Rot Heart: A LitRPG of Rot Magic in an Ancient World (Book 1 completed)

That night, Theaphilia came to speak to Div and En in their dream. Over their time in Camboaci, she had seldom used this ability. Once the need for secrecy abated and Div and En grew more comfortable with their situation, it was more convenient to talk in person.

Dream Connection was taxing, especially for Div and En, who were still Basic Rank.

"I wasn't aware you knew my grand-niece," Theaphilia said as she appeared in the ethereal dreamscape.

"Who? Zoe?" Div asked, his gaze quickly moving to En, who was standing beside him. It was always weird to see his brother outside of his own mind. Although it wasn't real, it gave him the hope that it would soon become true.

"Yes, Zoe," Theaphilia said, nodding. "I must admit I didn't know of her existence just a few hours ago."

"We were friends," En said. "Before the exile."

"Were?" Theaphilia asked.

"I don't know," he continued. "She didn't say goodbye when we left."

"Rude. But I wouldn't be surprised if someone in the clan ordered her to. She has a desirable bloodline. The elders would have wanted to protect her image."

Div thought it was possible. But it didn't excuse everything. What were friends for if you couldn't count on them in the lowest moments of your life?

"Anyway," Theaphilia said. "I came to check on you. How are you feeling? I didn't expect such an important contingent from the city…"

"Conflicted," Div said. "Disappointed, maybe. I wasn't ready. En?"

"I know you must think I'm delusional. But I still wish to return to Kheiron."

"En," Div started.

"Let me finish. Look, I'm not an idiot. I always knew it would not be easy. But I won't let today reduce my determination. Alexios' and Ela's attitude toward us has always been bad, and so has the Leios clan's. I'm not going back for them."

Div looked at En for a moment. His brother's life was his own. If that was what he wanted, he couldn't stop him. He didn't share the same optimism. But either En was right and everything would be fine, or he would see the sad reality and come back to his senses.

Either way, it was En's decision.

"So," Div broke the silence. "Theaphilia, are you going to tell us what's going on? Nobody wants to say it out loud, but surely you can say why Kheiron is participating in the gathering."

The Ascended Rank scratched her chin, looking pensive.

"You're going to be embroiled in it, whether you want it or not. So there is no harm in telling you," she started. "Your uncle, Basil, has ascended."

Div and En looked at each other, shock evident on their faces. Since their birth, they had been told time and time again that Uncle Basil was slated to ascend and become the next elder of the clan. However, the fact that it really happened hit differently.

"Did he?" Div asked.

"He did," Theaphilia confirmed. "With his Sun Heart bloodline, the Leios clan took the opportunity to force policy changes. I don't know their exact goal, but Kheiron taking a more active role among the Lienien communities is not good news."

"And you're saying Uncle Basil is behind that?" En asked.

"This is the only conclusion I can come up with. But I've only talked with concerned Lienien Ascended Ranks and Secuda. Unfortunately, for different reasons, neither are reliable sources."

"Thank you for telling us," Div said.

"Don't go and spread it around," Theaphilia warned. "But keep it in mind in your interactions with the Kheironites."

Div and En woke up to a mild headache. With the stress of the day before and the multiple sheep-induced naps, it took them a long time to fall asleep. Adding Theaphilia's visit to that, it wasn't the best night of their life.

Still, after a hearty breakfast, they left the building with their friends to explore the village.

"No, Rigomaros isn't a bad guy," Div said, defending his new friends. "After we got over our differences, he was very helpful."

"Still," Genno said. "I don't like how he talked to you yesterday."

"It's fine, my response wasn't good either. We're cool."

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"I want to make clear that I had nothing to do with this," En said, causing the others to laugh.

It always felt uncanny when Div and En spoke aloud through the same mouth.

"At least, you didn't get into a fight with the southerners," Seg patted their shoulder.

"It must be so weird to meet people you know like this," Ambisena said. "Like, how do you know what to tell each other?"

Inside its stone walls, Bavacium was very densely built. The streets were narrow and always in the shadow of a building or another. Aside from the main street leading to the gate, it was without rhyme or reason, almost labyrinthine.

The twisting cobblestone path led them through winding streets and into random dead ends as they got lost in the maze.

"I don't like this place," Lugsellos complained.

"It's too packed," Geno agreed. "But it's interesting."

For the Camboacian, it was the first time they left their village. Everything was new, and a little overwhelming.

After some time, they reached a small market. In one of the many plazas, if they could even call it that, given how cramped everything was, a handful of vendors had set up their stalls. Each one was covered in a patchwork of brightly colored fabrics. A stark contrast with the rest of the village.

It smelled of dried fish, overripe fruits, and aged wine. Men and women shouted over one another, vying for the attention of the visitors from all over the Lien River basin.

The houses surrounding the plaza were tall, leaning over the crowd as if about to collapse.

It was noisy, messy, and suffocating.

"The farm doesn't sound that bad after all," Ambi complained, pinching her nose.

Even Div and En had to agree. This place was hell. They were glad their exile took them to Camboaci, not here. They scanned the plaza, looking for a way out. It was hard to tell with all the stands and people.

Segorix took the lead. He made his way through the packed crowd, avoiding merchants who tried to peddle their goods, uncaring of their young age.

Once they made it to the other side, they were sweaty and frustrated. All they wanted was to return home.

But, as they walked through an alley so narrow they could touch both sides with their hands, they bumped into someone they would have rather avoided a little longer.

Zoe, again. She was accompanied by two boys. One from the Opheo clan, and another Div and En didn't recognize. A commoner, no doubts.

They were walking toward them. No side street, no way to pretend they didn't see each other. There was no escape.

"Diven?" Zoe asked, stopping in front of the group. "I didn't imagine things yesterday, it's really you."

She had changed a lot in the last few months. She was already tall for her age, but now she towered a full head above everyone. Her long black hair flowed behind her.

"Zoe," Div and En said in Ameian. "How have you been?"

"Good," she said.

Silence.

"Care to translate?" Ambisena said.

"Simple greetings," Div and En said, their eyes fixed on Zoe. They switched their language. "Do you speak Lienien?"

"A little, we were forced to learn during the journey."

Silence again.

"Awkward," Ambi said.

"Right," Seg added, nodding.

"If you have nothing to say, let's move on," Genno said.

Div and En were about to nod and walk past the three Kheironites when Zoe spoke up.

"Wait," she said, her arm blocking the little there was between her and the walls.

"What?" Div and En asked.

They wanted to speak to her. But they didn't know what to say.

"Are you alright?" Zoe asked.

[What kind of question is that?]

From the corner of their eyes, Div and En didn't miss Lug putting a hand on his face. They shot him a pleading glance. If his emotion-sensing skill was ever going to be useful, it was now.

"Decently," Div and En said. They were trying to be truthful. They felt a lot better than when they were alone. However, saying they were fine was a stretch.

Maybe after evolution.

"Okay," Ambisena said, holding the last syllable for a while. "I can't take any more of this. Relax. You were friends, right? Try to act like it."

"Why would she be friends with someone like that?" The commoner snapped.

"Nobody asked for your opinion, Lucas," Zoe said, shutting him up. "I didn't want it to end like this, Diven. But you know what Kheiron is like."

En raised his arm, letting his friend know it was him, "You didn't even say goodbye."

"I know," Zoe said. "I feel bad about it. Seb made sure I did. But I don't regret it. I'm not going to put my place in the clan in jeopardy for you."

"I see," Div said, taking over for his brother, who was too shocked to speak. "Why tell me that?"

She could have ignored them. She could have been cordial, keeping her real thoughts to herself.

"I want you to know," she said, her index finger pointed at Div and En. "Seb's in trouble. Just for saying goodbye to you. They're locking him out of training. He hasn't been given the chance to work on his facet and skills at all. Because of you. "

They felt bad. This was cruel, unnecessary.

[But it's not our fault.]

(I will set things right. Someday.)

"You're blaming me for your clan's cruelty?" They asked. "What have you done for him?"

"Watch your words, rotten," the Opheo boy said, finally joining the conversation.

"I don't have any more words for you," Div said, spitting on the ground. "Let's go."

Div and En's friends gave strange looks to the Kheironites as they passed by them. The conversation being a mix of Ameian and Lienien made it so they didn't fully understand what had happened. But they could see the anger burning in Div and En's voice.

It was enough.

"Diven," Zoe called. "This is how the world works. Even if we were to ascend, we would still be bound by its rules."

Div and En didn't turn back.

"Rules? Those rules are more rotten than I am."