Level Up Legacy

Rain was confused about the sudden change in their demeanor. Even in front of Zara the Officer, they were stoic and aloof. However, they all seemed friendly now.

"What do you mean by an ally?" asked Rain with confusion. "I thought that I was a wanted criminal."

"You were, for a period of time, almost twenty years ago," said the old man in the middle as he rose from the chair, followed by the other two men. "Follow us to understand, lady Rain."

Rain watched the three men glide through the courtroom, like ghosts rather than people. She took a moment to decide before following after them. After she followed them through a labyrinth of hallways, they reached a room where nothing could be seen inside.

"This room is called the Wicked, a prison for those that once threatened Sourna," said the old man as he floated into the darkness. "Here, you will see many familiar faces."

Rain could not understand until she saw the first light of a torch illuminating a pillar of the room. On the pillar was a wanted poster of a familiar man, one she knew from countless years on the sea, with a small core floating in front of the poster.

"He is Hanjin the Plunderer, one of the deadliest pirates that roamed the Blood Ocean," introduced the man to her as they stopped in front of his poster. Rain frowned as she looked at the floating core. "He terrorized Sourna before being captured by our legions."

"Why are you showing me this place?" asked Rain with a sick feeling settling into her stomach. She now understood that this place was a trophy room for the enemies of Sourna.

"Because you once made the list, with a place designed just for you," said the old man as he looked at her with eerie lights in his eyes. "But that has changed since then, hasn't it?"

Rain did not answer him, and the man walked farther down the darkness. The other two Wise Men also followed after him, leading her to a different pillar at the end.

On the way there, Rain saw countless posters with their cores. Her mind reeled at the glowing cores that must have been harvested from their owners.

Humans did not have a core like monsters did, but they had an essence. If Sourna found a way to extract that essence, to use it, then the entire world would be endangered by their knowledge.

"These pillars remain empty, because no one managed to capture the Queen of the Blood Ocean," said the old man as he stopped in front of a pillar. "It is our greatest regret."

Rain followed his gaze and her eyes landed on the familiar hardened face, a scar on her chin, and frizzly black hair cascading down her shoulders. Valeria Storm's poster looked exactly as she remembered her.

"You must recognize your former captain, right?" asked the Wise Man with a smile as he turned toward her. "Valeria Storm still roams the seas and avoiding capture, even after so many years."

"You want me to turn against her?"

"Among the crew she once had, you are the only person to ever leave her, right?" asked the Left Wise Man.

"Our records dictate that you even dueled her to become captain, but lost miserably," said the Right Wise Man.

Rain looked at the two puppets who began speaking all of a sudden, her frown evident. The Central Wise Man stepped forward to appease her.

"We understand that you had different visions than her, and for that, we wish to let it slide," said the Wise Man with a creepy smile. "However, Valeria Storm sought to uncover one of the ancient secrets of Sourna, making her a threat. We have reasons to believe that she succeeded before she completely vanished."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"As her former first mate, you understand and know Valeria more than anyone, right?" asked the Left Wise Man.

"Sourna is infested with pirates such as yourself, but aiding us will grant you countless riches instead of prison," said the Right Wise Man.

Rain glared at the two blabbering men with rage. And once again, the old Wise Man took another step forward to appease her. "Valeria Storm has something that we need. If you become our ally in finding her, we will grant you whatever you wish."

"And what do you think I wish?" asked Rain after calming herself down. "You think I want treasures?"

"Treasures, power, knowledge, or even... men," said the old Wise Man with a knowing glint. "Your reputation as a pirate precedes you, lady Rain. We do not judge your desires."

Rain understood that these men did not know her real identity as the Sin of Lust, but her former identity as Rain the pirate. However, it still pissed her off that they wanted her to betray Valeria.

Before she made any rash decisions, Rain took a pause and looked at the poster. Valeria Storm was young in this poster, but was far from that in reality.

As the Sin of Lust, Rain stole the essence of men who slept in her bed and remained youthful for countless years. However, Valeria was getting old, and she wasn't the same cunning pirate from years ago.

Her odds of survival should have decreased as well.

"Let me think about this," said Rain, instead of jumping into their offer. "I cannot just abandon my reputation without a little bit of consideration."

"A wise person never rushes," said the old Wise Man with a smile. "We have prepared a place for you to live, but we expect an answer before this day ends. Otherwise, we will seek other means to find Valeria Storm."

After leaving them with that ultimatum, Rain was escorted into a suite inside the palace. They left her inside the room with no guards, which brought a strange sense of anxiety over her.

As she sat on the white silky bed, Rain closed her eyes and tried to communicate with Arthur using the rune that he used on her. A moment later, his voice filled her mind and brought peace to her chaos.

"Are you alright?" he asked in her mind, and Rain's mouth formed a little smile because of the concern in his tone.

"A little too alright," she admitted in her mind, looking at the room in wonder. "I have been placed inside the fanciest suite inside the Palace of Hikma. The Wise Men want my help in finding Valeria."

A short moment later, which Rain interpreted as shock from his side, Arthur asked her the most crucial question. "Find her for what reason?"

"They refused to tell me any details, but it seems that Valeria has uncovered something big, either something they want to hide or want to acquire."

"That's a bigger lead than we can hope for," he replied her thoughts exactly. "Can you fool them and find out more?"

"I can try, but..." she hesitated on whether to tell him this or not, because it was a little pathetic. "These men creep me out, Arthur. They look like withered trees wanting to suck the life out of me."

"Oh, how the tables have turned," mused Arthur in his mind, making her itching to slap his face. "But don't you worry, Rain. I promised to bridge the sea for you, and I have no problem in tearing Sourna apart to save you. I am closer to your heart than its veins."

His words left her heart and mind in chaos, making her sit there in silence for a long time. Rain knew that he was with Diana, but such words were bound to leave an impact on her.

As the Sin of Lust, she lived countless romances and heard a thousand poems of men expressing their love to her. Although it filled her with desire and contentment, it was never enough.

"Thank you, Arthur," she whispered in her mind, a little too shy to continue their conversation. Arthur did not reply, sparing her the embarrassment. She rose from the bed and walked toward the mirror.

Her face was a little flushed, although the ocean's unforgiving sun has turned her too tanned for her liking. Rain touched her skin, and like a ripple in a lake, every impurity or tanned area restored its previous vitality.

This was another ability of hers as the Sin of Lust, to make slight adjustments to her appearance. Rain could transform her body entirely, but as if designed to be loved, no one could resist her current appearance.

Except for one person.

"What am I doing, lusting over a taken man?" Rain thought inwardly as she touched her blushing cheeks. "But how could I not when he tells me that kind of thing?"

She hated Arthur a little for being too sincere. His feelings for her were platonic, of friendship, kinship, and respect. He knew how she felt for him, but still retained her as a friend.

"Sometimes," she thought with a sigh as she lowered her hand. "I just wish that he would chase me away, leave me, or just wipe away my memory. At least, I wouldn't feel this guilty for loving someone who doesn't love me back."