Chapter 29
People fear the unknown, and in a moment of need, they hurriedly put their trust in something unknown. What a pleasure it is to dream that someone up there hears your secret desires and then, with a snap of his fingers, delivers them to you. All you have to do is pray.
Minos scoffed. This was the weakness that the new order had brought. During the time of the Thalebrooks, there was no concept of religion; your king was your god.
He chuckled once more as he looked out the window and saw the angry crowd yelling and growing larger as time went by.
"Pathetic!" he spat, before opening the door to King Hendrick's study.
"My Lord, what do we do?" Minos asked, his voice toned with concern. "The bad harvests and the occasional probes from Kaelthor have added fuel to it."
King Hendrick was looking out the window behind his chair, his eyes cold.
"Why did Liu do that?" Hendrick asked, his voice low and cold.
Minos gulped, and his brows subtly came together. He didn't think this would be the first question he was asked; he was expecting the reaction of the others.
'As expected of my best friend. He's still smart.'
"I don't know, my Lord. He has probably joined hands with Kaelthor," Minos stated, trying to create a diversion.
However, Hendrick swiftly whirled his chair and stared deeply into Minos's eyes, as if he suspected him of something.
"Minos, that is not how Kaelthor works. They are brutes!" Hendrick remarked. Minos could feel the room heat up, probably as a result of Hendrick subconsciously releasing his aura.
Minos's eyes darkened, and a dangerous gleam passed through them. "But my Lord, that is not as important as the Cardinal Dukes being here."
The room's temperature surged to higher degrees, and Minos couldn't help but wipe beads of sweat from his face. Even though he was mostly unaffected by the release of aura, Hendrick's own bothered him from time to time.
"Those scheming bastards!" Hendrick growled.
Then, suddenly, the room cooled, and he coughed up some blood.
"My Lord! Are you okay?" Minos offered him a kerchief, and Hendrick weakly used it to clean his mouth. Minos stood by him with a worried expression.
"I'm okay, Minos. I guess my time is up now." He chuckled bitterly. Minos looked on coldly without saying a word.
"Tell those old bastards that we will speak after the Assembly tomorrow," Hendrick ordered, holding onto his ribs.
Minos nodded. "What about the crowd?"
"Let Garran deal with them. That brute should learn to do something right."
Minos beamed and walked out calmly.
Hendrick stared at the back of his childhood best friend and was suddenly overcome by an inexplicable emotion.
Everything was strange to him; he knew that some traitors hid in the sunlight, but he didn't expect this public prophecy charade. Liu already knew about his illness, so why did he publicly mention it as if some non-existent gods had told him?
He coughed once more, but his eyes grew cold.
Moreover, how did he know that Veronica suffered the same illness? Only two people knew about that—Minos and him. So how did the message get to him, unless there were truly some gods who told him?
Hendrick scoffed at the thought. He got up from his seat and walked to a window by the wall. He could see the streets and the cities from this side, and though some were going on with life, the majority of them were already protesting.
This was why his father created this religion in the first place: to create a deep sense of fear for the unknown and cause a chain reaction if something tips it. Though it was now being used against them.
The irony of it. There are no gods; he was the god. But somehow, his secret leaked.
The room blazed once again, this time fiercer and more powerful.
---
Meanwhile, outside the palace, Veyron's carriage was parked. It was far away from where the angry crowd was, and though he could barge through them without any effort, he wasn't willing.
"I can't believe you let us leave so suddenly. We were supposed to stay there for a month," Bentley complained, completely ignoring the yells of the crowd.
Veyron noticed Garran climb onto the balcony, and the crowd grew calm, though some were still noisy.
He raised his hands and began addressing the crowd, but from their distance, they couldn't hear what he was saying. Bentley pushed closer to him.
"Isn't that the Crown Prince? He isn't bad; this is the first time I've seen him animated," Bentley remarked, nodding his head calmly.
They saw Garran holding up a scroll, which seemed like a decree, and the crowd calmed down.
"What is he telling them? I bet they are not listening. They are still scared of the 'doom'," Bentley dramatically gestured with his hand.
Veyron didn't stay behind to talk and bolted out of the carriage. His speed was far greater than Garran's own.
Garran was in the process of speaking when he felt the air suddenly turn chilly. He warily looked around but didn't spot anyone and continued.
Veyron moved stealthily and entered Hendrick's office.
He felt his frost quickly defrost the minute he entered. The heat was searing, and he could feel his body start to melt. After all, how could a late-stage High Human compare to a Great Human? It was impossible.
Hendrick retrieved his aura and turned to face his guest.
"I didn't think you would be back this soon," Hendrick said as he moved towards his seat, though his steps were slow.
"Well, I just realized that my brothers may be missing me," Veyron replied flatly. His bored eyes surveyed the room.
"How did you get into this mess? It seems like you are being targeted," Veyron said.
Hendrick forced a smile on his face. He was embarrassed to be told this by his acquaintance's son. But he wasn't lying; Eldoria was being targeted on all sides.
"The medicine is still there," Veyron offered once more. His voice no longer carried the frost it had when he was speaking to others. It felt like there was some kind of respect.
Hendrick chuckled and shook his head once again. "I just have a few things to do, and then I'll go."
Veyron scoffed. He couldn't understand why the man was refusing a method to literally elongate his life—and, by extension, his rule. This was every man's dream, but they didn't get it, and here he was throwing it away.
"Don't you think you are being reckless?" Veyron couldn't help but ask.
Hendrick frowned, obviously not following the message.
"You are leaving your children and your kingdom in the hands of someone as ambitious as him? Are you being serious?"
Hendrick twisted his lips and looked down at his table.
"So you suspect him?"
"Suspect? Your assistant wanted to assassinate me!"
Hendrick frowned, finally realizing the seriousness of the problem.
Veyron scoffed once more. "He is part of something bigger than Eldoria. I can't always help you; that's the reason why I'm leaving. I can sense that my brothers miss me."
Hendrick's frown deepened. He knew the relationship between Veyron and his siblings, and it definitely wasn't a good one. Did this mean someone in Iskaria was manipulating Minos?
He wanted to ask, but his ego as an uncle figure and a king didn't let him, so in the end, he changed the subject.
"So, are you done here?"
Veyron sighed and twisted his lips. "Unfortunately, they were too weak to fulfil the terms." Veyron shook his head as if it was a genuine waste of time to travel to that kingdom.
Hendrick smiled secretly. He had always wanted to do this, but he thought of leaving it with Minos. But considering that he was now a wild card, he had to try Veyron once more.
"What about Eldoria? Are we not good enough to help you?" Hendrick probed.
He saw Veyron freeze before a smile lit up his cold face. He had an unyielding inkling that Veyron would win the crown of Iskaria, so what better way to leave his kingdom than with the mighty Empire of the North? They would be completely powerful.
"Do you think Eldoria can do it?" Veyron threw the question back, his smile widening into a grin. His face still seemed cold; however, in that coldness, a handsome countenance stared at the King. He already knew what Hendrick wanted to do, and honestly, he was interested. That was the main reason why he came here.
"Eldoria can't, but an island can."
Veyron arched a brow. He wasn't expecting this offer. A Southern island offered many resources that could help him, but what he needed now was not material resources; he needed human resources.
Veyron thought about it and shook his head.
"What about the Sapphire Aegis?"
Hendrick frowned, surprised by how Veyron knew of their existence. The Aegis were the elite protectors of the crown and were considered the best assassins in the entire continent, even on par with those of Iskaria.
"I can't give them to you, Veyron. They are to protect the crown." Hendrick resolved that he couldn't risk his children's lives when someone like Minos was still at hand.
Veyron nodded. "Your children will die. Who will be able to protect them better than I can? The Aegis? Do you think Garran would be able to control them?"
Veyron threw question after question at Hendrick, but he couldn't retort. He knew that it was the truth. The Aegis only reflected strength, and had it been the earlier Garran, that would have been perfect. But the current Garran was too weak to control the weakest of them. Still, he didn't feel okay letting them into Veyron's hands.
"I will protect your children by myself."
Hendrick exhaled in relief when he heard Veyron say that. The Aegis might be strong, but they couldn't compare to Veyron, an individual whose powers did not match what was natural. He had a silver aura instead of purple or amethyst. That was unprecedented.
"Ok, then. I will begin the transfer."
Veyron smiled smugly. Now his mission in the Southern Continent was completed