I Became The Extra King With Seven Wives-Chapter 30: Dream of the Past

"Ughhnn..." I grunted a sound of discomfort as I slowly pushed myself up from my cross-legged position.

My legs were entirely numb, prickling with a thousand needles after having remained locked in that meditative posture for hours on end.

I had begun my communion with the Flame sometime in the mid-afternoon, and now... I blinked, taking a slow look around my surroundings.

Beyond the open stone arches of the tower, the sky had completely surrendered to the dark of night. The roaring Flame remained the sole source of illumination, casting such a brilliant glow that it violently banished the shadows, making it seem as though night had not truly fallen over the summit at all.

Shaking my head to clear the creeping fatigue, I placed my hands firmly upon my knees, leaning heavily as I forced myself to remain standing.

Heavy beads of sweat trickled down my jawline, but the moment they dropped, they hissed and evaporated instantly into steam under the searing, oppressive heat of the ancient Flame.

Thankfully, my clothes remained entirely untouched; it was as if the Flame itself had woven a protective, invisible mantle over my entire being. Regardless, that mystical ward did not change the physical reality that the intense heat and the magical strain of the ritual had taken quite a severe toll on my mortal limits.

My tunic was completely drenched in sweat, sticking uncomfortably to my skin like a second layer, and my hair fared no better.

Roughly brushing back the damp strands that were hindering my vision, I exhaled a tired breath and managed to drag my feet away from the center of the summit’s platform.

"Woah..." I muttered, stumbling as a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. My head began to spin wildly, my vision blurring and tilting with every step.

I staggered sideways far more violently than I had anticipated. Right as I crossed the precipice of the grand staircase, my boots simply lost their footing on the smooth stone.

"Shit."

The curse slipped out just as I felt my center of gravity violently shift. The starry night sky suddenly rushed upward to fill my entire vision as I tipped backward over the edge.

"Hah... fuck."

Thuddd!!

I crashed violently, back-first onto the ground over a hundred meters below, landing with earth-shattering force just outside the base of the tower.

"Ughh..." I groaned, the breath completely knocked out of my lungs. For a moment, it felt as though I had shattered every single bone in my spine, though I knew it was merely a phantom sensation. My newly Awakened body could withstand such a fall, but that divine resilience did not change the miserable fact that it still hurt like absolute hell, even more so in my utterly exhausted state.

Lying there half-embedded in a shallow crater of dirt with my arms spread wide, I simply chose to stay paralyzed for a long moment. My golden eyes stared blankly upward toward the sprawling night sky.

After ten minutes of catching my breath, I finally willed myself to stand.

I brushed the dirt from my trousers, looking around the empty, moonlit courtyard. Not a single guard or servant had come rushing to check on the source of the deafening crash.

How genuinely sad.

Stripping off my ruined, sweat-drenched shirt, I carelessly draped it over my shoulder and began the quiet trudge back toward the main castle keep.

I had also definitely missed dinner.

I could have easily commanded the royal kitchens to prepare a fresh feast for me immediately, and they would have scrambled to obey my every word. Honestly, though, I was far too drained to even bother eating. I bypassed the dining halls entirely and headed straight through the silent stone corridors toward my private quarters.

Without even bothering to summon attendants for a warm bath, I collapsed face-first onto my massive canopy bed, letting the softness of the mattress envelop me as I immediately closed my heavy eyes.

◊◊◊

"Dani!!"

A beautiful brunette haired girl rushed toward a tall dark haired man.

Daniel turned around and smiled.

Spreading his arms he caught Mary jumping into his embrace and lifted her off feet.

"Damn, are you getting heavier or what?" Daniel asked laughing.

Mary pulled back and punched his shoulder playfully.

"I am pregnant, forgot about it?" She said sulking.

"Oh yeah..." Daniel lit on his cigarette and exhaled before looking at her. "You know, you don’t have to keep that bastard’s baby."

Mary smiled.

"I know but it’s still my baby," she said fondly patting her swollen tummy. "My blood and flesh. And back then it was made when I loved him."

"When you didn’t know he was a the worst trash beating up his own wife," Daniel added with a cold gaze.

Mary smiled grasping his arm pulling him forward. "And you punished him quite good for it. He is still recovering in the hospital and quite traumatized."

"He deserves worse what he has done to you," Daniel replied.

"But you never kill Dani!" Mary giggled. "That’s what I love you and all women love you, putting aside your handsome looks of course." She added sheepishly.

Daniel smirked faintly, puffing another drag of smoke. "You aren’t teaching me anything new. Anyway do you have it?"

Mary nodded and took a file from her bag.

Daniel immediately took it and opened it.

Mary immediately started speaking.

"Mark Russo, 43-22 Queens Boulevard, Apartment 3B. Construction worker. Drives a blue Ford F-150, license ABC-1234."

Daniel scanned the photo. Middle-aged, thick neck, dead eyes.

"He leaves for work at 6:30, home by five. Fridays he drinks at O’Malley’s on 30th until midnight," she continued. "His wife Sarah came in yesterday. Could barely lift her arm during intake."

"What happened?"

"He choked her. Sixth time in a year." Mary said. "Last winter he broke her wrist. She told the ER she fell. He checks her phone daily, destroyed two of hers already. Threatens to kill her dog if she calls cops."

Daniel’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"She won’t press charges," Mary said. "Too scared. Says every time he gets arrested, he comes back worse." She met his eyes. "He has a rifle. Keeps it in the truck. Prior arrest for assault two years ago, but charges got dropped."

Daniel nodded slowly, still looking at the photo.

After reading the document a bit further, he reached out his hand, gently touched Mary’s cheek, and kissed her softly.

"Thank you."

"Dani, you know I would do anything for you, but I am scared for you," she said worried.

"What are you so scared about?" Daniel laughed lightly.

"Of you getting caught one day? Beating these people half to death... I truly do not understand what it gives you besides simple satisfaction against these scums. But one day... if you get caught—"

"I will not get caught," Daniel cut her off. He lifted Mary’s chin with his index finger, forcing her to meet his gaze as he offered a confident, reassuring smile. "This one will be my fiftieth mark. It needs to be properly celebrated."

Mary rolled her eyes at his swift way to brush off her worries but she smiled. "I will call the other girls. We can celebrate at my apartment."

"An orgy? I am entirely for it."

Mary giggled and pushed him away with a gentle shove.

"Do not you dare get caught," she warned, waving a hand as she turned and walked away.

Daniel watched her go until she was out of sight before looking back down at the file. Instantly, his warm smile vanished without a trace.

"My dear Mark Russo... you have no idea what is coming for you."

Smirking cruelly, Daniel turned on his heel and walked off into the shadows.

◊◊◊

"Huhh!"

I woke up in a stupor, jerking my head up from the pillows abruptly.

"Oh, fuck... no." I groaned, rolling over from my stomach onto my back. "This is not the time to be having flashback dreams from a past life, Lumiel..." I muttered. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I stared blankly up at the ornate ceiling.

It was already morning, and late morning at that.

I had genuinely exhausted myself far too much yesterday. I would need to be much more careful with my limits from now on, though the training session had definitely helped increase my masterful control over the Flames of Helios. I could already feel the thrum of that controlled power resting just beneath my skin.

"Alice, dear, please get my bath ready..." I groaned out blindly into the quiet room.

It took me only a split second to remember that I had sent her away. I had also abruptly dismissed all the other eager maids who had offered to replace her, and Regina was still resting and recovering. There was literally no one left to tend to my needs.

"Oh, what a moron..." I muttered under my breath, dragging my aching body up and off the massive bed.

Standing up slowly, I shuffled my way toward the grand adjoining washroom.

Reaching out, I turned my attention to a carved stone bucket filled with shimmering blue stones, crystals charged with the magical essence of water.

I grabbed five of them, channeled a quick surge of my own essence through them, and tossed them carelessly into the large marble bathtub. Usually, the stones would take several minutes to slowly melt and fill the tub, but perhaps because my awakened essence was incredibly strong and pure, the water erupted instantly, nearly splashing over the edges.

There were also dull red stones meant for heating the water, but I had absolutely no need for them.

I simply reached down, flicked my wrist, and summoned a tiny, controlled tendril of the Flame of Helios. The moment the fire touched the surface, the entire basin of water turned perfectly, comfortably warm.

I stripped out of my ruined trousers, climbed inside, and took a long bath, finally washing away all of yesterday’s lingering sweat and grinding fatigue. By the time I stepped out, I felt completely refreshed and entirely renewed.

As I walked back into my bedchamber, aggressively toweling my hair dry, I heard a timid knock on my door.

"Your Majesty?"

It sounded like one of the younger maids.

"What is it? Enter," I called out casually, tossing the towel aside as I pulled up a fresh pair of dark breeches.

The door creaked open slowly, and a young maid hesitantly slipped inside.

The moment she saw me standing there half-naked, her face flushed a brilliant crimson, and she immediately averted her gaze toward the floorboards. "I... I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty!"

"No need to apologize to seeing me naked when you are a beautiful girl," I smiled. "Just tell me what is happening," I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed to pull on my leather boots.

"N—No! It is Lady Queen Eleanor Goldwyn, Your Majesty! She has finally arrived and urgently requested your presence..."

"Eleanor? What a wonderful news," I smiled, standing up and pulling a crisp, white high-collared tunic coat from my open dressing wardrobe. I buttoned it up quickly.

Brushing my damp hair back into place with my fingers, I grabbed my heavy leather sword belt, securely fastened Hyperion to my waist, and strode out of my quarters.