NOVEL NEXT Chapter 122: Obsidian Tower
Time in the Obsidian Tower did not pass—it eroded.
Day and night held no meaning in this huge hall with black ceilings, where the only light came from the glow of mystical torches.
The place was mostly silent aside from the rhythmic clang of iron boots as the Keepers made their rounds.
During this time, Hayden was the only one who was able to track time. About six months had already passed and everyone except him had lost their hope.
He watched as the proudest warriors of Lirandel were systematically unmade.
Claire Solstice, once an incredible Squire, now moved like a marionette. Her arm that would always wield her rapier was now only being lifted to pour wine for the Keepers during their "etiquette drills."
Ulysses Montclair, who had used incredible Dawn Swordsmanship and other techniques that had once lit up tournament grounds, now stood blank-eyed during combat training. At the moment, his sword strokes were still perfect but they were soulless.
Adrian Voss, who had fought back-to-back with his brothers in Verdant Thorn, now flinched at raised voices and kept his gaze locked on the floor.
They had learned the Tower's first and only law:
Obey, and you will not suffer.
And so they obeyed.
***
'They really know how to manipulate people…' Hayden thought as he was able to analyze everything and act accordingly…
Initially, under the orders of Prince Helcurt, he must not go through mind-breaking practices to become a perfect slave. However, it only lasted for a few weeks and joined the others since the Prince was still punished after confirming the deaths of a dozen First-Circle Mages.
Hayden learned all of this with the help of his Ocularis Lens, reading the lips of the Keepers while they were chatting.
Ding! Ding!
Soon, Hayden heard the bell ringing and everyone immediately moved like disciplined soldiers.
The Tower's conditioning was meticulous.
Just with the signal of this bell, they would have to enter a special room, where lessons of servitude were taught to them.
Thanks to these lessons, Hayden was able to fully understand what the mages wanted to do with them. It was basically to be adopted by certain families and become protectors of their children…
They were the ones who could sacrifice their lives for the sake of their family. This was the reason why they had to train or learn how to control their expressions and learn the etiquette of this kingdom as well.
In any case, aside from this, they were also wearing Suppression Collars, which seemed just like a couple of tiny threads, but they could deliver shocks for any disobedience.
Aside from that, these collars could also tighten if they spoke out of turn or if their master simply disliked them.
In the afternoon, there would be lectures on Phyrexia's "divine right" to rule, another method to manipulate their thoughts.
As for the drills on how to stand, how to kneel, and how to anticipate a master's needs before they spoke. It was surprisingly the easiest for all of them since almost all of them were nobles or from a well-off family.
Because of that, they knew what they would need or how they wanted themselves to be served.
As for their combat training, there wasn't anything needed aside from continuing their practice. Their breathing technique and sword technique don't really matter.
Hayden followed all of this silently and never complained…
'It's unfortunate that we don't have magic lessons… My Lens is taking too much time analyzing the arrays and all this magic enchantment…' Hayden frowned as even after six months, his Ocularis Lens barely had progress on his mystical collar… It was the same for other mystical things within the tower.
Even if he encountered these magical things daily in this tower, his Lens simply couldn't analyze them without the key knowledge that he needed.
The most he could do was analyze the energy inside, what it could possibly do, and the energy consumption it had.
'I can't dismantle or repair them at this rate… Do I really have to possess Mana to learn them?' Hayden couldn't help but frown as he thought of this.
Nonetheless, the Ocularis Lens was still his salvation.
While others had their minds scrubbed clean, Hayden's A.I. assistant worked tirelessly in the background…
It actually helped him with Memory Encryption. Something that he didn't think that his Lens could do. Every night, the Lens recompiled his true memories, stitching them back into his mind, ensuring that his mind wasn't tampered.
There was also what the Lens called a 'Conditioning Firewall'. Thanks to that, the Tower's lessons, that was also in the form of hypnotism, couldn't penetrate Hayden's mind.
The "lessons" he was taking were simply like watching movies and weren't doctrines he must obey.
Then, with his Ocularis Lens, he was able to conduct covert surveillance. He was able to map the Tower's routines, the guard rotations, and the blind spots in their monitoring.
But for now, he could only go with the flow...
He knelt when commanded. He recited Phyrexia's oaths without stumbling. He even became the favorite of many Keepers as they gave him access to the washing chambers, where he could hear more chatters between Keepers.
That was how he learned the final step of their training.
Just like that, he learned that in three more months, they would be sold.
Not as common slaves, but as elite Sword Servants—bound to Phyrexia's noble houses.
Although they were already trained, their collars would still be used by their new master for their assurance...
"Prince Helcurt has already claimed that boy…" A Keeper muttered as he looked at Hayden, "The rest go to the highest bidder."
However, the other Keeper simply shook his head. "That was before his punishment was given… Her Majesty would not allow him anymore…"
"Then let's just wait in three months, I guess."
Hayden's fingers tightened around the washrag as he resigned to his fate.
Right now, he was simply hoping to be in a new place where he could somehow gather more information about Mana, Spellcasting, and other forms of magic.