Chapter 138: The Unregarded Sun

"Newton Machiavelli... Newton..."

Rhovan repeated the name a few more times in his head, seemingly testing how it sounded before eventually nodding to himself.

Marek had actually thought about several names before settling on Newton Machiavelli, borrowing the names of two historical figures from Earth. Newton was someone who had changed humanity’s understanding of how the world worked, while Machiavelli was known for his writings about politics, power, and how people maintained their positions.

Marek thought combining the two would be quite fitting, especially now that he intended to learn more about the Prime Continuum and the Twelve Houses. Besides, he had always been interested in understanding how things worked, whether they involved science or something as complicated as human behavior.

As long as the name wasn’t Marek Vale, though, that was enough for him.

After all, the entire reason he thought about changing his name was because too many people already knew the old one.

His name had already appeared in the Exhibition Center’s records, especially after the incidents involving his Ophiuchus Mark. Venielle already knew him, while Sareth had personally encountered him. As for Dr. Mercer, Marek wasn’t even sure how much the man knew about him. If he continued using the same name and appearance in the Prime Continuum, he would basically be inviting anyone interested in him to follow every trail he left behind.

Rhovan, however, was still staring at him.

"What?" Marek finally asked.

"I like the name you chose, Ophiarch."

"Good for you, I guess," Marek replied.

"Newton Machiavelli sounds like someone who would manipulate an entire government from the shadows," Rhovan said, nodding again. "I approve of it very much so, Ophiarch!"

Marek shook his head and was about to leave the rooftop when Rhovan suddenly told him that changing his name wasn’t enough.

At first, Marek didn’t understand what he meant.

Then, Rhovan simply pointed at his face. "You still look like Marek Vale."

Marek stopped walking.

"..."

That was true.

He had been thinking so much about his name and the records attached to it that he somehow ignored the most obvious problem. His face was also part of those records. Anyone who had been inside the Exhibition Center probably saw him at least once, especially after everything that happened there, and it wouldn’t be strange if the government had photographs of him somewhere.

Those three Ophiuchus he had briefly been with, especially, could become a problem if their mouths became loose or if someone powerful came after them and forced them to reveal his whereabouts. He’d be doomed. Moreover, if there were people powerful enough to trace him by searching through their memories, that would be terrible.

Even worse, the Twelve Houses had already begun interacting with Earth. He had no idea how much information would eventually move between both sides.

Marek looked at Rhovan. "Since you asked, you already have something for this, don’t you?"

Rhovan smiled.

That smile was never a good sign.

When the two returned downstairs, Dario and the others were already preparing the remaining things they intended to bring. They weren’t carrying too much because, according to Rhovan, bringing unnecessary Earth belongings into the Prime Continuum would probably just become another problem later.

Marek also left most of his documents behind.

His identification cards, university records, and anything else that carried the name Marek Vale would remain on Earth for now. He wasn’t destroying any of them since he wasn’t planning to erase his existence entirely. Marek Vale was still him, and perhaps one day, when there was no longer any reason to hide the name, he’d use it again.

For now, however, he needed Newton Machiavelli more.

Rhovan gathered everyone inside one of the wider rooms in the institute and then took something out of his belongings. He raised it in front of everyone with so much pride that Marek already knew Rhovan had probably made it himself.

"This," Rhovan announced, "is one of the greatest creations I have ever personally made."

It was a golden ring and was considerably larger than an ordinary one, with a thick band covered in intricate engravings that curled around both sides.

The metal used for it looked rather old, with fine scratches and darker patches scattered across its surface, although Marek doubted something Rhovan personally owned would be made of ordinary gold. Moreover, its most noticeable feature was the large circular face, where several pointed golden lines extended outward from a perfectly black center, resembling the rays of a sun. Strangely, the center did not reflect any light.

Kellan sighed loudly. "Can’t you just tell us what it does?"

"You truly have no appreciation for greatness. Tch!" Rhovan disdained. "It’s better if you go to a corner and watch po—"

"I appreciate things that don’t take ten minutes to explain!" Kellan replied folding his arms, but there was a hint of red on his cheeks.

Rhovan glared at him for a moment before eventually turning his attention back to the object he was holding. "The Unregarded Sun. I named this The Unregarded Sun."

Dario tilted his head. "That sounds a bit strange, but sounds—"

"Paradoxical," Marek cut him off. "Unregarded? Sun? Before you explain to us why you named it like that, just tell us what it does first. Well, first impression on its appearance, it really lived up to its name."

Rhovan looked disappointed at first, but hearing the last sentence felt like heaven to him.

Noticing the change in his expression, Marek immediately said, "That’s not a praise. I’m just stating my observations, idiot."

Rhovan, however, just nodded enthusiastically.

’Did you even hear what I said?’ Marek internally sighed.

Eventually, Rhovan explained it to them.

What he introduced was a Wrought.

He explained that Wroughts were physical objects that possessed their own Astral functions. Some of them were deliberately created, while others formed naturally under certain conditions. Apparently, the Unregarded Sun was a Special Wrought he had created long ago because being recognized wherever he went had become troublesome.

Marek found that reason somewhat questionable, finding Rhovan to be the kind of person who would willingly stand on top of a structure just so everyone could look at him. Revere him. Or even worship him.

Wroughts also had different classifications, as Rhovan explained. Civic Wroughts were commonly used in everyday life, including transportation, construction, and other things that didn’t necessarily involve fighting.

Special Wroughts, on the other hand, were designed to perform particular functions, while Power Wroughts could strengthen or amplify an Astrant’s abilities. Only the latter were assigned Weights, ranging from First to Fourth, depending on how much Astral power they could safely handle.

Marek immediately thought about the Stillglass Seals Celeste had given him back at the Exhibition Center. "Those Stillglass Seals were Wroughts too?"

"Of course! They’re Made Special Wroughts," Rhovan answered. "They temporarily stabilize an unsettled Astral Mark by restricting what it can do. They don’t actually make you stronger, which is why they don’t have a Weight."

Marek finally understood why something as small as those seals had been so useful to him back then. Apparently, not every valuable object in the Prime Continuum needed to possess tremendous power. Some were valuable simply because they could perform one particular function extremely well.

Thinking about the Stillglass Seals reminded him of another thing he still hadn’t figured out. ’Where the hell did Celeste get those things anyway?’

Still, the Special Wrought that Rhovan created was useful.

According to Rhovan, it could accommodate up to ten people at the same time no matter where they were within the Prime Continuum. Each person could have a different outward appearance, and the changes could include things like facial features, hair color, hairstyle, eye color, complexion, voice, and some small differences in how their body appeared.

It wasn’t actual shapeshifting. Their bodies underneath remained the same. Their Marks wouldn’t change either, and neither would their Authority, wounds, or anything actually part of them.

"It changes what people recognize," Rhovan explained as he moved the Wrought between his fingers. "If someone who knew Marek Vale saw Ophiarch again after this, they might think he looks somewhat familiar, but their first thought would not be that he is Marek Vale."

Marek became more interested after hearing that. "So it affects their minds?"

"Not exactly."

Marek raised a brow. "What do you mean not exactly?"

"It interferes with recognition. There’s a difference."

Marek frowned. "That still sounds like affecting their minds regardless."

Rhovan thought about it for a few seconds. "Slightly."

"..."

Marek decided not to argue.

The effect wasn’t permanent anyway. Rhovan, however, warned him that someone who already knew about the disguise wouldn’t suddenly forget the truth, and someone who investigated hard enough could still connect one identity to another. Specialized verification could also become a problem.

For Marek, that was fine.

He wasn’t expecting the disguise to protect him forever. He only needed enough time to enter the Prime Continuum without every person who knew Marek Vale immediately pointing at Newton Machiavelli and saying they were the same person.

Rhovan also pointed out that changing their appearances would be considerably less useful if they continued introducing themselves with the exact same names they had used on Earth.

Marek had already solved that problem with Newton Machiavelli, but the others had not.

They decided to keep their first names and change only their surnames. It was simpler that way, and unlike Marek, none of them had a particular reason to construct an entirely new identity.

Kellan Mora became Kellan <anno data-annotation-id="a4f502ce-18a6-b992-bda0-b94537b7417d" data-title="Luneta">Luneta¹</anno>. Nadia Corin became Nadia <anno data-annotation-id="72c6cf5b-77e5-3b60-e817-797fb7625b92" data-title="Saludo">Saludo²</anno>. Silas Neri became Silas <anno data-annotation-id="02f32c5b-9b6f-35e8-da33-00e35a65b27b" data-title="Valerey">Valerey³</anno>, while Dario Lolet became Dario Topaz. Meanwhile, Rafe Calder became Rafe <anno data-annotation-id="e6d51216-d344-4a84-5e44-7d4f9b36e561" data-title="Turbo ">Turbo ⁴</anno>and Eren Valdo became Eren Wiltz.

Rhovan, especially, refused to change his first name.

"You realize your name might be as recognizable as your face, right?" Marek asked.

Rhovan looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious. "I have changed bodies enough times already, Ophiarch. I am keeping my name."

The way he said that... it was as though he was deeply offended.

Marek stared at him for a moment before deciding to go along with the guy’s wishes.

Rhovan Torsk then decided that he would go back to the Prime Continuum as <anno data-annotation-id="924c2e6b-8cb9-40f7-588e-168d0e60a3f8" data-title="Rhovan Ezore">Rhovan Ezore¹</anno>.

Dario was the first to try it.