Arcana Slice of Life: Rank Zero (Arcana Sol Book 2)

  Contents

  Let's Have Some Fun!

  Forbidden Arcana Series

  Rank Zero

  Acknowledgements

  You may also like

  Copyright

  Let's Have Some Fun!

  That's our goal here. On it's surface it sounds good, right? Everybody likes fun! Well, it's important to clarify that when we say fun we're not talking about family board game night. We're talking over the top explicit content. Now, once again you're probably thinking that sounds good, right? Well, we really want to emphasize over the top really means over the top. This book is meant for adults. You've been warned.

  Forbidden Arcana Series

  Jinx (Book 1)

  Ariel (Book 2)

  Mirage (Book 3)

  Theia (Book 4)

  Sable (Book 5)

  Luna (Book 6)

  Talia (Book 7)

  Morgana (Book 8)

  Valaria (Book 9)

  Arcana Slice of Life Series

  Warning: The Arcana Slice of Life Series is a series of supplementary shorts that take place at various times throughout the series. Because of this, they may contain spoilers if read before completing the main series.

  Animal Magnetism (After Sable)

  Rank Zero (After Morgana)

  Rank Zero

  Jericho was simultaneously impressed by the beautiful architecture of Whitespire and annoyed by the extreme stratification of the city. But he gritted his teeth and kept his thoughts to himself as his beautiful seraph familiar excitedly showed him around the base strata where rank zeros lived.

  “And that’s the store,” Theia said pointing to a small shop. “They only have bread but everybody loves it.”

  “That’s a really long line,” Jericho said as over a hundred smiling Seraphim waited in line outside of the tiny shop. “Is it always that long?”

  “Oh no,” Theia answered. “I bet they have sweet bread today.”

  “Sweet bread?” Jericho glanced at the line as several Seraphim shuffled excitedly. “Like cake?”

  “Oh no,” Theia laughed. “Rank zeroes don’t get cake! It’s just bread with some sugar on it. But it’s really good! Especially after working hard for the week!”

  “Right,” Jericho said biting his tongue.

  Jericho would have given Theia an excuse to get out of visiting Whitespire but the Choir, the Seraphim ruling council, was threatening to revoke their trade agreement unless they met with the guild master of Sin. In order to salvage the agreement, he needed to take an oath declaring the Fallen as his enemy and accept a rank from the Choir.

  Basically, if he wanted access to their vast Orichalcum supply, he needed to officially join their faction.

  “Master,” Theia blushed while guiding him to the enormous central stairway that led to the next strata. “I know that you don’t like the way Seraphim society operates but I did grow up here. Please don’t judge it too harshly. Everybody is really happy here and more importantly, it’s fair. Everybody starts at the bottom and slowly rises up through hard work.”

  “Have I said anything?” Jericho sighed while looking at the large staircase that led to the next strata. He’d had the debate with Theia several times and they never saw eye to eye. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  Jericho really didn’t understand why Theia loved Whitespire so much. Maybe it was just a trait of the Seraphim themselves since he had yet to see an unhappy one.

  “Before I lost my rank I lived here,” Theia said as they arrived on the second strata. It was nearly as depressing as the previous but without the bread line. “You get everything you need on this stratum and all the sugar bread you can eat!”

  “Right,” Jericho said as he followed Theia up the enormous central staircase. With each tier they passed things gradually became more normal and eventually even extravagant. He also noticed that the Seraphim on the bottom tiers of Whitespire didn’t fly around while the ones on the upper tiers flew everywhere. “Why don’t the Seraphim on the bottom fly around?”

  “Flying takes a lot of energy,” Theia said as if were obvious. “If we fly everywhere, we won’t have the energy to work to raise our rank. Bread doesn’t give you nearly as much energy as the food the higher strata get.”

  “I see,” Jericho resisted the urge to make snide remarks. If they fed the lower strata better, they would be more productive and rise in rank more quickly. So, it was pretty obvious the lower strata only really existed as punishment.

  “Master,” Theia glared at him. “You’re judging again.”

  “I didn’t even say anything,” Jericho said defensively.

  “You made a face,” Theia said. “Anyway, we’re almost there.”

  “Thank god,” Jericho said as they arrived at the top stratum. “So, this is where the rank one hundreds live?”

  “Yes,” Theia smiled. “It’s really beautiful isn’t it?”

  “It’s nice,” Jericho said while trying not to think of the strata the luxurious cityscape was built on top of. “But I prefer Dayrose, don’t you?”

  “Of course!” Theia said happily. “I never dreamed that I’d find such a wonderful place to call home! But not everybody has a wonderful master like you. I hope someday all the Seraphim can find a nice home like Dayrose! But until the Fallen are wiped out, Whitespire is the safest place.”

  “Okay,” Jericho sighed. Truthfully, he’d considered welcoming all of the Seraphim into Dayrose but he was concerned about making the city a target for the Fallen. He looked around at the maze of miniature mansions and tried to figure out which direction they needed to go. “Which way?”

  “There,” Theia pointed toward a giant citadel. “We just have to stick to the allocated path.”

  “I’d rather get this over with as fast as possible,” Jericho said while shapeshifting a pair of wings and hollowing his bones. He decided to just fly there and skip the path. He would have teleported but it would be rude to leave Theia behind in her own home city. “This will be faster.”

  “Master,” Theia said chasing after him. “We’re not supposed to leave the designated route! Please turn around!”

  “Designated route?” Jericho stopped and hovered midair. “What’s the designated route?”

  “Over there,” Theia pointed to an out of the way path that basically ensured none of the visiting Seraphim would be seen by anybody who didn’t want to see them. It was also much longer than the straight path to the citadel. “Let’s go to the path before we get in trouble.”

  “Fine,” Jericho grumbled as his silver-haired familiar pouted. “We’ll go to the pa…”

  “What are you doing off the path?” a male Seraph leading two others in military garb approached them. “Get onto the path zero. You haven’t earned the right to fly here.”

  “Sorry sir,” Theia bowed her head and tugged on Jericho’s mage’s robe. “We’re heading back to the path.”

  “Do you call that an apology?” the Seraph growled. “You need to make an offering and beg forgiveness like a good zero.”

  “Um,” Theia began looking through her inventory for something she was willing to part with. “Please sir, I don’t have…”

  “Your clothes,” the Seraph smirked and the other two laughed. “They’re far too nice for a zero. Give them to me.”

  “Please don’t ask that,” Theia said while nervously glancing at Jericho. He knew she wasn’t worried because of the Seraph and his comrades. She was worried because she knew what Jericho would do to them if they so much as touched her.

  “Your clothes,” the Seraph sneered. “Don’t make me wait.”

 
“Theia,” Jericho glared at the Seraph flapping his wings in front of them. All she needed to do was nod and Jericho would tear off his wings and drop him from the highest point of the spire.

  “Master,” Theia looked at him with pleading eyes. “Please don’t be upset. All he’s saying is that we must make amends.”

  “Then we’ll pay a fine,” Jericho said. “But I won’t let you be humiliated by some...”

  “Master!” Theia cut him off before he could insult the Seraph. “This is General Arius Lightfeater. Please, be respectful! We’re already in trouble!”

  “Theia,” Jericho glared at the smirking Seraph general. “You’re my familiar and I won’t allow you to be humiliated. Even if you’re willing to endure it, I’m not. Just like you wouldn’t endure it if one of the others were being humiliated. Do you understand?”

  “Master…” Theia looked down shamefully as she let his words sink in. Jericho knew that she knew better. If Jinx were there, that Seraph would already be dead.

  “Your familiar?” Arius chuckled. “Right, I’ve heard a few of the Seraphim have found humans and elves to adopt them. No wonder you’ve forgotten your place. Maybe I should demand more than your clothing.”

  General Arius reached out to grab Theia and she quickly smacked it away. Theia immediately dashed backward and pressed her hand against Jericho’s chest.

  “Please don’t get involved master,” Theia pleaded while stroking his chest as if he were some wild dog. “I’ll handle it myself.”

  “Theia,” Jericho said. “If he…”

  “I know what you do to people who hurt those you love,” Theia sighed.

  “How dare you!” Arius growled while drawing a massive lance covered with elegant runes. A dragon coiled around the shaft and where its mouth ended an enormous blade began. The two Seraphim officers behind Arius also drew their weapons as several Seraph wandering around the stratum stared. “You all saw it, a rank zero struck me!”

  “Filth,” an observing Seraph said.

  “Disgusting,” another chimed in.

  “Kill her!”

  “Cut off her wings!”

  “What’s a zero even doing flying here!”

  “She hasn’t earned that right!”

  “Teach her some respect!”

  “General Arius Lightfeather,” Theia said calmly as her body language changed completely. Her anxiety washed away and the only things remaining were confidence and a cold stare. “I apologize for striking you. But understand, I did it for your own protection.”

  “My own protection?” Arius scoffed. “Is that a threat?”

  “No,” Theia said politely. “I promise that I am not threatening you General Arius Lightfeather. I am aware of your accomplishments and would never seek to insult you.”

  “It’s too late to grovel,” Arius smirked as several of the Seraphim grumbled.

  “I am not groveling General Arius,” Theia said respectfully. “I am trying to protect you. If you were to touch me, my master would not let you walk away with your life. I struck your hand away for your own protection.”

  Several of the Seraphim murmured and a few others became visibly irritated. Jericho watched as a dozen officers pulled out their weapons and moved to surround them.

  “You insolent zero!” Arius yelled. “How dare you! You think I’m afraid of your master?”

  “No,” Theia said while remaining perfectly composed. “That is the problem. If you knew my master you would have never reached out to touch me.”

  “I’m going to cut out your tongue,” Arius smiled. “You insolent zero.”

  “Do it,” a seraph yelled.

  “Cut off her entire head Arius!”

  “Kill the rebel!”

  “Punish her!”

  “You heard them,” Arius gestured at the surrounding soldiers. “You need to be punished.”

  “General Arius,” Theia slowly drew her long golden halberd and her demon skull shield. Arius’ eyes fixed on the shield. If he had any idea where she’d gotten it, he’d be rethinking his decisions. “Please reconsider your current course of action. I prefer not to fight.”

  “Time to learn your place,” Arius said while dashing upward to gain the advantage.

  “Theia,” Jericho held out his arms and gestured at the surrounding soldiers to offer his assistance.

  “I will handle it master,” Theia said confidently. “If you get involved things may get out of hand.”

  “Seems they already are,” Jericho watched as the surrounding soldiers eyed Theia. He wasn’t sure if they were simply making a barrier to prevent her from escaping or if they intended to attack. “All because we left the path.”

  “Die!” Arius dived toward Theia at top speed. He was obviously aiming to kill her even though Theia desperately wanted to avoid hurting him.

  Theia gracefully spun to avoid the tip of Arius’ spear while striking him in the back with the shaft of her halberd. The combination of his own velocity and being struck as he passed caused him to shoot past her. In a single movement, Theia had completely flipped their positions and the general knew it.

  “Insolent zero,” Arius growled. A core component of the Seraphim fighting style was to gain an altitude advantage and initiate a highspeed divebomb maneuver. While it was extremely affective against the Fallen who used a similar strategy, it was completely ineffective against an opponent like Theia.

  The Seraphim and Fallen only trained to fight each other. As a result, all of their combat strategies were based on a paradigm revolving around altitude advantages. The Seraphim would rise high, the Fallen would rise higher, and vice versa. They battled like two rams butting heads on a mountain. But Theia battled like a hunter.

  “Please stop this,” Theia said graciously. “I sincerely apologize for any offense I’ve caused today and my master and I will return to the proper path immediately. Additionally, I will offer up…”

  “Do you think I’m going to accept the offer of some zero that doesn’t know her place,” Arius snapped while flying upward to gain an even larger height advantage than before. “The only offering I’m interested in is your life!”

  “Arius please,” Theia pleaded as the general aimed his spear at her. Jericho and Theia both watched as Arius reinforced his light magic aura on the tip of his spear. He was much higher than his previous attack and several of the surrounding Seraphim laughed as he prepared to dive. “Just accept my apology.”

  “Apologize with your life,” Arius said as he launched his attack.

  Jericho was sure that all of the surrounding Seraphim probably saw it as some amazingly fast attack. Truthfully, it was impressive. With a powerful blast he propelled himself downward while tucking his wings and cleaving the wind in front of him with his aura and spear. It was no wonder he’d killed enough Fallen to become a general with a technique like that.

  Unfortunately, compared to the demon whose skull Theia used as a shield, he was lacking. Theia thinned the light barrier protecting her body and increased the barrier on her shield as well as the one on the butt of her spear. Before, she’d hit him as he passed, this time she was not going to be as merciful.

  “I apologized!” Theia roared as she caught the tip of the spear with her shield and forced it upward throwing the general off balance. It was like watching a person slip on ice as his arms followed his spear upward and his body continued to move forward. He didn’t have time to react as Theia twisted her body and swung the base of her spear directly into Arius’ sternum. “Now accept my apology!”

  “Gah,” Arius coughed up blood as his light barrier shattered and the surrounding soldiers reacted as if they were under attack. They rushed Theia intending to kill her.

  “Don’t get involved!” Theia yelled to Jericho knowing full well he was looking for an excuse.

  “We became involved when you attacked the general,” a soldier growled as Theia deflected his strike with her halberd and bashed him in the face with her shield.

  “I
wasn’t talking to you!” Theia grunted while dodging another strike. She prepared to dash and several soldiers swung above her head hoping to catch her as she launched upward but caught only air as she dove downward instead. “This was supposed to be a nice trip! I wanted to show my master where I grew up! You’re ruining it!”

  Theia landed on a rooftop, twisted her body, and launched herself diagonally like a rocket directly toward one of the soldiers. The soldier smiled as he dodged the tip of her halberd and regretted it. Had he not smiled he might have kept his teeth when Theia’s demon skull shield crashed into his face.

  She used the falling Seraph’s body like a springboard to launch herself up and twirled before diving after her next target. She quickly flipped her halberd so the blade was behind her and performed a modified version of the maneuver Arius had done a moment earlier.

  Arius had tucked his wings and dove like a peregrine falcon. It was probably considered a perfect maneuver by most of the Seraphim but Theia had seen better.

  Theia was one of the only familiars capable of sparring with Jinx thanks to her light barrier. Jinx, the small spectral cat who somehow landed hits so powerful they could crush the heaviest plate armor. And during her time sparring, Theia realized a key component in Jinx’s power. Jinx twisted her body to increase her force.

  Theia was applying that same twist to Arius’ deadly dive. She wrapped her wings around herself as she focused on her target and spun. The force of the first spin propelled her forward. She added a second twist increasing the speed. The final twist game as she crashed against the gold shield of the defending Seraph.

  “Wha…” the soldier’s voice was drowned by the explosive sound of an Orichalcum shield shattering into a thousand pieces. The butt of her halberd was enough to not only crumble the shield but drive the Seraph directly into another knocking them both unconscious as a deafening blast echoed through the stratum.

  “Stop this at once!” a mighty voice roared so loud that the entire strata reverberated. Four six-winged Seraph’s appeared so quickly they even caught Jericho off guard. Theia and the other Seraphim quickly lowered their weapons and bowed in reverence while hovering. “What is the meaning of this?”