Precisely when the clock struck twelve, three knocks were heard on the laboratory door. His puppet opened the door, revealing Lord Harkes.
Arcturus did not appear to be angry in the slightest. He wore his usual mask of calm, although he was a bit surprised at the fact that Seifer had a trusted subordinate in the Second Step.
“It seems that I’ve underestimated your Lord” said Arcturus coolly. Seifer smiled at that statement, Arcturus didn’t know how true it was.
“What is it that you want?” asked Arcturus when the Manager didn’t reply. The Manager continued to say nothing but extended his hand out towards him as though trying to shake his hand. Arcturus wondered what was going on but not for too long.
It happened without warning, he had been expecting many things when he set out to meet Seifer’s subordinate but this was not one of them. For a brief second, he saw nothing but a bright white.
The entirety of Laboratory 12 had been destroyed by the massive explosion. Vials, machines, ingredients, nothing survived the explosion. Nothing except Arcturus Harkes who was covered in cuts and scratches but in a second, they had all closed up, leaving him looking as though nothing had happened.
He may look as though nothing had happened but he certainly didn’t feel like it. Arcturus made a futile attempt to leave the Potions Guild but the barriers that had been formed when the explosion took place held strong.
The security spells of the Potions Guild wouldn’t hold him forever but they would last a few minutes at the very least. A few minutes was all it took, soon the Viscount had arrived.
Cyrus Black was already there, looking at the apparent culprit intently. Arcturus had already realized that this was a set up. Seifer had caused the explosion and with the appearance of the Viscount, he couldn’t even run away.
Damn it, what the hell are you trying to do he thought in a rage.
All the way back in the safe house, Seifer smiled slightly. The last thing he saw through the screen was Arcturus’ confused expression.
The explosion had been achieved by having the Manager take a potion called the Draught of Desolation, a potion that was popular for suicide bombing since it used all the ether within a person to create a very powerful explosion.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
It also left close to no traces, making it ideal for framing someone. Seifer stepped out of the room, intending to find news about what happened after the explosion and Morgana waved cheerily at him.
Let’s hope that we’re safe now he thought.
Thousands of miles away, the city of Ceres was in a somber mood. Over a dozen third and fourth step Transcendents had gathered in the Viscount’s manor, trying to decide on their next course of action.
Viscount Rubeus Algery had a grave expression on his face as he looked around the table. He had gathered only those who were of the Dark Order to advise him on what to do. A few seconds later, he spoke.
“Arcturus is being held at the Ceres Prison. I’ve negotiated with the Light Order, they’ve agreed not to interfere but they have him under constant surveillance, none of us are allowed to interact with him”
“We all know Arcturus was a Dark Transcendent but does the Light Order know?” asked Rubeus, although he was already sure he wouldn’t like the answer.
“The explosion may have destroyed all the dark ingredients but the toxic gases it released can be used to tell what ingredients were used. The Light knows for sure that something shady was going on” said Cyrus.
“I thought that might be the case. Any idea what he was doing?” asked Rubeus, stroking his dark brown beard.
“The gases were put through Scanners and the results came back to be the ingredients needed for the first step in brewing the Dragonroot Potion” said Cyrus.
“The Dragonroot potion is a very powerful spirit raising Potion. In addition, the third step of the potion requires the blood of a demon” explained Cyrus when he noticed the blank looks in the room.
“Demon blood? The Light Order won’t let this slide” muttered Rubeus. Some people in the room couldn’t help but smile at the implication that the Light Order was usually very understanding.
“Rubeus, it’s clear what we ought to do. Execute Arcturus, make a huge show out of it. If we don’t, the Light would intervene and if they investigate Arcturus who knows how many of us will also have our dark activities exposed?” said Cyrus.
With that, an argument broke out between most of the room and the minority who had alliances with Arcturus and didn’t want him killed. But eventually, they all realized that it was either him or them and caved in.
“Very well, we will execute him tomorrow at dawn with a statement that he was investigated and found guilty of being a Dark Transcendent. Obviously, no actual investigation needs to happen” said Rubeus.
The Viscount let out a heavy sigh and nodded to his attendant who brought out a bottle of wine.
“To Lord Harkes, another fallen to the Light” said Rubeus and the whole room joined him in the toast to Arcturus Harkes, who they had just condemned to death.
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