Chapter 38: A Dance of Deception

Death hung in the air, a heavy tension that gripped the very soul of Fang Root Forest. The sudden surge of killing intent from an unseen source sent a shockwave through the camp, leaving the knights momentarily frozen.

"Again?!" Yelled Winch, the Wind Knight, his voice laced with fear.

Around them, the camp erupted into chaos. The reptilian horses, normally calm and disciplined, began neighing and hissing, their bodies contorting in panic as they bucked wildly against their restraints.

'Shit!' In a fraction of a second, he suppressed the deadly aura enveloping him, adopting a guise of fear. His body tensed, shrinking away as if terrorized by the invisible threat that had momentarily gripped the camp.

The knights scrambled, trying to calm the distressed animals while casting wary glances into the shadowy edges of the forest, searching for the source of this unseen threat.

Crelos, at a distance, was observing Darius. The instant their eyes locked, Crelos averted his gaze, his attention quickly scanning the camp's perimeter for the source of their alarm.

Darius's thoughts raced, 'Did he just...?'

The knights quickly formed a perimeter around the area, each brandishing a torch that flickered against the backdrop of the dark forest. Darius, from his vantage point, quickly took stock of the situation, noting the presence of three additional knights he hadn't seen before. No other mages were visible, save for crelos.

No sooner had the tension slightly eased than Hoggle, the camp's Tier 3 fire mage, burst from his tent. His presence commanded immediate attention, his fiery aura could be felt even from the camp's exterior. "Report!" His voice, loud and authoritative, cut through the camp.

Clemet, the Earth Knight, made his way to Hoggle with a brisk jog, urgency in his steps. "Unknown possible threat, sir," he reported, his voice carrying clearly in the night air. "Something we encountered earlier while hunting the Atlas Crabs. We also successfully completed our hunt of the crabs, Sir." He then leaned closer, dropping his voice to a whisper for a message meant only for the mage's ears.

As the whispered exchange concluded, Hoggle's gaze swept across the assembled knights before settling on Darius. Their eyes locked, and Hoggle's expression morphed into a sneer.

Hoggle's voice cut through tension. "Crelos, bring the boy here, and knights, remain vigilant," he commanded, eyes scanning the perimeter.

Clemet, acknowledging with a brisk "Yes, sir," quickly returned to his position along the camp's edge, joining the others in their watch.

Crelos approached Darius, his hand resting reassuringly on the boy's shoulder. "Come on, I'll introduce you to my master," he said, offering a slight smile meant to ease the tension. As Darius rose from his feigned cower, Crelos leaned in, his voice a mere whisper, "Let me do the talking and...control yourself."

Darius felt a twitch cross his face as Crelos's hand rested on his shoulder. 'He noticed,' he thought, the gears turning rapidly. A brief surge of panic, a flicker of the old instinct to fight, to lash out, surged within him. For a moment, the temptation to unleash his full might, to disrupt the precarious balance they walked, was almost overwhelming.

But as quickly as the impulse came, it was quelled by a deeper, calculating calm. 'Wait,' he cautioned himself. 'This could be a trap, or maybe... maybe an opportunity. The very notion that this boy, with his incessant questioning and oddly genuine nature, could be leading me into a trap is possible. Yet, his actions, the guidance, and now this warning.'

'I'll play the game for now,' Darius decided, his mind wrapping around the complexity of the situation. The knights, Crelos, and now this mage, Hoggle, were pieces in a larger puzzle. 'Patience, Darius. Observe, listen, and wait. Your moment will come.' His heart steadied, thoughts sharpening into focus.

Together, they made their way towards Hoggle, who, with a final scrutinizing glance at Darius, turned and stepped back into the darkness of his tent, the flap closing behind him.

As Crelos and Darius stepped into the tent, Darius's gaze lingered on Haku one last time, 'Hang in there little brother.'

Once inside, they were greeted by a surprising sight, the interior sprawled before them, its boundaries stretching beyond the tent's supposed size. A study, rich and warm with the light of a crackling fireplace, awaited them. Shelves towered, filled with books, while scattered throughout the room, magitech devices pulsed weakly under the fire's glow.

Hoggle, seated behind a grand desk, peered over his glasses with a look of disdain. "Ah, so this is the Valdene's dud," he complained, his voice dripping with contempt. "Sit, both of you."

Crelos began, "Master, this is—"

"Silence, i know who he is." Hoggle interrupted sharply, his eyes fixed on Darius. "Speak boy. What is a dud doing in Fang Root Forest?"

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Darius, maintaining his façade of innocence, looked up at Hoggle with wide, fearful eyes. "I-I got lost, sir. I was looking for my pet," he stammered, careful to keep his voice meek.

"And how, pray tell, did the Valdene dud manage to survive Fang Root?" Hoggle inquired, his gaze narrowing as he leaned forward, a predatory glint in his eye.

Darius sensed the danger in his question. "I, uh, I avoided the dangerous areas, sir. And I ate berries," he lied, watching Hoggle's reaction closely.

Hoggle's curiosity seemed to deepen, his gaze sharp. "In a family as notable as yours, there must be considerable concern for your well-being. How did you manage to enter the forest by yourself?"

Darius looked down, adopting a forlorn expression. "Well, being a non magic user, I don't think I'm much to worry about," he mumbled, kicking at the tent's floor.

The mage leaned in, a feigned warmth in his voice. "Ah, but every child is precious, no? Your parents, they must have ways of looking out for you, perhaps some special magic or resource?"

Darius shrugged, his voice small. "I guess they try, but what can you do with a dud, right? I mostly just help in the garden...when I'm not getting lost," he added, forcing a weak smile.

"And your home, it must be a an amazing fortress of magic and knowledge, I'm actually quite jealous. Any...special areas or pretty artifacts you've seen?" Hoggle's eyes gleamed with a mix of greed and curiosity.

Playing with the hem of his torn shirt. "Um, we have a big library? And Mom always says the best magic is kindness. Does that count?" he asked, genuinely sounding unsure.

Hoggle gritted his teeth, trying a different angle, his voice casual. "Your mother, her research must be fascinating. Surely, you've overheard something, or helped her in some way?"

Shaking his head, Darius adopted a bewildered look. "Mom talks a lot about plants. She says they can heal... I think? I just water them."

Hoggle's sigh filled the room, a clear sign of frustration. As Hoggle leaned back, defeated, Darius played with the edge of his sleeve, 'just keep thinking I'm the clueless dud.'

Crelos shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension but remained silent.

"And this pet of yours, an ember fox, was it?" Hoggle asked. "A rare creature to be wandering about with a child with no magic."

"I raised him from a kit, sir. He's more than a pet to me. I'll pay for his return, once I'm back with my family," Darius offered, watching Hoggle closely.

"That would be Sir Ramman's decision, not mine. He captured the creature," Hoggle stated dismissively, his eyes never leaving Darius. The way he seemed to salivate at the sight of Darius made the boy's skin crawl.

Darius kept his composure, though internally he recoiled at Hoggle's gaze. 'This man sees me as nothing more than a meal ticket,' he thought bitterly.

Finally, Hoggle waved a hand in dismissal. "Crelos, take him to Ramman. Let's see if the boy can negotiate for his pet's return."

As they stood to leave, Darius noted the greedy gleam in Hoggle's eyes, 'he's planning something.'

Walking out of the tent, Crelos placed a comforting hand on Darius's shoulder. "I'm sorry i wasn't any help in there. I'll try to be helpful to you with Sir Ramman," he whispered, his voice sincere.

Darius nodded, suspicious and grateful for the support, but wary of what lay ahead.

As they approached Ramman's tent, Crelos's voice dropped to a whisper. "Ramman is not to be underestimated," he cautioned, glancing towards Darius with a seriousness unlike his usual demeanor.

Darius nodded, his gaze momentarily drifting to where Haku lay motionless, a pang of urgency quickening his pulse.

Crelos's voice wavered as he announced their entry, entering the tent, it unfolded into a lavish, open space. Rich, vibrant pillows lay scattered across the floor, each a splash of color against the tent's fabric walls. Intricate tapestries hung throughout, while various ornate crystal lanterns cast a warm, inviting light. Yet, the expensive layout was betrayed by an assaulting stench, a mixture of rot and sourness that seemed to cling to every surface. The air was heavy, stagnant, making each breath a labor.

'What in the realms...' Darius's thought trailed off, his nose wrinkling in disgust. He could almost taste the foulness on his tongue. His gaze darted around, taking in the extravagant display, trying to distract himself from the overwhelming smell that seemed to saturate everything within.

The tent revealed a man stretched out lazily on a couch, a pile of rich, albeit worn, cushions propping him up. His black greasy hair was knotted atop his head. His skin was the color of deep, tilled earth, and his figure, though slight, carried the curves of a woman. His see-through yellow robe, more suggestive than concealing, added to his unconventional green aura.

Beside him, a male elf with emerald green hair offered a bleak contrast; his face was one of exhaustion, his attire nothing but tattered rags that told of hardship and neglect. Across his thin and malnourished body, numerous, bright red, deep scars crisscrossed his skin.

Crelos nervously began to explain their presence, but Ramman's dismissive gesture cut him short. "You may leave."

A moment of awkward, silent exchange passed between Darius and Crelos before the latter reluctantly left.

'Well his help amounted to nothing,' Darius inwardly rolled his eyes.

Ramman rose, his movements unfolding with a serpentine ease. As he closed the distance to Darius, each step seemed measured, deliberate.

Circling Darius, Ramman let his fingers trail lightly over the boy's shoulders, causing an internal recoil from Darius, 'he's one of...' his thoughts were abruptly severed as Ramman's voice slithered through the gaps in his mind.

"Ah, Clemet told me he found the Valdene dud," his tone a disturbing caress that made Darius's skin crawl, "he failed to mention you were this....cute."

'Focus on Haku, I can't kill him......I can kill him after.'

Carefully masking his brewing anger and disgust, "Sir, might I inquire about my pet? He looks wounded and I'm really worried about him," Darius asked, his voice edged with geniune concern for his friend.

Ramman chuckled, a low, delighted sound. "Ah, that clever creature," he said, his voice carrying a hint of respect. "It gave my men quite the run, such an elusive pest. It's not every day we encounter a beast with such... entertaining qualities." His eyes gleamed with desire as he watched Darius closely, enjoying the veiled tension. "Parting with it? Oh, that might require... a trade, something, special." The obvious implications hung in the air.

'Fucking definitely gonna kill you.'

"I... I just want my friend back," Darius replied, his acting steady despite the turmoil within.

Ramman's laughter filled the tent, a sound that echoed off the lavish drapes and the lingering scent of decay. "Oh, dont be concerned, young Valdene. We shall see that you, and your pet, are treated as my special guests."

Ramman paused, just behind Darius, heat from his breath landing on the back of Darius's neck. "You're free to leave now; the mage boy is outside," his words were deliberate, the hand on Darius's shoulder moist and unwelcome. "A tent's been arranged for your rest. We'll discuss your payment options come morning, as we escort you home."

Stumbling over his words, he managed, "Th-thank you." He cleared his throat, eager to distance himself. "I'm quite tired." Escaping the man's touch, he offered a hasty bow. "I appreciate your hospitality, Sir Ramman."

Ramman's eyebrow arched, hand brushing his mouth, "Sleep well, then. Nights here are full of surprises."

Smiling as best he could, Darius left the tent, his strides long and quick.

Ramman exhaled, retreating to his couch and collapsing with theatrics. "Prepare another setting," he declared with a grin, "we dine with a guest tonight."

The simple words spurred the elf into motion, his body shuddering. With a slow, hollow gait, he moved towards the tent's secluded rear, where numerous heavy drapes concealed the origin of the foul stench.

Stepping outside, Darius drew in several deep breaths, relishing the clean air.

Crelos approached Darius, his expression somber, "Once again, I was quite useless, I'm sorry. Regarding your pet, did you manage to convince him?"

Darius turned sharply, his gaze intense and bloodshot, "Please. Take me. To my tent." The urgency in his voice was unmistakable.

Crelos's eyes widened, taken aback by Darius's tone, "Yeah, sure. Follow me." He led Darius through the camp, stopping just a few tents away from Ramman's, strategically placed between the fire mage and the unnerving knight. "You can stay..."

Darius didn't wait for him to finish. He ducked into the tent, closing the flap with a swift motion, cutting off any further conversation. Crelos, left standing alone, muttered to himself, "Poor kid, Ramman must have told him no," before walking away.

Inside the tent, Darius was a whirlwind of motion. He began furiously scribing an array into the dirt floor, veins standing out on his hands as he worked. The tent was quiet, save for the scratching sound of his fingers tracing runes.