8 The Forgotten Stamper

In the training yard, Fray donned light clothes as he relentlessly lifted heavy weights, his muscles straining against the burden. With determination etched on his face, he abruptly set the weights down, their metallic clang echoing through the air.

"Uh -Uh..."As he took a moment to catch his breath he mumbled " Cemetery Army "

 Bzzz!!

Suddenly an ominous hum filled the surroundings. Thousands of dark buzzing bees materialized, swirling around Fray in a chaotic dance. The air crackled with an otherworldly energy as the swarm enveloped him.

A calm resolve settled on Fray's face. Closing his eyes, he instinctively opened himself to the torrent of energy unleashed by the bees. Waves of power surged through him, the force causing his clothes to ripple as if caught in an invisible tempest.

The energy surged through Fray's body, coursing through his muscles and organs like a symphony of power. 

Unlike other warriors who stored energy in a core to unleash it strategically in battle, Fray followed a unique path. He never built a core, nor did he store energy for later use. His training method involved harnessing the energy on the spot and using it to strengthen his body in real time.

While this approach had its limitations, as he couldn't accumulate energy for later battles, it perfectly suited Fray's unique skill set bestowed upon him by Narod, as the method made his body much stronger than a normal human and summoning Narod demands a lot of physical strength, besides it makes the power of first phase much stronger. 

The Cemetery Army helps Fray in his training, as they are spirits made from energy, and they hold a distinct ability which is the absorption of energy from the deceased. In the aftermath of battles, they harnessed the residual energy from fallen bodies, storing it for later use.

Despite being a low-ranking spirit from the third rank, the Cemetery Army possessed exceptional versatility. Its primary attribute, an involving spirit, was a rarity among its kind. This characteristic allowed this spirit to be a perfect match for Fray's way of training.

Later that Day...

In the dimly lit corridors of the seldom-visited side of the Dalma Mansion, Fray ventured into the side of the mansion where his grandfather once lived.

This was the realm where Fray's grandfather, the former patriarch, had once lived, He was the only scientist in the family history, and that's why he had chosen this secluded enclave to live in instead of the main side as the former leaders, close to his experiments and equipment.

To the world outside, power was the currency of respect, leaving the remnants of the scientist's legacy overlooked and abandoned. Thus since the demise of the former leader, this side of the mansion had become a desolate place.

In the hushed emptiness of the corridors, Fray navigated his way until he reached a widened door. 

As the door swung open, a simple laboratory unfolded before him, adorned with basic equipment and shelves holding an array of aged books—a tangible record of the intellectual pursuits of generations past.

Entering the room, Fray's mind buzzed with thoughts. ( Now that I have Yassine's memories, I can see the vision of the former leader, my scientific knowledge might be the most valuable thing I got from Yassine, but unfortunately, I don't have time for it yet, plus I still need that thing before starting my scientific plans.)

Then without hesitation, Fray made his way to the book closet, thinking to himself ( After my demise Luke will destroy the Dalma family and control its remains, and here he found something unknown to the members of the family for so long ) 

Thus, amidst the volumes, a green book titled "Whispers of Ether" beckoned him. Retrieving it, between its pages he discovered a concealed piece of paper within its pages.

(This thing didn't help Luke, but for me now, it's very valuable,) Fray thought, his fingers tracing the edges of the significant discovery.

Having found what he sought, Fray carefully returned the book to its place and swiftly exited the room. 

As Fray ventured into the corridor, a venerable figure materialized before him—the impeccable butler, Montaser. His countenance bore the etchings of time, his silver hair a testament to his wisdom, and his eyes hinted at a reservoir of untold stories within the mansion's walls.

"Hello, young master. I see that you have returned to the mansion. Welcome back," Montaser greeted with a warm smile, an ageless embodiment of loyalty.

Fray, caught off guard, reciprocated the greeting with a respectful nod. Internally, he pondered, (Montaser, what is he doing here?) before outwardly expressing gratitude, "Hello, Montaser. Thank you for the warm welcome."

Montaser, the head of the servants in the Dalma family and the third strongest within its ranks exuded an aura of significance. Fray, acutely aware of the butler's influence extending beyond the family and across the continent, trod cautiously.

"I'm happy for your return, sir. If you need anything, please just let me know," Montaser offered, his demeanour a blend of courtesy and authority.

"Thank you, Montaser," Fray replied, taking a step forward. "Take care."

Montaser remained in the corridor, a smile lingering on his lips. As Fray walked away, Montaser's gaze followed him for a moment before he entered the room Fray had just vacated.

Once inside, Montaser, with a subtle frown, headed straight for the bookshelves, seizing the tome that had piqued Fray's interest. Opening it, only to find nothing of significance, a subtle change crossed Montaser's features—a minuscule shift, but one that did not escape notice.

.....

In the dimly lit corridor, Fray strolled back to his room, his thoughts shrouded in the mysteries of the mansion. He tore the piece of paper into bits, the fragments fluttering down the hallway.

Suddenly, a radiant glow enveloped the torn pieces, forming an ethereal spectacle. Fray, with calm eyes, witnessed an otherworldly transformation. 

From the luminous aura emerged an iron stamper, bearing the emblem of a peculiar tree with two crossed swords embedded within it.

.....

In a simple house, an old man with long hair and a flowing beard was peacefully napping in his chair. Suddenly, a young child burst in, shouting, "Grampa, Grampa!"

Startled, the old man awoke, looking at the young child with a mix of fear and annoyance. "Uh... what!? What do you want, little demon!? How many times have I told you not to wake me during my afternoon nap?"

"Grampa, you received a letter that says 'urgent' in the envelope," the young boy replied, extending the envelope to the old man.

With a grumpy expression, the old man sighed, "Do you think I can still read the small letters? Read it to me."

"Fine," the boy said with annoyance, opening the envelope. "It says, 'Dear Mr, Adam Dalma, you are invited to the Dalma mansion for a meeting. Please be at the address mentioned behind the page, at...'"

Interrupting the reading, the old man dismissed it, "The Dalma family!? Just throw it away. Those stupid successors don't stop bothering me."

"But Grampa, this letter has a strange symbol—looks like a tree and two swords," the young boy said.

"What!?" The old man, now intrigued, took the letter from the boy's hand. "Slow down, grampa," the boy urged.

"This can't be..." Mumbled the old man, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at the symbol on the letter.

.....

Elisa sat in her office, the air hung heavy with silence, broken only by the subtle rustle of paper, as in her hands, she held an unopened letter.

Her face, usually a canvas of stoicism, now bore a complex expression. Her eyes, deep pools of contemplation, gazed intently at the sealed envelope. 

.....

Casper sat bathed in the warm glow of sunlight streaming through the window, a wide smile stretching across his face. In his hands, he held an open letter with only one phrase on it.