69 Towards the borders of the kingdom of Doúlon

Asteri's group had recently left the city of Quisque to undertake the mission. Currently the group is on a path that leads to the borders of the kingdom of Kelaos.

"Here on the letter it says that we must reach a village that is just before the kingdom's borders. We will meet our contact and they will escort us beyond the territory of Kelaos. Apparently we could not take a normal route, as it will be followed by the followers of those who command Doúlon. " Asteri gives a small summary of what they need to do to cross borders.

"So it's like we're intruders, the Empire is in such bad shape that its citizens can't even cross kingdom to kingdom without worrying." Allatu she seemed disappointed with the state of the continent of Kalos.

"But that's not our problem, is it? Our job is to get a person back from the slaveholders." Betty makes it clear what their mission is.

"No doubt this is our mission, Betty. But of course to say it's not our problem I wouldn't be so sure. After all we still have things to do in Kalos, and it would be comfortable to travel without worrying that someone from a nearby kingdom will attack us. .. "Asteri was obviously serious about carrying out the mission, but certainly having a divided Empire where everyone stabs themselves in the back is not a good place to live without worries.

'Maybe if we are lucky and determined, we can solve this bad situation in the kingdom of Doúlon.' Asteri thought positively.

'Do you want to set up an entire kingdom with your current power?' Aurelion was a little surprised.

'Why not give it a try, if I only do the feats that I am sure I will not be able to level up. These are the hardest challenges to forge yourself, am I wrong partner? 'Asteri didn't just want simple challenges, he wanted to prove himself.

'As you say it is true ... but don't overdo it, if I feel something too dangerous I will warn you to run away.' Aurelion agreed with Asteri's opinion, but he certainly didn't want the boy to commit suicide.

'Perfect! I'm counting on you, partner. 'Asteri trusts Aurelion blindly.

'... Ok.' Aurelion still had the strange feeling of being called "comrade" by Asteri, but he didn't bother him and therefore never forbade him to say it.

"We will have to reach the village in a day's walk, so we will have to camp shortly before. Tomorrow morning we will be in the village." Allatu deduces.

"Okay, I don't think we'll have trouble sleeping at night, but as a precaution we'll be on guard." Betty proposes to take turns guarding, to avoid nasty surprises during the night.

"No problem. As we walk, I wanted to ask you two if by any chance you know anything about Doúlon?" Asteri wanted to know some information about the kingdom they are heading to.

"I don't know anything, after all it never interested me." Betty immediately says what she thinks.

"Okay instead you Allatu, can you tell me something?" Asteri didn't care that Betty couldn't give her any information.

"I don't know much, but what I managed to understand is that it was once a very prosperous kingdom. They didn't have much military power, but most of its citizens were really good people. It prospered economically, as they were very tenacious in manual labor. . Their king was a really good person ... maybe that's why he was killed so easily. "Allatu explains what the kingdom of Doúlon once was like.

"I understand ... but now, how is the situation?" now that Asteri knew what this kingdom once was like, he now he wanted to know what state he was in here.

"Now it is exactly the opposite. Most of the people live in poverty, almost all the villages are left in their state of decay. Instead the cities are in a different situation, most are run by people who have moved away from the old king, and now thrive on the misfortune of the common people, the capital is obviously the hub of this whole underworld. Few cities are still loyal to their old ruler, and their citizens are struggling to restore the kingdom to its former glory, but to little effect. And they can't even fight in politics as the entire royal family has been murdered, so they don't even have an excuse to take back the throne. "Allatu gave a brief summary of the state of the kingdom.

"Well, certainly the kingdom is in a state of decay, but it's good that there are still people who want to take back what is theirs." Asteri was unhappy with the state of the kingdom, but at the same time he was happy to know that there are still people fighting against these times of crisis.

"Yes, that's good, most likely this contact that the guild leader has given us is someone loyal to the old kingdom." Betty speculated.

"Almost sure this is the explanation, but we still have to be very vigilant." Asteri agreed with Betty, but he still couldn't fully trust the guild's contacts.

"Allatu, don't you know who committed this murder against the king?" Betty was curious.

"The one who had the king killed was a nobleman named Pilston, he is the patriarch of a house that once served directly the king and his family, if I remember correctly they were called House Pertinton. He was the most loyal house of the king ... until the death of their former patriarch, then his son took his place as head of the family. " Allatu reveals who caused the coup.

"A bad boy who didn't follow his father's teachings ehh." Asteri said this while thinking of various reasons why this Pilston did such a thing.

"Bad boy as he is, he'll never be on your level, Asteri." Betty said this to Asteri, remembering how many times she had made her scream with pleasure in her bed.

"Eheh what can I do, nobody is perfect." Asteri smiled mischievously, understanding what Betty meant.

"Hmph! Bad boy!" Betty pouted, but she wasn't very upset.