"I know that the alternate we used as bait to try to trap Mideia escaped Valdis and made its way to Myrdin to try and attack Aurae, though none of the elves seem to know why," Erumon darted his gaze across the floor while he recalled the information.
"I see. It seems they don't know about Aurae's inheritance of the Benevolent Ring and what it contains, or perhaps, not all of them do," Karthus said, placing a curled finger on his sharp chin. "Wait, you can't mean tha-..." Erumon halted as Karthus's hand moved from his chin to his mouth in a silencing gesture.
Erumon's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh, I see," he began with an understanding nod. "However, is it possible that the Scourge was the one who brought it under his control?" Erumon asked, taking precautions not to use the name, though it was Sildyr who surprised him with a nod. "Unfortunately, it is possible, and what it implies is far worse than anything Kavrass is prepared for," she said gravely.
They let her words hang for a few moments, each trying their best to come up with a solution to their predicament, but nothing immediately came to mind.
"Well, at least the ring is in as good hands as it can be. I told Taegin, Ardrin, and Bernar to seek him out, given their current situation," Erumon broke the silence with a slight sigh, causing the others' eyes to widen in surprise. "They were able to wake him?" Vauv asked with genuine enthusiasm.
"I-I'm not sure, but out of those who remained in Caegwen, it would be those three who had the best chance of doing so, since Aurae is helping to train Queen Leona of Coltend in the ways of the Wraithborn," Erumon explained, getting a chirp of excitement from Vauv, and a look of genuine surprise from the others.
"What, ultimately, was the reason you had them wake him?" Karthus asked after having had a moment to consider the gravity of that request. Erumon produced the pearl he'd taken from his bracelet and held it out for the others to see. Their expressions shifted from hopeful to ones of pure disdain at the sight of it.
"One of the Dericoed tried to devour an orb of Leech mana laced with Tyrant mana. I was lucky to have gotten there when I did, since the poor creature seemed out of control when the orb grew enough to be cause for concern," Erumon explained, getting a shared look of worry and shock from the others.
"Then we're already too late, and our worst fears have been confirmed. Things have been set in motion now that will not allow that realm to return to form. Erumon, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but I need you to send him a message for me," Karthus said, lowering his tone to little more than a hush.
Are you trying to hide this from the other dukes? Erumon asked him, getting a nod of agreement. Yes. Please inform Duke Ryfon that the other members of the council might be planning a coup, with Mideia as its herald, Karthus said, prompting Erumon's eyes to flare angrily.