The "Demon Territory". Inhabited by "Demonic Creatures", those born or descendants of those born from the "Underworld". The Underworld is a sister world, known as a realm here, to the one we currently inhabit. If this realm is known as "Theatera", officially called the "Surface Realm", then the Underworld is its hellish counterpart. Ancient Demons, Oni, and Ogres, and many more, hail from the Underworld, now making Theatera their new home. According to the Elven Palace's library, the Underworld suffers from a lack of resources and habitable space. Many Demonic Creatures war over territory, and some clans and families have decided to seek refuge in Theatera for a better life. However, their naturally aggressive natures have made it so they butt heads with the Humans who rule the continent.
" Here you go, Lord Draesil! These are all the last books on the Underworld we have available! "
* DROP *
" Thank you, Flora. You're very helpful. Please get me some tea now. "
I leaned back in my chair, sitting squarely in the center of the library as the sole person within it. I had ordered every single Elf to vacate the room as I needed it all to myself to investigate with no prying eyes. The more I read about these Demonic Creatures, the more I realized that there was something violently wrong with what had happened to me. That is to say, what Advisor Duke had given to Draesil.
Vitality. It was that very thing that tipped me off to the severity of Duke's crimes. Vitality is an energy only accessible by Demonic Creatures. It serves as a form of soul power that turns their emotions and feelings into usable energy. Through anger, they can experience strength boosts, that sort of thing. It was at first ridiculous to think that Duke could have gotten his hands on something like that; however, Flora made it very clear that Vitality was indeed within my Arcane Core.
Multiple reactions can happen from Aura, Mana, and Vitality entering bodies they shouldn't be in. Aura can cause an explosion within one's body, causing organ failure and even muscle destruction. Mana can cripple one's nervous system, leaving them devoid of sensation and even control of their limbs. However, Vitality is special. For Humans, it acts as a direct combative poison to their Aura, risking death; however, it can also bring about a more violent strength in their Aura usage.
But for those with Arcane Cores...it's totally different. When Vitality interacts with an Arcane Core, the purest form of Mana in a person, it corrupts it and causes decay. It mimics the same conditions an Arcane Creature experiences when they die—total annihilation. Vitality is a form of soul power, yes; however, it also flows within the very blood of Demonic Creatures.
To have poisoned Draesil with Vitality is to have had him drink a Demon's blood. This means that Advisor Duke had to have broken one of the biggest rules of the Human Territory. No interacting with Demonic Creatures. If I could get him busted for this, I could very well have him executed without needing to take action myself. It would be a great political play to have such a man cast down. And if I'm smart about it, I could lord it over my father's head and take even more control.
The question now is: Did Advisor Duke kill and drain a Demon for the blood, or did he gain it through a trade? If he killed for it, that's heinous, but he may have ways of squirreling away from punishment. However, if he got it through a trade, I could accuse him of treason, and with proof, Father would have no choice but to execute him immediately. A smirk came to my face as I set down another book.
" Your tea, my Lord. "
Flora came back just in the nick of time, right as I needed to ask her a question. I let her set the tea on the table I had been at before crossing one leg over the other and looking at her as she stood in front of me, attentive as usual.
" Flora, how confident are you in your infiltration skills? "
She seemed to think for a moment before smiling and responding.
" Well, I have been sneaking food for you ever since you started recovering! I'm pretty capable! "
" Good. I need you to sneak into Advisor Duke's quarters and find any evidence. "
Flora seemed taken aback and stunned; however, she quickly regained her composure and looked down.
" Evidence of what, my Lord? "
" It's become increasingly clear to me that Advisor Duke made a connection with the Demon Territory for the Vitality to poison me. Now, whether he obtained it through vile means or a deal, I'm not sure. "
" And so you want me to find evidence that could prove it? "
" Exactly. "
For a moment, I had to pause. The risks that Flora would have to take would be immense; however, some part of me knew she could do better than I could. And if we worked together, I would have a better chance at holding back Advisor Duke than she would. In the event anything were to go wrong, Flora could be prosecuted for invading his private quarters. However, in the best of cases, we'll get definitive proof of his involvement with the Demon Territory or, at the very least, a lead.
" I'll do it, my Lord. I know I can do it. Give me just thirty minutes—less if you will. "
" I can stall him for as long as possible, I'm sure. I only need you to do your best, alright? "
Flora quickly bowed and went to start collecting the books to sort them away for me. Without even asking, she was already on it. She was a loyal and very insightful servant, and one I cherish now. So, even if she's caught by Duke, I will protect her. Even if it means I have to destroy him with my own hands.
. . .
Walking around the halls, I searched. And then, easily, I found him. He was busy chatting with a woman, someone clad in the most gaudy attire I had ever seen. The Elf woman had a snobby look to her, a long nose with darker skin. Her eyes were yellow to gold, and her hair had been black, though a bit of silver here and there. Was she old, or was that simply the hair color she sported? It made me stop for a moment and think, just how old was I? How old had Draesil been when he died?
And just how long did Elves live here?
" Ah, speak of the devil. "
She turned to my direction, speaking with a voice laced with a serpant's nature. I could tell immediately she was the sort I didn't want to get involved with. She bowed to me before turning back to Duke.
" It seems he's not here for me. I'll leave you both to it. "
And with that, she began walking away. Advisor Duke held up his hand to reach for her, as if not wanting her to leave. However, she was far too fast and proactive in getting away. It was clear to me she was fleeing due to my presence, however, that worked perfectly for me. It meant I would be able to hold him here longer. I took note of both his disheveled appearance as well as his darting eyes. Was he looking for something?
" If you're trying to find some way to avoid me, you can forget about it. I've got business with you. "
" B-business? With me? What could you possibly want with me, my prince? "
" Oh you know what I want, Duke. I want answers. "
" Answers? "
His feigning of ignorance was beginning to give me a headache. It felt like he was going to continue to try and avoid what we both knew he did consistently. Did he not want to admit to it out of shame or did he not want to because he was being watched? If it's just the two of us and he was already bold enough to attempt to poison me, was it not on his own terms or is he simply too much of a coward now to admit to it in my face?
* GRIP *
My hand came down onto his shoulder, tightening around it and digging into his flesh and bones. After having trained my body to a point where I could operate normally, I noticed I was stronger than the average person, at least at a baseline. Thanks to the poison he gave to me, I'm capable of using strength alone to pressure him. My fingers sunk into the slight gaps in his bones and nearly gripped onto them completely, administering penetrating pain.
" I'm getting tired of you avoiding it. We both know exactly what you did and soon, the King will too. "
" W-wait...No, you can't do that... "
Something about him was definitely off. Before when we talked at the event, although he was surprised, he was far more held together. But now, he was like a stammering fool, trying his best to cling onto whatever little he had left. It would've been funny to someone if it wasn't absolutely pathetic. For me, it served to fuel a special place of anger and rage I held toward this man for the suffering he put me through.
" Why's that, Duke? What's got you so worried? "
Imprisonment, banishment, execution, there were plenty of ways for him to be punished for the crime of an assassination attempt on the Prince. Easily he could have given me something simple as to a reason why, however, he was much more frantic about it and not quick enough to answer. It was like he was holding it back, the true reason he was so panicked.
" My family—they'll be killed... "
Advisor Duke didn't have much of a family. After being abandoned by his father—he only had his mother. I had Flora look into him a bit ago, hoping to find something I could use against him to make him feel the anguish of having wronged someone he should've never crossed. However, I hadn't found anything of worthy note.
" Who will? Who will kill them? "
I pressured Duke more, tightening my grip around his shoulder as he made a slight yelping sound and buckled, lowering himself down more. His blonde hair dropped in front of his face, covering up parts of his grimace. He calmed down after I made him buckle, probably feeling totally powerless now. Considering the circumstances, I found it quite infuriating that he was getting all quiet now. However, soon that would be alleviated as he would begin speaking once more.
" I was hired by a gang of Human thugs. They said their employer wanted me to p-poison you...and make it look like that Human that came to visit the King did it. "
" Juri? "
" Y-Yes...that one. They said if I was caught by the King they'd harm my family...I had no choice... "
So not only was I the target of this assassination but Juri was meant to take the fall? That made me even angrier. At first I was simply enraged because I had to suffer the pain of learning how to use the body I was placed in with great difficulty. But now I had been angrier due to a good friend of mine being targeted.
" Listen. Tell me the name of the gang that hired you and do something for me...and I won't report this to the King, alright? "
" Y-Yes! Anything you say—I'll do it! "
" Alright, good. Follow me. "
I let go of Advisor Duke and pushed him back away from me, walking past him and toward a nearby room. It was sure to be empty—I heard no one inside. I dragged Duke into the room and knocked him down onto the ground before shutting the door behind me. The room had to have been something for storage, many boxes and crates were unopened.
" Talk. "
" O-Okay! The gang's name is 'Purple Orchids'...They're run by an Elf noble but they use Humans to do their work! T-They wanted that 'Prismatic Scheme' Human to be taken down for killing you...It would've been good politically for them! "
Right, a Human of great importance assassinates a Prince of another Kingdom, reads like a brewing race war.
" Fine. I'll believe you, for now. But if you want me to not report youi to the King, I'm going to need you to do me a favor. "
" Alright! I'll do it, whatever it is! Say the word, my Prince! "
" Find me a Wyvern. Alive—secretly. "
Advisor Duke looked completely stunned and understandably so. Wyverns were relative to Dragons—nearly mythical in nature. Though, funnily enough, I knew a certain faction of Humans had Wyverns available to them for recreational use.
" Y-You couldn't mean...You want me to procure a Wyvern from— "
" Yes, precisely. Use whatever means you can to get a Wyvern from the 'Dragon Clan'. Otherwise, my Father will have your head on a block. And your family...is dead. "
CHAPTER 38 END