Demmas was taken forcefully into the windowless carriage, being forced to speak with the messenger along with four members of the Ornate Watch. The Empire's best known secret, who happily made their intentions known to Demmas for they all had their weapons drawn, and pointed to the warden.
"You have once again overstepped yourself."
The small messenger said, obviously unaware and uncaring of the difference of their blood. He was the oldest son of the Mulg family line, and Demmas could smell the filth of the Messenger's blood.
But before he could rebuttal, Demmas felt a chill run down his spine. An ice cold yet electric feeling, that seemingly drained Demmas of all his strength. But he had to keep up his appearance of a prideful dolt, so somehow found the strength to keep up his charade.
"Really? In what way?"
Demmas spoke putting on his thinnest veil of ignorance, which much to his joy angered the members of the Ornate Guard. But to his chagrin the messenger by the name of Jones, was not easily shaken.
"You knew Adder was who he said he was, he had the Imperial edict that proved his identity in his hands as your men arrested him. Once more your men have only stirred the paranoia of the people and have failed in every responsibility of your station and theirs."
Jones spoke in a cold detached tone, but his eyes gave away what he thought of Demmas, he was trash. Traitor or not noble or not, Jones saw the trash under all the noble or pureblood pretext. And Jones' eyes only shifted after a roar of applause shook the windowless carriage.
Much to the surprise of the Demmas , Adder's release from the imperial prison was treated like a parade. With crowds of people cheering when the Serpent King revealed himself riding side by side with the Imperial guard. Children waved their hats and arms trying to gain the attention of the Serpent King, their parents either bowed or shouted some patriotic phrase.
Of course the first son of Mulg could see none of this, he could only hear it. But even then, the idea of that thing getting applause and jubilation only meant for those of noble blood, not some snake in human clothing.
Jones immediately noticed Demmas' hateful jealousy, and happily took advantage of it. He smiled for the first time speaking with a member of the Mulg family line. The sight even caught the repulsed Demmas guard captain off guard.
"Adder Serpens."
Jones said in a tone of warm praise, his eyes brightened in what seemed like worship. Jones dramatically placed the back of his hand on his forehead, with the other one laid over his heart. Trying his best to mimic his beloved plays, as he spoke in total adoration of the young man.
"A true noble son of the Empire, and after all this time. If only more nobles were like the Serpent King, this war would have been won. And those fanatics and cowards who dwell in Vermus' shadow might have had a point in all this."
Demmas became completely still, trying as hard as he could to not show his fury from his hurt pride. He knew that he would have to play his cards incredibly carefully if he wanted to come out of this alive along with keeping his very important position. Especially to the council, and his brothers in arms that he had smuggled out of the dungeon after getting caught.
His position is one of the most important out of any of those who hid their true allegiance. Of course the Emperor and his bleeding heart lackeys had been on to him for a while. But thanks to the fact of his family connections and the meticulousness of the council he had nothing to fear about being caught.
Then once more that chill attacked Demmas' very soul, this time he could not stop the image of what had been haunting him this entire carriage ride from slinking its way back into his mind. Those crimson eyes had seemingly burned themselves into the Guard Captain's very being.
Worst of all, those eyes had reminded the warden about the returned 'Adder'. Who had caused a great upheaval in their plans, especially with the fact that Fedrick, his son Arthur, and the rest of the imperial knights. Would surely return to Kalynn after being informed of the fate of Igash and his army. Another variable that he and his 'brotherhood' would have to plan around once more.
But in time their greatness will win out over the common man's filth and with it their age of weakness would end, and Demmas along with the other members of the Council of Vermus, would return Nalice to her true strong and pure nature.
But what the slimy Guard Captain did not know was that chill came onto him when the Serpent King would occasionally look back onto the windowless carriage. For he knew exactly what that first and soon last son of Mulg truly was.
Adder's eyes beamed under his glasses, his smile turned cruel for a fraction of a second. For Demmas Mulg was nothing but a vile traitorous rat!
…
The Imperial Palace was grand and beautiful, truly the gem of Nalice's crown. A towering mighty palace, that doubled as an unbreakable fortress during times of trouble. Made from dazzling enchanted stone and shining true iron, it stood surrounded by the majesty of the capital city.
Adder was ushered in the moment his feet touched the ground, many of those who worked in the imperial palace stopped in place when setting eyes on the last of the Serpens. Others huddled away to speak with their colleagues in hushed whispers, something that Adder had long grown accustomed too.
'Why shouldn't they be worried? By the four, there are traitors in our midst. And sadly I will have to remove them slowly one by one.'
Adder thought to himself as he was escorted to the imperial chambers. Soon those large white doors were in front of him once more, reminding him of the last time he saw those doors. A memory that flashed once more within his mind, if he wanted it to or not.
…
[Five years ago]
It happened when Adder was barely thirteen years old, he came to the Emperor battered and wreathed in drying blood. The poor small sickly boy looked at the Emperor who sat in his dazzling throne as a believer would at their god.
The great Emperor's eyes shifted for a moment when he was faced with the boy's injured form. But as quickly as that empathetic gaze appeared, it vanished into the aether once more. The Emperor shifted in his throne as motioned Adder to speak.
The small and weak Adder could not complain, the Empire was massive. The one who rules it cannot show weakness or mercy unless it was truly needed. The last of the Serpens fell to his knees, the sudden movement made the imperial guard draw their weapons. Only for them all to receive Emperor Douglas' disapproving glare, but Adder didn't even react. Only repeating what he had been told to ask from the Emperor, still on his knees and head held low.
"I have come to beg for a change in housing."
The boy said in a broken hopeless tone, the Emperor stared at the boy who was barely older than his eldest. Behind his mask of cold nobility, Douglas despaired at the child's condition, this was a prisoner not a child barely on the cusp of being a teenager.
'What have they done to you, child?'
The Emperor deeply wished that he could ask that question, but he could not. The last bearer of the Basilisk had come at the worst time, those fanatics of his vile uncle has started to grow a following thanks to the new laws that allowed people from less illustrious backgrounds earn ranks that had only ever belonged to those of 'high birth'.
And if that wasn't enough Fredrick had caused a stir within the Imperial Guard, which due to being one of the strongest of the Empire. This made have to make a decision that went against his principles yet another to add to the growing pile. Splitting the Imperial Guard in two, with the rightful leader having to lose a full half of his forces. Just to placate the important but arrogant Fredrick Gol, who founded the Imperial Knights. Which quickly overshadowed the Imperial Guard.
And he would have to do so once more, for the last member of Serpens had nowhere to go. But he knew that Adder would only suffer if he returned back to whence he came, and even if he the oh so mighty Emperor decided to take in the boy in one way or another. He would suffer in ways the poor boy in front of him was unworthy to ever experience.
Of course he could try to pull strings to have another noble family to take ward for the last Serpens. But once more those hopeful ideas all inevitably hit a dead end in one way or another. He could pull strings to get a family to truly take care of the young bearer, but that would end as easily as it began.
And due to Adder being the sole bearer of a Calamity, made it impossible to find anyone who would ever take such a risk just out of the goodness of their heart. So with a weary heart but a clear mind, the Emperor gave Adder what he felt like was his best chance.
"There is only the Serpens Manor, your family home that has fallen into disrepair. It will not be easy, and you will be alone. All letters and edicts sent to you will be held by your territory of Cromb, though in truth it's your territory in name only. You will be alone, I cannot say who will help you when you arrive there."
The Emperor watched as the boy slowly and silently nodded his head, Douglas did the same as he motioned to an attendant to help the boy prepare for the journey to his family home. And the Emperor watched as the last bearer of Nalice slowly left his chambers, never to be seen again.
…
Adder strode into the throne with a zeal seen in priests on a holy day, his smile true and joy apparent. It was as if he had come to visit a family member he hadn't seen in years, he strode towards Emperor Douglas and performed an old salute from Nalice's great past.
The Serpent King took a knee before dramatically driving the side of his fist into his lower abdomen, as if stabbing himself with a dagger. It meant one was willing to die for the Emperor and the Empire.
The appearance of such a forgotten greeting made Douglas stare vacantly at the bowing serpent. Only for him to start cackling like a mad man, Douglas laughed as he pounded on the imperial throne, his amusement apparent and true.
Adder, still saluting, decided to join in with the Emperor's mad laughter, the two's laughter filled the throne room and beguiled the guardsmen and imperial attendants. Douglas raised his hand and gestured that they should soon stop.
Which Adder did immediately, which made Douglas want to laugh even more. But time for good humor was still sadly far from where they were now. The Emperor straightened his posture as he faced the kneeling Serpens.
'He's alive.'
Douglas thought to himself, his eyes enraptured by Adder's mighty form. The perfect visage of a warrior, tall, sculpted frame, and if his theory was true. Adder hadn't survived in Cromb, he had thrived. Adder had far surpassed Douglas' wildest dreams, and now all that he needed to do was prove it.
"Adder, if I may be curt, how about we address every one's greatest question."
Adder looked towards his surroundings before taking a deep breath and removing his glasses, his eyes still closed.Some gasped at Adder's beautiful face, his strong yet soft features paired with his platinum blonde hair. Made him akin to those only found in art, perfect but with mortal failings that made one recognize them as truly human.
but those warm feelings were quickly dashed as Adder's jaw opened far too wide for a human, revealing his curved dagger like fangs that dripped with venom. As those with a weak constitution made their distress known, Adder opened his eyes. Revealing the blood red orbs that drove many to madness, but for the Emperor it was a spectacle that he would never forget.
The eyes of a serpent, something infamous for there pure bestial cruelty. Those very eyes bore emotion in the way that only human eyes could ever do. He saw within those crimson eyes, laid shame, worry, fear, and the only emotion known to humans resolution.
"A Warden, our Empire my Nalice, has finally produced a True Warden and during our time of need… What a truly glorious day for us all."
The Emperor said with grandiose wonder. As the Serpent King rose to his feet, ready and willing to fight to the very end.
…
Demmas entered the throne room, ready to defend himself and his cause from the disgustingly weak Emperor. But when he entered he found Adder wearing worn plate armor and wielding a bronze and white spear.
"Oh, you already found my replacement? I must warn you that you should know that a bastard isn't human."
Demmas spoke trying to hide his burning fury, though his bitterness reared its head as he tried to sow discord between what was obviously a True Warden and the Emperor. Though as the Serpent King laughed as he started walking towards the chained up Demmas, the traitor felt that his luck would soon come to an end. Adder spoke as he put a hand on Demmas' shoulder, his tone light and jovial.
"I am not replacing you, I am here to kill you for betraying the Empire."
Demmas was gobsmacked by what the Warden had said, but he knew that any questions would never matter now. As he sent a pulse of mana to the artificial heart implanted within his chest. The device being the pinnacle of arcane engineering, boosting his physical abilities along with his mana.
Demmas' body swelled and his mana flared and burned around him, growing to nine feet tall, his mana burned bright purple. The heart was a gift from the higher ups of the council, it was a last stand and even if he won against the Warden and the Emperor. His fate was already sealed, death was now a certainty no matter what happened.
He broke from his chains and with his engorged body, tried to kill Adder and remove the Emperor from Nalice's reign. He screamed only to find himself unable to go forth and complete his final mission.
Even after becoming a tower of muscle and bloodlust, he found that even in this greater form he could not break from Adder's grip. Adder with a strength that far surpassed what his physique should be able to wield. Even with the new height difference, Adder was able to force the transformed Demmas to his knees. Shattering the stone work under the two of them.
Adder laughed as he clenched his spear and stabbed forward, though Demmas was not worried for he had seen what others in this form could do. He only agreed to the mad surgery because he saw how one survived a volley of cannon fire, with little injury. So he only had to worry about the time it took to escape the Warden's grip, and hopefully kill the disgraceful Douglas.
"Venomous Three!"
Adder roared as time slowed down as the spear's blade glowed crimson and two arcane serpents appeared and coiled around the spears haft. Demmas felt that same ice cold shiver he had suffered while under the Warden's gaze. Demmas watched in growing horror as his skin was pierced, flesh cut, and heart torn by the Serpent's attack.
Demmas, his power cut, fell limply to the ground, his last moments spent feeling true despair only to be cut short by Adder, who crushed Demmas head with his boot.
…
Douglas watched on in awe and relief, as Adder walked away from Demmas' corpse to return to his side. He had known of the Capital Guard Captain's true allegiance, but he also knew of the dangers of the artificial heart Demmas had been imparted with.
So he played the same game with Demmas that he did with his uncle so long ago. A game of hidden counter plays, and false victories. And the Emperor would have continued his game with Demmas for years if it weren't for Adder. Douglas smiled as he couldn't help thinking.
'Truly a Serpent is the best for ridding one's home of rats.'