Lord of the Time: I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

After a moment, Caleb, still processing the encounter, turned to Rozho with disbelief in his eyes. "Was that for real? Did he really offer to teach me all that?"

Rozho nodded with a knowing smile. "He wasn't kidding, Johan. My master is a Sword King, equally powerful as a Tier 4 Destiny in terms of offensive capabilities. His proposition is as real as it gets."

The city gate loomed before them, its massive doors poised to swing open and welcome them back into the bustling heart of Phenos. However, their return was momentarily halted as a vigilant guard stepped forward, curiosity etched on his face.

"Why didn't you bring the old man inside?" the guard inquired, his gaze shifting between Caleb and Rozho.

Caleb exchanged a quick glance with Rozho, a silent agreement passing between them to craft a convincing tale. "Well," Caleb began, feigning a chuckle, "he's a bit of a wanderer. Likes his space, you know? Said he preferred the fresh air out here."

Rozho nodded in agreement, adding, "Yeah, he's got this thing about not liking enclosed spaces. Claustrophobia or something. Wanted to stay close but not inside the city walls."

The guard raised an eyebrow but seemed to accept their explanation. However, his curiosity wasn't fully sated. "So, what were you two talking about? Seemed pretty intense for a casual chat."

Caleb leaned on his natural charm, conjuring a playful smile. "Oh, you know, just some friendly advice. The old man's been around the block, and seen a lot. Shared some wisdom about life, gave us a few laughs."

Rozho chimed in, "Yeah, life lessons and all that. Nothing too exciting."

The guard nodded skeptically but allowed them to continue. However, he couldn't resist one more question. "Is that old man senile or something? I mean, wearing that fox mask and all. Looks a bit eccentric."

Caleb chuckled, dismissing the notion. "Nah, not senile at all. Just has his quirks, you know? Keeps things interesting. And that mask, well, it's his signature style. Adds a bit of mystery, don't you think?"

The guard shrugged, seemingly unconvinced but not eager to press further. As they prepared to enter the city, he threw in one last inquiry, "How old is he anyway? Must be ancient."

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Caleb exchanged a knowing look with Rozho, playing along with the fabricated narrative. "Ancient might be pushing it, but he's seen his fair share of years. Has that wise elder vibe, you know? Ageless, in a way."

With a final nod from the guard, they were granted passage into the city. As the massive gates swung open, Caleb and Rozho shared a silent sigh of relief. The guard's questions had been deftly sidestepped, and the old man's enigmatic presence remained safely concealed behind a veil of half-truths and charming misdirection.

As the city gates closed behind them, Caleb and Rozho found themselves walking through the lively streets of Phenos once more. The echoes of their conversation with Rozho's master lingered in the air, and Caleb couldn't help but reflect on the path that they had to take now.

"You ready to head back now?" Rozho asked, a casual tone underscoring the seriousness of their recent encounter.

Caleb nodded, his thoughts already shifting to the next steps. "Yeah, let's go. I've got some work to do on stabilizing this new sword aura."

Rozho shot him a curious look. "Stabilize? Is it giving you trouble?"

Caleb smirked. "Not trouble, per se. Just needs a bit of tuning, you know? Gotta make sure it flows smoothly. Wouldn't want it acting up in the middle of a fight."

Rozho chuckled, understanding the importance of mastering one's abilities. "True, true. Can't have your sword aura going rogue on you. So, what's your impression of my master?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Caleb pondered for a moment before responding. "He's something else, that's for sure. Powerful and enigmatic. I can see why you respect him so much."

Rozho grinned proudly. "Told you he's amazing. You think you'll take him up on his offer to teach you?"

Caleb nodded, determination gleaming in his eyes. "Absolutely. A Sword King offering to share his knowledge? That's an opportunity I won't pass up. Besides, he might have some tricks up his sleeve for transforming this sword aura to sword intent."

Rozho nodded approvingly. "Good call. His insights could be the key to unlocking the full potential of your abilities."

Their conversation shifted gears as they strolled through the vibrant city streets. Rozho posed a more profound question, one that delved into the very heart of Phenos and its ruling class.

"What do you think about the ruling class? Keeping those energy sources for themselves instead of using them to prolong the city's safety. Selfish, don't you think?"

Caleb's expression tightened, reflecting a mixture of scorn and understanding. "Yeah, it's narrow-minded and selfish. They're sitting on a solution that could benefit everyone, yet they hoard it for their own needs. Makes you wonder who they're really protecting."

Of course, this is just bullshit. In his opinion, benefits are what matters the most. However, he really thinks that the ruling class is a fool. Even if they benefit from energy sources. Fifteen years from now on, the city would just get destroyed. What's the use of energy sources if the one they govern is already gone? It was too short-sighted of them.

If giving up the energy sources means longer reigning. Why not take it? Plus, they're also putting themselves and their families in danger. Isn't it stupid?

Rozho nodded a shared sentiment between them. "Exactly. It's like they care more about their own comforts than the well-being of the entire city. We need to find a way to change that."

Caleb's gaze sharpened a silent promise underlying his words. "That's hard. Though we can do it one step at a time. Starting with whatever mission your master has for us. It's time to shake things up in Phenos."

...

Caleb returned to his room, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

"F*** the ruling class," he muttered under his breath, the frustration apparent in his voice.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Caleb ran his fingers through his hair, contemplating the city's intricate web of power dynamics and damned conspiracies. The ruling class, holding onto resources that could save countless lives, triggered him a little.

His eyes glinted with resolve as he spoke into the silence of his room, "I'll shove their faces to a pig's butt in the future."