked on in silence for a minute or two as my thoughts turned to the war. The Denoirs were one of the few highbloods that hadn’t claimed land in the enchanted forest in Dicathen. Corbett and Lenora’s star has risen yet higher as so many other bloods suffered, some wiped out entirely by the unexpected devastation there.
My adoptive parents had sent a fair number of soldiers to the war, of course. It would have made them look weak to stay out of the fighting, even where it was an option. But when Corbett had seen the named bloods, and more than a few highbloods, race to claim choice land and slaves in Dicathen, he had only met their excitement with a quiet smile, insisting “Alacrya already has everything the Denoirs need.”
Time, it turned out, had proved him wise, as much as I hated to admit it. It would have broken my adoptive parents’ hearts if Lauden had been busily establishing an estate for the Denoirs when the asuras attacked. Not that I’d have minded terribly…
“Apparently the trial of Ascender Grey was quite the spectacle,” Scythe Seris said to break the silence.
“It should have been a straightforward issue to resolve,” I said with an edge of bitterness. “It’s an embarrassment, honestly, to know that our legal system can fail so dramatically.”
Scythe Series responded with an elegant laugh. “The highbloods have spent generations bending the system to their benefit, so much so that most of you hardly notice anymore. Your surprise is evidence enough of this.”
Hurrying my pace to walk beside her, I met my mentor’s eye. “Why do the Sovereigns not intervene?”
“The better question is, why would they?” she asked, one eyebrow raised. “They have carefully crafted a system by which purity of blood is paramount, have they not? They let the highbloods get away with murder, so long as it doesn’t interupt their own machinations. No, the truth is, girl, that the Sovereigns care little about what the lessers do to each other, so long as it is done with the appropriate amount of reverence to each dominion’s overlord.”
Scythe Seris opened her mouth to keep speaking, then gave me a shrewd look. “Clever little half-blood. You got me to change the topic.”
I straightened, practically marching like I was in a military parade. “You’re just teasing me again. We both know you’re not going to tell me what you know about Grey, so I’m not going to ask.”
This elicited another delicate laugh from my mentor. “If you want him to trust you—really trust you—this is knowledge you’ll need to earn on your own, Caera. I won’t give you any shortcuts.”
“But you want me to stay close to him? You’ve hinted that much.” I kept my attention straight ahead, but I could feel her examining me. “Am I to be your spy, Scythe Seris?”
“You are,” she confirmed. “But don’t think that you’re betraying him. After all, the boy owes me quite a lot.”
I paused at the sound of heavy crunching steps moving quickly along the path behind us. If anything, my conversation with Scythe Seris had only made me more confused and conflicted regarding this situation, so that I was almost relieved by the interruption.
My mentor and I watched as the figure of my attendant, Nessa, appeared out of the gloom.
“Lady Caera, I—”
Nessa’s eyes widened comically when she noticed the horned Scythe beside me, and the poor girl threw herself into the gravel at our feet. “Please forgive me, Scythe Seris Vritra! I did not realize!”
My mentor looked imperiously down at the terrified attendant. “Be more attentive in the future.” Despite her tone, I could see that same, barely-visible twitch at the corner of her lips. Then, without another word to me, she turned, and vanished into the night.
“You can get up now, Nessa,” I said.
Shakily, my attendant crawled to her feet. “Lady Caera, again, I had no idea, I apologize for my—”
I waved her apology away. “No matter. I can only assume my adoptive parents sent you?”
Nessa’s quick, labored breaths slowed, and she folded her hands in front of her and rearranged her facial features into a less terrified expression. Finally, after clearing her throat, Nessa spoke again. “Yes, Lady, you…you’re to see your parents in the highlord’s study immediately. It took me a few minutes to find you, so you’d best get going.”
A loud hooting noise from nearby made Nessa jump, and she took a step closer to me. “We’d both better get going,” she muttered, glaring out into the dark trees.
***
When I arrived at the door to Corbett’s study, I found it slightly ajar. Lenora was speaking quickly, her voice low and rich with frustration. “The gall, Corbett, can you imagine? Ascenders would be lining up to fight in the streets just for the chance at a private dinner with us, and yet this man has the nerve to stand us up?”
“Indeed,” Corbett said, the single word cold and sharp as broken glass. “One would think Ascender Grey has no sense of propriety or decorum at all.”
“Perhaps Caera isn’t as important to him as we’d believed,” Lenora went on. “If only we knew what Scythe Seris Vritra wanted with the ascender…”
“And yet, once again, your information network has proven invaluable,” Corbett said, his tone softening somewhat. “The fault is not yours, my love, but his. By the Vritra, if only this ascender weren’t so valued by our patron, I’d have him thrown into Mount Nishant.”
Having heard enough, I knocked lightly on the door before letting myself in. Lenora, who had been pacing back and forth in front of Corbett’s ornate desk, stopped and straightened as I entered. Corbett was sitting behind the desk, one hand wrapped around an empty crystal glass. He was glaring into the far distance, as if still imagining Grey being hurtled into the caldera of an active volcano.
I glanced around the study. Shelves of books occupied almost every inch of wall space, wrapping around the entire room, with breaks only for the door, a large window behind his desk, and a brick fireplace. In many highblood households, this collection of knowledge would have been for show alone, but Corbett was a well-read man, for all his other faults.
Above me, a rail of black iron ran around a narrow walkway, where there was another set of bookshelves. Aside from books, the shelves displayed a wide assortment of tokens and treasures Corbett had collected over the years.
“Caera, dear,” Lenora said, flashing her dazzling smile at me. “We have some news about your friend, Grey.”
I stood stiffly, my hands clasped together in front of me. Using a trick shown to me by one of the many tutors I’d had over the years, I took two breaths before responding to keep myself from sounding too eager.
“Oh? Did he send his apologies for missing dinner?”
Lenora let out a tinkling laugh. “No, I’m afraid we haven’t heard from Grey himself, but I received a letter from an old friend of mine—an administrator at Central Academy—with some strange news.”
My brows turned down into a slight frown. “What does this have to do with Grey?”
“That’s the news,” Corbett announced through gritted teeth. Leaning back in his chair, he swirled the empty glass around in his hand. “Apparently, there has been a rather unusual hiring at the academy.”
Lenora was nodding along with Corbett’s words. “Three days ago, someone pushed through hiring an unnamed, untried ascender for an initiate level post. Most unusual, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes,” I answered slowly. Despite understanding the suggestion Lenora was making, her words didn’t make sense. “Especially if that same ascender was on trial for murder…”
“It’s quite clever, really,” Lenora said, leaning back against the desk and resting a hand lightly on the polished surface. “A total image makeover, and protection from the Granbehls in the bargain. Though I confess myself surprised that he has the kind of connections it would have required.”
I resisted the urge to pace back and forth across the study. Standing straighter, I held my hands behind my back to hide the nervous fidgeting of my fingers. The truth was, I found myself just as surprised as Lenora. First, the famous ascender, Darrin Ordin, showed up to defend him, and now Grey had suddenly been hired at one of the most prestigious academies in the central dominion?
Who are you, really? I wondered, picturing Grey’s golden eyes gazing out from behind a curtain of pale blond hair.
I stopped fidgeting as a thought struck me. If Grey was going to be at Central Academy, I could easily speak to him—and without tracking him by the medallion, which I had sworn to myself to use only in case of a dire emergency.
I just have to escape Corbett and Lenora first.
I considered my adoptive parents. They wanted him beholden to Highblood Denoir for no other reason than Scythe Seris was interested in him, even though they had no idea why. I knew I could use that.
“Lenora…Mother,” I said, knowing my use of the term would delight her, “how do you plan to keep an eye on Grey if he’s shrouded by the academy?”
If I could convince them to let me go to Grey…
As I had anticipated, Lenora beamed at me happily. “Why, that’s where you come in.”
Corbett cleared his throat and set his glass on a square of cork on his desk. “We’ve already arranged for you to take on your own role at Central Academy. You’ll be the assistant to Professor Aphelion. I’m sure you remember him.”
I blinked. “What?”
Lenora pushed away from the desk, walking up to me and resting her hands on my shoulders. “This is important, Caera. I know you didn’t enjoy the academy while you attended as a student, but this is about blood.”
I gave her a tight-lipped smile and took a step back, giving myself a little room to breathe. While I was thrilled to be leaving the Denoir estate to spend time at Central Academy with Grey—and without so much as an argument from my adoptive parents—I also knew what they expected of me.
“You will want a report on his activities, of course,” I said, my smile unfaltering. “And for me to convince Grey to…do what, exactly?”
“It takes more than idle fancy to turn a Scythe’s head,” Corbett said, standing to walk around his desk and linger in front of the fireplace, despite it not being lit.
“Scythe Seris hasn’t…said anything to you, has she?” Lenora asked tentatively. “About this ascender?”
“Of course not,” I said, bristling. “You know everything I do.” This was a lie, of course, but not a significant one. I hadn’t told the highlord and lady about Grey’s use of aether, but otherwise I had told them everything I knew about him.
Which, as it turns out, isn’t very much, I thought, considering again his strange hiring at the academy.
“He is special,” I went on, “but I have no idea what, if anything, Scythe Seris wants with him.” This was the truth, although perhaps not all of it. Seris knew Grey, somehow, but she hadn’t been willing to provide me any more information after our last conversation.
Lenora stepped closer to Corbett, sliding her arm through his, and my adoptive parents watched me silently for several very long seconds.
Finally, Corbett spoke. “We hope you’ll impress upon this ascender how much we’d like to meet him—perhaps even work with him in the future. If you remind him of the role we played in his release”—I felt a muscle in my temple twitch as I kept from rolling my eyes—“so much the better.”
“And of course,” Lenora added, resting her head on Corbett’s shoulder, “you should let us know if you learn anything…interesting while working with Grey.”
“Fine,” I said, meeting my adoptive mother’s eye. “I’ll do it.”
But I won’t let you use me against him, I added silently.
A/N: FOR DISCORD USERS, PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS THIS IN CHANNEL #NOVEL-TALK AND KEEP TO PATREON-ONLY CHANNELS UNTIL THE CHAPTER IS RELEASED ON TAPAS TO PREVENT SPOILERS. THANK YOU. <3
Comments
Nope Nope
Great now both Grey and Caera are out of their respective “prisons” though not free. And will be at least in the same town as each other. Progress on getting Grey more allies in the future hopefully.
It's not completely statistically improbable. Considering he is interacting with ascenders where named blood and high blood are likely to be, it significantly raises the probability that he will have met someone with a connection to a scythe. The largeness of Alacrya and the population argument is misleading as nobles are a much more interconnected and small percentage of the population. It's like meeting a famous person in New York vs meeting them in a small town in Alaska. Of course, it still would be very unlikely, but stories are where the unlikely coincidences are meant to happen.
Chris
Nice Work!
As much as I thought this was a fun/well written plot development, and its nice to see Seris, I think its incredibly unlikely that Grey would stumble upon someone (Caera who just happens to be mentored by Seris...) who knows him so quickly since Alacrya is supposed to be a really big place with lots of people... As much as I enjoy the series, story and plot twists, Seris discovering Arthur in Alacrya so quickly is statistically improbable, and as a math person, that is tough for me to handle. TurtleMe, I say this in the most respectful way possible, please don't force Arthur/Grey into interacting with the Sythes, Asuras, etc. quickly because its convenient for the plot. If you do so, please do it in a way that is believable (not a statistically improbable event), and not a forced plot device. Realistically, Arthur/Grey with the help of Alric should be able to live and prepare for his fight with the Asuras unnoticed as long as he wants to before he chooses to reveal himself. Given Arthur's two lives and Alric's help, there is almost no way he should get caught unless he wants to be. All that said, I do really enjoy the story, and I am looking forward to what happens next.
Sallai Péter
I was thinking about upgrading to lance, but I can't handle it permanently and upgrading for only a while means I wouldn't get to read tbate for a month and I wouldn't be able handle that.
I just paid for this role today and I’m already tempted to upgrade. My bank account can’t handle this addiction.
this moment you want to read the new chapter and see the beginning of an later chapter an only think wtf.
john ross
Arthur is just built different, they just don’t understand that at this moment.
Bruh Arthur can just chill In the volcano as if it’s a hot bath lol!
maggiesaus
This is me right now 😅 I might just wait after this month until 4000 patrons in a few months and binge all the chapters at once 🤪
Jennie (Eirine)
Our King of Cliffhangers is also the Master of Foreshadows, it appears! I'm torn between letting chapter build up so I have more to read at once, and needing to read as often as I can! XD
Jennie (Eirine)
On a weekly series? I'd hazard a guess that it would be a week from the last one.
When is the next chapter going to be release?
That could work
What have you been reading so far? It's obvious Arthur will suspect, and Caera will let him know her own and family intentions, and eventually Seris'. Not sure where you are getting that Caera thinks of Arthur like that, she is just curious due to his power, skills, secrecy, and looks; she has never been interested in money (just how many items dis she retrieve from the relic tombs?). Why do you dislike Seris? Yes she is an Alacryan. Is she evil? Not proven so far. Has she helped Arthur? Yes, and more than once. Has she turned him to the sovereigns? No. Does she sympathize with Argona? Seems it's all the way around... There is a chance this book it's all about getting to know Alacryans, realize that they are good people born in a different continent with different costumes, culture and rules. If Arthur doesn't end up understanding this, and gets allies, I don't see how he could end this war... Genocide? Destroy an entire continent ? Just think about it
FallenFlamingos25
What if and i dont know if anyone else has said this BUT WHAT IF cecilia reincarnated into seris which is why she helped him in the first place and the reason why it still hasnt been proven that Tessia is no longer tessia but cecilia
Friendly consumer
it's like chapter 200-220 around there when he fights uto
Polyester Bandit
I go by chapte rnumbers not books. .... so what would that be?
Seris is the scythe that saved Arthur from uto, and gave him uto’s horns. Book 6 chapter 38: The First Scythe.
Honestly I'm curious about seris' intentions. Is she gonna help fight Agrona or is she gonna turn Arthur in as soon as they meet again? Can't wait tho
Ezra
I think Grey will continue to keep his identity as Arthur Leywin, lance of Dicathon, a secret from Caera. As long as he is unsure of the relationship she possesses with her mentor and what Seris’ agenda is. I can’t remember if she told him about it being Seris, if he only knows it was a Scythe, or he has guessed it was Seris. I think he may end up telling her later on though, and I can’t wait to read her reaction. Also can’t wait for a meeting between Seris and Grey.
Don’t think the school scenes will last long, he’s only using it as a cover to get to different relic tombs plus I think he’s more likely to just rob all the artefacts they have and run off then seriously teach the enemy how to fight
I've been telling people that read the comics to hold on till the Harry Potter stuff ends and GoT stuff begins... lol. Back to school I guess. I don't know how many more layers we can add to this story before it starts to see it's endgame...
John Bray
I suspect that throwing Grey into an active Volcano would not have the effect Lord Denoir expects...
Jacob S
I found this a rather frustrating chapter to read through. Arthur’s not stupid - it’s rather suspicious for Caera to just happen to show up at the academy Arthur just got a job at. No doubt it’ll be clear to Arthur why she’s there. Personally I hope Arthur destroys Blood Denoir with his own two hands. For now Caera is most likely believing Grey to be some kind of Alacryan agent with connections with deep pockets. This chapter emphasized the reasons I don’t like Caera all the more. Seris has yet to dissuade me of my dislike of her either. I want Arthur to know that Seris is the mentor Caera mentioned. He already knows it’s a female scythe, but still hasn’t put 2 & 2 together yet.
Soundd Wavess
So seris abilities are basically sung jinwoo minus the shadow army? Lit.
I interpreted the title a little differently. I think that you are correct in that Seris sees Art as a tool/weapon, but I think the title is also a reference to how Caera has now been put upon to spy on Art by both Seris and her parents, and they feel like they need to find a weapon against Arthur to be able to control him as well. After all, even though Seris says Art owes her, she’s obviously not confident enough to approach him at this moment. She needs more leverage.
That would indeed be amazing :D
Also this practically confirms Seris' intentions. She clearly hates the current system in Alacrya, and intends to use Arthur, as the title says, a weapon against agrona
It is funny that they are all very impressed about Grey's connections, but those are all Alaric's connections. So while they wonder how Grey has all this connections we should wonder the same about Alaric
Moosey
Great chapter as always but man i just want him to reunite with his family, thats going to take a fatttttttt minute tho.
MR.K .
Nice theory, would love for Arthur to have his/a sword again. DB is destroyed and lost though, so how do you see this happen?
Bastian Cole
It occured to me that Dawns Ballad is still a thing after rereading(for the 4th time) the entire manga version. Since it was a sword that CHOSE Arthur theres no way that it wont tie into Regis, whos not even a weapon but almost like a half manifestation of one with a will of its own. Bet, Regis can fuse with Dawns Ballad at times when Arthur needs it or just outright uses DB to evolve into the perfect weapon for an Aether Mage that is like a possessed weapon. Regis(bigger better cooler Regis after evolving) would be popping out of said sword during combat like the spooky ghoul that he is. Oh and by the way, Regis is latin for 'of the King' and can be interpreted like it means 'King's' Really a clever title belonging to the 'Weapon of the King'
MR.K .
Forgot about that man. U think hes at that school?
David Rafael Tamir
I put money on him interacting with Kai in this school some way or another traitorous bastard, kill him slowly.
I'm getting the feeling when art goes back to dicathen, alacrya is going to be missing a country or two. Also I'm loving the fact art is becoming goodsky in a way right now
I hope so, it kinda seems like seris is a traitor to alacrya in favor of dicathen. So I hope when she goes, she goes looking and finds someone somewhat important if not virion
Polyester Bandit
I really love this kind of mirroring with Arthur's teacher being from another continent as a spy infiltrating, and now he is infiltrating the most prestigious academy on his enemy's continent. I hope we are shown either more interaction between arthur and Caera (flirting of some kind) and/or just overwhelming POWER SHOWN !!! just BADASS scenes where he reveals himself!!!
i feel like seris will meet someone from dicathen's side and tell them about arthur being alive. or at least that's what i hope.
I really hope this school thing is focused and brief or actually fleshed out well… personally I was left feeling fairly unfulfilled with the first school arc…specifically the underutilized characters/scenarios and while I really loved Sylvie and Arthur’s display of power to mess up Lucas, there wasn’t enough of a cathartic resolution to everything that went down before he was outclassed again by Bairon… I have faith this’ll work out though!
Michi
I really need 800 more people to support turtle on patreon ASAP.
This would make a lot of things much more clear and it would fit perfectly
okay now im like 95% sure seris was sylvias friend
Soundd Wavess
Caera an opp now? Tuff.
Jon Chefitz
Great chapter as always, I am so happy we got to see Seris again. Learning more about her will be so much fun, especially since it sounds like she has some form of grudge against the Soverigns. I can't wait for next week, maybe I'll just sleep till next friday. See everyone then!
Jon Chefitz
I completely agree to both statements, I was a little hesitant about the school arc but now I am so excited. In turtle we trust
MR.K .
I think Greys gonna keep hiding his past for a while. Mind you he doesn't even know this girl for a long time. Look at how secretive he was in the past
MR.K .
I think he'll just give minor tips. Mostly horsing around, passing time, showing off and talking to Regis
Anrike
Either caera will learn greys history during an intense moment or fight or during school. The Sycth wants her to learn about him by herself so that will be very interesting
Magnuss
Greys new class: How to kill Sovereigns 😂
Things are getting interesting.
I mean, the name of the chapter is actually very interesting in that regard, kinda gives away her position
Seris seems to really dislike the sovereigns. I am not sure if she is a double agent or if she is a traitor. I can't wait to know her true goal.
Rocco Mangiaterra
Brilliant! What a great chapter! GIVE ME THE SCHOOL ARC AND GIVE ME IT NOW!! Inject it right into my veins! I wasn’t the biggest fan about the whole school arc but the way this chapter played out makes me really look forward to it. Also Caera has solidified her place as an S tier character, same goes for Seris
David
Oh how I can’t wait for the inevitable “reunion” of Seris and Grey.
Sam Miller
I think she is going to see virion
Aya Ryuo
man, i am continually amazed at how well...amazing this Light Novel is.
Ah, I’m so excited for the next chapter with grey. A week? :( how will I make it a week
Antonio Camarillo
I wonder how funny the interactions are gonna be while Grey BS’s what “fighting style” he’ll teach the students
Jim Payne
❤️
Hype
Ezekiel2517
So Scythe Seris is headed back to Dicathen while Caera and Grey will meet at Uni....next few chapters should be fun. Maybe Tess and Seris talk to get that view of things?
Less goo
You stole it… Damn
Joebuba
Noti gang
Too short T.T
Sam Miller
First!
