Chapter 17: The Arrival of Aghora
"Big brother, what are you doing?" Julius asked in shock, freezing in place—he knew just how ruthless his brother could be, and that blade at his neck would show no mercy if he moved.
Nathaniel hissed in fury, "Why did you tell me to let Tyler go free?"
"That's exactly why I'm here… but please, lower that dagger first." Julius's voice trembled.
Nathaniel withdrew his blade and sat on the throne. Julius let out a deep breath, collapsing onto a chair nearby.
"Well, spit it out!" Nathaniel's rage was far from spent.
"Big brother, you know we can't risk upsetting the emperor right now—that's why I said to agree to the princess's request." Julius explained, keeping his voice measured.
"Hmph! But why do you think Princess Aurelia wanted to save Tyler? Could it be… she's fallen for him?" Nathaniel's thoughts turned dark. If that happened, all their years of careful plotting would be wasted, and everything would fall into Tyler's grasp. With power in his hands, Tyler would be the first to hunt them down.
The thought made Nathaniel anxious—he looked at Julius for reassurance.
"My brother, you fret too much. Do you really think I haven't considered all this?" Julius's tone stayed calm, but a poisonous smile curled his lips.
"And what about Tyler? Are you just going to let him go?" Nathaniel glowered.
"You think I'd let him slip away that easily?" Julius answered coldly.
"What are you saying?" Nathaniel pressed.
"I've already sent someone after him," Julius's grin widened.
"Who?" Nathaniel leaned in.
"Aghora."
"What? But he's—" Nathaniel started, but fell silent.
"No need to worry! Just like before, this time too, nothing will trace back to us. Tyler will simply vanish from the world, just like his father," Julius said, his eyes glinting with malice.
"But what if the princess already knows everything?" Nathaniel still couldn't shake his concern.
"First, we did nothing to harm the emperor, and everything that happened was family business—why would the emperor meddle in such trifles? Second, even if the princess fancies Tyler, after he's dead, she can't marry him anyway. That problem solves itself. Third, we already have the emperor's signature on the marriage pact—he's sworn to marry one of his daughters into our family, and he won't endanger his own in-laws. So, in politics, no one can beat me." Julius finished with a smug gaze.
Nathaniel finally relaxed. "If Aghora does his job, we have nothing to fear."
Julius chuckled. "No one has ever escaped Aghora."
The truth was, everyone imagined Nathaniel had engineered the coup—but the real mastermind, the one who spun plots and manipulated others, was Julius. Poisoning Tyler's father, tricking the emperor into signing the marriage pact—all were his work.
Meanwhile, in the training grounds…
Once Nathaniel and Julius had left, Princess Aurelia watched the duels for a while, but stood and turned to Viktor. "Uncle Viktor, can we see Tyler now?"
"Princess, I understand your feelings, but we should not interfere more in the internal affairs of a small kingdom. You've already saved his life—that is plenty." Viktor reasoned gently.
"But Uncle, you know the emperor agreed to the marriage contract. One of my sisters will marry into this family. Do you really believe scoundrels like Julius and Nathaniel—who betrayed their own brother—will remain loyal to the emperor?" Aurelia voiced her worry.
"So what do you want to do?" Viktor asked, cautious.
"We must find Tyler and persuade him to come with us to the Onyx Empire. He'll be safer there, and can grow his strength faster." Aurelia replied firmly.
"Alright. Let's find him and talk." Viktor agreed, and together they left the training grounds to search for Tyler.
On the snowy streets of Silverdale…
Tyler walked, lost in memory—recalling how he and Jessica spent their childhood, sometimes bickering, sometimes making up. The thought of her, in danger somewhere, weighed on him now; he had to reach Seven Rivers Abbey soon to save her.
He was still caught in his thoughts when a voice called out behind him.
"Prince Tyler!"
"Prince?" The word stunned Tyler—it had been over three years since anyone called him that. He turned, astonished.
"You?" Tyler asked, surprised.
"Yes, Your Highness," replied the young man with deference—it was Darren.
"But what are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be in the training grounds?" Tyler asked.
"I won my match and thought I would come find you," Darren answered honestly.
"Thank you. But I must go—I'm leaving Silverdale now," Tyler said with a sigh, glancing around the city one last time, unsure if or when he might return. He paced slowly toward the main gates.
Darren fell in step beside him. "Where will you go?"
"For now, I'll try to enter Seven Rivers Abbey near the capital of the Onyx Empire," Tyler answered, masking his intent—he didn't want to reveal his true reason: saving Jessica, or that he had no idea how she'd ended up imprisoned or who had betrayed her. First, he needed to become a student at the Abbey, then search for answers.
Darren's face lit with excitement. "Your Highness, do you think I could join too?"
Tyler forced a weak smile. "The entrance exam's famously tough. Only those who pass are accepted—even I'm not sure I'll make it in."
Darren's shoulders drooped, but he said, "Then I'll at least walk you to the city gates before heading back."
Tyler nodded wordlessly, and they continued on.
Soon they reached the city gate. Darren offered a farewell and turned to go.
But at that very moment—a massive bronze cauldron crashed down from the sky, thundering onto the road. The noise was deafening; the guards clapped their hands to their ears in shock.
Darren spun around at the sound—only to see, hurtling toward them, a cauldron the size of a small mountain.
Tyler, gazing wistfully at his city one last time, snapped to attention as the cauldron rolled straight toward him. Before he could react, it drew near; a bony hand shot out, grabbed Tyler, and yanked him into the cauldron's depths.
An ancient, shriveled man poked his head from the cauldron—his skin like wrinkled parchment, bones pressed against it from within.
Cackling, he cried, "Hahaha! How lucky! This boy bears a rare scent—the scent of my weapons. He's perfect for my next creation. I'm taking him!"
Darren stared, dumbstruck, then cried out, "Aghora!"
What happens next? Who is this Aghora, who has snatched Tyler away? Was it Julius who set all this in motion? Will Tyler escape from such a deadly enemy?
Find out in the next chapters…