VI

A shadow loomed across the plains that separated the forests from the rocky formations just outside the Star City. Seen from a distance, one might have mistook it for a pack of wild animals in a tightly close formation, searching for their prey.

Thirty men riding the wind like bolts of lightning were storming in on a particular cave which had its entrance blatantly hidden from sight amidst a sea of weeds, plants with piercing throns and large trunks. The reason why there were so many was that Rokkan didnt know what kind of menace was waiting for them there. He had been following multiple leads for weeks, looking for the bandits' whereabouts. And now he felt he was close. Disappointed by his unfulfilling discovery, the last artifact of the gods, the one that belonged to the city's guardian, was no more. Someone had took it by force and after acquiring such information he had dispatched multiple spies and informants to collect as many clues as possible. It appeared that a large group of bandits and mercenaries had once assaulted the guardian's residence, thus obtaining the artifact after a violent conflict. He wasn't sure that mere mortals like them would be able to defeat a god, but he was willing to bet it all on that unlikely gamble. The cave he was facing seemed larger than a regular one. It looked almost too perfect to be natural, therefore he assumed that it had been artificially engineered. Several hundred goods were stored on top of each other in the antichamber a few meters from the entrance, a mixture of foods, beverages and materials apt to construction work, all clumsily hidden by makeshift wooden cages and dark sheets.

"There's no mistaking it. They must be here" he thought, eagerly scouting out for his target.

A few paces inside, the light of day faded. Small torches had been set up to guide the knowledgeable dwellers of the cave through a maze of small corridors and underground passages. Rokkan knew the raw layout of the first batch, seven or eight of them, no more. He dispatched his men in search of additional clues and stood at the crossroad between multiple passages, contemplating how to best pinpoint his objective as fast as possible.

He didn't have to wait long, for in just a few minutes one of his men emerged from the darkness and knelt in front of him.

"Sir, we have its location".

"Are you sure? How did it took so little time?"

"Yes sir. The source of its power was so great that all the coompasses pointed in the same direction. There is nothing more powerful around".

"Indeed. If even the compass were to be manipulated that would be a problem, but I really doubt mere bandits could do it".

"Precisely. It would take a considerable amount of magic power to fool this device. After all, it can detect any sacred artifact for miles. Archbishop Byokris truly knew what he was doing".

Pleased by the news, Rokkan dismissed his servant.

"Finally... after all this time, the last remaining piece of the puzzle is about to end up in my hands. Just one more step and the city will be secured under my patronage. Who would've thought the bastard had such a convenient way of knowing where his precious relics were, hah".

Rokkan looked at the ceiling, his mind's eye scouting the stars. There were so many things he wanted to change in his beloved country. So many reforms, so much to do for the people. Whether they'd like it or not, he would be the new governor. And he made sure of it by his own will. There was nobody else more qualified. This belief in his absolute superiority had grown so greatly during the past few days, that his ego had started to make him question his subordinates' worth. His burning desire to take on all the challenges that the municipal college would present him with gave him strength. There were no more obstacles to be removed. He had already taken care of everything.

Animated by the dreams of his new life, he mowed swiftly into the next corridor, following his subordinates. They were swarming in like dark bees with needles ready to strike at the enemy at any time. But no traps were found, nor humans or elves of purity. The way seemed free from danger, almost too good to be true. And then, he reached the barely illuminated area which his servants had indicated. There, he finally understood why nobody had come out to greet them with open hostility.

A large pool of blood and flesh covered the barren earth. Countless bodies of mercenary soldiers and adventurers of all ages and races were scattered across the large room that contained the trophy he desired so vehemently.

"Twenty... thirty... there's at least forty corpses in here" one of his servants noted.

"Who could have done this? Sir, do you think the artifact might-"

"No, fool. There is no way this artifact might have caused any harm to them. You can be certain it's the work of a magic caster, or a very skilled assassin. Or perhaps, someone blinded by fury and an unwavering urge to kill".

Rokkan was adamant that someone else was watching them close by. The situation seemed to imply that an ambush was right around the corner. He ordered his men to ready their weapons while he approached the magic source indicated by the compass in his possession. Upon reaching its location, he saw a large sheet covered in bloodstains barely containing a tall rectangular object placed on a rounded base made of ivory. As he unveiled the contents underneath, Rokkan almost fainted with pure bliss.

"It is the one... this time, it's real. The sacred artifact upon which only the gods can take a seat...!"

The large structure he was admiring had the shape of a gigantic flower with its thorns firmly planted inside the ivory base. It looked like a wild rose, beautiful yet deadly. The details on its petals and the delicate floral intricacy adorning the pistil were almost hypnotic to him.

"This will require considerable effort. It looks extremely heavy".

"Sir, we'll definitely make it out of here faster if we work together. Leave it to us".

The servants were eager to take the prize as well, for they were the Drykven's personal entourage and thus their pride made them act rather impulsively. Rokkan hastily blocked them as they were about to reach the delicate petals with their fingertips.

"Get your filthy hands off of it. You know this is the last remaining line of defense between us and the Sorcerer King's wrath, right? It is not for you to touch. Only me, the Sorcerer King and the prime minister can dare approach it. From now on, this area will be off limits to anyone but us three. I hereby declare that all possessions found in this cave be confiscated under the Drykven's banner and this artifact shall be mine personally. Make no mention of it in your report to father. Instead, return here at once and protect it from external threats with your life if necessary".

Hesitant at first, the servants obeyed Rokkan's orders and prepared to clean up. They gathered the corpses and threw them in a nearby corridor ready for disposal, retrieved the goods and returned to the Drykven manor with the news. Only a handful remained to protect the artifact as Rokkan studied it with ever growing greed.

"Fascinating... nothing short of fascinating. The gods really are great. I haven't seen anything this beautiful in my life. Not even grandfather's sword, which I hold dear and treasure with all my heart, can compare''.

Amidst his wild desires, a question formed in his mind. How could something this big and incredibly noticeable be smuggled out of the city?. Indeed it didnt travel far enough to be considered completely outside of its borders, possibly because the cave had been raided and all its inhabitants massacred.

"Have you found anything?" he asked, turning his attention to his servants still cleaning up the area.

"No sir, it appears that the whole cave is devoid of life. It seems as though only a few mercenaries and their families found shelter here, but they've all been murdered".

"I see. Well then, secure all areas and scan each and every corner. Be mindful of invisibility magic, the perpetrator might still be around here somewhere".

The hours passed by uneventfully. Recollections of the night that was then ending were still lingering in Rokkan's mind. He had secured the most amount of artifacts and sacred relics he could ever amass as a simple man; it was reasonable to assume that most of the city's power now resided with him. The encounter with the prime minister drew nearer, and so did his governorate which would soon replace the mayor's election.

They had previously agreed by correspondence upon meeting in that very same plain, at a reasonable distance from the cave he was currently scouting. The area would be far enough from the city as to not arise suspicion, and yet close enough to grant him at least a miniscule chance of escaping should anything go wrong.

He stepped outside to reach such a place, eager to do business; as soon as he sat foot in the plain, he got greeted by the first rays of sunlight. Dawn was fast approaching and with it its blessings. A dark silhouette in the distance made his heart throb.

"Is that... no, it cant be. The prime minister is a woman, so I've heard. That looks like a man. But what a fine gentleman, long hair exotic attire... who the hell is that?"

Rokkan kept himself cool and collected even though the presence of another person approaching his location stimulated his fight or flight instincts. He was so on edge that he considered putting his hand on the hilt of his grandfather's sword.

"Greetings, marquis Drykven. I apologize for the hasty introduction, my name is Bludigar'd-Bluden, I am a representative of the Great Tomb of Nazarick".

"A representative?"

The man seemed to pay no mind to his surroundings. He moved a hand upwards to greet Rokkan, smiling at him with the innocence typical of children. His eyes were closed, as if he didn't need them to look where he was going.

As he approached his target, Rokkan could see more clearly. The man was wearing a simple attire that looked like a jacket with a large decorative cravat, polished black shoes so perfectly immaculate that they could reflect the environment, and silky white gloves covering his hands which appeared to have unnaturally long fingers and disproportionate fingernails.

"Well met, sir representative. I'm... uncertain as to how I should proceed. In truth I was expecting the prime minister to show up. I don't mean to offend you or your bosses in any way, I'm just considering what might this entail for our mutually beneficial relationship".

"Regrettably, this is not a mutually beneficial relationship at present. But this status could change at any moment. The prime minister is very busy thus she instructed me to meet you in her stead for the time being. This is a remote country with very little interests at stake, so you'll forgive us for being cautious. We have more urgent matters requiring our attention elsewhere".

"Of course, I understand perfectly. Then I shall do business with you instead".

"That would be a wise decision, yes. I have been informed of the contents of your letters by the prime minister, she was very pleased with your proposal seeing as lord Ainz is currently located in this area. However, we want to see fast results and immediate cooperation. Can you grant us both?"

"Ah, yes I cant wait to pledge my allegiance to the Sorcerer King. I have no objections at all. I'm ready to do what must be done in order for him to succeed. In exchange for my services I would like to be appointed governor of the Star City, nothing more".

"I see. And you previously stated that you have a token of good faith for us to look forward to? May I see it?"

"Of course. Please follow me. This artifact will greatly enhance the Sorcerer King's influence".

Rokkan bowed deeply, then he moved towards the cave, inviting his new guest to follow him inside. The strange man never opened his eyes once, nor stopped smiling. He truly looked like nothing could bother him in the slightest. Perhaps he was overconfident, or maybe he truly was so immensely powerful that the mere thought of him being assaulted seemed ridiculous. Rokkan tried to formulate many plans of escape ahead of time, should the encounter with the representative fail. However there was really no way of knowing if he had any chance at all.

"Oh. What a marvelous amount of power. Not too bad, I'd say. Though it is not for me to decide such matters. I'm merely here to observe and report" he stated at one point while entering the large room where the artifact of the gods resided.

"Fascinating, isn't it? This object belonged to one of our patron gods, very powerful beings that are currently missing from this Earth. We do not know their whereabouts nor if they'll ever come back. But we do have access to their equipment and many of their weapons. In the next room I have stored some of the most precious relics pertaining to their era, I think the prime minister will find them useful".

More time passed in which Rokkan's honoured guest inspected every single artifact with great care. His expression never changed, as well as his demeanour. He nonchalantly nodded to himself, then he turned to him.

"Interesting. Yes, I think all those materials could be useful to us. You have done well, marquis Drykven. I think this demonstrates your good faith. However, I must speak with the prime minister before any further collaboration can take place".

"Of... of course, I'll wait however long you need".

"A moment if you please",

The representative moved a few meters away, then he twisted his arm and put an index finger to his temple.

"Yes, lady Albedo. Indeed it was as you predicted. Yes, all materials have been gathered in the same place. The marquis kept his word. How may I be of assistance now?"

After a brief pause, the man finally turned to Rokkan once more.

"You are in luck, marquis Drykven. The prime minister has accepted your kind gift and will be here in person by tomorrow at the earliest. As for me, I have been instructed to act as a token of good faith myself".

"Really? May I ask how?"

"You've stated time and time again that there is a problem to be solved in order for you to become governor, did you not? As it happens, I am an expert at this sort of thing".

While he was talking, the gentleman's body started changing. His mutation was quick and grotesque, Rokkan thought it looked as if his whole being was made of soft rubber.

When he had finished, his eyes stared at his features as if they were looking at a ghost.

"You've got to be... you and the mayor are twins! This is amazing!"

"Hoho. I appreciate it, young man. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a city to run".

His voice, his face, his posture, everything was identical to the old mayor's. Rokkan was overjoyed by that discovery. Now nobody would have suspected a thing, the real one could simply die in captivity as he had planned from the very beginning.

"There are no more obstacles... this time, my election will be perfectly legal".

He ordered two of his most capable men to escort the gentleman outside and guide him through the city's intricate web of suburbs and back alleys in order for him to reach the municipal building unseen and unharmed. Then, he called another servant to prepare for the events to come.

"You there. Is the mayor conscious?"

"Yes sir, very much so. He hasnt stopped eating nor drinking regularly. For what its worth, he is in perfect health".

"I'm glad, all things considered. Move him into the catacombs, find a suitable section that is easy to reach from here and wait for me there. Keep a close eye on him at all times, should he wish to end his own life dont let him try his luck. This matter has to be solved quickly and painlessly".

Once he had given his orders he took his time enjoying the early morning, deep in thought.

"I may be seen as the villain in this story, but I wont trouble my ancestors' souls with the agony of a man starving to death by my will. He shall die tonight, I'll end his life personally and mercifully. His burial will be informal but respectful. I'll let him sleep beneath the city he loved so much. That is the least I could do to keep my grandfather's legacy intact".

As he concluded his own considerations he saw someone come to his side in the corner of his eye. It was a high ranking assassin amongst his brother's entourage, one of the few highly trained professionals that had followed him during his raid at the cathedral the night before.

"Greetings my lord. I am here to relay a message".

"A message? What kind of message?"

"Your brother wishes to see you as soon as possible. Rumors have it that you're defying the gods and openly committing acts of terrorism against the church of lady Hilda. Of course none of us said a word and all witnesses have been taken care of, therefore news of our involvement should have been impossible to spread, however it appears that we have been compromised".

"Fratherickus... another thorn in my side. What is wrong with him now? Didnt I state very clearly that I was going to liberate the church of its corruption? Does he have second thoughts now, of all times? What a bother".

He thought about the situation as calmly as he could, but the matter was unavoidable. His father, as well as his lustful brother, had to be dealt with accordingly. He had no fondness for the two, and while he had previously sought after his father's approval, now he just wanted him gone. Fratherickus was merely a nuisance and a putrid reminder of his less than noble origins.

"Perhaps it is time for me to dispose of them. I might have to do it sooner than anticipated, maybe in a month or two. As soon as my governorship is established, I'll cut ties with the Drykvens entirely. I shall create my own lineage".

Rokkan turned to his interlocutor and dismissed him with cold words.

"Tell Fratherickus that he needs not to worry. I'll see him when I'll be done with my business here. There is no reason for him to doubt me, after all.

Should he wish to make a move, I need to know in advance. Please do your best to cooperate with me. From today onward, you shall report each and every action he takes on a daily basis. For your service, I'll double your pay effective immediately".

.

"... how bad is it?" Flannar asked with impatience, his face pale, tiredness and stoic resistance in his very soul.

"She is stable, my lord. I can't say for certain yet but, there is a chance that we might save her. I will certainly do my best to-"

"No Plurimo, I wont allow that. Your best is not enough. I need you to heal her and wake her up in a timely fashion. If its not by tomorrow evening, then let it be the day after. But I cannot afford to lose her. Facing the Sorcerer King alone would be pointless... suicidal".

"You dont need to say that, my lord. I understand. I-I just don't know how else to express how I feel".

Plurimo was exhausted. He had been working non stop all day long, first on the new batch of municipal rifles and musket prototypes, then on Cledna's almost unrecoverable body. Her condition had immediately appeared desperate. However, his miraculous work made it possible to recuperate at the very least a fraction of her health.

The diagnostics had reported a general lack of energy and the multiple fractures, lacerations and bodily deficiencies caused by abuse and severe beatings had depicted a pretty clear picture. He knew what he had to do next, he just didnt have the strength to do it.

"I have to put her under the knife again. But I desperately need some sleep".

Flannar nodded. Even he knew that mortal creatures need to rest after giving so much for their comrades.

"This truly is a terrible task. I know how hard this must feel for you, as a simple human. And for that I thank you.

You have been giving so much for our cause and the community as a whole. Pharx, I mean, the Judge told me everything. I cannot help you in this endeavour, nor can I take your fatigue away. But there is a resource that might help us ease this loss for a little bit. I'm going to procure it and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, do what you can for as long as you're able, then go home. Speak with the guard downstairs, I have ordered him to close off this area when you're done. Nobody shall be allowed to pass through this bastion until the crisis is averted".

"Thank you for understanding my predicament, lord Flannar. I wont fail you".

Plurimo gave him a reassuring smile, weak but sincere. That would have been his most daunting task up until that day. He had never felt pressure this great.

Flannar offered a brief prayer to him and Cledna, then he jumped off the Bastion of Darkness' summit and landed on his feet as if he had just descended a small flight of stairs.

His next destination were the catacombs. There was someone living in those abyssal lands who could have helped him ease off the pressure both in his heart and his most immediate task.

He traveled at lightning fast speeds towards the closest entrance to the subterranian tunnels leading inside and outside the city, right at the heart of its metropolitan bosom, overcoming any and all obstacles present in his voyage. Commoners were barely affected by his passage, however more skilled individuals such as magic casters and assassins from all facets of life were starting to be aware of his presence, and most of them didn't like him interfering with their lives once again, albeit indirectly.

They might have not been able to reach him or move as fast as him, but they would be sure to pose a threat in the near future. However, Flannar was determined to let none of them have what they wanted; at the slightest sign of interference, he'd just cut off their limbs and left them for dead. If any of them tried to ambush him, he'd know beforehand and make use of his enhanced vision to slice them to pieces before they could even attempt anything. His mind had never been clearer, his instincts never as sharpened. He felt like a living blade swiftly disposing of his enemies.

Once he had finally reached his destination, he leaped towards an open graveyard amidst a large basin containing dried up blood and putrid remains of ancient beings, laid to waste there intentionally by their ancestral foes. Dragons had been there once, and after them ogres, trolls, and even more recently wild NPCs brought in these lands by Yggdrasil players going rogue. But now they all had been defeated and scattered there for anyone to see, fetid trophies that reminded anyone who dared enter lady Hilda's lands from the underground that there was no way of winning and they best turn back if they had planned to assault the city.

Of course, the Sorcerer King's armies would never be intimidated by that alone, Flannar was sure that a deterrent such as that one would be laughable to a being capable of mass genocide and seemingly never-ending thirst for conquest. Nevertheless, he respected those who attempted to enter and yet failed while trying. Those challengers who he had been able to defeat were, for the most part, honorable.

Inside the basin, a single, miniscule hole had been carved with human tools. The hole was large enough to contain at most two people. Flannar jumped in it and let gravity do its thing; his body fell endlessly towards a black pit of emptiness. An unusual warmth quickly took hold of him, then reddish clouds invaded his field of vision. The blackness that had been engulfing his body suddenly was no more. A sea of fresh blood welcomed him, as he got swept away into the current. A torrent of gory remains, coming from a small yet invisible source inside what had been the ceiling of a massive cave, had transported him towards his ultimate destination.

And there it stood, a gravestone so big, so large, so impressive that any mortal man would envy its possessor. Beside it, a heavily ornate mausoleum, made out of granite, marble, and gold. Six large gargoyles at the entrance were looking at any trespasser with flaming eyes full of fury. There was no mistaking it: the Benningard family graveyard was still there, unmolested.

Relieved by this, Flannar took a deep breath and entered the mausoleum with reverence and pride.

A long flight of stairs led to an open chamber, then another, and another. More stairs, so long and deep underground that a commoner would lose any sense of self by the time they'd try to reach their end. Flannar took a deep dive onto the darkened soil and pierced the center of the earth itself in order for him to reach the last chamber of that unspeakably dreadful maze. Finally he made it out; a single, large throne made of vividly red embers and aromatic tea leaves expanded its radiant light all around. A very pleasant scent of tea, tomatoes, fish and cooked meat entered Flannar's nostrils. That was the final proof he needed.

Just outside his field of vision, a dozen servants wearing large maid outfits and butlers looking after countless meals were preparing what appeared to be a very large feast, using a single, remarkably large table. An unsuspecting guest might have thought that a table with so many dishes could only belong to a wealthy nobleman inviting thousands of people to his castle, yet that wasn't the case. There was in fact a single chair at that table.

"Cyrus... it's been a while". Flannar spoke softly as if to address a member of his family with paternal respect.

Not a second had been passed since he last spoke, that a strong wind blew in his general direction. Then, a shockingly fast bolt of colours enveloped him. He felt his body collapse. Now on top of him, a boy with a delicate complexion and cutely chubby cheeks was smiling with his vampiric teeth, burning irises full of passion. He seemed to be proudly disclosing his desire for battle. Flannar could tell even without him saying a word. Yet, he defied his expectations.

"My lord... you are so mean".

"Hmm? Me? Why's that?"

"You promised to come back sooner. Way sooner, as a matter of fact. You... y-you told me that I could come up there with you anytime. But you never came to pick me up".

"Did I really say that?"

Flannar genuinely didn't remember. He had been so absorbed in his training that any and all connections with the outside world had been severed for decades, both inside and outside his own body. His duty was solely devoted to his desire of getting stronger and perfecting his own techniques.

Indeed it was true that his most loyal servant and what he effectively considered his child, Cyrus Benningard, had been waiting for him for fifty years. But he distinctly recalled how things went before his departure.

"You said that you hate the cold and thus you would stay here to protect what's most important to me. Was this correct?"

"I... did say that, yes. But, but, BUT that doesn't change the fact that I'm pissed! And besides you needed to come back sooner! Look how fat I am now! It's all your fault!"

Cyrus made it look like he was enraged, however, he proudly showed Flannar his belly by unbuttoning his jacket and shirt. His cheeks went bright red, as if his embarrassment was something he considered cute. His eyes feinted resentment, but his trembling mouth and shaking hips told a different story.

"Well? WELL? Will you take responsibility for this?!"

"Cyrus... you're a boy".

"I know right? And that makes it even more embarrassing!"

Flannar was about to tell him a thing or two, however upon closer inspection, he noticed; as he spoke, Cyrus' cheeks became progressively wetter. Small, almost imperceptible tears came running down from his big eyes full of sad rage.

"I stayed put, as you told me to do my lord. You told me to avoid humans, and so I did. You told me I didnt need to interfere in their lives, and so I stopped. You commanded I give Cledna free will and as such... I retired down here. The only access point to lady Hilda's tomb. I literally had nothing better to do than eat and read. This has been so boring it hurt my fragile little soul!"

Cyrus finally stepped away from Flannar and knelt.

"Now that you're here, may I resume my duties? Please? I just-"

Suddenly the little vampire fell silent, as if he had stepped outside of his boundaries a little too much.

Flannar came closer, his hand reached for his servant's hair. Cyrus closed his eyes and braced for punishment.

"I've spoken out of line. I've been bad again. Forgive me if you can I-"

A warm embrace enveloped his tiny body. No punishment, no rage, not a single veil of anger. Flannar kept his hand on the back of the boy's neck and gently pushed his head closer to his chest.

A memory from days past resurfaced, as if it had been intentionally hidden for eons, buried deep in the back of his mind. Flannar recalled a fateful day. A day so special it made his heart ache with painful self deprecation.

A newborn was smiling at him. It was an NPC, to be sure, but not a simple inferior being. His mother had told him to treat that little life force as a tool for him to dispose of his enemies, but he had to be careful not to overdo it. At first he didnt understand. Flannar had taken him to the plains just outside of the city walls, where new people were arriving en masse on a daily basis. He was scouting for new victims for his cruel plans. Since lady Hilda had let him free to do what he wanted, as a new entity willing to learn how the world worked, he felt compelled to study more in depth how humankind worked. For this purpose he had started kidnapping and vivisecting living specimens of men and women alike, scrutinizing their guts and organs with ever growing curiosity. As his understanding of the body and mortal mind grew, so did his perception of what was good and what was wrong. His servant, however, had none. He was but a beautiful boy shaped in the image of the ideal companion. Tender yet feral, loyal yet mindless, that beastly, cruel shell of a being had been ravaging the land, slaughtering and eating away at the peasants unpunished. That is, until lady Hilda caught wind of his actions.

"Let there be no more of this madness in my lands. Flannar my boy, do me justice and bring your servant to his knees. Let it be known to any who dare defy my commands that they are not to be trusted ever again and I shall enact proper judgement. This is a land of blissful rest and mystic auspices. I don't want any unholy blasphemy to be done in my name. Purify that monster at once".

So his mother had spoken, roaring with fury in her heart. Maybe because she came from a land of deeply rooted injustice and malice, she was particularly sensitive over this kind of matters. And so, he set out on a quest to pacify Cyrus, the mindless beast who was destroying the peace in his mother's land.

He found him in the largest plain, at the very border of the new fertile lands created by Hilda's magic. A plain so fertile many would try to claim it for themselves. Initially it was a large grassy field ideal for growing crops, they called it the Cloverbed. But then, after Cyrus had massacred all of its inhabitants and devoured their children, destroyed their houses and continued his rampage onward to less fertile lands, the people started calling it the Crimsonbed. No more a sight of prosperous life force, but instead a sign of perpetual doom and desolation; now Flannar stood firm and vengeful against his pupil, who had a malicious grin on his sinful visage devoid of any morals. Blood dripping from his fangs, his beautiful naked body ravaged by self inflicted wounds.

"Vile demon. You were supposed to be my servant, instead you defy my mother like this? Putrid pest, now we settle things. Prepare yourself, filth! I will avenge her honor!"

Flannar charged at him with all his might. He had learned much since they last met, way more than that savage beast. He was ready to take his head.

He blocked all of his opponent's attacks, deflected his feral movements and beat him up senseless with his bare hands, not missing a single opportunity to exploit an opening. After all, Flannar didn't need any weapon for his level and strength greatly surpassed his servant's. Their battle looked more like a dance between an agile, skilled performer, and a brute who just got out of a brawl.

As he landed his final blow, Cyrus' head turned to face his master's angered gaze. Flannar took hold of his hair, then he pulled his opponent's light body up from the ground. He was on the verge of death, just a small push more and it would have all ended.

It was then that a surge of true guilt assaulted him. A guilt he should not have felt, ever. Yet, he did. His mother observed his actions from afar without saying a word.

Suddenly he started crying. At first, he kept holding a grudge, still trembling with fury and anxious to strike the final blow. But then, little by little, his resolve changed and mutated into pity. A kind of pity that he had not felt for any other being he had previously killed, involuntarily or not.

Surprised and amused, lady Hilda slowly came up to him, one step at a time.

"This child... does he mean something to you, Flannar?"

"I-I dont know, mother. Does he? I cant seem to stop... the tears".

"Do you know why?"

"No..."

"Really now? Can you tell me what you feel?"

"I feel... empty. I wanted to kill him for you mother. But then I realized... what did I realize again?"

Flannar thought intensely. His head, as well as his heart, felt heavy and full of pain. Then, he let go of Cyrus' hair and let his limp body fall to the ground.

"I should have taught you how to do things properly. I should have tested you, talked to you, shared your burden... Instead I got caught in my own devices. I thought about myself only. You were a nuisance, a toy, a tool for me to dispose of. But the truth is..."

He couldn't bear to say it. His own ineptitude made him so angry and disgusted that he wanted to tear apart his own hair.

"The truth is that I have failed you, mother. You have entrusted him to me. He was... he is precious, isn't he? He is a gift from you to me. And he is..."

"He is alive". Lady Hilda finally helped him find the right words. Yes, he was alive indeed. A living, breathing creature. Someone for him to trust. Someone for him to be close to. A friend. His first friend. Not a lump of flesh and blood, not a creature worthy of experimentation. He was his first subject.

From that point onward, that important, crucial, unmistakable connection had been made. He knew what his position in the world would be.

"That's right. You are my subject. And my friend. And I... I have failed you. I should have shielded you from my own stupidity, but I didnt. I needed to protect you from the cruelty of this world, absolve you from ignorance. Now I know, I am not worthy of your respect".

Lady Hilda smiled as she observed that vengeful spirit gradually turn into a gentleman. Flannar knelt and caressed Cyrus' cheek. Then, he embraced him. And finally he cried with him. He cried a lot, till his eyes hurt and he had no more tears to shed.

"I am so stupid, mother. I truly am. I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry".

"You should stop apologizing. This is not the time to say such things. Now that you have realized what you have done, you need to act" she stated bluntly, "what are you going to do about this?"

"I will let him live. No, I will let them all live. And... I will build a better place for ourselves".

"Oh? Will you now?"

"Yes, I feel like I have decided what matters is us. My subjects, they are my friends as well, aren't they?"

"That you must decide for yourself, my boy. I cant tell you what is right and what is wrong".

"If that is the case... then I will discover it".

"Little by little... I shall discover it" Flannar uttered those words like a spell made to break free from a vicious enchantment.

"My lord, you..."

"No Cyrus. I'm not mad at you. I'm just glad that you're alive".

Flannar's embrace was heartfelt and vigorous. But this time, it was Cyrus who tried to break free from it first. He could feel a powerful aura approaching, as well as his master's uneasiness deeply buried in his mind.

"This is so unfair. You come here after fifty years, and just... accept me like that. You're terrible".

The boy turned his gaze away, wiping his cheeks with a sleeve. "So unrefined. But I guess this time it wont matter, right?"

"Did it ever?" Flannar replied, smiling weakly. He took a deep breath, then he let himself go. As he started to fall on the ground, Cyrus came to his rescue at lightning speed. His master's back was safe and secure in his arms.

"I'm glad that eating for decades has not impeded your movements".

"Hmph. Y-You'll be sorry, someday. I swear!"

Cyrus tried to pull Flannar back up, however his master signaled him that he could let go. His back touched the ground, his eyes closed. Cyrus looked at him, puzzled. Then he joined him without saying a word. His servants kept working on their delicacies and, seeing as their little master was on the ground, simply moved their tableware where he stood.

"I wish we could stay like this for a year or two. Just the two of us".

"Why can't we, my lord? I mean, uh, no I probably didn't mean that I totally want to go back working I just... uuuh I think I backed myself into a corner, let me rephrase this" Cyrus tried frantically to keep his composure as he stumbled on his own words again and again. Flannar loved this aspect of his personality. It was something that he didn't even design. Cyrus probably came up with it on his own after learning more of the human society and customs. It felt genuine; it also reinforced Flannar's fatherly love towards him.

"The world has changed a lot during the past fifty years. Not unlike it used to".

"What do you mean?"

"The Sorcerer King... ever heard about him?"

"Oh yes, who hasn't heard about him? They say he is a sadist, a force of nature bent on destroying everything on this planet. But to be honest, I have never seen him so those might just be suppositions' '.

Flannar enlightened him on many of the Sorcerer King's wrongdoings and recent annexations. He told him about the alliances he broke, the many nations he destroyed, and the forced marches towards total annihilation that were about to begin precisely in that region of the world.

"I cant believe this. And he achieved all of that in just a few decades? This Sorcerer King must be as powerful as lady Hilda".

"Indeed, that might be a possibility. And the most urgent matter at hand would confirm that he is involved in our affairs already".

"Huh? What happened?"

"Someone beat up Cledna really badly. She is unconscious and heavily wounded. I've had her treated but the recovery may take more time than what we can afford to lose. Moreover... her World Class Item has been stolen. Rose & Chrysantemum isnt in its rightful place any longer".

"This means that we don't have the same cover as we used to. This is really bad. Hmph, and here I thought that airhead could actually put up a fight" Cyrus tried to be moderately calm and confident, however there was no way anyone in his position could just passively accept what was happening. He jumped upwards and stretched his limbs.

"Well well, I guess its time for me to go back into action, what do you say my lord? Isnt it why you're here in the first place?"

"I came here to see you, first and foremost. Now that I am certain that you are well, my heart is a little lighter".

Flannar got up, looked upwards and, after locating what appeared to be the same source of power that Cyrus had felt earlier, he made up his mind.

"It would seem as though one of the Sorcerer King's subjects has come to visit us earlier than anticipated. I dont like the position of their aura".

"Do you think they might be a boy or a girl?" Cyrus dismissed his servants, right after taking a big bite off of a fruit cake "I mean, I wouldnt like to be seen in this condition by a girl at this point

in time".

"I'm afraid I cannot tell. But I doubt it would make any difference. His servants appear to be impossibly strong, no matter how you look at it".

Flannar kept looking, localizing the source of such immense power was hard even for him as its center kept shifting. But in the end, he thought he made it. And then, he realized that one of his worst fears might actually have just materialized.

"Cyrus, how long did we stay here chatting?"

"Umm, approximately an hour, maybe two, give or take. No more than that anyway".

"Then... this might be it. We have to intervene, right now".

"Huh? Really? Just the two of us? Why, what's at stake?"

"This aura is close, way too close to Plurimo's house".

"No way. The little guy who's nursing the airhead?"

"Precisely. The Sorcerer King has already located our best asset. How cunning is he? This is unbelievable!"

Indeed Flannar was speechless. Ainz Ooal Gown had stricken again. His foresight must have been so impossible to measure, that he had already planned everything in advance. He probably was more than two steps ahead of them, a perfect chessplayer.

"Damnit! There is no time to waste! Let's go rescue the little human and save the airhead!" Cyrus was fired up and ready to go. Flannar nodded firmly.

"If it comes to a final showdown, let me handle it. I need you to go find Rose & Chrysanthemum as fast as possible, so that we may have a chance of healing both you and Cledna fully before the real battle begins".

"Understood. Let's gooo!"

With fiery conviction and a bit of unease in their hearts, the two defenders of the Star City took off and plunged into the earth, to then emerge on the other side. Who would they face? Their curiosity was second only to their fear of the unknown and the thrill of battle. Would they even be able to do battle at all, or would they need to flee before their mighty foe? Flannar wasn't certain.