IGIWS FIRST DRAFT: Ch.383 Alaric’s Delusions Of Grandeur

Alaric was walking the hallways of his manor with his hands behind his back as he looked lost in thought. Belial following him holding the box that had his teleportation ring.

The butler couldn't help but feel like his lordship was at his wits end, and Belial couldn't help anymore with his spy network being compromised by Princess Rya. Things were looking grim and yet Alaric's face was filled with excitement, which concerned the butler.

"My Lord, if I may, I believe that it would be wise to stop with the schemes and perhaps find another way to fight against Princess Rya. Our situation has become more difficult, and it seems like the Princess has the upper hand at the moment. We need to find a new strategy to get your revenge and the throne."

Alaric stopped in his tracks and turned to his butler with a serious expression on his face. "And do what? Wait for her to die of old age? No, we are hemorrhaging assets quicker than we can replenish them. If we don't act soon, we won't have anything left to fight with."

Belial nodded slowly. "Yes, sir. I understand that we are running out of options, but we need to be careful. If we make one wrong move, everything could be lost. We must be patient and strategic. Maybe if there's a way to alert the High Elves about her then they could bring—"

"Have you gone mad, Belial? Trading out a Dark Elven whore for an army of long-ear purists? You think that the Holy Alliance is bad? They're nothing compared to those meddling pretentious twats." Alaric said to Belial.

"Forgive me, My lord, I didn't mean any offense. I was just thinking of all the options we have at our disposal." Belial replied, lowering his head.

"Belial, if I didn't know any better, I would think you were trying to undermine me." Alaric said to his friend.

"I-I only know that the High Elves seem to meddle in other races affairs then retreat back into the Lumen Fae continent. And they seem to be targeting all other elven races. It's almost as if they are trying to eradicate them. So, perhaps we could use that to our advantage?" Belial said hesitantly, as his voice shook a little. He knew he was overstepping, but he was also afraid of what his Lord was planning.

Alaric grunted in frustration, "That's what worries me about them... They've been quiet over the last decade and I think they were the ones who aided in the downfall of the Wood Elf Kingdom of Agon. People think I'm shrewd. Those High Elves are downright evil in their actions, and I want no part of them. I'd rather make an alliance with the Orcs and use their warriors against the Dark Elf then let the High Elves set some traps that will trigger years in the future without us knowing."

"You're right, My Lord. I didn't think about the bigger picture. You are a wise man, and I am glad to serve you." Belial said, bowing his head in respect.

Alaric nodded in satisfaction, "It's not your fault. I need someone to think outside the box. However, when the High Elves finish purging the rest of elven kind, I fear who they will set their sights on next that needs to be 'purged'."

"It is a scary thought. Who knew they were similar to the Holy Alliance of the Divine Three," Belial said.

"The Alliance is overt compared to the High Elves," Alaric said. "Their crusades are obvious, and everyone can see them coming. But the High Elves have been playing this game for a long time. They're subtle, and they've been able to hide their intentions from the rest of the world for centuries. They've been able to use their influence and power to shape the course of history, and no one even realizes it. They are not to be trusted."

Belial nodded in agreement, "That is true, My Lord. I didn't know the extent of their influence, but I can see how dangerous they can be. I won't make the same mistake again... But what is your next move now?"

Alaric looked at the small wooden box in Belial's hands, which was a similar size to a cedar box of cigars. And it had the same type of clasp that could be heard when opened.

"Opening the box..." Alaric said, as he took the box from Belial's hand and opened the lid.

Inside the box was a few pieces of paper and a very old ring elegant ring that had a five gems of equal cut and size. Four were placed in a square pattern, and the fifth gem was placed in the middle. It looked like it was designed for a woman. However, only one of those gems had a slight glow coming from within.

"I hope this teleportation ring still has one more charge in it... Or it is a waste of gold," Alaric said as he put on the ring.

The elegant dark ring could only fit of Alaric's pinky finger of his off hand. After fighting to get it past the second knuckle Alaric was able to feel the slight power that came from the ring, and the magic that was written on the inside of the band, which was in the Ancient Demon Script. It connected with the Duke's Mana Vein and all he needed to do was think of a certain set of numbers that was the longitude and latitude on Tertius would teleport him to that location with a blink of an eye. Alaric's face grew into a smile as he felt the connection to the ring grow.

"It works, your Grace. I wish I didn't have to test it so you could have had another charge in the ring, but I didn't want to risk your life, if that mad sage was wrong," Belial said.

Alaric didn't respond as he took the three small pieces of paper that had two sets of numbers on them.

"Are you certain that these are the exact coordinates to get to where I need to go?" Alaric asked.

Belial nodded his head and said, "Yes, My Lord. The Mad Sage's Apprentice had the translated map of Or'po'gnar, the Ancient Demon Lord of Time. The enchanted map is useless to anyone who doesn't possess the affinity for Time Space magic."

"Good. I don't want to end up on top of a mountain or in the middle of the ocean," Alaric said as he studied the three coordinates.

Belial pointed out one of the coordinates on the paper, and said, "This one is the location of the new hidden stronghold inside of Eder Hills. The other one is to the your hidden ship in the Silverhaven Coast. And the one is to Tulnadet—"

Alaric crumpled up the coordinates to the capital city of the Divalo Domain. He had no reason to run to his castle. There wasn't anything of value to him there.

"I won't be going back to Tulnadet City until I defeat that whore first," Alaric said in a cold tone.

"Of course, my Lord," Belial said, but he was worried that even if their plan to use Hilda to get rid of Rya, he didn't think that would be enough to get his Master's revenge. And what if the plan backfired? Can the Duke truly get his revenge? Belial was afraid that if their plan didn't work, his master would get himself killed. "I hate to ask... But do you have a contingency plan, My Lord? I have a terrible feeling that the Princess may fail to rid the dark elf, and if that happens then—"

"Don't fret, my loyal butler," Alaric said in a low voice. "Even if we fail to breakup their relationship, I can't fail. I won't fail..." The Duke seemed lost in thought as he frowned at no one. It was as if he was daydreaming about Rya's death. With a clenched jaw and caressing the teleportation ring, he spoke again, "If the plan to break them up doesn't work then we have the Holy Alliance. They are the final piece in the game of chess that will force that whore to her knees, along with my nephew and brother. We just need to make sure that we don't get wrapped up with them. I hear the Prophet is quite a force..."

"Yes... He's not quite the healer the Dark Elf is but his connection to a god is quite apparent. I had a few of my little spiders sneak in some very nasty poisons that could kill a Orc. He seemed unfazed," Belial said. "I even had some of the other spies try and cut him but their blades would shatter or break skin, he's like a human fortress."

Alaric nodded and said, "It's a pity you don't have any of the Black Roses left. The Kings Slayer might have been useful to deal with Paul. But they couldn't be trusted after failing to protect my son. We'll cross that bridge once we reach it. We still have a few things to deal with. Like installing Linus Dupree as the new Baron of Eder Hills, and preparing an uprising with the Minor Nobles that are still under my control... Is there any updates on what is going on in Alliance territory? Prince Terenthiel Marrell should have made it to the Holy Capital City of Istur in the old Chalced Kingdom," Alaric asked as he looked at his butler for an answer.

"One of my spiders sent a raven this morning stating that Terenthiel made it the the temple a couple days ago. The White Knights have begun assembling in the Northern parts of the city outskirts collecting supplies from the commoners. I also got word that the other Alliance Kingdoms to the South of Chalced have started sending their troops north towards the city. It looks like war will be upon us, My Lord," Belial informed.

Alaric smirked and replied, "Good. That is very good. It looks like we have our war. I just hope the Kingdom of Marn wants to join the fun. Advisor Krenn has been quite the coward of late."

"He knows about the Dark Elf, My Lord?" Belial asked.

"Indeed, but he is still wary of her. He might think that she is the bigger threat compared to the Alliance. My only angle is to trick King Arnaud Dupont into enslaving a dark elf into his collection of women. Especially, if our plans work out and she's on the run."

"And if she is dead?" Belial asked with his usual shit eating grin.

"Then Arnaud can have her corpse right when I drive my blade through his back and claim both Marn and Fiafyr as my own. I don't see a better outcome for the Kingdoms of Men," Alaric said with a sinister laugh that sent a shiver down Belial's spine.

'That's the master I've come to know and trust. I feared that I lost him after what she accomplished today. He will make sure the humans of this world will rule for a long time to come. Even if he has to burn the world to do so.' Belial thought to himself.

And with the conversation over, they began to prepare the next phase of Alaric's plan to take over all of the North and make his own empire. And once that was completed Alaric would finally have his revenge on everyone that wronged him. Then he would try to fix his relationship with one of his five daughters. Especially after you found out that they are all Mages. They will be sought after as prominent Noble houses from all over the world would want to marry them to produce strong heirs. And his legacy would be secured. Even if Sara and his older daughters never forgave him. He could get one of his two youngest daughters to see him in a better light, especially, when he was the Emperor of the Northern Kingdoms. Then they wouldn't be able to refuse his requests of forgiveness as one of them could be the Empress of Agon.

Alaric was looking forward to these possible future prospects of his. The Fates always seemed against him, but thanks to Rya he now knows that his bloodline is more potent than he realized. Sure, he only had daughters left, but having five daughters as Elite level Mages gave him credibility that will bend the will of many powerful Noble Houses in the future. And that was the true power that he needed to gain the respect he deserved. For he was the true heir of the Fiafyr Kingdom. Not the pretender Cyndre Meredydd. Any love he had for Cyndre was gone. Anything that was holding him back from destroying the man who stole the crown from him was now gone. He will find a way to ruin Cyndre's life. That was his new mission in life.