SB: Chapter 226 – Interlude 29

AN: Delete me.

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Governor Sweetsap Moonwood

I looked at the most recent reports. The port town sacked by the dwarves. Multiple towns attacked. The merchants had attempted to break out of the city and several had been killed, many more injured.

It was a disaster of epic proportions. “Why?” I looked at Legend Strightline who could only shake her head. She had pursued the enemy, but they had remained one step ahead of her the entire time. By the time she had gotten to the port town, they were sailing away.

“The magical carriage wasn’t sabotaged and they used it to escape. I am fast, but my skills are focused on ambush and taking out a target. I couldn’t aim for a kill shot like I normally do. I wounded him, but he had strong Cold Resistance. I pushed myself much harder than I should have trying to keep up with that magical carriage, consuming far too many stamina potions in a short period of time.”

“He noticed. Now the dwarves and merchant associations will be up in arms against us,” I said heavily.

“The adventurers as well. The merchants will be sure to spread the news. Even if Justin is the son of that human Emperor, he came out of the dungeon and paid for safe passage. My involvement can’t be hidden.”

“Are you leaving?” I asked heavily. If she left that would leave only one legend left at the front. They wouldn’t be able to hold.

“No. I am not some fickle coward. I will fight until the bitter end over every tree in the Moonwood.”

I shook my head. It was already over. “I am grateful. I have already taken all the blame. Orders have gone out. The battle lines are falling back and the city will be evacuated by tomorrow. By the time the humans arrive, the Moonwood will be burning with me,” I replied while silently looking out my window over my city.

A single tear ran down my cheek, I had failed my people.

Legend Strightline was silent. “I understand. I will doing what I can to slow the human’s advance as our people retreat,” she said.

I had gambled and lost. If I didn’t take responsibility the consequences would spiral even further out of control. It would be a complete and utter disaster that would be beyond epic proportions.

Letters had already been dispatched with the blame for what happened falling solely on me. That wouldn’t be enough for some, but it would prevent the absolute worst outcome. It was time for the ritual.

Legend Xanatos

The elven city of Moonwood was completely empty. Well, almost completely empty except for these seven. I looked down at the elves who had thought they could do a ritual. If one knew history, one would understand what these elves would do.

This ritual room was perfect for what I had planned. This was one scheme I didn’t want to fall on my shoulders. Some things were even a bit much for me to handle the consequences.

“Now others less skilled in rituals would consider taking a different approach. Me, personally, I like to take it right up to the edge if possible. The trick is all in the angles of the ritualistic lines. No runes, pure geometry,” I said to my captive audience.

“Seven of you, quite smart. Certain numbers are more conducive to rituals. A fascinating subject, numerology. Now this wouldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t prepared everything so perfectly. Thank you Governor,” I said and patted her cheek. She struggled and was trying to scream and curse me, but there was no chance.

Already the Heart Devouring Worms had nested into each of these elves, blocking their Mana and immobilizing them. I kept slowly changing the ritual circle, erasing runes, adding in my own special touch.

Oh, someone was going to try and interrupt things, and a legend as well. At least they were showing up when I was done. And such a powerful individual would make a great focus for the ritual. Alleviate some of the risks that threatened even me.

It was always nice when sacrificial targets handed themselves over to me. Time for a bit of Acting. I had been studying social skills. After seeing what this new Emperor could do with one, exploding a heart, I just couldn’t resist trying to get it for myself. I had a certain rage inducing effect on people. It was probably my charming disposition and flair for dramatics.

An arrow came at the back of my head. But my decoy cloak worked along with my stealth cloak.

“Soul Lock.”

I then rushed forward and pushed a tiny egg into the legend’s mouth. The egg was filled with a tremendous amount of Mana and I pushed in the final bit more to quickly hatch it. Centuries of selective monster breeding to create such a wonderful creature, the Heart Devouring Worm.

“AHHHhhhhhh….” The legend let out a scream which quickly trailed off and collapsed, their bow tumbling away. I leaned over them and pulled out a knife.

I could see the fear in their eyes as they tried to use their skills. “Foolish of you to come back here. Some hidden warning?” I asked. There was no response. That was the one downside of the Heart Devouring Worm, I couldn’t hear them plead and scream. My blade swiped, over their body.

Their clothing and armor was cut away. Such things could interfere with the ritual. Outside Mana mixing in. Living Mana from a target could be altered in unique ways, through the sacrifice’s mind. But armor and clothing could not do so.

“Fixing my body. It is tedious you know. Getting back the Vitality I need,” I said as I dragged the legend to the center of the ritual space. I looked over everything again. It was good enough and I didn’t have time to waste on the small imperfections.

I activated the ritual and began walking away. As I exited the chamber, I left behind a cannister of special Alchemic gas. The ritual was a slow burn one, the pun made me chuckle to myself. The elves had been planning to play with fire, but I was going to play with life itself.

Using a ritual to increase one’s stats was how people died in horrible ways. The knowledge of the Dark Library listed out countless ways that those types of rituals went wrong. The trick to making them work was to create something that could be used instead. Combining Alchemy and rituals.

An Elixir of Seraphim Tears was a rare potion that required a core central ingredient, lives, lots of lives that were powerful. Well it was more a drop of blood with certain properties and lots of condensed Mana. The elves had some of the properties and the ritual would provide the Mana.

It would take a while, but that was fine. Sometimes plans needed to cook. I had so many half baked plans, I had probably forgotten a couple. But it didn’t matter too much. The fun of life was its surprises.

I could hear the screams. The gas had killed the Heart Devouring Worms in the sacrifices. They would have caused complications with their own Mana if they had been allowed to persist for the duration of the ritual.

But it was too late for the sacrifices. Their Mana was now intertwined with the ritual and unable to break free. They were already dead, it would just take a while for their souls to fully realize that.

“Quake.”

That would hide the secret underground chamber for a while. Now I just needed the Emperor sized fish to take the bait. I needed to be far away from here when it was bitten.

Emperor Darren Burnstock

“The elves flee, Emperor,” one of the scouts reported. I nodded at this. It was expected. They would likely sacrifice the Moonwood to the flames like they had the last time.

“Dispatch more scouts and let’s halt our advance. The elves are likely to leave a trap in the city. Scout it carefully. Look for traps and any kind of ritual,” I ordered.

“We should end the war after this,” one of the legends in the command tent said. They were becoming more outspoken and less obedient. This was why I hadn’t gone this route in the past. Even without a resistance skill, a legend’s mind was no soft clay.

I had promised certain things to motivate them initially and they had latched onto those promises. A continued campaign was something only I wanted. The nods around the map table was all the confirmation needed that I couldn’t keep pushing.

I had taken so much, but there was so much left. Crushing the elves completely would not be possible in my lifetime. “I see, all of you wish to end our campaign here?” I asked heavily. I needed to ask this, so people could voice their opinions on the matter and I could act like I had been convinced by their arguments.

“Yes. We have lost friends, comrades. We have more than enough land. The Reforged Eldarin Empire is in a strong position. It is time to end this war. Consolidate our gains. Enjoy the rewards we were promised,” one legend said. One after another they all spoke.

“If you all feel that way, I understand. My dream was to keep going to unite the continent. Then I have no choice, I will be stepping down as Emperor,” I said heavily. I knew when to walk away. My gamble had failed.

Not with conflict, but by being undermined by those around me. For the second time in my life I saw my dream slip away. There would not be a third time. The legends were silent after my declaration.

“Then we shall vote in the next ten days for a new Emperor,” one said. I would leave them to the complicated procedures to decide who would be the next Emperor as I stood up. I slowly made my way out of the command tent.

They were idiots, the lot of them. While they were legends, they lacked a firm grasp of the wider world. They only saw what was in front of their faces. My heart trembled. Perhaps it was better like this. To depart before everything collapsed.

It was time to make a final pilgrimage. I began packing up my tent. My personal guards let a messenger in. “Emperor, urgent message. The dwarves have declared war on the elves for crimes against their merchants. In addition the neutrality of the Adventurer’s Guild was broken. A guild wide vote is being called for regarding the breach,” the messenger said.

My timing was always off. A shame this hadn’t arrived, but an hour ago. I could have used it to keep the war going under my name. But I could not take back my stepping down. Some doors once passed through, could not be passed through again.

“Take the message to the command tent. Let the legends here it in full,” I declared. I was interested in knowing more details, but it wasn’t important.

It was a shame my son hadn’t returned yet. He was still missing. I would have liked to speak to him one last time. After packing up everything I wanted, I got on board a magical carriage with my personal guards and set off.

He would have to come find me, or a future generation. I had left a message with the Adventurer’s Guild if he returned. I had fought for so long. I could no longer fight. The weakness in my heart was only growing. I had gambled a final hand and lost.

“I’ve been gambling so long, my losses are old enough to bet against me,” I muttered..