image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]
After his return to Prince Franz's opulent estate, Arbious found himself in a contemplative mood. He wandered into Franz's lavishly furnished office, where he couldn't resist the temptation to peer out of the ornate window. Outside, the loyal undead guard stood sentinel, their unwavering presence a testament to their dedication in maintaining the utmost privacy and security for their master.
"It seems you're quite unpopular within your family," Arbious remarked, ending the heavy silence that had gripped the room.
Franz hesitated, then replied, "Uniel is the only one that..."
Arbious was quick to discern the evasion in Franz's words. He had a keen eye for excuses and was unwilling to tolerate any deception. "I don't need excuses. What I demand from you is honesty. Can you be truthful with me?"
"Hiding the truth is not the same as lying," Franz retorted.
Arbious shifted his gaze to Franz, a piercing look that seemed to freeze him in place. "I understand," Franz spoke, his voice cracking under the pressure.
Franz, standing at attention, continued to watch Arbious, then asked, "May I ask a question?"
Arbious nodded, intrigued.
"How did you amass such a force under your command? This isn't mere illusion magic, is it?"
Arbious scoffed, wearing a wicked grin. "I'm disappointed that you'd think of me as a mere conjurer of parlor tricks. No, this is no illusion."
"But how did you..."
"They are the undead." Arbious replied, a coldness within his voice.
"Undead?" Franz questioned in a hint of surprise.
"Yes, undead. Is that so astonishing? You sought my aid, you agreed to our dark pact. Is it too far-fetched for your mind? You asked for power, and now you have it."
Franz hesitated but finally said, "Yes, but..."
"If you can't cooperate, I could easily find another one of your siblings to join my cause. I chose you because the losing party tends to be more appreciative of any help they receive. But if you become expendable, I won't hesitate to replace you. Do you understand?"
Darkness began to envelop Arbious, a sinister, tendril-like aura that would leave everyone present in its shadow. Franz nodded nervously. "I understand. I'll assist you in your cause as long as I'm king, as we agreed."
"Good," Arbious responded as he took a seat in Franz's imposing chair.
"So, why were you so insistent on leaving the ceremony? What preparations were you talking about?"
"The reason I wanted to leave was because of the nature of the undead I summoned. You see, the undead waiting in the courtyard are under my magical control. Commanding so many undead is not difficult, but ensuring they do not harm the living demands considerable effort and magical reserves..."
"I see," Franz replied. "So, I wanted to ask you another question. What are your thoughts on my brothers?"
"Your brothers?"
"Oh, right... I suppose you haven't met Hin yet."
"Who is this Hin you're talking about?"
"He's the youngest of us, one of three... It's difficult to explain, but he was at the ceremony, although he didn't introduce himself, which is strange given his normally sociable nature."
After a brief pause, Arbious considered the possibilities for why Hin might have avoided him. With a plausible explanation in mind, Arbious needed to confirm his suspicions.
For a slight moment when we arrived up the stairs, my magical energies spiked... I'm sure some of my aura escaped, If Hin is powerful, he must have noticed...
"Is your brother skilled in magic?"
"I suppose... I haven't spoken to him in a while, but I remember our father trained him."
"Druid magic, I assume?"
"Yes, exactly so. We practice druid magic as a royal family, but Hin has the most potent magical abilities among us. If I recall correctly, he was estimated to be a fourth-tier magic caster five years ago."
Fourth tier magic caster, but he is a druid caster, so that makes him slightly more dangerous than other casters... Perhaps I should look into this Hin more... But of course, I cannot let Franz know...
"I'm not as intrigued by Hin as I am by Uniel," Arbious commented. "Uniel is a rather audacious name, don't you think?"
"You believe so? Why is that?"
"Well, Uniel is the name of the archangel of wisdom, isn't it? But from his behavior at the ceremony, he didn't strike me as particularly wise."
Franz hesitated. "I'm not quite sure what to make of that... Uniel has always excelled in games and academics. He's unquestionably intelligent. As for his behavior, I did find it strange. It might have something to do with the army you've assembled."
"So his approach was to win me over by undermining you?"
"I can't say for certain. It might have been his frustration at the idea that anyone would support someone like me. You see, Uniel is the type of person who looks down on others from above."
So he's like me in that regard... But in comparison, I hold actual authority while he borrows it from others...
"Is he physically strong?"
"Physically...? No... He is more of a back line commander than anything else. However, his magical abilities are not to be underestimated. Though he is around third tier when it comes to magic, he is incredibly gifted in how he uses his magic to its utmost potential. He's earned a reputation as an adventurer, and his team consists of elite members," Franz explained.
Arbious found it challenging to sense any immediate danger from this Uniel. However, Franz's conviction in his intelligence and the following he commanded couldn't be dismissed. If Uniel's power was as substantial as Franz claimed, it would be unwise to dispose of him without careful consideration.
This country has proven to not have a capable army as of yet. No Royal Force, no militia, no soldiers. The king governs through the land itself, which can leave the country vulnrable to a demonic invasion if we were to invade. However, though the country does not have an organized force, it is run by powerful mages... adventurers. So far, there are two brothers who seem to pose a threat. capable of magic, it seems that the royal family is stronger than I initially thought. However, this leaves me at a current predicament. I still haven't found "it". For the time being, I should assist him while I have my watchers scour the city in the shroud of darkness, attempting to locate "it".
Turning his thoughts to Anna, the sister, Arbious had a nagging feeling that he had seen her before, but he couldn't quite place where.
Franz broke the silence, saying, "About what transpired at the ceremony..."
Arbious inquired, "What about it?"
He sure has a lot of questions for today...
"I'm just curious... How did the announcer know who you were? Did you plan that as well?"
"Oh, the announcer? No, I didn't. It was Dorros who informed the announcer of my arrival."
I'm displeased by how Dorros announced me. I wanted to personally introduce myself to everyone present. He snuffed the excitement and fun out of all my preparations.
"Dorros? Your butler?"
Arbious responded with a hint of intrigue, "He's not just any ordinary butler."
I'm not sure why Dorros has decided to help me considering he is gaining nothing from it. He is a human I cannot read the motives behind as of yet. He is capable, but as capable as he is, I must be vary of him in case he decides to betray me. These humans, none of them can be trusted. assurance must be in place when dealing with these vermin.
"For the sake of preserving the efficiency of his service, I can't disclose his true identity to you, but rest assured, he is firmly on our side," Arbious explained.
A silence hung between them as they locked eyes, Arbious holding a steady gaze while Franz avoided his direct stare.
"Regarding the preparations... I've instructed one of my servants to investigate the trial in which we'll be participating. I'm still not entirely certain of the details," Arbious added.
"A servant?"
"He should be arriving shortly... In fact, he's coming up the stairs right now. I believe you'll find him quite interesting."
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As they waited, three distinct knocks echoed from the door, one after the other. "Come in," Arbious called out, making sure the person on the other side could hear.
The door swung open, and a young boy entered the room, holding a light green book adorned with a symbol of a great tree etched into its frame. These tree symbols were often associated with the great trees of the elves, signifying that the content within was deemed factual by the elven academies.
Arbious's eyes were immediately drawn to the tome within Fear's clutches, however, he patiently waited for Fear to take a seat. "Prince Franz, allow me to introduce Fear of House Infernal," Arbious announced.
Fear nodded his head, but his gesture was directed solely at Arbious, not Franz. His eyes bore a tense, almost palpable hatred as they settled on Franz, though the reason for it remained a mystery to Arbious. Yet, in that moment, Arbious could feel the intensity of Fear's animosity.
"Please, take a seat, Fear," Arbious suggested, conjuring a wooden chair next to Franz.
"Thank you, my lord," Fear replied as he took his seat, his book resting on his lap. "I've come as you requested. So, Your Excellency, what do you wish to ask of me?"
Fear made a conscious effort not to look at Franz for some peculiar reason. Both Franz and Arbious sensed that something was amiss, but they decided to set that matter aside, as more pressing details demanded their attention.
"Fear, I would like you to enlighten me about the history of this ceremony, the trial of the elementals. Tell me everything you know about it," Arbious requested.
"Of course, my lord," Fear replied. "According to the historical accounts chronicled by Arch Mage Mallus Rex, the Trial of the Elements is an ancient dark elven tradition from the southern regions, tracing its origins back to the very dawn of creation. Although the precise details of its inception remain shrouded in mystery, it is well-documented that four magnificent primal elementals materialized from the very essence of the land. These elemental beings encompassed the domains of Air, Water, Earth, and Fire, serving as the foundational pillars of all elemental magic, each one a formidable entity of unparalleled power."
I've heard of Mallus Rex... If I recall, he was a powerful magic caster from the holy kingdom serving under Emperor Lucious... Though he is no longer of this world, his work remains.
"The fire elemental?" Arbious inquired.
"No such elemental was not mentioned during the trial," Franz chimed in.
"Indeed, that's correct," Fear confirmed. "The fire elemental, as noted in the records of Mallus Rex, succumbed to the influence of dark magic and transformed into Ifrit, the demon of flames. He was corrupted by the malevolent energies and fell under the sway of the formidable Demon God. In response to his fall from grace, the dark elves deemed him unworthy to honor in their trial."
Wait... The great fire elemental... Oh yes... I've called him Ifrit for so long that I forgot he used to be an elemental... But it was not me who corrupted him to begin with... He chose his path on his own. Are these humans going to blame me for everything wrong with this world?
"So, if we assume we only need to complete three trials, the Trial of Earth is supposed to be the first one. What can you tell us about it?" Arbious inquired.
"My lord, in regard to the trial itself, it's a constantly changing challenge. However, most trials linked to the Earth element typically involve the restoration of the landscape," Fear explained.
"So, we need to turn the darkened sands into lush greenery?" Franz asked.
Fear seemed puzzled. "Why would that be the task?"
Franz questioned, "What do you mean by that?"
"If your mission is to restore that desolate wasteland, then you have an immense undertaking ahead of you. I'm not even sure what to say about that. Even our mighty King failed to revive that accursed place."
"These darkened sands... You all keep mentioning them, but I'm still in the dark about what makes this place so challenging to restore," Arbious admitted.
Franz and Fear exchanged surprised glances upon realizing that Arbious had no knowledge of the darkened sands.
As the question hung in the air, a maid entered the room carrying a sizable tray laden with freshly poured, steaming tea. The trio fell silent, sharing meaningful glances, as she carefully placed the tray on the table. With a slight bow, she exited the room, her empty tray in tow.
Arbious questioned, "And who is she?"
"A spy, I'd presume," Franz replied.
"A spy among your own staff?" Fear asked.
"Do I look like I can afford such an exquisite maid?" Franz quipped, earning a chuckle from Arbious, while Franz allowed a wry smile to cross his lips. Fear, however, was left momentarily at a loss for words.
Soon, Arbious returned to his serious tone. "So, what makes the darkened sands so formidable?"
"The darkened sands are home to a necromancer whose malevolent presence has tainted and corrupted the land itself."
"I see... A necromancer," Arbious mused. "A rather uncommon trait for a human."
"Uncommon, yes, but for many, it's considered a curse," Fear added.
"Could you not easily eliminate this threat?" Franz inquired, silently hoping for Arbious to take action.
Fear and Franz both fixed their gazes on Arbious, eagerly awaiting his decision. As the tension in the room grew, Arbious leaned in slightly, reaching for his own tea. He brought the cup to his lips, savoring its delicate aroma before taking a sip.
With both of them hanging on his response, Arbious finally provided an answer. "I could... hypothetically. However, I wouldn't."
"Why not?" Franz demanded, a hint of anger and confusion in his tone.
Arbious explained, "If possible, I'd prefer to recruit this necromancer into my own ranks. Killing him would likely cause more harm than good."
Franz inquired calmly, "And do you believe you're capable of such a task?"
"If I could sway Ifrit, then this should be a manageable endeavor. Of course, if he proves to be weaker than expected, I'll handle it on my own terms."
Franz looked at Fear in bewilderment. He believed that only he and Dorros were privy to the secret of Arbious's true identity, so the presence of this stranger intrigued him. He didn't question Arbious's judgment, however, and simply nodded in agreement.
"Very well," Franz acquiesced.
Arbious then shifted the conversation, asking, "Regarding your sister, she strikes me as an intriguing character. I have a feeling I've seen her before, but I can't seem to recall when. Perhaps you could share what you know about her?"
Franz sighed, pondering his sister for a moment. "She does come across as kind-hearted."
Arbious responded, "Kind-heartedness is not always a desirable quality in a leader."
Franz concurred, saying, "Indeed. The noble factions exploit that weakness, which is why they support my brother."
Fear added, "But the public adores her."
Arbious, with a hint of malice, suggested, "Perhaps we should find a way to tarnish her standing with the public."
Fear was visibly upset by Arbious's suggestion. It was apparent that Fear held some high regard for Anna, yet neither Arbious nor Franz cared for his emotions.
Franz, almost hurriedly, replied, "There's no need for that. She won't win; I'm certain of it."
Arbious leaned back in his chair, glancing at the untouched tea before them, now growing cold. "I will take your word for it, for now."
"I'm most grateful," Franz responded.
Fear concealed his emotions, but he was secretly relieved to hear Franz affirm that Anna was not a significant threat. In truth, Fear was still deeply apprehensive of the immense power that Arbious wielded. He understood that if Arbious were to act against Anna, her chances of survival would be slim. It was a grim realization, but Fear had seen enough of Arbious's capabilities to understand the gravity of the situation.
Turning his gaze to Fear, who appeared hesitant, Arbious prodded, "Speak your mind, Fear."
Fear hesitated but ultimately chose to shift the conversation while concealing his true intent further. "I still believe that the Trial of Earth won't be as straightforward as we may think. A necromancer should not be underestimated. We need to approach this with caution," he emphasized, redirecting their focus to the upcoming challenges they would face.
Franz added, "The sooner we complete this, the sooner I become king."
Arbious found himself at a crossroads, two distinct courses of action before him. Should he personally eliminate the necromancer and assert dominance, or should he exercise patience?
Opting for the latter, he uncovered new insights. Through his shades, Arbious had discovered that Anna had organized her departure for the Darkened Sands with a significant force of priests and soldiers in two days. Additionally, Prince Uniel had made siMilar preparations but was inclined to leave within a day or even sooner, fueled by his impatience and a need to prove his worth.
Contemplating the wisest approach, he pondered whether to crush his adversaries with overwhelming might or emulate Alpos's methods. While the latter was uncommon for the Demon God, known for his arrogance and impatience, Arbious reached a decision.
"We shall heed Fear's advice and wait. I will personally conduct surveillance to assess our enemies' strength. In the meantime, Franz, you should remain here, away from danger."
"Danger?" Franz inquired.
"Indeed," Arbious affirmed. "We have yet to discern the cards our rivals hold. My undead guard will vigilantly watch over this estate, but you should exercise caution as well."
Arbious looked at the now cold tea left untouched by the two, "My cup was poisoned, I would assume yours were as well. I've already disposed of the so-called maid assassin. My suspicions are warranted, her actions have proven as such."
Unfortunate that the tea had to go to waste in the end.
"The maid... was an assassin?" Fear questioned, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Of course she was," Franz replied. "But how did you dispose of her?"
Arbious remained silent, his face giving away nothing.
"That is not your concern," Arbious declared with a sudden shift in motion, standing up from his chair. His dark robes and hair trailed behind him as he turned to face the window. Franz and Fear exchanged puzzled looks, uncertain of what to do next.
"Fear, you will accompany me," Arbious ordered.
Fear nodded and grabbed the book he had been reading, preparing to follow Arbious. Meanwhile, Franz was left feeling bewildered. "Are we still attending the invitation tomorrow?"
"I believe it would be best for you to remain here," Arbious responded. "I will personally attend to see what she's after. Hopefully, she will reveal more than she intends to, and that is when we will press our advantage."
Franz mumbled, "I see... So, I am just to stay here... until you return..."
Arbious glanced at Franz, sensing the disappointment in his voice. He understood the feeling of being confined, much like how he was trapped in Hellfire Citadel. The frustration of being unable to act while his lieutenant handled everything was something he was familiar with. It made him reflect on his past experiences and the challenges he had faced.
"No need for self-pity," Arbious advised Franz. "You have a destiny for greatness. As long as you follow this dark path, I will ensure that whatever you desire becomes reality."
Fear, who had been observing silently from the corner.
"I understand," Franz responded with a hint of defeat.
Arbious and Fear left the room, making their way down the stairs. Two undead guards stood watch at the foot of the staircase. The exit from the mansion was right in front of them, and they swiftly departed through its gates.
As they left, Fear turned to gaze at the mansion they were exiting. To his horror, he saw the lifeless body of the maid hanging high above the gates, impaled countless times by spears, left as a grim reminder, while more soldiers stood guard around the gruesome sight.
Arbious halted, waiting patiently for Fear to catch up to him. Fear was still processing the brutal fate of the maid. His heart ached for her, even though she had attempted to poison him and others.
"Pitying those who take life without regard is a fool's errand," Arbious said, his voice reaching Fear's ears.
"Yes, my lord," Fear replied, his voice tinged with somber agreement.
The two of them boarded the waiting carriage, and it set off, carrying them away from the prince's estate. The estate and its vigilant guards gradually disappeared into the distance.