Devourer's Legacy: I Regressed With The Primordial Crest
Chapter 93: Inside the Monastery (2)

Chapter 93: Inside the Monastery (2)

Elder Thomas led Renard through a maze of corridors carved directly into the mountain stone. The walls were smooth and uniform, clearly shaped by magic rather than simple tools. Soft light came from crystals embedded in the ceiling every few feet, casting a steady glow that never flickered or dimmed.

"The Outer Hall has three levels," Thomas explained as they walked. His voice echoed slightly in the narrow passage. "Living quarters are on the bottom level where we’re going now. Training rooms and classrooms occupy the middle level. The top level houses instructor quarters and administrative offices."

Renard nodded, filing away each detail. The layout was simple enough to remember, but he suspected there were hidden areas not being mentioned. Places like the Inner Hall that Darius had hinted at.

They passed several branching corridors, each one leading deeper into the mountain. Other students moved through the passages, some alone and others in small groups. Most looked tired and overwhelmed, still recovering from whatever trials had brought them here.

"How many students are in the Outer Hall?" Renard asked.

"Currently forty-three," Thomas replied. "Though that number changes frequently. Some advance to the Inner Hall, others... don’t complete their studies."

The way he said it made Renard think that "not completing studies" might mean something more permanent than simple failure.

They stopped in front of a heavy wooden door marked with the number seventeen. Thomas produced a small iron key from his robes and handed it to Renard.

"This will be your room. You’re responsible for keeping it clean and secure. Lost keys cost five silver pieces to replace, which will be deducted from any stipend you might earn."

The room was exactly what Renard had expected from a place like this - small, practical, and completely without comfort. The space was barely eight feet square, with walls of the same smooth gray stone as the corridors. A narrow bed with a thin mattress sat against one wall, covered by a single rough blanket. A small wooden desk and chair occupied the opposite corner, and a tiny window near the ceiling provided a view of nothing but mountain rock.

A wooden chest at the foot of the bed served as the only storage space. When Renard opened it, he found a spare set of robes, a few basic toiletries, and a wooden bowl and spoon for meals.

"The accommodations are simple but adequate," Thomas said, watching Renard examine his new quarters. "You’ll find that life here requires few possessions and fewer distractions."

Renard sat on the bed, testing the mattress. It was thin and hard, but he’d slept on worse. "What about washing? Food?"

"Meals are served three times daily in the common hall. Breakfast at dawn, lunch at midday, dinner at sunset. Miss a meal and you wait until the next one - no exceptions." Thomas counted off rules on his fingers as he spoke. "There are washing facilities at the end of each corridor. Hot water is available twice per week. Cold water is always available."

The elder moved to the small desk and pulled out a piece of parchment from his robes. "These are the basic rules that govern daily life in the Outer Hall. You’ll memorize them completely before tomorrow morning."

Renard took the parchment and scanned the writing. The rules were written in neat, precise handwriting that covered both sides of the paper.

"Rule one," Thomas began reciting from memory. "Students will maintain their assigned quarters in clean and orderly condition at all times. Inspections occur without warning."

"Rule two: Students will attend all assigned classes and training sessions. Absence without permission from an instructor results in punishment duties."

"Rule three: Fighting between students is strictly forbidden except during supervised training. Violators face immediate punishments."

The list continued for nearly twenty more rules covering everything from noise levels after sunset to restrictions on personal belongings. Renard listened carefully while reading along, noting which rules might be useful and which ones he’d need to work around.

"Rule fifteen is particularly important," Thomas said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Students are forbidden from entering instructor quarters, administrative areas, or any location marked with warning symbols. Violation of this rule can result in severe punishment."

’Or worse,’ Renard thought. He was starting to understand that the Silent Monastery dealt harshly with those who broke their rules.

"What about the Inner Hall?" Renard asked. "Are we allowed to go there?"

"Outer Hall students have no business in the Inner Hall," Thomas replied firmly. "That area is reserved for advanced students who have proven themselves worthy of deeper studies. You’ll learn about advancement opportunities once you’ve mastered the basics."

Renard nodded as if he understood, but mentally he was already planning how to get into those restricted areas. Finding Hobbren’s daughter would require access to places where ordinary students weren’t allowed.

"Training begins tomorrow morning after breakfast," Thomas continued. "You’ll start with basic theory classes to learn fundamental concepts. Physical training comes later, once you’ve demonstrated understanding of the principles."

"What kind of physical training?"

"Combat magic, defensive techniques, essence manipulation exercises. The exact curriculum depends on your aptitude and progress." Thomas moved toward the door. "For now, focus on learning the rules and getting proper rest. Tomorrow will be challenging."

After Thomas left, Renard spent several minutes examining his room more carefully. The stone walls were solid with no obvious hiding places or secret passages. The window was too small for a person to climb through, and it was positioned too high to offer any useful view of the surrounding area.

He tested the bed frame and found it sturdy but simple. The desk had no drawers or compartments where he could hide anything important. The wooden chest locked with the same key that opened his door.

’Good enough for now,’ he decided. The room would serve its purpose as a base of operations, though he’d need to find secure places to hide anything sensitive.

Renard pulled out the rules parchment again and began reading through them more carefully. Some were obvious - keep quiet at night, don’t steal from other students, attend classes on time. Others were more interesting.

Rule twelve stated that students were required to report any suspicious behavior to instructors immediately. That could be a problem if his nighttime activities were noticed.

Rule eighteen prohibited students from leaving the Outer Hall without permission and escort. That would make external communication with Kasim or others difficult.

As the evening wore on, Renard heard other students moving through the corridors outside his room. Voices drifted through the door - some excited about their new situation, others worried about what they’d gotten themselves into. A few sounded homesick, talking about families and friends they’d left behind.

One conversation caught his attention when he heard a familiar name.

"Did you see what happened to that boy Ian on the stairs?" a girl’s voice asked. "His whole face was covered in blood."

"He was hitting his head against the stones," another voice replied. "Over and over again. It was horrible to watch."

"Why would someone do that to themselves?"

"Maybe the magic pressure made him go crazy. I heard it can do that to people who aren’t strong enough."

Renard frowned. Ian’s method had been brutal but effective. The boy had found a way to overcome the magical assault through sheer willpower and self-inflicted pain. It showed a level of determination that could be either very useful or very dangerous.

The voices faded as the students moved away down the corridor. Renard returned his attention to memorizing the rules.

When he felt confident about the rules, Renard lay down on the narrow bed and stared at the ceiling. Inside his shirt, Boa shifted position slightly but remained hidden. The serpent had been perfectly still during the entire tour, understanding somehow that this wasn’t the time to reveal herself.

"What do you think?" he whispered softly.

Boa poked her head out just enough to look around the room, her golden eyes taking in every detail. After a moment, she flicked her tongue out and made a soft hissing sound that Renard interpreted as approval.

"Good. Tomorrow we start the real work."

But first, he wanted to check his current status. It had been weeks since he’d taken a careful look at his abilities, and understanding his exact capabilities would be crucial for planning his next moves.

Renard focused inward, calling up his Providence information.

[Providence State]

[Name: Renard Grim]

[Age: 14]

[Gender: Male]

[Zone: Essence Zone]

[Title: Devourer’s Heir]

[Blood Crest: Eternal Hunger (Primordial - Partially Awakened) | Wild Heart (Royal)]

[Crest Abilities: Devour (F) | Prajna (F) | Pact of the Wild (F) | Guardian Beast Sigil (F)] [Contracted Beasts: Boa (Keth’mor)]

[Stolen Abilities (0/2):]

[Devoured Abilities (2/2): Beast Mimicry (F) | Night Vision (F)]

[Sealed Abilities: Devourer’s Rage (F)]

His providence state looked the same as before, but Renard noticed that his essence vessel felt fuller than it had been. The constant training during his month at the orphanage, combined with the magical pressure from climbing the stairs, had helped him accumulate more concentrated essence.

He still wasn’t ready to advance to the Master Zone - his oversized vessel needed much more essence to fill completely. But he was making steady progress.

He still had two empty slots for stolen abilities, and the Silent Monastery would be full of people with interesting powers to take. The trick would be using Devour without anyone realizing what had happened.

His Night Vision and Beast Mimicry abilities had proven usefu. They’d be even more valuable here, where stealth would be essential for gathering information.

Renard closed his status screen and settled back against the thin pillow. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and new opportunities. He’d start learning about magic, begin mapping the monastery’s layout, and hopefully find clues about where Hobbren’s daughter was being held.

But tonight, he needed rest.

Renard pulled the rough blanket over himself and closed his eyes. Inside his shirt, Boa coiled into a comfortable position against his ribs, her steady breathing matching his own as they both prepared for sleep.

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