Published at 15th of April 2026 12:09 am

Chapter 125. Show of mercy

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At first, Ophelia looked on with fear when she saw the mages prepare the barrage. She saw the dome spell break almost immediately under the rain of magic. She knew Sam was stronghe had always seemed like a strange, unbeatable existence. But she was no longer a child looking up to a parent. The fact that power could be overcome with numbers was well known to her.

Feeling QShars paw on her hand, she looked down, only to notice she was squeezing the rapiers handle so hard her knuckles were turning white. In that split second, she glanced away and saw that the cat was also anxious, but she didnt have time to ponder it as she returned her gaze to the battlefield.

Another barrage, accompanied by a magical arrow, was heading for her now-unprotected teacher. As the spells were almost on target, he disappearedonly to appear between the men with shields and the archer. The moment his silhouette materialised, a wave of death magic exploded from Sam. In a split second, three of the four men were dead. He then used the grasping spell to hold down his last victim, and before the rest regrouped, he lodged the Hook into the archers skull.

The three remaining second-circle mages came to a screeching halt, almost tripping over their own legs at the sight of a soul being ripped from a body. Then Sam spoke, only deepening their fear.

Up to this point, it was a fight. Until then, it could even be called a proper battle. But after that, it devolved into something much more primal.

Sam fired all of the stored spells from his staff, and she saw a Cutting Storm alongside three Pierce spells shred three first-circle fighters in the middle. The remaining second-tiers tried to coordinate an attack, but to their surprise, Sam closed the distance, dodging a hastily released arrow from the back line.

The swordsman stabbed at Sam. But it was a shaky attack lacking convictionMyhur had told her so much about that. But it was still a stab made by a warrior against a wizard. It looked like it would connect. Instead of dodging, Sam just swung the Hook. Terror showed in the mans eyes as he stopped his attack mid-swing, tripping over his own feet to avoid being hit by the artefact.

No! screamed someone from the audience. Press on with the attack! the man shouted, giving orders, but it was way too late.

Sam rotated, chaining the swing into an elbow to the temple, and then slammed the Hook into the mans body around the ribs. Ophelia could hear a wail of pain as her teacher twisted the artefact, hooking it around the ribs and then using it as a gruesome, makeshift handle to move the man, turning him into a human shield against the oncoming barrage from the back line. It turned out to be an unnecessary precautionthe people at the back didnt have enough experience. Afraid of hitting their own, they almost all missed.

What followed wasnt a battle. Sam swung the Hook like a primal man, using a torch to scare off predators. Every time he presented it, the enemy would make a mistake trying not to get too close to the weapon. It was only once the last second-circle mage fell to the ground, dead, that Ophelia noticed what it wasa simple and cruel show of strength.

Without second-circle mages to pose any proper threat, Sam was like a wolf among children. He stopped casting complex spellshe simply approached them, slowly, deliberately, and dealt death. Any spell they tried to cast was easily broken. Sams magic control dwarfed that of others at the same level. Against terrified first-tier mages, it wasn't even a contest. Ophelia watched as he approached a shaking mage who tried to cast some sort of shield and, after breaking it for the third time in a row, simply slit the mans throat using the Hook.

She realised why she wouldnt be part of the fight. He could probably kill them before they hurt herhe was fast enough. But that wasnt it. This was supposed to be a show of dominance, a simple display that told all that the Alhazred clan was the same one that had dominated ancient politicspowerful and cruel.

She might be able to fight, but she wouldnt be able to show the cruelty required. She heard the cries of nobles as their family members died, and she found a void where compassion would be. They had sent them to their deaths over a political struggle. This was the world she lived in. She accepted that. She felt for them, but the sensation didnt weigh down her heart.

Sam fired a Cutting Storm point-blank into a man begging for his life, the second son of the Riswalt family, shredding him to pieces. The only one left now was a girl. She was no older than twenty, previously standing as far to the side as possible next to the guy who had tried to give Sam a speech at the beginning. Now she was sitting on the ground, trembling, eyes filled with fear as Sam approached her.

Ophelia had to give it to hershe did try to keep some composure as she gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, waiting for death. She didnt beg, to which Sam lightly nodded, acknowledging her courage, setting her apart from the last five idiots. Instead, he simply cut her hand.

Ophelia saw Sams tattoos surface on his skin as he smeared her blood over them. It took a while to cast whatever it was, as Sam stood over her like a grim reaper, unsure of the judgment he was supposed to bring.

Once done with whatever spell it was, he walked into the middle, where the speaking platform had previously stood, and spread his hands as if to embrace the audience as he addressed the gathered people.

My dear fellow mages, he said. Today, I was forced to take so many lives, and they trulyTRULYweigh on my soul. Ophelia started to wonder whether it was even possible to sound less sincere. As such, due to my soft, hurting heart, I decided to use my right as the one who called the grudge, and as long as the other side acknowledges my victory, I will let go of my anger. This day and this gathering will be remembered for ages to come. So when the future generations learn of their past, let us make sure they do not read of blood and slaughter. Let this day be one without any more unnecessary deathlet them remember my A smile akin to that of a piranha slid across his face. Mercy.

He looked over all those gathered, letting his words hang in the air. I wish to end the duel before only one side remains, on the condition that my victory is officially recognised.

The reactions across the hall were different. Sams friends and the closest clans who signed deals with QShar went immediately into a standing ovation. The rest of the Third Chamber soon joined them, many wearing cruel smiles directed toward the other sides of the political spectrum.

The religious groups had mixed reactions, while the nobles were a mixture of fear, shock, sadness, and anger. Some wailed, some screamed, others vomited.

Ophelia looked to the sides. Everyone around her was standing. She realised she was part of it. She was part of the Alhazred clan, apprentice to the man who had just massacred over a dozen people to the ovation of the Third Chamber. She stood up and joined, making sure she clapped the loudest.

It took a while for the room to settle down, but once the clapping died down, another noise took its place. Swear words and threats started flying between people on opposing sidesnot only from one area of the audience to another, but also within factions. It took three chimes of the strange bell for the room to go quiet. Ophelia saw the Riswalts arguing with another family, waving their hands and shouting at each other.

Whats there to hesitate about? she asked.

Its not that simple, QShar whispered. I knew the idiot understood politics. His mind is sharp, but he doesnt use it when hes not interested, he grumbled.

Ophelia looked back at the arena.

Its about the curse, isnt it?

Yes. The cat nodded. In the past, itwouldnt have mattered, but here its different. There was never a situation where you could cast a curse mid-battle so powerful it couldnt be unravelled afterwards, so its a grey area of the law. He showed his third circle power, so theres a good chance that whatever he just cast wont be counter-cursed easilyor at all. The girls family might need him to lift it. The curse was cast legally in a duel, and his actions are a show of mercy, so they cant demand he lift it. The Riswalts have two choices: allow the mercy andif they cant unravel the cursemost likely let Sam dictate those two votes, or refuse the mercy, let him kill the girl, and then hope that the girl's family at least won't vote alongside Sam out of spite. Either way, its a tough choice.

It took some more time before the judge started to get impatient, but finally, the Riswalts stood up and accepted the deal, recognising the duel as finished.

Sam strolled back to his seat, looking like hed just come back from a regular walk rather than killing fourteen people and cursing one.

So you do get politics! QShar piped up.

I mean, its not like I dont understand it, he said, then looked ahead with slightly narrowed eyes as if gathering his thoughts, before nodding sagely and continuing in a slow, wise voice. Politicsit's like eating shit. Im capable of eating shit. Everyone is. That doesnt mean I enjoy it. There are cases when there is some shit to be eaten, and in such cases I prefer professional shit-eaters to do it for me, since they seem to enjoy the process for some reason. He finished, stroking an invisible beard.

The cat, on the other hand, stared at him with the flattest look Ophelia had seen in her life.

Thank you, Sam. Thank you for that stunning metaphor. I thank the sands and the fire that you are not a philosopher.

Ophelia smiled slightly at the exchange.

After the ruckus, a break was called to let everyone vent. The atmosphere in the hall was strange. The members of the Third Chamber seemed lively, as did some other groups, seemingly not associated with whatever the Riswalts and the Church were planning. The other side of the hall was much worse. They looked over at them with gazes filled with hate.

Ophelia saw that the blind woman from the first day was approaching them. Now that she was closer, Ophelia started to feel a vague familiarity. She frowned deeply. She was more and more sure she had seen her somewhere before, but where? She didnt have much contact with the magic world beyond Sams groupbefore the Sabbath at leastso why the feeling? It bothered her. The only other place would be The realisation struck her like thunder. She didnt remember much of the ritual, but now, vaguely, as if through fog, she did remember her faceshe was one of the people who also took part in the ceremony.

She expected a lot of feelings to rise up inside herfear, anger, maybe hatebut in the end, she felt something similar to seeing a colleague outside of work. The ritual seemed so far away the trauma of it had dissipated, and now there werent many feelings about the people of that day.

The woman reached them, and they locked eyes.

We met before, didnt we? the woman said.

I was your guest in Norway.

Aaah, sorry about the barn.

But not the ritual?

Should we be?

A slight silence hung in the air as they both smiled lightly, a thin thread of understanding forming between them.

Astrid, she introduced herself.

Ophelia.

You should have come sooner. You wouldve seen me almost kick your teachers ass.

Almost is doing a lot of work here, Sam said with a smile as he approached them.

Astrid smiled at that, not arguing, but then her face relaxed back into a mask of seriousness.

Hows the Sabbath going? she asked Sam, but her tone was tense, not matching the light question.

Good? Sam frowned.

Please do watch out she said, but didnt continue. Sam also didnt press.

Ophelia waited for Astrid to leave before asking about the strange exchange.

What was that about?

My guess would be a vision she has trouble interpreting, Sam said, looking after the woman with a frown. She saw something bad, but doesnt know the exact meaning.

Why not just tell you?

You shouldnt tell oracles before youre sure what they mean. Some visions are warnings meant to be spoken. Others are self-fulfilling prophecies. Like you might be told you will die by a golden sword. Then a guy with a golden sword shows up. You try to get him killed to get rid of the danger, but he escapes and attacks you. You mess up the battle because youre afraid, and the oracle becomes self-fulfilling.

Ophelia wanted to ask more, but during the break, some people used it to approach, not giving them any privacy.

She listened to all the talks. Some people came to congratulate. Others to curry favour. Sadly, it turned out that due to Sams general aura, many figured it was his apprentice who was easier to approach. Soon, she was swarmed by many people she didnt know or care for, trying to worm their way to Sam through hermany from the nobleunaffiliated faction.

The cat also stayed out of those talks, letting her handle them all. By the end, she was more tired than after a sparring session against Myhur. Constantly looking out for hidden messages, verbal traps, and questions with double meanings took a lot out of her. Once the bell rang, heralding the end of the recess, relief washed over her.

After the small breakmainly composed of rejecting the annoying peoplethey were back in the hall for the rest of the boring legal cases. It took a few more hours, but the judicial proceedings were finally closed.

And the next day, the talks about what to do with the mortal world would finally begin.

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