Chapter 514 - A Cursed Throne
The demihuman and Hurst had the same gaping mouth while staring at the kneeling body rise, dust itself, and walk headless toward its head. Then, the body picked up its head and simply reattached it.
The neck, which never technically bled, healed as if nothing had happened. Abe moved his limbs around as if testing them before turning again toward the demihuman.
"You see, Hurst, this is what happens when you help others."
The demihuman started shaking as he met the green glow of Abe's eyes. However, Hurst grabbed the monster from his collar and glared at him with hatred.
"If you had such a power, why did you let my brother die?" spat Hurst with anger. Abe stared at him quietly despite being held like this, then slapped his hand away.
"I had no reason to save him, but I will tell you this: I obtained these powers after that incident," Abe adjusted his collar before he sighed. "I cannot save everyone."
There was a shadow of guilt on Abe's face, which prevented Hurst from attacking him again. This man, which he knew from childhood, was like a different person now. Abe walked toward the demihuman, took away the weapon, and threw it away.
"You... are not going to kill me?"
"I would never waste my powers. I healed you for a goal, and it has not been achieved yet. I will not kill you if it does not serve my purposes."
Hurst stared at Abe, lifting the demihuman into a sitting position. The light that came from the roots illuminated the cave's interior as Hurst realized that this man truly felt no hatred toward the man who decapitated him. The demihuman looked equally confused, but this matter calmed down his fears.
"Tell us what happened to you."
"I was... at the academy when a monster appeared, demanding that I tell him about that man. I obviously cannot, as I told countless others, but it said that eating me will tell him the truth."
"That was concise," smiled Abe. "I like you, but you have to tell me what they wanted to know. I am no different from those monsters you see. I want to know what they know so that I can stop them."
"You want to stop the vampires?" flinched the demihuman. "You are insane. I was followed here by countless of them, and they did not die as much as I attacked them."
"You are not answering my questions, demi," the smile disappeared from Abe's face. "I hate one thing in this entire world: wasting my time. I lived for eternity, you see, and that isn't enough to laze around, so every minute counts."
The threat confused Hurst, but it seemed to work on the demihuman. The man started to shake and stutter as he met Abe's eyes.
"I-I truly, cannot say anything else. That man did something to me that would kill me if I reveal anything about him."
"Who is the man you keep mentioning?" frowned Abe.
"This knight apprentice was one of the chosen ones in Runera, serving the Seika of Living Beings," Hurst stepped in to aid the demihuman. "That man is... terrifying. We tried to gain information on him, but anyone who left Runera can never reveal anything about him."
"That sort of power reminds me of someone," muttered Abe. "A long-lost friend, no less. This era might be interesting, after all. How about this, demihuman: tell me what you know, and I will heal you before you die."
***
The river raged, slamming its powerful waves at the dykes, destroying them. The knights stared with fear as the monster came out from within the water, each as tall as a building. These were the Mernars, but no one understood why they were attacking them now after retreating a few weeks ago.
"Attack!" shouted the general, waving his arm. The cannons lit up briefly before a thunderous boom shook the sky. Then, like a thousand meteors, the mana blasts vaporized everything in their path as they killed countless Mernars.
However, it took a brief moment for the cannons to be used again, and agile Mernars took this chance to dart toward the walls. They used their claws to climb the outer walls of the capital, which surrounded the countless farmlands.
"Sir, the cannons cannot reach that angle!"
Their most reliable weapon was rendered useless, but the general did not flatter. Another wave of his hand and a shadow appeared, a small man wearing a helmet.
"Use the firearms."
The command was enough as soldiers rushed to fire at the climbing Mernars. Their attacks were similar to the mana blasts but weaker in power. However, the damage was enough to hold back the Mernars, who started falling from the sky.
"We are holding the enemy back! Can this be all that Runera has?" shouted one of the advisors, but the general was silent.
In the distance, the riverbank started to disappear. The general frowned as the water level had increased while they were busy with the Mernars. Then, his eyes snapped as the water began to rise.
"Hide the cannons from the incoming attack!" shouted the general at the soldier, but they had just moved the cannons to the edge of the walls. Their confusion was visible as the wave rose higher, even higher than the wall itself. "Dammit. Brace yourselves!"
BOOM!
The giant wave slammed itself to the walls, shaking them. However, these hardened walls' structure was as steady as a mountain, shaped by the king. Most of the soldiers managed to hold onto the walls, despite many falling from the walls to their demise.
The army was soaked, but they were otherwise fine. The attack was more anticlimactic than they thought. However, there was nothing in the distance. As they looked for the enemy, a foot landed on the edge of the wall.
A celestial angel appeared, with wings of blue fire and a beauty that swayed the heart. However, the angel had cold eyes, and they seemed to freeze everything they stared. And frozen the soldiers were.
***
"The outer walls have been breached," reported the minister with sweat rolling down his face. Solomon listened to the report with indifference, but his brows twitched with annoyance.
All of this was irrelevant to him.
Solomon worked for years, created thousands of artifacts, built armies from scratch, all to bring back his loved one. However, now that he found a way to do so, nothing else mattered.
The Ancient One knew that Freda would fall if it were left to Solomon. However, Lorius did not take the lead, as if he, too, did not care about the fate of this kingdom.
"Your majesty, please give us a command!"
Solomon stared at the minister, who had tears in his eyes. This man was the one to take Amon's place after the former man's death. An incompetent noble pretending to care about the kingdom when his thoughts were clear to Solomon.
'Save us.'
Their pleadings rang one after the other as if toddlers wanting to be fed. Solomon did not understand how he always chose the wrong people to serve him, unlike the Seika, whose followers waged war to bring him back.
The amusing thing is that Solomon did not know where the Seika was, too. The disappearance came as a heartful reassurance that he was right to abandon the prophecy laid down for him by the prophet.
The breaking point was the knowledge that the prophet was none other than the Yozian Emperor, and it explained that the Seika was nothing but a traitor to his kingdom. The prophecy was nothing but an illusion, it seemed, as the Ancient One pushed him to confirm.
"Your majesty!" shouted the rest of the royal councilors. Solomon was tired of their relentless shouts, so he raised his hand for them to close their mouths.
The hall was quiet, and their eyes were desperate. These nobles looked like they were about to run away from this city at any moment, even though only the outer walls were breached.
'I am tired.'
Solomon thought as he scanned their faces, as hungry for safety and money as wolves craved flesh. That moment lasted for eternity, and their faces morphed into those of beasts.
The king was grateful toward the Seika in the end. There was nothing he felt toward the man other than gratitude. The corps he cultivated indeed fed his people, and now, the citizens of Livia were evacuated by his followers.
At least, the people would be spared from this bloodshed. Solomon felt like he was witnessing the war he waged years ago. The only difference is that he was the unjust king now, who had sold his heart to the devil and allowed it to feed on his kingdom.
'I wonder where you are, Avadil. I want to give you back this throne. Unfortunately, it is too heavy for me to carry. I want to rest and return what is yours. However, I know that you will refuse.. You know that this is a cursed throne.'