Rebirth System: Blood and Ash

Dim light flickered against the walls, the single lantern projecting shadows over the polished wooden floors. Aric sat at his desk, hunched slightly forward, his sharp eyes scanning the interface floating before him.

The faint hum of the system was ever-present in the quiet room, a subtle reminder of its constant presence in his life. He hadn't slept, not properly, in days—but he didn't need rest right now. What he needed was clarity.

The system chimed softly.

[Sub-Quest Activated: Intercept the Draken Envoy.]

Aric exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening as he read the details of the mission. The Draken envoy wasn't just a nuisance; their arrival was a threat to everything he had worked for. If they reached the imperial court, they'd displace the careful threads of manipulation and alliances he'd spent months weaving.

Their information on Sylas could tip the scales in each of his other brothers' favor, and he wasn't about to let that happen.

Failure wasn't an option.

The system guide—ever the little floating companion—appeared by his side, her translucent wings glowing faintly in the dim room. Small, barely the size of his palm, and radiated an otherworldly light that seemed to exist outside of the lantern's reach.

"Details," Aric said flatly, not bothering to turn his head.

The guide's voice, once monotone and robotic, had long begun to carry a faint trace of warmth. She was evolving, though Aric wasn't entirely sure how he felt about it. "Intercept and neutralize the Draken envoy before they reach the imperial court. Timing is critical. Hidden reward included."

[Hidden Reward: ????]

His eyes narrowed. A hidden reward? That was new. He tapped the edge of the floating interface with one finger, as though prodding it might reveal more. It didn't, of course. The system's cryptic nature was part of its charm—or its annoyance, depending on the day.

He leaned back in his chair, the faint creak of the wood breaking the stillness. His gaze drifted to the far corner of the room, where the faint glint of his blade leaned against the wall.

"Hidden reward, huh?" he murmured, mostly to himself.

"It could be beneficial," the guide offered, her small hands clasped in front of her as she hovered closer to his shoulder. "Failure, however, would—"

"I know what failure would mean," Aric cut her off, his tone calm but final. He didn't need her spelling out the consequences. He'd seen failure enough in his first life to recognize its shadow before it even arrived.

He waved the system window away for a moment, summoning his status screen instead.

[Status Window]

Name: Aric Valerian

Title: Forgotten Prince, The Conqueror

Race: Human Find more to read on empire

Level: Martial General (4) / Tier 2 Mage (Fifth Circle)

Martial Mage Level: 2

Health (HP): 349/350

Stamina: 200/200

Ki: 489/500 (Restricted)

Mana (MP): 93/100

Attributes:

- Strength: 134

- Agility: 157

- Endurance: 78

- Intelligence: 9

He scanned the numbers quickly. His strength and agility were solid, as they should be for someone of his level. His endurance wasn't where he wanted it, but it would suffice for now. What drew his attention, as always, was the glaringly low intelligence score. It didn't matter that he knew why it was low—his failure to focus fully on grasping the more, well, higher concepts that govern this world.

Still, nine intelligence was enough for today. He closed the status window with a flick of his hand.

"I need to call a meeting," he said, rising to his feet.

The guide gave a quick nod and vanished, leaving only a faint trail of light.

Aric paused by the window, his fingers brushing against the cold glass. The city below was still, the streets empty save for a few flickering lanterns and the occasional movement of a patrol. He'd grown accustomed to this view—silent, unchanging. Yet even in the stillness, there was an undercurrent of tension, a sense that something was always about to happen.

He opened the window slightly, letting the cold night air wash over his face. His mind was already racing ahead, piecing together the fragments of a plan. The Draken envoy would be traveling with an elite guard, likely using one of the lesser-known routes to avoid detection. Timing would be critical, as would subtlety.

Aric closed the window and turned, his steps deliberate as he made his way back to his estate.

---

The corridors of the estate were quiet, the only sound the soft click of his boots against the stone floors. Aric passed a pair of guards who straightened at the sight of him, their expressions unreadable. He nodded briefly in acknowledgment but didn't slow his pace.

By the time he reached the study, now war room, Lerai and Kael were already there. Lerai was perched on the edge of the table, his fingers absently tracing the etched map in front of him. Kael stood nearby, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the room as though assessing its every corner for weaknesses.

"Quick," Aric said, stepping inside.

"You said urgent," Lerai replied, pushing himself off the table. "Didn't think you meant tonight."

Aric pulled his cloak off and draped it over the back of a chair. He moved to the head of the table, his hands resting lightly on the wood as he looked at them both.

"As you know the Draken have sent an envoy," he began, his tone calm but edged with urgency. "They're heading to the imperial court."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Kael frowned, his fingers tapping against his forearm. "Mandel had informe, that's a bold move. What's their angle?"

"Doesn't matter," Aric replied. "What matters is stopping them before they reach the Emperor."

Lerai raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"We'll discuss it when the others get here," Aric said. "For now, I need both of you thinking about routes and contingencies. The envoy won't be traveling openly. They'll avoid main roads."

Kael nodded, already reaching for the map on the table. Lerai sighed but didn't argue, his sharp mind already working through the possibilities.

Aric leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting to the door as he waited for the rest of his team to arrive. His mind, however, was far from the room. The system's hidden reward lingered in his thoughts, a tantalizing mystery he couldn't ignore.

Whatever it was, he intended to claim it—and he would do so without failure.