Chapter 343 - Cloak and Dagger (Patreon)

Alfred’s heartbeat was up. He felt the cold sweat under his clothes as Prince Croix and Avel were having a disagreement.

“It is one thing to kill enemies who face you in battle but it is another to execute helpless prisoners in cold blood. It's too much. They are beaten and have no will left to fight. Let this matter be the end without further bloodshed,” Prince Croix said splendidly.

“By letting them live they'll continue to pose a threat to me and become a permanent dagger on my back. Killing them now will nip the dilemma in the bud.”

“People can change. They deserve a second chance. Fear of what might be can kill a hopeful future. Please, find it in your heart to forgive them.”

“W-we’ll swear on our Intio to not seek further redress!”

“We’ll also mend our ways and make right our wrongs.”

“Please forgive us!”

“Forgive us!”

The six members of the Blue Hounds made their pleas. A tense silence was in the heavy air until Avel lowered his hand.

“Your resolve to defend your people has moved me. I’ll stay my hand,” Avel said.

“You’ve proven your honor, Mister Avel.”

“You,” Alfred stepped forward addressing the Blue Hounds. “By the grace of Prince Croix, 51st Prince of Latias, you still draw breath. Remember this to your last breath. Now swear your Oaths.”

“Yes, benevolent prince, our savior!”

Prince Croix took his time to create their Oath’s wording. He would also punish them by telling their deeds to their sworn lord. He assured Avel they would get their just sentence under Latisian law.

After they said their piece, Avel urged them to continue their journey. As he passed by, Alfred put his hand on his shoulder.

“You have my gratitude for following the prince’s wish.”

“There’s no need for that. I see we both want to rid the world of injustice. We simply have a variance about how that might be achieved. I’m not so proud to think my way was the only way.”

To Avel’s word, Alfred replied with a nod of respect.

As the Blue Hounds were kneeling to Croix, the young prince saw Boram had a look of disappointment for the briefest of moments before following after his master.

“Let us be off,” Avel said. “There’s still ways to go.”

***

“Whew… They’re gone.”

“Bloody Hell… I thought it was the end for me.”

“What a stupid bunch. I’ll make them regret killing my friends.”

“The Oath will be tricky but there are ways to break it.”

“Count me out. I’m leaving this life behind, turning a new leaf. I’ve got a second chance, won't waste it.”

“Hm? Who’s that?”

“Are they turning back?”

“No, it’s not them. It’s someone else.”

“Good afternoon, everyone,” Arsène had a business smile on his face. “Nirvana Transportation Service~”

***

Deescalation.

What a wonderful word.

For some reason unfathomable to him, Croix really put his neck out for the six remaining Blue Hounds.

If Viers was the ordinary kind of villain, he would have killed those prisoners in front of the prince’s eyes. To prove a point or to show how a badass evil he was. Even if killing was off the table, a display of cruelty such as maiming was an alternative.

Viers’ personality was more… limber.

There was no need to have a break with the prince for something so trivial. They were merely six extras. Interacting with people meant disagreements were bound to happen. Being able to solve those disagreements in a satisfactory manner was a social skill and a sign of mental maturity.

The correct answer for this conundrum was obviously killing them out of sight, out of mind.

Killing them in cold blood is too much? Preposterous! There is no such thing as overkill!

By ‘backing down’, Croix and Alfred’s favorability went up yet Viers still got his way.

Ten out of ten marks.

That night, at camp.

“We are close to Stormberg. As always, the last stretch is the most perilous one,” Alfred said.

“If they know our destination, they’ll lay in wait. Put traps. Less ground to cover too,” Viers said.

“Just so. From here on out there are three routes. The straight road, the elven forest, and the Floating Rock Chasm,” the Level 4 said.

“The road is the most simple but the ones that are out to get me will not fail to have men there,” Croix sighed. “And Stormberg is so close too…”

“We can try to break through forcefully but without knowing the opposition, I don't like that option,” Viers said.

“That leaves two routes left. The elven forest sounds nice,” Boram said while feeding the horses.

“The elves will see it as trespassing on their lands. Not to mention, some elven groves shoot outsiders on sight. Don't know about this one though,” Viers hummed.

He was thinking in some alternate future, if he didn't give his elf friendship token to Jessica, would this be his chance to visit an elven enclave? He may never know. According to Jessica’s white card signal, she was elsewhere. She must have visited another elven forest.

“We should not worsen the Kingdom’s relationship with the elves. It is quite bad already. So, Floating Rock Chasm it is,” Croix decided.

“I wonder if this will be the case of I-know-you-know-that-I-know this is a trap and our enemies concentrate their forces at the chasm,” Viers said sarcastically. “It’s one of three. They might be willing to take a gamble.”

***

A man was overlooking a misty great chasm.

The maw in the earth was hundreds of kilometers long and the bottom was a pit of darkness. Jumping in was a free fall to certain death. Thick mist perpetually cast a shadow on this place. Flapping wings, beastly growls, and otherworldly whispers were often heard from behind the pale curtains. Rocks were floating above the chasm, like gravitational anomalies. Some were quite big, islands on a vast sea of nothingness. Each of those islands had thousands of smaller rocks near their surroundings.

Someone approached the somber-looking man from behind.

“Gram,” the new arrival said.

“Bennec? Hm… to have sent you here means the client is growing impatient.”

“Not only me. A Knight Order is also on the way. The client really wants the little prince to not reach Stormberg alive. However, it is rare to see you botch a hit, friend.”

“I’ve got the quarry cornered, but a pair of busybodies moved with the prince. No matter. You are here. The stage is set and the target nears.”

“Let's get to work,” Bennec readied his weapon. “Never killed a prince before.”

“What happened to your dagger?”

“I changed it for something better,” he said with a tint of happiness. “A little souvenir from Zetel.”

***

“Watch your steps, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Alfred,” the prince took the knight’s hand.

The party had reached Floating Rock Chasm. There was no bridge from one side to the other. Beside flying, the only way across was to hop from stone to stone.

The prince was the only one among them who was not a Pathseeker. His mobility was very different from the other three. A height that they could pass with one jump took the prince much more effort to conquer.

Earlier, he almost slipped but Alfred snagged him before he fell. The prince’s satchel swayed as he trekked. Viers gave the little prince some credit, Croix was at least not a pampered brat. He hadn't complained about the hard journey thus far.

The heavy mist made the visibility poor and the rocks slippery. It was treacherous terrain. That was before accounting the locals.

“Heads up. There’s incoming,” Alfred warned. The Level 4 had the highest ability so it made sense he detected the enemies first. Viers also realized it but he acted as if he didn't.

“More flying squirrels, or the mist monkeys?” Boram asked. They had met a lot of them earlier.

“No… They are something new! Watch out!” Alfred shouted.

From the mists emerged spectral figures. Ghosts! They weren't particularly strong but physical attacks didn't phase them. Boram swung his hammer and earth Artes to no avail.

“Begone!”

A flash of light repelled the spirits.

“They won't return anytime soon,” Alfred said.

“What was that?” Viers asked.

“A talisman from the Church. I don't have much but should be enough until we make it across.”

“Who were they? They are human spirits, are they not?” Croix tried to peer past the mist. He was quite surprised upon seeing the ghosts.

“Suiciders and the poor souls who died here, Highness. Normally souls of the dead would be invisible but at special places like the Chasm they can be seen with the naked eye,” Viers explained.

“Indeed,” Alfred said. “You know well.”

“The Chasm is a famous suicide spot. I’m aiming for Stormberg from the start. I’ve done some research about the road.”

That was the excuse that Viers gave.

“Best to cross while not making too much disturbance. This is a Tier 4 Red Zone. People have sighted Rank 4 monsters in the past.”

Boram gulped his saliva hearring his master’s words.

“As you say,” Alfred agreed.

They pressed on. Sometimes they had to wait until a rock of suitable size floated nearby so they could continue across. Sudden winds and monster attacks included, all in all, nothing they couldn't handle.

“We’re almost there, Master.”

With the shore in sight, Boram couldn't hide the relief in his voice.

“Alfred, I see people,” Viers whispered.

“Yeah, I see them too,” Alfred said grimly.

As they got closer, the figures became clearer and clearer. There were two companies of knights. One side was wearing black armor with a red accent and the other was wearing white with a yellow accent. Both sides were facing each other with hostility. The white knights were about thirty men and the blacks numbered twenty.

“What do we have here?” Viers asked but no one answered.

After they crossed the last stone and left the chasm behind, two people approached. The one from the black knights’ camp was riding a wyvern and the white knight’s representative was atop a gryphon. Both were Level 4.

“Prince Croix and his company, I presume,” the gryphon rider said.

The voice indicated that the knight was a woman under her helmet. And indeed it was so as she removed the helmet.

“My name is Malika, from the Thunder Wing Knightly Order. I’m here under order of Countess Grace Weiss of Stormberg. My men and I will safeguard you.”

“Thank you, Lady Malika,” Croix said.

“Do not be led astray, My Prince,” the man in black said.

“And you are?”

“Black Shield Knightly Order, Harper,” he gave a knight’s salute. “We rushed here as fast as the wind because Prince Marvin heard of a plot for your life. He said to tell you that the Thunder Wing and the one holding their leash, your aunt, cannot be trusted. Please come with us, Prince Croix. Your brother worries about you very much.”

“Do not believe a word of what he said, Your Highness,” Malika interjected. “They are here to dispose of you. They employed the assassins!”

“Not true. That is your doing!”

“Falsehood will not save you!”

“Highness, come!”

“My Prince, with us!”

Oi, oi, oi, what is this drama?

“Highness, who are they?” Viers whispered. “Who do you trust?”

“The Thunder Wing are the forces of my aunt, ruler of Stormberg, while the Black Shield is my brother’s, the 40th in line, Prince Marvin.”

“So who’s the one that wants you dead?”

“I don't know! Both are always kind to me. I don't believe any of them want me dead!” Croix was torn.

“Well, we must make a decision. The pot is ready to blow.”

“Alfred…”

“I cannot make the decision for you, Young Lord. But no matter what, I’ll support you to the end.”

After a swift but heavy contemplation, Croix made a decision.

“Thank you for your kind intentions, Knight Captain Harper, but I wish to meet my aunt in Stormberg. I’ll be sure to write a letter to my good brother soon. Knight Captain Malika, I’ll be in your care.”

“...If that is your wish,” Harper backed down.

“No harm will come to you under our watch, Prince Croix,” Malika said.

As Croix and company walked to the Thunder Wing camp, one of the knights in white armor suddenly tried to stab Croix with a dagger. However, Alfred was beside him and prevented the attack.

“Treachery! To arms, Black Shield! Take back the Prince from their evil clutches!”

“Ambush! Protect the Prince!” Malika ordered.

Chaos ensued.