Chapter 69 : Treacherous alliance

Finn, lost in contemplation, stood outside the library, gazing at the expansive night sky. Thoughts about Theodora weighed heavily on his mind, dominating his reflections. In the midst of his musings, an eerie voice, reminiscent of his father's, slithered into his ears, tempting him with sinister suggestions.

"Well, well, son, what are you going to do? She is betrothed to another, but... you know we could ruin the ceremony. Destroy everything. We could also destroy Hentesa. Think about it, son. It's a great plan, is it not? A king takes what he wants. Is that not what I taught you?" the voice insinuated, seeking to ensnare Finn in its dark allure.

Finn, however, responded with composure and a smile. "No, it is not what my father taught. My father taught me to be a kind and compassionate king, to not seek wars but to prepare for them. That is what my father taught me. So, back off and try another day," Finn asserted, maintaining his steadfast resolve.

The voice chuckled, persistent yet seemingly unfazed. "I see, I see. But one of these days, you will fall into the void, and no one will save you. It will be just me and you, forever and ever, for the rest of eternity... Sleep well, King Zaloz," the voice morphed, initially resembling Finn's father but transitioning into Elaine's.

Despite the unsettling encounter, Finn clenched his fist in anger but swiftly regained his composure. The call of the void, a torment familiar to Konquerors, echoed through his consciousness. Before he could depart, Elaine materialized beside him, her sudden appearance mystifying. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, inquiring about his well-being with a formal tone.

Finn, irritated by the formal address, huffed in response, "I'm not now that you have started calling me that again. Tell me how have I wronged you?" he questioned, searching for an explanation.

Elaine, her demeanor shifting from cheerfulness to a rare display of innocence, shook her head and emitted a genuine giggle. The sight, uncommon even for Finn, momentarily caught him off guard. A hand gracefully covered her mouth as she continued to giggle before responding to Finn's inquiry.

" I am but a servant, have you forgotten that, my Lord?" Elaine answered, her tone transitioning from a cheery note to one tinged with sadness in an instant. The reminder of Finn's proclamation a week ago, where he had clearly delineated her role as a servant, cast a shadow over the conversation. The complexities of their dynamic surfaced, leaving an unspoken tension hanging in the night air.

Finn's realization struck like a sudden revelation, unraveling the mystery behind Elaine's altered behavior. It dawned on him that the shift in her demeanor traced back to the day when tensions flared between her and Zoe. On that fateful day, Finn had firmly instructed Elaine to stay out of his business, inadvertently becoming the catalyst for the noticeable change in her actions.

As this revelation settled in Finn's mind, he found himself grappling with the implications of his words and their unintended impact on Elaine. Puzzled and contemplative, he chose silence, his head hanging low in the weight of understanding the unspoken consequences of his command. The night air, once serene, now carried a subtle tension, hinting at the complexities woven into the relationships of those that dwelled within the shadows of the royal court.

"It seems like it was true then. Sleep well, my Lord," Elaine uttered before leaving, leaving Finn alone in the nocturnal shadows. The haunting voice echoed once more, taunting him with disappointment.

"You are a disappointment, King Zaloz," the voice persisted.

"Shut up," Finn retorted, his words laced with frustration and defiance against the looming shadows of the void.....

.....

Zebha's sanctuary, concealed beneath the captal's surface, manifested as a dark and somber realm where the only audible melody was the steady drip, drip of water from stalactites. Surprisingly, the air within this subterranean haven lacked the expected thickness of humidity, making it more conducive to breathing. The entire sanctuary comprised interconnected cave systems, featuring bumpy stone walls etched with the intricate network of tree roots.

The ground beneath was strewn with dirt, dead leaves, twigs, animal scat, clumps of fur, remnants of an old nest, chewed bones, and traces of various creatures that left their mark. Claw marks adorned the stone surfaces, stalactites hung ominously from the ceiling, and bat-like creatures found their roosts alongside stalagmites protruding from the cavern floor. Water dripped persistently from cracks and tree roots in the ceiling, forming pools and puddles.

Within this dimly lit expanse, a touch of light beam cut through the darkness, revealing hieroglyphs and cave paintings adorning the cavern walls. Amidst this mysterious ambiance, two figures, a man and a woman, strolled leisurely. The man, dressed in a black collared shirt and cassock with a ferraiolo draped over his shoulders, exuded an air of priesthood. His soft, feminine features were framed by glasses perched over brown-colored eyes, and his brown hair was smoothly combed back.

Beside him, the woman was a vision in a magnificent velvet gown, adorned with an array of beautiful jewelry. The cavern's subdued lighting played upon the intricate details of her attire, casting an ethereal glow upon the underground passage they traversed. Together, they explored the enigmatic depths of Zebha's hidden sanctuary, where the ancient whispers of the earth and the secrets of time seemed to converge.

The woman tilted her head to peer at the man beside her, her voice carrying a tone of concern as she inquired, "Why have you asked for an audience with me, Tumo?"

Tumo, wearing a subtle smile, responded, "The boy king is in Hentesa. It seems he has a significant history with some important people there. I'm afraid that if we let him stay for long, his growth will be immense. So, I need your advice on how to deal with him, Mol."

Momentarily taken aback, Mol swiftly regained her composure. The air of nobility surrounding her intensified as she frowned in disgust at Tumo's words. "I serve the crown, Tumo, in case you have forgotten that. Do not even try to talk me into treason. Plus, what makes you think you can go against the Zaloz family? Amongst the six great families of the six kingdoms, they are the most feared. So, are you sure you want to incur their wrath?" she retorted.

Tumo chuckled merrily before suggesting, "Do not act righteous, Mol. We both know you are a selfish, conniving individual. You, too, want Zebha, but our end goals are different. Why don't we team up and take the kingdom from the Zaloz family? Then, you and I can work something out in the end."

Deep in contemplation, Mol saw the logic in Tumo's proposal and agreed to a temporary alliance to usurp power from the Zaloz family. Both coveted Zebha, but their intentions differed, compelling them to join forces against a common foe.

"But what about Harmonia? She has to be dealt with. We both know she can't be bought, and her reason for sticking around is to monitor your actions. So, what do you suggest we should do with her?" Mol questioned, her tone layered with concern.

Tumo, with a contemplative gaze, pondered deeply about how to handle Harmonia. Eventually, he sighed and responded, "We will take care of her when the time comes. For now, let's focus on that damned family. Oh, I almost forgot about that Mesa child. What did you mean when you said you see his 'destiny, destiny divine'? Those words have been playing in my mind ever since that day. A child with a divine destiny is someone who can change the destiny of this universe. So, tell me, Mol, what did you see?"

Mol's countenance transformed abruptly into one of fear, and she began to shake uncontrollably. Tumo, quick to notice her distress, moved in swiftly, placing a calming palm over her forehead and whispering, "Calm, mind." Almost instantaneously, a golden light enveloped Mol's head, her breathing easing as Tumo's palm withdrew, leaving behind a golden rune seeping into her consciousness, soothing her.

After a few minutes, Mol's distress subsided, but her countenance remained etched with a heavy frown. She began to elucidate the nature of her oracle gift, describing it as both a blessing and a curse. "One thing about an oracle is that this gift is more like a curse, in the sense that I can't just turn it on and off as I please, and some of the things I see are not things that a mortal is supposed to witness."

Upon Tumo's inquiry about the Mesa child, Mol delved into the visions that had unfolded before her inner eye. She spoke of a timeless void where transcendent beings, whose power surpassed godhood by a considerable margin, gathered. Their discussion faced a colossal crimson gate, the sole tangible existence in the ethereal expanse. Whispers of their voices, akin to the night breeze, resonated in the emptiness.

Continuing her revelation, Mol described witnessing a procession of a thousand entities, each bearing uncanny similarities, as if different manifestations of the Mesa child. The visions unfolded further, portraying the boy riding a pegasus crafted from pure darkness, heading towards a flaming giant. Chains bound his arms, digging into his skin and draining his essence. The final glimpse showcased a battle between the king and the king's blades against the boy.

In conclusion, Mol stated definitively, "One thing I can assure you is that he is not just your average Mesa." Tumo, shaken by the gravity of the revelations, absorbed the details that painted a portrait of a destiny far more profound and complex than any ordinary Mesa might hold.

Acknowledging the gravity of Mol's revelation, Tumo simply nodded. "I understand. Let us return; the citizens must be worried." They turned and left, making their way back to the houses built within the confines of the underground sanctuary.

Unbeknownst to them, the figure of a man with a missing arm emerged – Doom General Iver. Shaking his head in response to the revelations he had overheard, he muttered a low, "I knew it," before discreetly following the two, trailing behind as they returned to the heart of the underground haven. The two remained oblivious to the looming presence that had gleaned crucial information from their unwitting disclosure.