Piko - Where every story finds its reader

Gaius stared at him for three eternal heartbeats, and Rex watched the calculation play across his brother's face_ispose of the body and face questions, or let the trash live and maintain the perfect heir's reputation.

"You survived," Gaius said finally, his handsome features twisting with disgust. "Of course you would. Like a cockroach."

Rex kept his head bowed, maintaining the trembling posture of abject terror. Through Caelus's fragmented memories, he understood the social calculus at play. Gaius was seventeen, golden-haired, blessed with the Gryphon Heart bloodline that manifested as Light and Wind affinities. He was Father's pride, Mother's_o, Duchess Elara's_recious firstborn. The future Duke.

And Rex was the stain. The black-haired embarrassment born to a disfavored concubine who'd died bringing her cursed child into the world.

"I'm sorry," Rex whispered again, letting genuine pain color his voice. "I'll do better. I promise I'll"

"Shut up." Gaius grabbed Rex's arm with bruising force, hauling him upright. Fresh agony lanced through broken ribs and Rex gasped, the sound wholly authentic. "You'll come to the infirmary. Aldric will patch you up enough that you don't die and create awkward questions."

Awkward questions. Not concern for his half-brother's life. Just reputation management.

Perfect.

Gaius dragged him through stone corridors lit by flickering torches, past tapestries depicting val-Corvus glory and servants who averted their eyes from the spectacle. Rex catalogued every detail through the haze of pain_he layout, the hierarchies expressed through body language, the way even the lowest scullery maid looked at Caelus with more contempt than pity.

The infirmary occupied a sparse room in the servants' wing. An elderly man with liver-spotted hands and tired eyes looked up from grinding herbs as they entered.

"Aldric." Gaius shoved Rex onto a wooden examination table. "The trash had an accident. Make sure he doesn't die."

"What manner of accident, young master?" Aldric's tone was professionally neutral as he approached, but his eyes catalogued the damage with practiced precision.

"He fell." Gaius smiled, beautiful and cold. "Repeatedly. And if you waste expensive herbs on trash, I'll hear about it."

"As you say, young master."

Gaius departed without another word, leaving Rex alone with the physician. Aldric worked in silence for several minutes, probing ribs with gentle efficiency, checking Rex's skull for fractures, examining the extensive bruising.

"You'll live," the old man said finally. "Though it'll hurt like the Nine Hells for a fortnight. Three broken ribs, internal bruising, minor skull fracture. You're lucky the young master doesn't know his own strength, or you'd be in the burial plot beside your mother."

Rex filed that information away. They buried her, at least. More consideration than some concubines receive.

"Thank you," he managed through gritted teeth as Aldric splinted his ribs with rough efficiency. "I'm sorry for the trouble."

"You're always sorry, boy." Aldric's hands were steady but not unkind as he worked. "Been hearing you apologize since you could talk. Maybe one day you'll figure out sorry doesn't stop the beatings."

Oh, but it does, Rex thought as the physician wrapped bandages around his torso. Just not the way you think.

The room they gave him was barely more than a closet in the servants' wing_ narrow bed, a small table, a single oil lamp. Rex waited until the door closed before allowing himself to relax his apologetic posture. His ribs screamed protest, but the pain was manageable. He'd endured worse interrogations from particularly thorough detectives in his old life.

Focus. Assess. Adapt.

He called up the System interface with a thought, and translucent text materialized in his vision:

[VOID-TAINTED BLOODLINE SYSTEM]
Host: Caelus val-Corvus / Rex
Level: 1
Progression: 15/100

ACTIVE ABILITIES:
[Void's Veil]: Conceals cursed bloodline signature (ACTIVE)

PROGRESSION SOURCES:
Fear: 0
Betrayal: 0
Subjugation: 0
Forbidden Knowledge: 15

The interface expanded at his mental command, flooding him with information that Caelus would never have possessed. The Astorian Empire's true structure_ive Great Houses maintaining power through Church-blessed bloodlines while persecuting anyone touched by older, Primordial magic. The Church of the Luminous Path and its Inquisitors who hunted "heretics" like rabid dogs. The rigid class system that made nobles like Duke Arion val-Corvus untouchable while grinding everyone beneath them into dust.

House val-Corvus. Rex absorbed the family history, feeling Caelus's memories provide context to System knowledge. Duke Arion commanded the Gryphon Heart bloodline_ight and Wind affinities granted by the Church three generations ago. The Duke ruled the eastern duchy from this very estate, maintaining order through noble privilege and casual brutality.

Rex'sCaelus's_other had been a minor merchant's daughter elevated to concubine status. Black hair was considered ill-omened in Astorian culture, a sign of potential Primordial taint. When Caelus manifested no blessed affinity by age five, he'd been quietly shuffled to the servants' wing and forgotten.

Until tonight, when his death would have been convenient.

Rex spent three days in that room, healing and observing. The household operated with military precision_uke Arion held morning court, Duchess Elara managed the estate with iron efficiency, and Gaius trained in the martial yards with other blessed nobles. Rex was beneath their notice, which made gathering intelligence trivially easy.

Servants gossiped. Rex listened through his thin walls as they discussed the Duke's ambitions, Gaius's upcoming tournament, Duchess Elara's vanity. He learned that Duke Arion was negotiating trade agreements with other Great Houses, that political tensions simmered between noble families, that the Church's influence permeated every aspect of life.

Most importantly, he learned the household's daily rhythms_uard rotations, meal times, when various family members were accessible or isolated.

On the fourth day, Rex forced himself from bed despite the agony and sought out Duchess Elara. He found her in the rose garden, directing servants in pruning with imperious gestures. She was beautiful in a sharp, artificial way_olden hair elaborately styled, gown cut to emphasize status, jewelry worth more than most families earned in a year.

"Your Grace." Rex bowed as deeply as his healing ribs allowed, the picture of humble contrition. "May I speak with you?"

Elara turned, surprise flickering across her features before settling into disdain. "Caelus. I'm told you survived your... accident."

"Yes, Your Grace. I'm grateful for the household's care." Rex kept his eyes downcast, his posture submissive. "I wanted to apologize for being a burden and to offer my services for any tasks that might... prove my worth."

The Duchess studied him with calculating eyes. Caelus's memories provided context_he'd orchestrated much of his isolation, seeing his existence as an insult to her son's legitimacy. But she was also pragmatic about appearances.

"How unexpectedly thoughtful." Her smile was cold crystal. "Very well. The servants need assistance in the kitchens. You may make yourself useful there."

"Thank you, Your Grace." Rex bowed again, letting genuine pain make him stumble slightly. "I won't disappoint you."

"See that you don't. Your unfortunate low birth already disappoints sufficiently."

Rex retreated with perfect humility while cataloguing her weaknesses. Vanity. Status obsession. The need to be seen as magnanimous while being fundamentally cruel.

Over the following weeks, Rex became invisible. He worked kitchen duties without complaint, studying economics and trade law in the estate library during permitted hours, and maintained his reformed, apologetic persona with everyone he encountered. The servants stopped seeing him as a threat. The family stopped noticing him at all.

Perfect camouflage.

At night, he explored the System's capabilities. The [Pact of Subservience] ability fascinated him most_ ritual that would bind targets to him, awakening their hidden potential through his Void taint in exchange for absolute loyalty. It required willing consent and his own blood, making it both powerful and risky.

But every tool has its purpose.

From his window, Rex observed the stables below where a thin figure in oversized clothes mucked stalls under the supervision of a brutal man named Kedrik. The figure moved with unconscious grace when alone, binding their chest under loose clothing, avoiding direct eye contact with everyone.

Rex's predator instincts recognized both prey and potential.

On his thirty-eighth night in this world, Rex requested an audience with Duke Arion through proper channels. The steward looked surprised but forwarded the request. Three days later, permission arrived for a brief meeting.

Duke Arion's study overwhelmed with intentional grandeur_ahogany furniture, gryphon imagery everywhere, windows overlooking the training yards. The Duke himself sat behind an imposing desk, examining Rex with the interest one might afford a mildly curious insect.

"You requested this audience." Arion's voice carried aristocratic boredom. "Speak."

Rex bowed deeply. "Father, I've been studying responsibility and household management. I hoped to demonstrate my reformed nature by taking on a personal servant_pecifically, the damaged stable boy no one else wants."

Arion's eyebrow rose fractionally. "That broken thing? Why?"

"To learn stewardship of even the least valuable resources, Father. And to... not burden the household with additional costs for my care." Rex kept his voice humble, self-deprecating. "If I can manage even trash, perhaps one day I might prove less worthless to House val-Corvus."

The Duke studied him for long seconds. Then, with a dismissive wave, he signed a transfer document making the stable boy Caelus's property.

"Consider this your opportunity to prove you're capable of something." Arion's tone made clear his expectations. "Now leave."

Rex accepted the document with trembling gratitude and retreated.

That night, he stood at his window and watched the thin figure in the stables, knowing tomorrow everything would change.

Time to build my first piece, Rex thought as [Void's Veil] pulsed cold around him. Let's see what happens when a monster offers freedom to someone who knows exactly what monsters look like.