The Glitched Mage

Chapter 11 - 11: Taste of Revenge

Riven awoke the next morning with a jolt. He bolted upright, scrambling backwards in his bed as he surveyed his surroundings anxiously.

No darkness.

Rivens head fell backwards as relief settled over him.

"I'm not dead." He confirmed quietly and closed his eyes as he tried to settle his racing heart. It seems he was careless yesterday when he accepted learning the skill book without re

"It's fine! How were you supposed to know that?" The count laughed happily. "I would have warned you but I didn't expect for you to understand any of that skill book let alone learn it in one night!"

They entered the dining room and he saw Ember already sitting at the table, her face pale and her eyes dark with exhaustion.

"Ember, my dear, I told you to rest today." The count said as he sat down at the head of the table and motioned for Riven to sit to his left.

"Thank you for your concern father but I'm fine," Ember smiled at the count and then looked at Riven. "How are you today?"

"Uh…" Ember showing concern for Riven left him momentarily surprised. "I'm fine today, thank you for asking sister."

A genuine smile appeared on her face before it disappeared once more. "I'm glad."

The count seemed pleased at the interaction between his children and nodded happily before summoning the food to be brought out.

"I was hoping to ask if there was any sort of training room where I could test out my new spell?" Riven asked as he began to tuck into the succulent roast chicken in front of him. "I was hoping to practice using it before I go to the academy."

"Of course," the count nodded. "There's a magically fortified room in the east wing. I'll take you there after lunch."

"Thank you, my Lord." Riven smiled, excitement filling body at the thought of being able to use magic again.

"Is it ok if I come and spectate?" Ember asked after a moment and Riven looked up and met her earnest gaze. "I would love to be able to witness the ancestors magic."

"Sure." Riven agreed politely and the rest of the meal continued in silence.

Riven kept glancing over at Ember, confusion filling his mind as he tried to work out why she was being so nice to him all of a sudden. Shouldn't she be like his stepmother in trying to continue to make sure his life is ruined? She was either a very good actor or was genuinely trying to get along with him.

Either way, he didn't fucking care. He was only biding his time here, trying to suck out everything he could from this family before leaving for the academy.

Then he would begin his plan for revenge.

They think finally giving him a little kindness and some money will make him forget the fact that they abandoned him whilst he suffered his entire life?

Not a chance.

—x—

The training room was located at the far side of the east wing of the manor. It was a large iron-encased room that had numerous magic circles carved all over its walls.

"They make the room essentially fire proof." The count explained as he noticed Riven looking at the magic circles. "It's so we don't have to hold back whilst we practice."

Wow, this really is quite the set up.

"We will need a target." Riven said as he rolled up his sleeves.

"There's a few wooden dummy's at the end of the room." Ember said as she sat on one of the benches to the side.

"The skill is a heat seeking fire ball, so I'll need something that's living." Riven answered, another cruel plan developing in his mind.

"Heat seeking?! Incredible." The count said, astonished. "What about a rat? Or a bird? We can easily secure one of those."

"What happened to Candace?" Riven asked all of a sudden and the counts brow furrowed.

"You mean the maid?" The count asked and Riven nodded. "She's still down in the dungeons. I was going to oversee her execution last night but it was delayed due to your skill breakthrough."

Perfect.

"Then, why don't we use her?" Riven asked, his face expressionless as he continued to speak. "If she is to die anyway, isn't it only right that I should be the one to do it? I was the one who suffered at her hands after all."

The count examined Riven for a moment, as if seeing him in a new light. Something like approval settled on his features as he nodded.

"If that's what you wish, I will allow it." The count said and sent some knights to retrieve her.

It was only a short while before the knights reappeared with Candace being dragged behind them.

"Please my Lord, this is unjust!" Candace was still claiming her innocence as they threw her foward. "I was only doing what I was ordered!"

"Father… isn't this a little too much?" Ember asked and Rivens jaw clenched.

"This isn't a time for you to comment, daughter." The count said. "The punishment should of course be given out by the victim."

"But father-" Ember began to argue but the count cut her off.

"Enough." The count commanded. "If you don't agree then you may leave."

Ember pressed her lips together and then bowed her head in defeat.

"You can start whenever you're ready." The count said. "If it gets too much, just stop and let me take over."

Ha! As if I'd let you ruin this.

Riven nodded to the count and then took a few steps forward. He looked down at the cowering Candace and smiled, taking in her pitiful appearance.

"If you don't wish to die," Riven said as he outstretched his hand. "Then run."

A hum of mana began to fill the room as Riven began to form the magic circle he had learned yesterday.

"It's so complex." Ember whispered in wonder as she and the Count watched the glowing runes in front of Riven.

Candace scrambled to her feet as she watched the magic circle in horror. Heat rippled out from the runes and Riven revelled in the feeling of mana flooding through his veins.

"No!" Candace screamed as his mana built to a crescendo and his magic circle erupted into a fiery ball that shot forward. Riven stumbled back a few steps from the recoil and watched in amazement as the ball of fire curved to the left as it followed Candace.

"It turned!" The count yelled. "The fireballs path curved - I've never seen anything like it!"

The ball finally caught up to Candace and she screamed as it slammed into her back and she erupted into an explosion of flames.

Her screams of agony filled the room and Riven sighed and closed his eyes. It almost looked as if he was enjoying listening to the radio rather than the wails of a dying woman.

"It seems your mana is still lacking in strength to be able to take someone out in one hit," the count commented. "But once you start at the academy, you'll be a first circle mage in no time."

"Yes, my lord." Riven smiled.

"Arghhhh!!" Candace continued to scream, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

"Allow me to finish this father," Ember said and took a few strides forward before Riven stopped her.

"I'll do it." Riven stated and took one of the swords from the weapons rack to the side of the room and made his way over to the flailing woman.

He raised the sword up and burned the scene in front of him to his memory. If the original owner of this body was still out there somehow seeing this, i hope this at least satisfies your need for revenge even a little bit. It's only a taste of what's the come.

The mask slipping from his face, his expression twisted into one of pure hatred and wrath. He swung his sword down, the sickening thud echoing through the room as the screams finally fell silent.