168. Pawns and lord

Kai, Francis, and Killian walked up the winding staircase to the meeting room on the upper floor. All the while, they were silent—the air hummed with tension that needed no words to express, and each of them wore a hardened expression. Amara stood at the base of the stairs, her eyes tracking their ascent. She made no move to join them, her hands clasped loosely before her. Kai knew that this was not her battle and she seemed to understand that too. The weight of the matters they were about to discuss would only drag her into unfamiliar waters where she’d be a hindrance rather than help. When he looked back, she let out a small, resigned sigh, and turned away, granting them the space they needed. With that, he moved upstairs. Soon, they reached the meeting room. The room was anything but commanding, with its tall windows and a long, dark wooden table at its center. However, none of the men moved to take a seat. Kai, standing near the head of the table, gestured briefly with his hand. “Let’s begin. Francis, the report.” Francis nodded immediately. He wasted no time on pleasantries or discussions of mundane progress in the territory. S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “It started five days after you left, my lord,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “A day after Amyra woke up.” Kai’s brows shot up, his focus shifting immediately. “Amyra woke up?” “Yes.” Killian’s deep voice rumbled from where he stood to Kai’s left. “She’s recovering well and is being cared for. There’s no need to worry about her right now.” Kai exhaled slowly, a flicker of relief crossing his face. He gave a small nod, letting the news settle before he waved for Francis to continue. “Baron Idrin made his move,” Francis resumed. “He intimidated one of the villages near Verdis. I intercepted before things could spiral out of control and arranged for a discussion. But…” Francis shook his head. “It went nowhere. Idrin kept prodding, antagonizing, trying to provoke me. At the time, I thought he was stalling or setting up some scheme.” His voice dropped slightly. “I didn’t expect the truth. He was working with Duke Lucian all along.” Kai’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “Lucian… I knew he would do something, but I never imagined he’d go as far as to sacrifice an entire village.” The weight of those words hung heavily in the room. Kai closed his eyes for a moment, his fingers brushing the corner of the table to ground himself. “Lucian is playing the reputation game,” he said slowly after thinking it through. “He lost his chance to rise after the beast wave. I took that glory, and now he’s turning to dirtier tactics to claw it back. Aligning with Idrin, killing innocents, and framing me… it’s all calculated.” “The men are ready,” Killian said. “Every day, I’ve drilled them in formations and strengthened their weapon skills. They’re prepared to fight, my lord. Whenever you give the command, they’ll march.” Kai gave a slight nod but didn’t immediately reply. His gaze shifted between his retainers, his mind turning over the possibilities. “We’ll march soon. But before we act, we need to know exactly what we’re up against. Lucian’s forces, his allies, his resources—everything. This isn’t just about us. The Sylvan Enclave won’t escape the ripples of war. No noble will be able to stay neutral in this conflict.” “Baron Idrin has already pledged his allegiance to Lucian. That much is clear,” Francis said with a short sigh. “I’ve sent a courier to five other nobles in the Sylvan Enclave, hoping to secure their aid, but… For all we know, they’ve already sworn fealty to him too. House Kellius has ruled these lands for generations and your reputation is shaky right now, my lord.” “It’s fine,” Kai replied. “With the Enforcers and the Mages we’ve gathered, I think we’ll manage. None of the nobles in the Sylvan Enclave have mana cannons or golems. That alone gives us an edge.” Despite his confidence, Kai couldn’t deny the value of having more allies. His gaze drifted to the table, fingers tapping lightly. He straightened, the flicker of doubt vanishing as quickly as it came. . Still, Francis’s report tugged at him. The creatures. Strange. Inhuman. His jaw tightened as he turned to his retainers. “You mentioned the ones who killed the villagers. You said they were strange, inhuman creatures?” Francis nodded, his brow furrowing. “That’s the rumour,” he admitted. “I’ve tried to gather more information, but there’s no clarity. Whatever Lucian’s using, he’s kept it well-hidden. I couldn’t get a single reliable witness to describe them clearly.” Kai frowned upon hearing that. Lucian's alliance with Maleficia wasn't just a theory. He knew that for sure. But were these creatures always with him? Or did Regina send them for his aid? The queen’s interference couldn’t be ruled out. Either way, the source didn’t matter as much as the nature of the threat itself. “What about their form?” Kai asked, “Were they humanoid?” Francis frowned, thinking. “Yes, that’s what the rumors say. Humanoid, but…” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “Demonic.” Kai's gaze sharpened, thinking through every dead mana race he could think of and finally, he let out a slow breath, singling out one of them that matched the description he had heard about. “Blood drinkers… Or blood suckers, if you prefer the term.” Killian shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing. “I’ve never fought one.” Kai’s lips pressed into a thin line. “They’re humanoid, yes. They can fly, which makes them especially lethal. And like Mages, they have their own hierarchy. Pawns, knights, lords, elders, and progenitors. Think of them like the pieces of a battle board game. But far more dangerous. They possess blood manipulation abilities and instincts honed for combat. A perfect blend of cunning and savagery.” Francis grimaced. “They sound hard to deal with.” “It depends on their rank,” Kai replied. “If it’s a group, it’s likely pawns or knights. But if Regina is involved… Then she won’t send weaklings. If I were her, I’d send someone competent. Strong. There’s a good chance we’re dealing with a lord.” “A lord?” “They’re equivalent to a fourth-circle Mage and a third-stage Enforcer. Not an easy opponent by any means. If Lucian has their aid… He can’t risk using them openly, not after framing me as being in cahoots with them. It would undo his entire scheme. But that means we need to watch for sneak attacks.” Killian’s expression hardened as he nodded. “Understood,” he said. “So, what will be our next course of action?” Kai let his mind wander, collecting his thoughts about the current situation. “First, we send a report to the capital. It needs to detail everything—what’s happened, what we’ve discovered—and make it abundantly clear that we are not responsible for any of this. This is Lucian’s scheme.” He paused, his fingers now tracing the paths on the map. “I’m certain he’s already sent his own version of events, claiming righteousness as his justification for war. He’ll dress it up with hypocritical platitudes, painting himself as the unwilling victim forced into action. That’s why we need to move quickly. If we’re too slow, his lies will take root.” Francis frowned, his brows knitting together in thought. “And if the crown hesitates to act?” he asked. “Then we’ll handle this on our own,” Kai replied firmly. “The moment the capital locks the borders for a fief war, our territory will be sealed off from aid. We have to be prepared for that inevitability.” Killian leaned forward, his arms braced on the table. “And the offensive? Duke Lucian thinks we’ll be caught off-guard—left reeling while he strikes. But we can’t let him dictate the pace.” Kai’s lips curled into a cold, predatory smile. “Exactly. Lucian believes he’s the hunter, but we need to remind him of one thing, we are the predators here.” *** Regina lounged on the massive custom-made chair in her private study, one hand plucking plump grapes from a gilded platter as the other traced absent patterns across the sprawling map before her. The map, detailed to an almost obsessive degree, captured every road, village, and noble house of the Sylvan Enclave. Her crimson-painted nails hovered briefly over the two houses poised for war, her lips curving into a slow, thoughtful smile. She looked up at her servant, Selwin, who entered the room. “Report,” she commanded, her tone soft but laced with the promise of consequences if the answer displeased her. Selwin bowed deeply, stepping forward without hesitation. “The rumors are spreading faster than we anticipated, my lady. There’s a growing intrigue around Arzan Kellius after the beast wave. His innovations—those mana cannons and Heat stones—have captured attention far beyond his borders. Even in the capital, his reputation has risen sharply after defeating Reyk in the duel. But…” He hesitated, as if savoring the next part, then continued. “Now the narrative is shifting. Whispers are taking root, claiming his meteoric rise is due to dark powers. It’s said that his unnatural ascent to becoming a Mage and his sudden strength are tied to forbidden arts. I’ve seen to it that the bards weave tales of his past—a weakling, a wastrel plagued by vein blockage, suddenly gaining power without explanation. The theories are... numerous.” Regina’s smile deepened, a predatory gleam lighting her eyes. She plucked another grape, biting into it. “So, his reputation is finally faltering.” Selwin nodded. “Yes, my lady. But the shift is slow. There are still those who refuse to believe it. Arzan’s victories, especially his role in protecting his city from the beast wave, have earned him stubborn supporters. Even the church has remained unusually silent—watching, but not yet intervening.” Regina’s expression turned contemplative, her gaze drifting back to the map. “The church,” she murmured, almost to herself. “Their silence is telling. They know something is stirring.” Her fingers drummed lightly on the table. “And the fief war? How soon?” “It will begin in less than a week,” Selwin replied confidently. “The tension is palpable. The entire Sylvan Enclave is bracing for it, and it’s clear no noble will escape involvement.” Regina leaned back, the chair creaking softly beneath her. She studied the map as if it were a game board, her thin fingers methodically arranging the pieces. At the center stood a lone king piece, surrounded by a menacing array of enemies. Her lips curled into a cold, satisfied smile. “Finally,” she murmured. “The scenario I envisioned is coming to fruition. Did you send the message to get Amara to come back?” Regina asked. “That imbecile has the gall to flee to territory of all places. If only she knew how hard I worked to suppress information about her... indiscretions.” Selwin cleared his throat, shifting nervously. “I sent men to retrieve her, my queen, but... there’s no word from them yet.” Regina’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Keep looking,” she snapped. “Do your job well, or I’ll find someone who can. It is imperative that I deal with that girl—and more importantly, ensure dies. Only then can I move on to the next phase of my plan and place Eldric on the throne.” The servant nodded hastily, but his posture stiffened as he suddenly hesitated. “What is it now?” Regina asked, irritation flaring in her voice. “There’s... one more thing, my queen,” Selwin stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. The weight of the room seemed to press down on him as Regina’s small eyes fixed on him. “Rumors in court suggest the king may intervene in the fief war. It seems... he’s considering sending a herald to stop it.” For a moment, silence gripped the chamber. The only sound was the faint rustle of the map under Regina’s fingers as her nails traced the intricate borders. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips curled into a tight line. Then, without warning, her palm slammed onto the table, sending the carefully arranged battle pieces clattering across the map. “That damn lazy fool?” she spat. “Why now? Why, after all these years of neglect and indulgence, would he meddle ?” Her gaze darted toward the ceiling as though accusing some unseen force. “He abandoned the throne! He abandoned the kingdom! Why does he suddenly care about a war he has no stake in?” Selwin flinched, his shoulders hunching instinctively as if her fury might lash out physically at any moment. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he tried to form a coherent response. “I... I don’t know, my queen,” he stammered, his voice shaking. Regina’s expression twisted into something darker, her fury simmering into cold calculation. She began pacing the room, the hem of her gown brushing against the floor in sharp, deliberate movements. “No matter,” she said sharply, her voice rising as she pointed a trembling finger at the servant. “Intercept any orders he sends to halt the war. Any! Do you hear me?” Selwin nodded hastily, his head bobbing like a puppet’s. “Yes, my queen.” “And if he sends heralds,” she continued, her tone icy but laced with venom, “kill them before they reach the Sylvan Enclave. Silence them. The war must proceed at all costs. Lucian must win.” He swallowed hard, his throat dry as parchment. “As you command, my queen.” Her pacing slowed, and for a moment, her voice dropped, her usual composure cracking like thin ice. “If there’s even one mistake... even one... like with the beast wave—” Her words faltered, and her hand gripped the edge of the table as if to steady herself. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something unseen, as panic began to creep into her voice. “If even one thing goes wrong...” Her breathing grew erratic, the rhythm of her words spiraling out of control. Her fingers trembled as she reached for a small vial resting on the edge of the table. The dark liquid inside swirled ominously, its surface shimmering faintly. Regina fumbled with the stopper, her hands shaking violently, but managed to uncork it and drink deeply. The dead mana coursed through her, its bitter taste ignored in favor of the calming effect it brought. Her breathing slowed, and the tension in her shoulders eased slightly. She exhaled shakily, muttering under her breath. “It will be fine. Everything will go according to plan. It to.” Her gaze snapped back to the servant, who remained frozen in place, his wide eyes fixed on the floor. He flinched as her focus landed on him, his body stiffening like prey caught in a predator’s gaze. “Why are you still here?” she snapped, her voice regaining its sharpness. The man bowed hurriedly, his movements jerky and frantic. “Apologies, my queen,” he mumbled, backing away. He nearly tripped over his own feet in his haste to leave, his shadow vanishing into the corridor as the door shut behind him. Now alone, Regina turned back to the map. Her hand hovered over the scattered pieces before settling on the central king piece, the representation of Arzan. Her fingers curled around it, trembling with barely contained rage. “This time,” she whispered, her voice low and venomous, “I will win, Arzan. You’ll die, just like your mother.” Her grip tightened until the fragile piece shattered in her hand, shards splintering into her palm. The pain went unnoticed, her focus fixed on the broken remains that now littered the table. Blood mixed with the splinters, staining the edges of the map. She stared at the ruined king piece for a long moment before a cruel smile crept across her lips. “Soon,” she murmured to the empty room. “Soon, you’ll fall—and everything will finally be mine.” *** A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too. - Patreon for 15 chaps: /extra26 Discord: invite/nc3hVSCP2n