Proofread By Thomas F
Blades clashed hard as I pressed the one-armed man.
He is good, and his experience shows in how he is dealing with my attacks. I am using my artifact and covering each of them with the power of dissolution.
To guard against me, he is pulling more power out of his artifact.
"Your mastery over your artifact has increased a lot since the last time we fought, General Hiren," I said, feeling the power he is pulling from the belt.
"I am improving, but I am far from enough to reach the power that I need to bring out that ability from the artifact."
Sometimes, I regret giving him this artifact. If I hadn't, he might have gone to the archimage city and regenerated his hand. He didn't want to now; the other woman is the same.
I pushed those thoughts away and focused on the battle.
I only used a small amount of aura, focusing more on the artifact's power. Dissolution is a great power, and I need to learn to use it well.
I have seen what it would do in the vision.
How that storm-like lightning bolt had been destroyed before it had even touched that snake.
Minutes passed, and the spar continued. I could feel that he had reached his limit. Seeing that, I begin to push him even harder than before.
Since he wants to use the power of the artifact, he will have to go far.
It had been centuries since someone had used that power. It would be amazing if he could. Though it would not be easy, it could take years, even decades.
Still, the man in front of me was stubborn enough that he might be able to achieve it.
Finally, I stopped, and immediately, he let go of the power of his artifact and slowly sat down.
He is completely drenched in sweat and didn't even have the energy to stand. I am slightly better, but fighting it still took a lot out of me.
"Have you made all the preparations for Nakar?" I asked. He will be leaving for Nakar in a few days.
Leila will go to Inam to attend the inauguration but will not return to Nakar immediately. She will stay in Greltheaven for a month to train.
She needs more training. Especially now she has that artifact.
She is able to control it due to Caena's charms, but that's not enough. She needs to do it on her own. So, that artifact won't freeze her to death, like it did many of its previous hosts.
It would be a huge loss to the Dominion if it happened.
"I will by the time I leave," he replied. I nodded and walked out of the arena.
A few minutes passed, and I had nearly reached my house, when I suddenly stopped as the power I had felt only once before descended on my city.
'Bell,' I said.
Someone is scrying, and they are powerful. I could feel the influence of an artifact. It feels different than last time; the power is different.
Bell did tell me that sometimes they use a different scryer.
'It's not targeting me,' she replied, after a moment of silence. It surprised me; she is the only person hiding. I don't think there is anyone here who they want enough to spend huge money on the services of a powerful diviner.
'Then who is it?' I was speaking midway when I realised who the power was searching for.
I have to say, I am surprised. I didn't think the prince would want him enough to use a scryer of such a level.
'I have activated all the anti-divination measures,' informed Caena. 'Will it be enough?' I asked. 'It should combine with that powerful skill of yours,' she replied.
Shaper's Sanctuary.
It's a skill I got from Mariha, and it's powerful. That hides one from scrying and other detection skills and spells as long as they are in the legacy.
Knight Schengen is currently sitting across from Andrea, guiding her in aura control. He is not in the legacy, but he is in its domain, which is the same.
He didn't sense it, and if the defences worked, he would not.
'I will add the power of my artifact,' said Bell, and a moment later. The power of her artifact filled the legacy and covered the whole city under its power.
Seeing that, I felt relieved; with her powerful artifact, there is no way they will be able to discover him.
Still, I didn't move from my spot and gripped my sword tightly with the power of dissolution revolving around it. My artifact is quite powerful.
It worked against all the powers I had tested: mage, soul, physical, and even witchcraft and shamanic.
I hadn't tested it against divination, and I hope I don't have to today. I don't want to come into conflict with the diviner. They are very dangerous people, and I already have too many enemies as it is.
A few seconds passed, and the scrying power stopped pressing and moved away from the city.
Seeing that, I heaved a sigh of relief.
'It worked,' said Caena, and I could feel the clear relief in her voice. 'It did,' I replied and began moving, while contacting Argis to fix a meeting with Knight Schengen in the evening.
'Have they found out?' I wondered. I had paid extra to keep this thing quiet.
No, if they had found out, they would have asked, rather than using a scryer's services. They are notoriously expensive. Maybe it was a shot in the dark.
Whatever it is, I will need to be careful from now on. Knight Schengen's would need to be more secure.
I don't think it would happen, but I will not take chances.
Soon, I reached my house and showered. An hour later, I am in my office.
"Chief Robin said he should be able to finish the negotiations today," informed Zela. He had gone to Brimbale to negotiate a non-aggression treaty.
"Good, he will need to be in attendance for the inauguration," I replied.
I also need to talk to him about the mine. He and all my council, but that will happen after he and the others return from Inam.
I am stumped on what to do about it; a wrong decision would have massive consequences not only for Panar but also for the dominion.
I pushed those thoughts away and focused on the work in front of me.
…
Marquess Zalvane
The guards opened the door, and I stepped inside.
A man is sitting there, in his late fifties; there is nothing special about him. Even his face is forgettable, but seeing him, I shuddered.
He didn't move or turn to see me, nor did I disturb, seeing his eyes were hazy.
A minute passed and then another, but the man didn't speak, and I kept myself quite until his eyes were clear and he turned toward me.
"Prime Minister," I greeted.
"What happened?" he asked without replying to my greeting. "He didn't find anything," I replied. He didn't have to ask me; I am sure he found out even before me.
There was no surprise, but I could see the judgment in his eyes, which were filled with anger.
"I do not believe he is dead. Those bastards have spread the falsehood," I said, and the man laughed. "Of course, he didn't die."
"The enemies wouldn't let him, even if his whole body is filled with poison." Hearing his words, I couldn't help but feel better, as many idiots believe, he is dead.
They are all blaming me for it.
"However, it does not justify spending resources on a diviner to find him." his voice turned hard, and his eyes filled with intensity for a moment, sending a tremor through my heart.
"He is a Knight, a powerful one, but with that poison in his veins, he is useless." He added.
He did not use aura or any skill, but I felt myself suppressed under his gaze.
"What if enemies healed him and he spilled secrets?" I asked, and the man laughed. "What secrets? What he knows, our enemies also know through their spies."
"They would not spend resources on healing him, but even if they do. So, what?" he asked.
"He is a motivated man who will seek revenge," I said, and he laughed. "Well, then he should join the line; there are more powerful people than him waiting there," he replied.
I opened my mouth, but his gaze had stopped me.
"His majesty looks on you favourably, Marquess Zalvane; you should let it motivate you to work on an important thing, which is to liberate your territory from the enemies, rather than waste time on chasing your obsession," he reminded.
I wanted to reply, but the man had already moved on to something else.
I thought for a moment before closing my eyes and walking away. I wanted to rage, but I remained calm. I understood, I had failed.
It would have been different. If I had succeeded, that fox of a man would have even helped me send people to assassinate or nab the knight, but I had failed.
'If that bastard hadn't taken my territory!' I cursed.
Schengen had been the greatest toy I had. All others would break within days, some within weeks, but not a single one had lasted for more than three months.
Schengen didn't break even after years. He had given me so much pleasure.
The Prime Minister is right, Schengen had become my obsession. I could think of nothing but finding him. I did not care about my territory as much as I care about him.
Though I have to.
I have taken the emperor's aid to use the services of a diviner, but I failed.
The Prime Minister may not like the failure, but the Emperor hates it. I can go to him for another chance.
If he lent me that artifact he had, I could definitely find him.
Before I do that, I have to show something positive, and there is only one thing that would please him, victory over that bastard Thalewin, who had taken my territory.
It has brought me great shame, and I will avenge it.
Thankfully, the trip to the capital had not been without a total loss. I may not have found the knight, but I did get help from the emperor.
With it, I have a real chance against the bastard, and now I can't wait to fight him.
I am going to capture him and make him my plaything. I just hope he won't break so early, because it will be his job to keep me satisfied until I find Schengen.
And I will.