"Was this necessary?"
"What do you mean?" Chloe asked.
"I'm just wondering what kind of being can inspire such loyalty." It's insane.
The man voluntarily chose to jump onto Eric's spear.
Thinking back on their last exchange—
At that moment, Eric burst forth with a speed that would have left me unable to react, at least solely relying on my physical senses. As good as they may be nowadays. Thankfully, focusing my will on my senses temporarily expanded and deepened my perception. As such, I caught a glimpse of another world. Eric was the only object in motion in that world where everything else had stopped. He burst through the space separating him from the ex-Fae royal guard, his spear before him, parting the air dangerously.
I saw realization dawn on the guard's face. He couldn't avoid that spear thrust. He was moving far too slowly for that.
It was clear to those able to see the exchange that the spear thrust was originally meant to incapacitate, just targeting the shoulder. But that man, as if possessed, moved minutely in such a way that the spear's path changed, now pointing toward his heart.
The insane thing was that he shifted only at the last second, making it impossible for Eric to readjust his strike.
"He understood he couldn't win once Eric summoned his spear. So he avoided the worst-case scenario for him—capture and interrogation," Chloe said after a moment.
I nodded, agreeing with her. That was the most likely reason for that suicidal move.
An individual who could inspire loyalty unto death. That was the true enemy.
Shudder.
I wonder how many of them he had around him. Judging by the diversity of the individuals we confronted here, his charisma must be off the charts.
Akin to a great cult leader.
"I f—ing hate fanatics!" Lorn, now awake, came near us and joined the discussion. Looks like our resident blood sorceress did wonders—all his wounds had disappeared miraculously.
Even his complexion was better.
"I second that," Arum said, having woken up as well, his expression serious as he followed behind Lorn.
Suddenly, a thought struck me.
"Can't we catch those glowing ashes? Maybe bring them to Faerie for his resurrection?"
Chloe's eyes shone at my question. She looked inquisitively at Eric, who was slowly descending onto the roof, and at the deceased Fae dissipating behind him.
"Sorry, Princess. I'm afraid he can't resurrect, even if we brought him to Faerie. My spear—the Royal Armament, Kingslayer—kills definitively. It also bypasses Nik's decree."
Chloe's eyes widened in surprise.
I was bewildered, too. For a weapon to defy a god's decree… What kind of concept was that?
"Well, that's that, then," Chloe sighed, letting it go.
"Of course, it would've been convenient for us," Lorn said. "But since we can't get intel from the Fae directly, let's properly search this place."
"I already searched before joining you. That's why I was delayed. Nothing critical, but I found a locked space I couldn't breach quickly. If there are clues in the manor, they'll be there. May I suggest we try breaking in?"
Eric waved his hand, and the air distorted, revealing a huge door made of unknown metal, seemingly located somewhere in the manor.
Judging from the image, it looked like an old dungeon—long stairs led to the door, and torches with green fire lined the walls.
Suspicious as hell.
Runes were inscribed on the door.
"Magically sealed?" Lorn asked.
"Yes, I think so," Eric confirmed.
"Shall we go there, then?"
"Shall we go there, then?"
The twins stood behind me, naked, speaking with uncanny synchronicity.
Huh?"You guys woke up? I guess Celia finished patching you up." I was a little surprised by their interjection—I hadn't noticed them until they spoke.
Celia nodded at me while the twins looked at Chloe expectantly. "Okay, let's see what lies beyond that door," Chloe decided.
It took only five minutes to reach the door Eric had shown us with his glamour. The manor, which had seemed infinite while we were trying to regroup with Chloe, now appeared average in size. It must have been the effect of the ex-Fae royal guard's glamour. Now that he was dead, the illusion had lifted.
"So, what do you think?" As soon as we stood before the door, Lorn got to work.
"Truly, a masterpiece. These glyphs are set up in such an intricate way..." Lorn was marveling at whatever magic was set up to lock that door.
"Can you unlock it?" Celia, who was now next to him, also observing the old door, asked, preventing his mind from wandering any further.
Lorn fell silent for a moment, one finger tapping his chin, then spoke,
"Yeah, I think so. But it will take too much time. There are faster ways." He was now looking at me.
What are you looking at?
I couldn't help but take a step back. I remember the last time he looked at me like that.
"Samsara, I think this time, too, your help is needed. We once again need your sacrifice." Lorn spoke in a contrite tone, but the smirk on his face told me he enjoyed the opportunity to use what he calls an unending source of energy.
"Ugh. Fine." I resigned myself.
Standing before him, I said, "Do it quickly."
"No trouble, you won't feel a thing." He unsheathed his sword from who knows where, and in a smooth motion, he slashed.
Nick.
Ssssssss.
Plop.
When I opened my eyes once more, I was on the ground, and my head was reattached to my body.
Proping myself up, I quipped: "You're getting more skilled at this." Eyes narrowed, I looked at him suspiciously.
He avoided my gaze.
Now that he had obtained the energy boost needed, Lorn was once again covered by various glyphs, turning his entire body alit with a mystical white glow.
His joking demeanour melted away, and his eyes sharpened. He pressed two of his fingers upon his sword. His fingers stopped a couple of inches from touching the blade. Then, in a quick motion, he drew them along the edge of the blade, making the several glyphs inscribed on the blade awaken, but unlike those on his skin, they glowed a deep red color.
His figure moved at a speed that would have left any vampire unable to complain. In front of the door, he brought down his sword in a downward slashing motion. There was no noise as the blade seemed to have passed through the door without leaving any damage, like an immaterial object.
His lips parted and a single word exited them, "BREAK!!"
The word evoked the same images in my mind as the previous time. But now, they carried an intent that was far more potent.
Just as Lorn was sheathing his sword, the glyphs locking the door brightened, blinding us all before dimming to nothing.
"Done." He said smugly.