Ch. 40 – Ethdellin (III) (Patreon)

The last day of meetings passed by much as the first two had. As the sun set, they spent one more night in the VBV before returning, throwing on their cloaks and hoods, and checking out. The streets were busy in the cool, breezy morning. Groups of guards patrolled the streets in small squads of four, dressed as ornately as those who were outside of the main walls. Melanie led them along hidden paths once more; routes through the city that only a native who had lived here for many years could know about.

They arrived at a gated courtyard with a large manor house inside the boundaries. Felix introduced himself to the servant who was standing at the entrance, and he opened the gate for the trio, leading them up to the manor house and showing them to a large dining hall that had been cleared out.

Brianne Nevrenaux II was standing near a large, unlit fireplace as she gazed at the nick-nacks on the mantle. She turned to the group as they entered and bowed her head slightly, “Come now, take off those cloaks. You should look your best!” She snapped her fingers and a servant came up to take their cloaks. A few more servants brought in some cushioned chairs, and Brianne invited them to sit. “We’ve built up a decent amount of support. I’d estimate seventy percent of the nobility is on your side, princess.”

Tinuriel sat upright, “That leaves thirty percent on this usurper-king’s side, or neutral.”

Brianne nodded, “They are all very loyal. At a minimum, Melanie, you will have to cull that group unless they bend the knee.” She waved over a servant who brought drinks. “I would expect that we will encounter them soon enough.”

I need you to use Affinity Empowerment to affect three targets.

I’ll do it the second you use your Magic/Power.

Detect Substance.

The faint, golden glow surrounded their drinks, and rapidly cycled through the contents of each glass. No poison. You’re good.

Felix took a sip of the liquid. It tasted like a sports drink mixed with vodka. Tinuriel drained hers in a single go, and Melanie just held it silently. People began to file into the room, and servants brought them beverages as they each came up to Brianne, bowed slightly to Melanie, and were brought a chair. Within an hour, the whole room was packed with well-dressed and fancy nobility.

Melanie stood up in front of them and curtsied, “You all met me already. But, to put any doubts to rest…” she reached for a pendant around her neck and held it up. A solid, silver disk with an imprint of the spire on it. “I am Melanie Parslia Ventorus Remarda IV, rightful heir to the throne of the Eternal City. As you saw over the past few days, the Versewalker and his Escort gathered evidence – plentiful proof – that my uncle, William VIII, arranged for the murder of my father, Billiam III.”

There were some shouts of outrage from the audience and many harrumphs. Brianne stood up next to Melanie. “It has been three years that we have been under the rule of an usurper. With your support, we plan to present the evidence in the king’s court this evening. I would request that you bring the maximum allotment of your guards and mercenaries as allowed by royal law.”

A tall, thin man stood up and bowed at the waist, “It is our honor to restore the proper bloodline to the throne.” He was followed by several other individuals who joined in the sentiment, and soon enough the whole room was swearing themselves to the cause.

Felix looked over at Melanie and watched her closely. She seemed to be full of energy, but there was some level of discomfort and uncertainty. The way she stood, how she shifted her body weight between her feet instead of staying planted in one place. The glancing around the room. She thinks someone here is out to get her. Let’s make sure that’s not happening. Detect Hostiles.

The golden aura did not limn anyone inside the room, but outside of the building, he saw a large group of golden blobs – hostile targets – approaching the front door. “Tinuriel, we have trouble. Get Melanie out safely,” he whispered to her. He stood up and went to the main door.

Tinuriel got up and grabbed Melanie, whispering in her ear before leaving out the back door. They had planned for this possibility – having already arranged a rendezvous location.

Felix got past the now-upset supporters and flung open the front door. He saw a group of fifty guards, all of whom were armed and armored, and were led by a similarly dressed man with a red pennant tied around his shoulders. “Hi, I’m the Versewalker. Why are all of you coming here with hostile intent?”

The man held up his fist and the guards stopped in neat, orderly rows. “Stand aside.”

Felix crossed his arms and stood in the doorway. “What if I said no?”

“Stand aside, Versewalker.”

“Or what? You’re going to beat me up? Arrest me?”

The man lowered his hand and pointed at Felix, “No. I will do this!” His hand began to glow with a cerulean light.

Anathema Prison.

A cage of glittering, blue starlight appeared around the man, and his Magic fizzled. He gestured once more as if he was trying to activate a Magic/Power effect, but nothing happened. “See, that’s just rude. Using Magic on me? Just because you don’t believe me?” Felix taunted him with a laugh.

“Men! Seize him!”

Felix activated Ghostwalk and Undetectable Step, vanishing from sight.

He walked around the now befuddled group of men and into the main street before dropping both effects, “You guys are not good at your jobs.”

The guards wheeled around and began to give chase as Felix took off down the boulevard, running at top speed. He was astonished at how fast he was going – this being the first time he’d full-out sprinted since his recent Core Level increase. His breathing came easily, and he cleared city block after city block as the guards faded into the distance. He turned a corner, reactivating Ghostwalk and Undetectable Step, and made for the rendezvous location.

[Achievement Unlocked: Escaped pursuit]

He had to deactivate Undetectable Step to keep his Vigor at a decent level, but blending into the crowds was not an issue. As he walked amongst the people, he couldn’t help but wonder about the people who weren’t nobility. The thought had crossed his mind before but being in that hotel room for hours and hours, he hadn’t really had a chance to explore. Now, he did, and what he saw was confusing. The various people who were working jobs – street cleaners, shopkeepers, servants – none of them seemed like they lived in the Eternal City. What’s that about? Does the System know?

Checking…It looks like most of the working class commutes to this Tier. Either from the shanty towns outside or from Mercantus. There was a sense of dismay in his voice. People born into the noble class live here and get all the benefits of being unageing.

Care to share your feelings?

Lucifer was silent for several seconds before responding, I am a proponent of free will trumping all. There’s no class advancement here. People are stuck in their lot of life. An entrenched nobility and people hoping to advance…but not really having any hope of it.

Well, burning it all down isn’t really an option.

I wasn’t suggesting that. I’m just thankful that you decided to open your VBV to others.

Technically, I’m the final authority in there.

Someone has to be a top dog.

Almost correct. Just ‘top dog’.

Close enough.

Felix chuckled as he continued to pass unseen amongst the crowd.

Their rendezvous point was a cobbler that the trio had passed on the way to the meeting of Melanie’s supporters. Melanie knew the shop owner, and they popped inside, obtaining permission to use his back room if necessary. She sweetened the deal with a bag of one hundred coins.

Felix went inside and passed by the shop owner – who was busy working on some project, and thanks to Ghostwalk didn’t even notice the rogue. The back-room door was closed, and Felix deftly picked the lock before entering.

Melanie and Tinuriel were there, as was Brianne who was quite flustered, fanning herself incessantly. “Ah, you’re here,” she said. “Good job leading away those ruffians. We got everyone out.”

Tinuriel walked over to Felix and clapped him on the shoulder, “The plan is still on for tonight.”

“Good,” Felix walked over to Melanie. “How are you feeling about this? Are you ready to confront your uncle?”

She shook her head, “No, but I don’t have a choice. It’s now or never. We have allies now, but we need to move.” She looked to Brianne, “Is the Western promenade entrance still the best chance?”

“Mhmm. I’ve already sent agents to secure it.”

Melanie took a deep breath before exhaling it slowly, “Okay. How about you two? Are you ready?”

Felix sat down on a stool, “Give me thirty minutes for my Anima to refill.”

The four donned cloaks and hoods, making their way to the entrance of the Western promenade. They were let in through a well-hidden door that led to the palace’s kitchens. One of Brianne’s servants from her house was dressed in a military outfit of some type, and he saluted before giving a brief report.

Their allied nobles had brought their guards or mercenaries to act on their behalf. The king was planning on holding court and entertaining several motions from a cadre of lesser nobility on various functions and actions in the city. Melanie’s presence in the capital was just a rumor, nothing more.

Brianne laid out the plan; they would attend court but remain in the back. At the midway point through the various procedures, they would make their move. Melanie would be revealed, and the accusations made with the evidence Felix had compiled on Mercantus.

“Do we want to get him to reveal what he did in open court?” Brianne looked at him quizzically as he pulled out the Scepter of Truth from Invictus. “I can plant this near him and activate it. As long as it’s close, he cannot lie. If he answers, it will be truthfully.”

“Oh, that is dastardly,” Brianne muttered. “It would be excellent if he were to give up his own involvement. The rest of the nobles would turn in an instant.”

Melanie nodded, “But there’s one other problem that might happen. The throne is built next to the Soul Spire. If worst comes to worst for him, he might petition a god for help. They don’t act on Heficyre on their own, but I recall many times in my father’s reign when he would summon down an angel from above to administer judgment.”

“Can anyone do that?” Tinuriel asked.

“Anyone who touches the Spire here on the first Tier – the Pinnacle which is directly behind the throne – can do so.”

“Couldn’t I just fly up above the palace and touch it?” Felix asked. “I could ask a god of justice or something like it to come down and run a trial. Would they do it?”

Brianne shrugged, “I don’t know. Ceros – our god of justice – hasn’t been active on Heficyre in some time. She’s not worshipped anymore since laws have been codified.”

Take my advice – we want to keep any gods out of this. People need to do things for themselves. Relying on gods and divine intervention is going to lead to discontent. We did good work – well, you did good work – on Mercantus. Use that.

That made sense to Felix, “Okay. Tell me how to get to the throne room. I’ll sneak in and hide near the throne with the scepter. Tinuriel can bodyguard for Melanie.”

Tinuriel cracked her knuckles, “Maybe I’ll get to crack some skulls today. I've been itching to fight."

Melanie showed him the path with her hands, explaining the route. “Okay, so you’re going to go down this hall until it dead ends. Then, take a right up the stairs. Once you hit the third landing, go through the door marked with a star symbol. Just follow the line of gold along the ground, and you’ll be in the throne room. There’s space behind the dais where you could hide if you flatten yourself against it while standing.”

Felix activated Ghostwalk and Undetectable Step once more, vanishing from sight.

“See you when you’re there.” He followed the instructions to the throne room – flattening himself against the wall several times and using a Vigor Elixir to prevent his stealth abilities from running out.

The main throne room was a surprisingly simple design. An austere, slate-grey colored room devoid of windows. The only decoration was two tapestries on either side – one showing the creation myth of the world that Felix had heard prior, and the other showing an elaborate, extensive family tree. There were several benches set up in rows, interspersed with more ornate chairs. The floor was the same black granite that most of the floors were made up of, but a golden line traced its way to the throne. A blocky, ancient seat that was covered with a series of cushions because of its blocky shape. Behind the throne, a steel-grey pillar – the Pinnacle of the Soul Spire – thrust up into the ceiling and beyond.

The room was full of guards, interspersed evenly in two-foot increments along the wall. He was easily able to get behind the throne and dropped Undetectable Step so his Vigor would remain stable, as he chugged down a few more Vigor Elixirs. Buy me more.

Yeah, so I can’t make purchases over a certain amount when I'm doing this weird inter-VBV version. Some arbitrary limitations the System has imposed. I can get you a bunch of weaker ones.

Just enough to top me off.

You got it.

Felix’s inventory was filled with 400 VC worth of Vigor Elixirs that he quickly chugged down to top off his bars. He stood back against the throne, retrieved the Scepter of Truth from his inventory…and waited.

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