I woke up in my bed, that I hadn't seen in days, with something soft pressing on me. Naturally, I had to squeeze it just to make sure that I wasn't dreaming. It was soft, far softer than the ones in my dreams. I sighed a sigh of relief and hugged Elizabeth tighter, as if fearing that she might escape.
The phone buzzed. Again and again. Yesterday, after leaving the Long estate, I blocked the numbers of every one of those insufferable pests, so today they got creative by getting new numbers and continuing the barrage.
I contemplated just yeeting the phone at the wall, but then remembered that Liz was still sleeping and decided against it. Instead I did what any reasonable person, that doesn't know how to put his phone on silent, would do by sending a message to the old man to get the paperwork for a restraining order started, then gently placed the phone under the pillow to drown out the noise and closed my eyes enjoying the moment.
"You really should see what they want." A soft, melodic voice stirred me from my blissful state. "Maybe it's important."
"You're awake?" I asked the angel lying next to me. "Since when?"
"Since you groped me." Liz answered. "But you really should see what they want."
"Nah… They'll be fine. As poor as dogs, but alive. They're simply panicking because their life as they knew it has shattered and they have nothing left."
"Besides, aren't you angry with what the old hag said last night?" I continued. "Don't you want to see them all suffer unimaginable pain and torment? Soon, these formerly rich and snobby idiots will be homeless, living off charity and food stamps. Their estate, cars, private plane and companies will be mine. I'll take everything and leave them nothing just to watch them squirm." A cruel, satisfied smile played on my lips.
"Isn't that a bit much? They simply said a few mean things and you want to destroy their lives for it? I'm not even angry about it, so, maybe, you could…"
"I wouldn't have cared, if they said that to anyone else, but they said that to you." I interrupted. "Hell, for all I care they can rob and kill as long as it doesn't affect you or the others around me. I am the only one that can bully you. If any one other than me tries, well… Let's leave it at that."
I got out of the bed and began walking towards the wash room. "I need a shower… Will you join me?" I asked.
"Yeah, okay, just give me a minute." Liz said through the closed door.
"Leave my phone alone, or I'll be forced to punish you."
"I'm not…"
"Lies! Don't try to deceive me, or your punishment will be doubled."
After I had a shower, the whole 'family' gathered at the table for breakfast.
"I still can't believe that the whole Long family is crumbling because of a mere phone call from you." Jane said, sipping coffee and watching the news.
"I am a literal god that can destroy the world with a flick of my wrist and you're surprised because of the fall of a mere family?" I asked.
"Yeah right, god my ass." Jane snorted. "You might be strong and know some party tricks, but calling yourself a god is a bit much, don't you think?"
"He's speaking the truth, Miss Jane." Alpha said. "The true dragon whose power Adam stole was the sovereign that reigned over destruction and once a part of the goddess of our world. For the current Adam to destroy a world isn't out of the realm of possibility."
"Humph… I know that you all tricked me once before when I didn't know that magic was real, but do you think that I'd ever believe something as ludicrous as that?" Jane challenged. "If Adam had the power to destroy this world, what good would nuclear weapons be? Adam could reign over this world as an unchallenged king, yet he prefers to keep a low profile. Do you think that I'd ever believe that this arrogant man child wouldn't conquer the world, if he could?"
I sighed. "Believe whatever you want, I don't care anymore.
Jane took a sip of her coffee then said. "Is the part about you being a king even remotely true?"
"Yes, what about it?"
"I've heard about the Icathian kingdom a bit from others and been reading a bit about kingdoms and empires with similar climates on earth, so…" She lowered her eyes. "I thought that I could help you out a bit… If that's okay with you…"
"Shouldn't you be studying up before the finals? Why the sudden desire to help a nation that has nothing to do with you?" I asked.
"Recently, I've been feeling restless, thinking about my future." Was the answer I received. "Magic exists, you - a guy proficient in it have the power to control the richest man in the world and destroy an influential family with ease. I could study hard and climb the social ladder, but that future is uncertain. Instead, I have a proposal - teach me magic and I'll teach you how to build your kingdom."
"You're probably the first person in this world to view the pursuit of magic as something more certain than the pursuit of education." I laughed. "But… There's a problem with your proposal. I am no mage."
"What do you mean by that?" Jane asked with indignation. "I clearly saw you using magic. You changed your face, created a fire ball out of thin air and made a sword disappear to thin air, what is that, if not magic?"
"All that isn't magic in the strict sense of the word." I answered. "I can change my face because of the unique structure of my DNA. In fact, my whole body isn't something entirely human, because of the changes in my DNA I have unimaginable strength, regeneration and all the other good stuff."
"I even have a few skills that seem like magic to you, but aren't considered magic on the other side." I continued. "My fire, for example, isn't magic, but rather an authority. Magic is something learned while authorities and the skills that I possess are something that I inherited, meaning - I can't teach you."
"Okay, but what about Alpha and Pain?" Jane asked.
"Authorities." Alpha answered, shaking her head.
"Not to mention, in order to wield magic, you have to have an aptitude for that element." I said. "For example, I have a singular aptitude for darkness - meaning that I can only use dark - shadow magic. Having skills that are outside your aptitude is extremely rare and highly unnatural. My skills are outside my aptitude because I acquired them in an unnatural way, so I'm a bit of an anomaly."
"Then, what are my aptitudes?" Jane asked.
"No clue." I answered. "You haven't been awakened yet, so that's impossible to say. Even if you awaken, there's no guarantee that you'd become a mage."
"Don't worry, I'll work extra hard!"
"That's not what I mean." I shook my head. "Mana, or the life force in other words, isn't used by everyone in the same way. Some are able to collect it outside their bodies and launch towards a target. We call them casters. Others are more adept at channeling their innate mana inside their own bodies - strengthening them - warriors."
"Since warriors usually channel their mana inside their bodies, their aptitude isn't as important and most of them can cover their bodies and weapons with their element at most if they train for decades and have innate talent. Also, awakening is a bit dangerous, even if done by someone experienced. Worst case scenario - your body explodes. That's the reason that not everyone on the other side is awakened."
"Oh… I see." Jane looked a bit dejected, then remembered something. "Even if I can't use magic, I can use skills and authorities just like you, right?"
"Wouldn't recommend." I answered. "My way of obtaining power was a path of pain and misery that I walked for the sake of survival. You shouldn't follow it if you have a choice." Jane seemed to lose all hope. "But…" I continued. "Do you remember the two rings I gave you days ago?"
"What about them?" She placed the rings on the table.
"Have you figured out what they were?" I asked. Jane shook her head. I picked up the dimensional ring. "This one is a storage device." A book materialized in my hand. "It contains the entire library of the greatest mage city of that world." I said. "As for this one…" I picked up the translation ring. "Put it on and try reading the book's contents."
Jane followed my instructions. She tried reading and her eyes widened. "I don't recognize the characters, but I can read them!" She exclaimed.
"These two rings are my part of the bargain for your help in managing my kingdom. What do you say?" I asked. "All the knowledge about magic that the world of Eden has collected over the years on your finger and a way to access it. I'd say it's a fair deal."
Jane's eyes glimmered like diamonds, but she tried to hide it. "Fine, I guess." She said. "This will do for now." Then she stood up and rushed to her room, slamming the door.
"Are you sure it was wise to give the girl all those books?" Luna asked. "As far as I know, you haven't made any copies, what if she loses them?"
"It's fine, I've read most of them by now." I answered.
"Impossible." The elf exclaimed. "The great library of Babel had tens, if not hundreds of thousands of books. You mean to say that you've read that much in less than a year?"
"I read fast."
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