Chapter 28 – The Innkeeper
By the time the sun crawled back into the sky, dispelling the shadows and darkness, Cassius’s Snake of Adaptability was close.
Very close.
Only a third of the loop remained before it finally closed, granting him the adaptation he needed for dual wielding.
His progress had been staggering. Both Lucian and Lilien couldn’t quite comprehend how fast he was managing it. But more than the speed, they were dazzled by his new relentlessness.
The man only rested when he was completely unconscious, unable to twitch a single muscle. Anything short of that, he was back up and at it, even with his eyes tearing from the agony.
Watching him do it again and again, the twins grew strangely even fonder of him. Maybe not strangely, for what they loved was not necessarily strength...but the relentless drive to get there.
So when Cassius was too dazed to continue, they quietly disappeared from the training ground.
Through all of it, Cassius came to understand his Innate even better.
For one, the Snake of Adaptability’s progress would unravel, grind to dust, if he entertained the doubt of whether continuing or not long enough. In other words, if his will to keep going and accept the risk of losing became unstable, the loop wouldn’t form.
He couldn’t stop and decide to resume only when he felt like winning. The Snake didn’t work that way.
On top of that, there was a limit to how many times he could repeat the same mistake before the loop began to regress. Three. After the third repetition of the same error, his progress rolled back.
The Snake’s hiss still echoed clearly in his head.
’One could be an accident. Two could be coincidence. Three is a pattern. And we do not accept mistakes as patterns.’
That understanding pushed his brain to its limit, forcing him to recognise his mistakes and find corrections before they became habits. It was brutal. And it made him acknowledge something plainly.
’Queen’s breath, I need a master.’ Cassius thought, lying flat on the training ground, chest heaving.
His body was free of wounds, courtesy of Lucian. That grinning bastard had said they couldn’t let him meet his wife with marks on his face.
Cassius had almost cursed him. Actually, who was he fooling? He did curse him. And Lucian beat him for it.
He had cursed again. Inside his head this time, for his own sake.
Ananke mocked him greatly. Cassius didn’t even acknowledge her. Sometimes pride had to take a backseat.
"My baby," a sweet and gentle voice echoed suddenly from his left.
Cassius knew the owner even before turning.
He shifted his head anyway and found his mother — his father at her side — sitting cross-legged on the ground, watching him with a smile.
"It’s already 9am." Sefira said, glancing at the runic watch on her wrist. "At this rate you will be late, baby."
Cassius didn’t bother getting up. He nodded and smiled at both parents. "Hello, Mother. Hello, Father." He greeted, earning a grunt of acknowledgement from both. "Mother, remind me of the meeting time?"
"1pm." She answered. "You will stay there three days, including today. It has been agreed you will get to know each other in private."
"Don’t do anything hasty." Aldrin said, though his voice sounded like he wanted his son to do exactly that.
Cassius’s lips twitched.
Sefira continued, "You heard your father." Her eyes cast a red glow around the room. "You will go with your chosen maid, and members of shadows will trail you. Unseen but present."
"First, I won’t do anything hasty." He looked at his father, then back at his mother. "Second, I won’t be late."
"Won’t you? You take far too long in the bathroom."
Cassius’s mouth twitched. "That was a one-time thing, Mother."
"Oh." Sefira smirked, glancing at her husband. "Is that right, darling?"
"No." Aldrin answered immediately.
Sefira didn’t doubt him; she knew his favourite hobby was documenting the youngest’s life.
Cassius turned his head to the other side, suddenly finding the rows of weapons very interesting to look at.
Then...
"Where are the twins?" He asked, one eyebrow cocking up. "I thought they would be here."
"They have Academy assignments to submit." Sefira answered, moving closer and beginning to stroke his white hair. "Today is the final deadline. Otherwise they fail."
"Why did they wait—!" He stopped, understanding settled in on its own.
"They wanted to train you." Aldrin said, looking at his son. Sefira followed. "And they wanted to spend time with you before going back. It will be months before you see each other again. Likely not until the Academy itself."
Cassius grimaced, though a smile of genuine happiness was threatening to split his lips despite himself. "Saying all that won’t make me go easy on them later."
"Were they hard on you?"
"They were demons, Mother. Are you sure they are actually my siblings?"
"Well, you tell me, my baby." Sefira laughed. "You look alike enough."
"Only Morgan and Dorian truly love me."
"Because neither of them can say no to you." Aldrin chimed in.
Cassius shrugged loosely. "Is that a crime, Father?" He said. "And where are they anyway? Why is no one here when I’m about to meet my wife!"
’A wife who wants to kill me, by the way. Damn it, guys, it might be the last time you see me. Make some effort, would you?’
[You will not die, Cassius.]
’Don’t jinx me, Queen.’
"Morgan is occupied with a task." Sefira whispered, still stroking his hair. "And Dorian said he is trying to open an inn in the Kurppe Kingdom. He is quite busy."
’Inn or brothel?’ Cassius almost rolled his eyes, then frowned. Dorian, known to most as The Innkeeper, had never attempted to venture into the Kurppe Kingdom.
Not in his game knowledge, at least.
[I warned you about your game knowledge. Do not lean on it.]
’I know.’ He sighed to Ananke, then nodded at his mother. "Fine."
"But each of them sent you gifts before your departure." Sefira continued. "Even the twins. They’re in your room."
"Oh!" Cassius lit up. "What kind of gifts?"
"Artifacts, mostly. The one Morgan gave you is quite something. And the twins gave you a weapon."
"I’ll thank them then. Or maybe I will just use that weapon on them soon enough."
Sefira barked a loud laugh. Aldrin’s lips twitched, his face fighting hard not to follow.
"Now go." She ruffled his hair lovingly. "Isolde will fall for you. Especially with your new enhanced look."
’I fucking wish.’ He added inwardly.
She cocked her head. "How did you manage it anyway? Your mother would love to be a little more beautiful, you know."
"Why? You are already more than beautiful."
Sefira cast a charming grin at her husband. "Why not, still? To seduce your father even more."
Aldrin suddenly coughed, face spasming with awkwardness.
Cassius’s lips curled upward. "Why not indeed. I will get you a beauty enhancement the moment I get my hands on one, Mother."
Sefira thanked him, kissed his forehead, then Aldrin used his shadow manipulation to teleport his son to his room.
"Don’t be like Dorian with women!" Sefira called out as Cassius was already half-swallowed by shadows.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head dryly. "Mother, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t."
Dorian’s most famous epithet was Patron of Bliss for a reason.
Sefira only smiled, acknowledged the truth, and Cassius slipped into the shadows.
[I never want to meet him.]
’Be careful of what you wish, goddess.’
—End of Chapter 28—