"Repeat what you said."
Gemma swallowed his saliva and spoke again: "The pathfinders have confirmed that the Fallen Tyrant and his underlings have exited the Colosseum, and they are heading toward us."
Gunlaug struck the table and asked in anger, "How did this happen?! I'm sure I ordered no one to get near that place at all costs!"
Gemma didn't know how to respond. He and the others knew that the reason wasn't because of other nightmare creatures. It wasn't like no nightmare creatures go near the Colosseum or even enter it; no, actually it happens a lot. That is why they knew that there was human intervention.
"Even though we don't know why they left, we do have a suspect in mind."
"Who?" Gunlaug asked.
"Marcus."
"What did the old senile do this time?"
Gemma shook his head.
"We don't know. Marcus disappeared. I tried searching for him everywhere, but I couldn't find him."
"Have you asked Faraam?"
Tessai looked at Seishan and nodded his head.
"The first thing I did, but he said he hadn't met him in a month."
Suddenly the door to the room opened, and as he heard someone saying his name, Faraam entered.
He bowed to Gunlaug and the five lieutenants and spoke, "I've found Marcus."
"Where?" Gunlaug asked.
Faraam hesitated a little but spoke nonetheless.
"Dead. Killed by the Fallen Tyrant most likely."
The room fell silent for a moment until Kido spoke, "I'm sorry for your loss... Marcus was a great man."
"Thank you, Ms. Kido. But let's leave the condolences for later; I've an important discovery I need to tell."
Kido nodded her head.
Faraam looked at the five sitting around the table and at Harus standing behind Gunlung.
"I believe that the reason Marcus entered the Colosseum was because someone was trying to kill him. Marcus was escaping from someone. I've found a blood trail leading toward the Colosseum."
"Maybe he was running from a nightmare creature," Tessai said.
Faraam opened his mouth to speak, but someone beat him to it.
"No."
Every eye turned toward the Lord of the Bright Castle.
"I know Marcus very well. He is a coward; he wouldn't even be near a nightmare creature, let alone battle one of them."
Gunlaug sighed and gestured his hand for Faraam to leave.
"You've done a great job."
Faraam bowed and left the room.
"Gemma, gather all the pathfinders and hunters and let them lure the nightmare creatures to the horde so they can kill one another. Tessai, order the castle guardians to prepare for a large battle, and bring those from outside the castle to the battle. Tell them if they survive, they will live six months for free inside the castle."
Gunlaug stopped for a second and turned toward Kido.
"Is that thing ready?"
"Yes... but are you sure you want to use it right now, Lord Gunlaug?"
Gunlaug nodded his head.
Finally he turned toward Seishan and spoke, "You will take care of the castle in my absence. Is that understood?"
"Yes, my lord." Seishan responded.
"Good, now leave, all of you."
They all bowed and left, leaving only Gunlaug and Harus alone.
"Search for the one behind all of this."
Harus bowed and left the room, leaving Gunlaug alone...
***
Days passed, and with each day the horde of nightmare creatures grew closer to the Bright Castle.
The pathfinders and hunters tried everything they could to slow the horde, but to no avail.
The horde were both strong and fast; they destroyed everything in their path, leaving only ruins behind.
Thankfully the strategy to lure other nightmare creatures toward them did buy them a small amount of time.
Faraam sat beside the window in his room, gazing at the Crimson Spire. Somewhere beneath, hidden behind ruins, are the abominations.
Everything was going as planned, for now at least.
Honestly, this whole plan was a gamble. Who knows? He might die tomorrow.
Faraam could have taken it slowly and risen in ranks... but he couldn't.
It was again because of Caela.
He was running out of time, if he has one.
'Six months had passed since I killed Caela; they must've surely found her body by now.'
Actually, Faraam was sure that they found her body the next day after he was summoned to the Dream Realm.
He was sure that there was an aspect, or a memory, or even an echo that could find someone.
So yeah, Faraam was sure that the great clan Valor would find Caela's body quickly.
The real problem was if they found that he killed her.
When he planned on devouring Caela's memory, Faraam made this plan on him being summoned in a region conquered by humanity like Bastion or Ravenheart.
But no! Fate decided to fuck him up and summon him to that godforsaken land.
"There are two possibilities for now; they either found out or they didn't. If they didn't, they will soon if I don't return fast. If they did... then either I'm already dead or they are waiting for me to return so they can 'interrogate' me."
The consequences of killing Caela were eating at him
Faraam sighed and summoned the spell.
Name: Faraam
True Name: —
Rank: Dreamer.
Soul Core: Dormant.
Soul Essence Devoured: [284/1000]
Memories: [Sword of Despair], [Bloodbane].
Echoes: [Zombie Parasite].
Attributes: [Freewill], [Heaven Curse], [Unbreakable].
The soul essence has risen by eighty; he got it from some newbie hunters and pathfinders he killed in the dark city.
As for [Bloodbane], it's the dagger he bought from the auction house to kill Marcus.
Faraam summoned the runes of his only echo.
Echo: [Zombie Parasite]
Echo Type: Beast.
Echo Core: Dormant.
Echo Attributes: [Mindnest], [Puppet].
The first attribute [Mindnest] lets the zombie parasite create a nest in someone's mind and live there without the need of its summoners to supply it with essence. The second attribute [Puppet] was simple. It made the summoner control anyone who has the zombie parasite in their head.
That was at least how Faraam understood how the attributes worked.
Faraam stood up and walked toward his bed...
Tomorrow will be a long day.
***