Unholy Player-Chapter 63: Heading to the Kingdom

Serve. Obey. Sacrifice.

Vesha repeated the words silently to herself, drawing strength from them as she brought the knife down on the squirrel in her hands. When the creature bit her finger in a final burst of pain and panic, she winced, but didn’t stop. She didn’t let the pain shake her focus. Her resolve held firm.

These three Sacred Decrees of the Astra Church weren’t hollow slogans crafted to brainwash the faithful. They were reflections of the core traits that defined every true Astra Path practitioner.

Vesha’s thoughts drifted to the first time she met Adyr.

He hadn’t just saved her from that prison and the horde of skeletons. He had also cooked her meals, tended her wounds, and stayed by her side until she recovered.

Serve. The first of the Church’s decrees.

Later, while escorting her back, they came across a struggling village. Without hesitation, Adyr had answered the unspoken plea of the villagers and faced the wolves head-on.

Obey. The second decree.

And in that fight, he had put his life on the line, ultimately losing his arm.

Sacrifice. The third decree.

These weren’t just teachings the Church preached to its followers each day. For Astra Path practitioners, they were a way of life, followed not out of fear or obligation but instinct. No one needed to remind them. The Sacred Decrees were etched into their very being.

And that was why the Church expected its followers to return such selfless kindness with the same level of care and sincerity.

For someone like Vesha, the Three Decrees held deep meaning. If she truly wanted to serve Adyr with genuine devotion, then the only way to repay his help was by living according to those decrees.

Of course, that was how she saw him.

Meanwhile, as Adyr bit into the struggling animal in his hand, the only thing on his mind was regenerating his arm and regaining his strength.

None of his actions so far had anything to do with being an Astra Path practitioner. On the contrary, everything he had done was for his own benefit. But there was no reason Vesha needed to know that.

In this world, especially during the times he was logged out, Adyr needed someone who could both look after his unconscious body and handle whatever needed to be done in his absence. So far, Vesha had fulfilled that role with flawless precision.

As Adyr continued eating the raw flesh, just a few bites were enough to draw the life energy from each small creature into his body. Slowly but steadily, his arm began to return to its original form.

By the time he finished draining the life from the twenty-second animal, he finally stopped.

"Is it done?" Vesha asked, wiping the blood from his face with a damp cloth. Her face was pale, her body trembling, and she looked as if she might collapse at any moment. Yet, somehow, she was still standing.

Adyr opened and closed his right hand, flexed his arm, and replied, "Yes. It’s completely healed. Thanks for the help."

Vesha forced a faint smile and nodded. Then, glancing at the mess around them, she said, "I’ll clean this up."

She couldn’t leave the task to the villagers. Or rather, she couldn’t allow them to see this side of Adyr. Maybe they wouldn’t mind, as long as their savior’s hand was healed, but even so, she wasn’t willing to let him be seen like this among common folk.

"I’ll help you. Then we can head back to the kingdom," Adyr said, picking up a damp cloth and beginning to wipe the blood from the floor.

He was done with the village. There was no benefit left to gain here. The sooner they left, the better.

Vesha gave a quiet nod. Together, they cleaned up quickly, packed the remains of the animals into a bag, and finished the task without delay.

Just as Vesha reached for the door, Adyr stopped her. "Don’t use the front door. We’ll leave through the window, quietly."

Vesha cast him a questioning look, but she understood. "Sure," she said quietly.

One glance through the window was enough. The entire village had gathered outside the front door, waiting in anticipation. In the square, preparations for a memorial and a feast were nearly complete, with fires lit, tables arranged, and offerings prepared.

Rather than stay and deal with drawn-out gratitude or ceremony, Adyr had chosen the quiet exit.

Without another word, the two slipped through the window, the bloodstained bag in hand. They moved through the shadows, unseen, until they reached the old mill. Their carriage was still there, waiting like a loyal beast. Moments later, they were gone, vanishing from the village without a single goodbye.

—

The villagers waited long into the evening. When their guests never appeared, a few finally entered the house. But it was empty. No sign of Adyr, no sign of Vesha. Only silence. When they saw the empty space where the carriage had been, they understood.

That night, the village gathered in the square under the stars. Flames flickered in the dark as they cooked the favorite meals of the dead, offering them in quiet remembrance.

With soft chants, they mourned the fallen. With music, verse, and stories, they honored their unseen saviors.

They spoke of Lord Adyr, the one who had faced a Rank 2 Spark alone and won. Of Lady Vesha, who stood beside him with unshaken resolve.

No one knew it at the time, but the words spoken that night, the poems composed, the stories passed from voice to voice would one day echo across the world. What began as whispers in a forgotten village would become legend.

The tale of Lord Adyr’s first rise. The beginning of a name that history would never forget.

***

As the sun lost its golden glow and faded into shades of light and shadow, the carriage reached the towering walls of the kingdom.

"Ahh, it feels like a dream. I’m finally home," Vesha said with a sigh, gazing at the walls that now looked as if a great disaster had torn through them.

During the long days away from home, especially while trapped in that cave, she had often seen nightmares of death and believed that would be her grave. Now, standing here, alive and safe, filled her with quiet relief.

While Vesha embraced her own sense of peace, Adyr kept his eyes on the approaching walls, his expression calm.

Was all this really the work of a Rank 4 Spark? He couldn’t help but wonder.

The walls looked too tall for any person or beast to climb, and their construction was solid, built from thick stone blocks.

Yet now, most of that sturdy barrier had been reduced to rubble. It made him wonder what kind of force was capable of breaking something so durable.

He may have managed to catch a Rank 2 Spark, but now, witnessing the aftermath of a Rank 4’s power, he realized just how small he still was in this world, especially when he remembered how close he had come to dying.

As the carriage neared the towering gates of the kingdom, two guards noticed its approach. They didn’t recognize the tall man inside, but the crest on the carriage and the presence of Lady Vesha at the front were unmistakable. The moment they saw her, they stood at attention and allowed the carriage to pass without question.

Adyr observed the exchange with quiet interest. Being a noble’s daughter was one thing, but the guards seemed to know her personally. That meant she wasn’t just some quiet figure in the background—she had a presence here. A reputation. At least enough to be recognized on sight.

"Is there an inn nearby? I need to sleep soon," Adyr said as he guided the carriage through the city streets. Though it was evening, the roads were still lined with vendors packing up their stalls, many of whom paused to glance at the passing carriage with mild curiosity and recognition.

"Why an inn? You can stay at my father’s mansion. I’m sure he’ll be very welcoming," Vesha replied, surprised. freēnovelkiss.com

She wasn’t wrong. The moment her father—or anyone of importance in the capital—learned that Adyr was an Astra Path practitioner, there wouldn’t be a door closed to him, nor a meal denied.

"I don’t want you to mention who I am. Not yet. I want somewhere quiet for now. I will find you later," Adyr said, his voice calm, eyes still on the road.

He didn’t want to step into the spotlight before understanding how things worked in this city. Observation came first.

Hearing the resolve in his tone, Vesha said nothing more. She simply gave him directions to a discreet and well-kept inn she trusted.

A short while later, Adyr handed her the reins and accepted a handful of gold and silver coins. Then, without a word, he slipped from the carriage, pulled a hood over his head, and quietly disappeared into the heart of the kingdom.