[Chapter 173] Lich?

I think for a moment as I think of what I want to create when I eventually see the kid. I crouch down and look at the little red Dragonborn, "What would you want me to create?"

The kid looks slightly nervous as he thinks, clearly not expecting me to ask him anything. After a few seconds he asks, "A hammer...like a forging hammer."

I nod, "That is so simple I could do it blindfolded." I say as I hold out my hand. 'Absolute Darkness.'

The noble and his son both watch wide eyed as the shadows behind me morbidly crawl up my back, desperately clinging to me as each wisp moves toward my hand.

They gather in my open hand as the black mass slowly molds, ornate curves and sharp cuts forming on a solidifying hammer. A purple handle forms as white lines grow from within, extending across the entire hammer as the glowing veins follow each curve.

A seal forms on the top of the hammer, a cat like slime with shadows flowing off of it. I smile at the 2 shocked reactions as I hold out the hammer towards the kid, who is even more shocked by my sudden action. Most people who were unprepared would usually be shocked to the bone, and these reactions are no longer foreign.

The kid slowly reaches out to grab the hammer, which is shining gloriously in the light. The father quickly grabs his kid's hand as he asks, "Wait, why would you give my kid such an item, it is clearly an amazing piece of artwork. I suddenly remember that Ochil is wearing the vest I made for him, which gives me a good explanation.

"Items are meant to be used. I created most things in this workshop as tests, vary few working fully. Some are projects I left to do later while some I never got to finding a use for, the kid asked for a forging hammer and I made him one, although it will take a while for him to wield it properly."

He nervously looks at me as he nods, his son gently takes the hammer as he softly cradles it in his hands. He looks up at me as he bows, "Thank you sir, I will use this hammer as skillfully as I can."

The noble kindly asks, "How much do you want for the hammer? I still feel I should pay you for this service."

I wave my hand, "No need, take it as a gift. Anyway, we should get going to the meeting room, don't want to keep the other guests waiting."

He nods and I call everyone to follow, causing everyone to gather and walk towards a double-door doorway.

'I had to build this room quickly so I could have this meeting, it was very rough. I still don't know how I could of forgotten this meeting.' I inwardly complain as I look over at Ochil, feeling the need to ask this question.

"Why did everyone bring a kid of theirs? Is it bring your kid to work day?"

He laughs at my question before realizing I am fully serious. He coughs awkwardly as he explains, "No, the reason is that peace treaties rarely are talked about and debated due to the lack of kingdoms and all of us having different views. We thought it would be a very useful experience to show the kids what one is like, especially since these kids will be taking over the families at some point."

I think it over for a few moments before nodding, 'This actually makes full sense, this world has only 3 kingdoms discovered so far and each one has very different views. These different views have been the cause of much conflict between the kingdoms, and it is too late to salvage the torn relationships.'

We enter the large room, it's grey interior mixing nicely with the bright white lights. In the middle sits a large table with 100 seats, causing the long table to be an intimidating size. Some people are walking around the room while some are sitting down gazing at the table, seemingly entranced by it's silky black appearance.

Me and the other nobles arrive in the room, grabbing the attention of everyone inside. As people glance over at the last few arriving, I close the sliding doors behind us, all sound contained within this room.

I turn around and clap, gathering everyone's attention on me, "I would like to get ready and everyone to take a seat, the younger generation can sit beside their parents."

The same women who called Hana a pigsty walks up to me, an air of arrogance now hanging about her. "How unprofessional, you first make us travel all day here and don't offer us a meal? Bathrooms? And where is the supposed new king of this land?"

She looks over at Ochil as she asks, "Ochil, you said you have connections with this new supposed king and yet he sends such an unprofessional knight to guide us, and he isn't even dressed in formal attire! How competent is the king if his knight can't even show us this curtesy?"

Ochil awkwardly glances at me as he seemingly knows I am about to do something, but is spooked by my calm smile.

I cough and am prepared to say something when I hear a voice to my side, "Be nice to Kurayami, he has been nothing but kind and is smarter than you Jeniga! He created all those items in that warehouse we walked by to enter here!"

Murmurs spread across the room as some of people's questions were answered. They were wondering who had created such marvelous items but didn't dare to take them for fear of consequences.

The lady who's name is Jeniga looks at me, "So? He could of just claimed it!"

Before either can speak, I clear my throat, "Now listen, I have been dealing with your attitudes and have had enough. I am deciding to be merciful since you guys were traveling for a while and must be irritable."

But then my smiling face turns dark, "But I will not have anyone disrespecting me or my kingdom..." The air turns cold as I start leaking dark wisps of smoke, "...you insulted the kingdom I reside over, called it a pigsty, a beautiful kingdom that was chosen to be built here by me."

Ochil and Liz's eyes go wide, a majority of people in the room are shivering as the kids stare at me warily, warning signs going off in all of their heads. And they weren't feeling the full brunt, unlike Jeniga who was shrinking by the second.

"You are lucky we are here to discuss a peace treaty or I would of torn your head from your body and turned it into a mace, using you spine as the chain. Now sit down silently, if you had been patient, I would of informed everyone where the bathroom is and would of had food brought out."

Each word I speak causes the smoke surrounding me to become darker, and as she looks up at me, a black hooded skeleton is standing behind me, a dangerous scythe glinting in the cold light. I withdraw all my bloodlust as the smoke disappears, making myself take a few deep breaths.

I point over to the door on the right, "There's the bathroom. I will be bringing food in a minute. I need to cool-down."

I walk out of the room as everyone is silent, Jeniga barely able to stutter out, "Did anyone see that lich?"

Some look at each other as someone speaks up, "What lich?"