Dawn found Alaster kneeling in the middle of a once beautiful clearing. A clearing that was once filled with calmly fallen snow, blanketing the clearing in a smooth layer. Now, it was filled with dirty mud and countless footprints.

The Undead cared not for beauty.

Alaster had spent the night out here, far from the city itself. He wished to focus on his planning and preparations and so much Necrotic Mana would cause a disturbance. Out in the wilderness, covered by a heavy layer of snow, no one would notice a large swath of the forest dying as the Life was literally leeched out of them.

At least not until spring.

A greenish mist with a blank hue spun around Alaster like a hurricane. It spun with such speed and force that the branches of the trees nearly a hundred feet away swayed in the wind. And yet, Alaster sat within the vortex, completely untouched. Not even the snow around his knees was disturbed.

Every few seconds, a portion of the mist would condense, obscuring anything within. The mist would then disperse, rejoining the vortex, revealing a new Undead Minion, that would march out of the clearing, joining the rest of its brethren.

Alaster had been repeating this process throughout the night. The Undead created was switched each time, with a priority of more combat oriented Undead. While the Shadow Assassins were powerful Undead, quite possibly the most useful among Alaster’s arsenal, they were very lacking when it came to direct combat.

This had become even more evident after Fenrir began staking his own claim to the Slums. While the Shadows were priceless when it came to infiltration, assassination, and spying, if they were discovered, they were almost always quickly destroyed.

While the Shadows were nigh impossible to undetectable to those unprepared, if one had potent enough senses, or the right Enchantments, they were easily spotted. And while those Enchantments were expensive for the average person, the influential had access to them more often than not. Especially in places where the Shadows most needed to infiltrate.

However, despite his army growing to truly spectacular numbers, Alaster had grown increasingly worried about the man whose mere presence nearly killed Fenrir, this ‘Sir Castiel’. He had eradicated several Shadows from over a mile away. Alaster had no doubt that his vast army would be annihilated simply by this man taking a walk nearby.

He needed to go.

Unfortunately, the very aspect that made Alaster want him gone, also made the man nearly impossible to track. Anything that held Necrotic Mana would be wiped away from existence long before it caught sight of the man. Of course, that in itself could be used as a way to track him, but using such a method would be costly and unreliable, at best.

For now, the man was all but invisible to him. At least to his Minions and Fenrir. Alaster did not know what would happen if he encountered Sir Castiel. After all, while his body was infused with Necrotic Mana, it was not made of it. He was ultimately still flesh and blood, at least when he was not using [Dead Embrace].

Instead, Alaster planned a Minion that could survive the man’s presence, hopefully. Now, if the Minion could survive the man’s attacks were an entirely different matter. Alaster simply found it a personal affront that the man could so easily counter him.

Alaster did not even know if it was possible. But he was intent to make it possible. By now, Alaster was able to create most of his Minions by instinct, allowing his mind to focus on other matters.

He had made significant progress during the night, but he knew that he was still very distant from actual completion. Despite his ego being injured from Sir Castiel, Alaster put the matter aside for the moment.

There were other matters today that called for his attention.

Alaster took a deep breath, the vortex around him subsiding before being absorbed by him once more. The winds calmed down, replaced by a natural calm breeze.

Standing up, Alaster brushed himself off and vanished, replaced by a Shadow Assassin.

Appearing within the Siphas Estate, he walked to the Lord’s office. The Estate was a flurry of activity as they prepared for the wedding that would take place that very evening. While the event would occur at the Lewale Estate, since the Siphas had somewhat taken custody of Astrid, they too had plenty of work to do.

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Everyone was in such a rush that few so much as glanced in Alaster’s direction. They merely avoided his large frame as they rushed around, carrying various things or messages. It was not as if the responsibilities of a Noble stopped during a wedding.

As Alaster had suspected, even without checking through a Shadow, Lord Siphas was sitting at his desk, quickly checking through the various papers.

Alaster gently knocked on the door, making sure he did not accidentally crack the dense wood.

“Come in.” Came the Lord’s voice.

Alaster opened the door and closed it behind him, shutting out the commotion outside.

Lord Siphas looked up, “Ah Alaster. Good to see you. What can I help you will today?”

It was still early in the morning, and yet the man already seemed exhausted. At least somethings never changed.

“Well for one, you could make sure to take a nap before the wedding.” Alaster joked.

“If I had a copper coin for every time my wife told me something similar, I wouldn’t have to do all this paperwork to begin with! I don’t need to hear it from you, young man.” Lord Siphas countered with a smirk.

“I actually came to speak with you about my plans.”

“Those being?” the Lord asked, motioning for Alaster to sit down on the sofa.

Alaster did so, cringing slightly as he heard the already reinforced wood complain at his weight.

“As you know, I am intending to travel towards Zolis.”

“Yes. That has been the plan since before you left for Galmore. I had not expected that to change.”

“And it hasn’t. I know that both my sister and her kidnapper are there, I just did not know where exactly. However, now I at least have a clue. A lead. One I intend to pull until it all comes undone.”

“What sort of lead?”

“One of the people that were there that night.” Alaster growled, his Mana surging for a moment.

“I see.” Lord Siphas set the paper he was holding down and stood up. He walked around his desk and sat down in the chair across from the young man, “What do you need me to do?” He asked, fire igniting in his eyes.

“Nothing.” Alaster said firmly.

“Excuse me?”

“I have already sent my own agent to Zolis to scout out the situation as best as they can. What they have uncovered is worrying, and its only the top of the barrel.

The situation in Zolis is foul and sickly, and I fear that if Onigas or Galmore so much as touched Zolis in anyway, that the sickness would infect them.”

“In what way?”

“People are killing each other in the streets over something as foolish as what Magic they use or who they support. Currently, it is still back-alley killings in the middle of the night. But with each dawn, the blood staining the snow grows.

Even the Nobility have been infected by this insanity.

I am going there because I have no choice. My allies in Galmore and Onigas would no doubt wish to assist me in some way, especially if matters become chaotic and the cities themselves might gain something from the assistance.

However, I need someone to stop them. Even if matters turn unfavorable for me. I want the entire Kingdom of Lissura put under a quarantine.”

“Why are you telling me this? The City Lord would be a better option.”

“No, he would not. Keylan is one of the few I consider a friend and ally, but he will always put Onigas ahead of me. That might seem like a good thing in this regard, but it also means that he would be more likely to disregard my wishes if he believes Onigas might profit from interference.”

“You are asking me to disregard my own city, my nation, a land I swore an oath to protect, for you.”

“Yes, because if you don’t Onigas might profit momentarily, but in the end the cost will be too much. This ideology that has infected Zolis, is quickly spreading to the other cities. If nothing changes, I suspect that Lissura will be embroiled in a civil war that will likely spread to other nations.

I don’t care about that. Let the world burn for all I care. However, luckily for the world, the person responsible for this ideology, or at least a key member, is in my way. So I will remove the obstacle.

However, I do not wish to see this disease spread to the Independent Cities. So while I am busy cutting it out at its root, I want you to ensure it does not spread. Stonewall any attempt to interact with Lissura, and if necessary, eliminate anyone who shows signs of infection.”

Lord Siphas leaned back in his chair, sighing deeply.

“You ask much of me. On today of all days.”

“I apologize, but it had to be today. I am leaving after the wedding is complete.”

“You can’t stay?” The Lord lifted his head.

“Perhaps if I knew the condition of my sister. But I do not. Even staying for the wedding is painful to me. Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to charge towards her location, destroying everything that stands in the way.”

“Well, do try to restrain yourself, at least until you are outside of Onigas’ walls. We just finished the repairs from the Siege.”

Alaster smirked, “I’ll try.”

The Lord stood up with a groan, “As will I. You have my word, I will do my best to isolate the Independent Cities from Lissura.”

“Thank you.”

“Bah!” Elliot Siphas waved away the thanks, “Just make sure you come back. I want my son to grow up knowing his brother. And I am pretty sure Isabella will kill me if you aren’t there to see her get married someday.”

Alaster felt his normally cold heart warm. It felt good to have people who cared for him.

“Now, unfortunately, if I am going to make it to the wedding, I have a bunch of paperwork to complete. If you’ll excuse me.”

Alaster nodded and vanished, leaving a Shadow behind.

The Shadow, in a completely different location without warning, looked at Lord Siphas, waved awkwardly, and became ethereal, vanishing from sight.

‘Weird Minions for a weird man.’ Elliot thought to himself as he sat back down at his desk.