Legendary Extraction: Kingdom Builder in a Ruined World
Chapter 47: Learning From Raya.

Chapter 47: Learning From Raya.

Elias spent a little more time in his room before finally heading downstairs. The day before, he had instructed Vael to head out into the Embergrove Forest this morning to hunt—not just to grow stronger, but also to gather some beast corpses for extraction. So it was no surprise that Vael wasn’t standing outside the door when Elias stepped out.

The hallway was quiet.

Just as Elias began descending the stairs, one of the doors on the lower floor creaked open. Raya stepped out.

She was no longer in armor.

Now, she wore a tightly bound quilted tunic. The dark linen, slightly stained with sweat and dirt, clung to her form. It was obvious she had worn it for a long time—probably the only thing she had during her time in the Embergrove Forest.

Elias paused mid-step.

The tunic fit her closely, tracing the shape of her body without holding back. Her figure—slim but full in the right places—stood out, the kind that would make most men turn for another look. A pity such beauty had been possessed by a crazed fellow like Thalor.

Elias shook his head lightly and pushed the thought aside, just as Raya noticed him. She stopped and gave a small bow.

"Lord Elias."

Elias smiled. "Good morning, Raya. How did you sleep?"

She stood straight, her voice calm. "Peacefully. Thanks to Lord Elias’ kind accommodations."

"That’s good to hear," Elias replied with a nod. He waved his hand slightly, and a bundle of clothes appeared, tied neatly in his outstretched hand. He handed it to her.

"You’ll be staying here from now on, so you’ll need proper clothing. This should be enough for now."

Raya accepted the bundle with another bow. "Thank you, Lord Elias."

"There’s no need to thank me," he said, giving her a light smile. "Like I said, you’re one of my people now. I do my best to care for those under me." He paused briefly, then added, "Go wash up. Get dressed and come outside. Breakfast will be ready soon."

Raya gave a nod and turned silently, heading to go clean up.

Elias stepped outside.

In front of the two-storey building, a small group had already gathered. Some stood talking under the early sun, while others stayed in the shade near the building.

Since the territory was still developing—and the first residents were freed slaves without families or close ties—meals were usually cooked and eaten together. It had become a routine.

And it worked.

Of course anyone who preferred eating alone could request food from the storage building and cook for themselves. As long as the requests weren’t unreasonable, the cook assigned to handle the kitchen and storage along with Garrett—would usually approve them. Still, no one had asked for that so far. Everyone seemed to enjoy the shared meals. Even Elias often ate with them. He encouraged it. Sharing meals brought conversations. Conversations built trust. Trust strengthened unity. And that unity helps to reinforce the bond between him and the people, and between the people themselves.

As Elias stepped fully onto the porch, the people outside noticed him.

Those who were seated stood up at once. Bows and greetings came quickly.

"Good morning, Lord Elias."

"How was your night, my lord?"

"Hope you rested well."

Elias smiled and lifted a hand in reply. "Good morning. I hope you all slept well."

A wave of soft answers followed, and the people began to settle again. Elias walked to a wooden stool under the porch’s shade and sat down, leaning back in a relaxed posture.

Not long after, Raya stepped out from the building behind him.

She had washed and changed out of the old tunic. Now, she wore a forest-green dress. Simple, but elegant. The clean linen was soft and well-fitted, wrapping her figure in a far more refined way than the tunic had. The sleeves reached her wrists, tied with thin black cords, and the neckline was embroidered with faint patterns of vines and leaves.

She looked... striking.

Beautiful, yes—but there was something sharp about her. A cold fierceness in her eyes that didn’t welcome attention. It wasn’t the type of beauty that pulled people closer.

It was the kind that warned them to stay away.

Elias noticed the cautious glances being thrown Raya’s way. No one dared speak up, but the tension in the air was hard to miss. He motioned to the seat beside him.

"Sitting with them might not be a good idea just yet," he said calmly.

Raya walked over and sat beside him without a word. She didn’t mind the arrangement—in fact, she preferred it. She wasn’t in the mood to socialize anyway.

Not long after, the cook arrived. Bowls of steaming porridge, slices of roasted meat, and thick pieces of bread were handed out. People talked in low tones as they ate. Although a layer of discomfort still lingered in the group because of Raya’s presence, the food helped ease the tension.

Once breakfast was done and the group began to scatter to their various duties, Elias turned slightly toward Raya.

"There’s something I want from you," he said.

Raya glanced his way. "What would that be?"

"Let’s just say... there’s something in my mind. A presence. Like someone—or something. It can hear my thoughts, sometimes even see my memories. I figured you might know a way to deal with that?"

Raya narrowed her eyes slightly. A flicker of interest passed across her face. "What exactly is this presence?"

But deep within her consciousness, Thalor stirred. Its thoughts churned darkly.

’Is he talking about that thing? The one that enslaved me... That must be it. But what exactly is that? A treasure, maybe? A spirit weapon? A soul artifact?’

Thalor had no idea what the system was. It assumed the strange presence must be some kind of ancient relic guarding Elias’ spirit.

"So... he doesn’t fully control it," Thalor muttered to itself. "Interesting. If I can find a way to cut that link... If I can destroy that thing, I might be able to free myself from this imprint..."

A cold intent slipped through its thoughts.

But it was all wishful thinking. The system wasn’t something that could be destroyed so easily. In fact, it would be far easier for Thalor to break free from the enslavement imprint than to even touch the system. Still, Thalor didn’t know that. So it continued to entertain its fantasy.

Back in the real world, Elias answered simply, "It’s the spirit of the Lord Seal."

Raya’s expression changed subtly. She gave a small nod. "There is a way to handle it. Actually, there are two methods."

Elias’ eyes lit up slightly. "Let’s hear them."

Raya leaned forward a little. Her voice was steady and calm. "The first method is more difficult... and dangerous. It involves splitting your consciousness—your mind—into multiple parts. In simple terms, dividing your mental stream into two or more separate flows."

Elias raised a brow. "Like how the Arcane split their bodies?"

"Yes," Raya confirmed. "We Arcane are made of spiritual essence, so splitting is natural to us. But for humans, it’s different. It’s extremely stressful. Still, with enough mental strength, it’s possible. And you, Lord Elias, possess a strong and wide mind. You could do it."

She paused, then added, "But the real problem isn’t doing it—it’s what happens after."

Elias stayed silent, listening closely.

"Humans are designed to operate with a single stream of thought," she continued. "Splitting it can boost multitasking, speed up thought processes, and even improve spiritual sensitivity. But it comes at a price. The split parts may start growing apart... becoming independent."

Elias imagined the idea. One part of him noble and kind. The other cold and ruthless. Fighting each other constantly. No balance.

"And if that conflict grows stronger," Raya said softly, "it could lead to collapse. Mental breakdown. Madness. In some rare cases... even death."

Elias let out a slow breath and shook his head. "Too risky."

"It is," she agreed.

It was tempting—the benefits were real. Better awareness, resistance to spiritual interference, and faster thinking. But the danger that came with it was simply too high.

He looked at her again. "And the second option?"