Of course, becoming Orn's official felt like a dream come true for Frank. It was a giant leap from his days as a servant to the crazy Prince Maru. No longer burdened with endless "servant chores" or scrambling to make up for missing equipment, his duties under Orn were far simpler. Though he still had responsibilities, they were manageable, and Orn ensured he had every book he needed for the job. Frank never again worried about whether he had the experience to understand them—he always did.
Yet something gnawed at him. He questioned whether his work truly mattered. Mining minerals in the endless caverns certainly fueled New Darkovian society: the ore would eventually be transformed into cursed energy, the lifeblood of every household and soul being in this strange world.
In essence, it was their currency. Still, even as he enjoyed the rhythm of the work, unease lingered. Each day carried the shadow of uncertainty—would he survive to return tomorrow? Ever since Orn's first test, his health had been slipping away, diminishing every seven days, and soon it would be every six. No cure, no stability, only the creeping dread that his time was running out.
With grim determination, Frank resolved to make one last attempt to change his fate. As he finished loading his daily quota of minerals into the wooden carriage, his thoughts turned to a faster path toward treatment. Mining alone wasn't enough—he feared he would die long before a cure arrived. Reasoning that the real obstacle was the shortage of life energy, he wondered:
*Why not ask Orn for a role that would bring him closer to it, instead of wasting the little time he had left? Orn could still use the minerals Frank mined to purchase life energy for his treatment, but perhaps there was a more direct way.*
So, after completing his shift, Frank went to Orn's office to present the idea. At first, Orn's cheerful demeanor collapsed into a grim expression, and Frank's fragile hope seemed to vanish. He had expected Orn to seize the proposal, but the distress etched across Orn's face left him resigned. Yet Orn's next words rekindled a faint spark:
[I understand your distress, Frank, and I must admit I would miss such a fine worker. But I must say—I've been thinking along those lines myself. And I believe I have an idea that might suit your needs… though it isn't exactly legal.]
At first, Frank felt he would do anything to reclaim his life. But as Orn's words sank in, unease crept over him. He realized he knew nothing of the laws or taboos of soul beings—no idea what counted as crime, punishment, or justice in this world. Were there prisons, cells, torture, solitary confinement? Memories of his own grim experiences behind bars haunted him, and he wasn't sure he could endure that again.
Yet Orn did nothing to ease Frank's trauma. Instead, with chilling indifference, he said:
[Do not get caught, Frank.]
He then laid out the details of the illegal operation, never letting Frank lose sight of the prize—the life energy he so desperately needed. Orn set the bait with a revelation:
[Here it goes. There are five great families in all of New Darkovia. As you may have guessed, I am of House Grim—Grim Orn is my full name. Among the five, we sit lower on the chain of power, for we are known primarily as producers of minerals that are later transformed into cursed energy. But do not mistake us for weak. Our wealth may depend on the number of mines each member controls, yet we remain lords of this land. Cross us, and we have the manpower to hunt you down, backed by an intelligence network that never fails.
Next above us are the Zaleskas. Though they are by far the richest of the five families, their power does not match that of others—even some of ours. They rely on hiring members of stronger houses to do their dirty work. Still, they are always the first to acquire whatever energy can buy. The origins of their vast reserves of cursed energy remain a mystery, but one fact is certain: ninety percent of the buildings in New Darkovia were either constructed by them or overseen under their authority.
Third among the families are the rascals of the group—the Qanan. They answer to no one, caring little for rules or restraint, because they are unmatched in cultivating energy. Unlike the others, they neither mine nor purchase; instead, they draw energy directly from the atmosphere, bending it to their will for countless feats. Yet throughout history, they have been known for one thing above all: chaos. The Qanan are feared as "Heralds of Power."
The fourth family, and the most dominant, are the Ritvegda. They command authority over all, shaping laws and enforcing them when necessary. Unlike the others, their strength is balanced—they possess wealth, power, and loyal subjects. In essence, they rule New Darkovia. Though the Qanan often clash with the Ritvegda, even they know their place, and for now, their chaos remains contained.
Lastly, there is the family no one dares cross—the Strix. Once composed of shinigami and their apprentices, their numbers dwindled as soul beings abandoned that path, wary of the fate awaiting shinigami after death. But sensing the shift of a new age, the Strix adapted. They welcomed soul vampires, liches, and skeletal knights into their ranks. Though shinigami are now few among them, the Strix have become the most ruthless of all. An eerie aura surrounds them, and most families keep their distance—save for the Zaleskas and Ritvegda, who occasionally require their "services."]
Frank had recently begun to notice how soul beings in New Darkovia reasoned. He often wondered why he had been accepted as Orn's official without the usual formalities. The answer seemed clear: Maru, his former master, was a prince of House Ritvegda. Since Ritvegda ranked four tiers above House Grim, it made sense that a servant of the prince would be elevated to a high position in a lesser house. Still, Frank didn't dwell on the politics. What mattered was that he was content with his occupation. Laws and principles of New Darkovia meant nothing to him—he was dying, and only life energy could save him. He would do whatever it took to obtain it.
Recognizing Frank's resolve, Orn braced himself. He prepared to reveal who possessed the life energy, where it could be found, and the procedures Frank would need to follow.