Malevolent Tidings

Location: Karsus Estate

The sound of footsteps reverberated through the grand hallway as the young man strode purposefully across the smooth, mosaic marble floor.

Despite the fierce storm raging outside, the soundproofed windows ensured that only a faint murmur of its fierce roar penetrated the opulent interior.

Flashes of lightning pierced the darkness, but their brilliance was muted by the bright lights that bathed the hallway in a steady glow.

In the illumination, the serious expression on the young man's face was starkly evident as he advanced toward the imposing door.

His golden eyes gleamed with a hint of malevolence, accentuated by the deepening scowl etched upon his features with each determined step. 

Restless fingers instinctively sought out the ugly scar marring his left cheek, disrupting the otherwise ethereal beauty of his countenance. 

With a flick, he brushed through his raven-black hair streaked with vibrant blue ends, 

Pausing before the door, he pondered for a moment.

"What are you doing standing there like a fool, Cyrus? Enter.", commanded the cold, harsh voice of his brother from beyond the closed doors.

With a resigned sigh, Cyrus Karsus pushed open the ornate doors entered the lavishly appointed office, and bowed his head.

"Your senses are sharp as always, Silas."

"I sensed your presence the instant you set foot in the mansion, Cyrus.", replied Silas Karsus, fixing his deep black irises on his younger brother.

Silas's shoulder-length black hair, adorned with striking blue highlights, shimmered in the light cast by the ornate chandelier suspended from the ceiling. 

Unlike his brother, Silas's handsome visage was not marred by scars or any other margins.

His condition was much worse.

The barely audible hum of the motor filled the silence of the office as Silas maneuvered his automated wheelchair toward the draped window.

As he approached, the drapes parted effortlessly, revealing the tumultuous storm outside. 

Rain pounded against the massive glass panes like harmless projectiles, while flashes of lightning illuminated Silas's obsidian eyes with an electric intensity.

"What is it?", he asked, his gaze still fixed on the raging storm outside.

Cyrus took a deep breath and spoke, "Our spy has news about her and it is bad."

"Every news about her is bad.", growled the elder Karsus brother, "And now my day is ruined."

He gripped the armrest of his wheelchair and a terrifying aura descended on the room, suffocating Cyrus.

"That cursed, half-blooded abomination from that whore destroyed my future as a warlock, along with my ability to walk.", Silas spat out in a terrifying voice layered with ardor, causing even the resolute Cyrus to quail in fear.

"Not even the most advanced ardor medical procedures, purchased with all the wealth at my disposal, could repair the damage she inflicted upon me."

"She killed Mother and our youngest brother.", Cyrus added in a grave tone.

"Ah, yes," Silas responded with a dry chuckle, "But they are in a better state than I am. They are at least at peace in death, while I am left crippled, condemned to spend the remainder of my days in this damned wheelchair."

"You can use the exoskeleton that was made for you.", Cyrus pointed out, massaging his head with his fingers, as if he had this type of conversation before.

"I look like a fucking clown in that!", Silas retorted sharply.

"I'll ask Father to arrange for a sleeker model.", Cyrus persisted.

"Father?", Silas laughed bitterly, "He abandoned me following the incident, deeming me unworthy to inherit the duchy."

"That vixen didn't just destroy my ability to walk but also stripped me of my mastery over ardor and strand. Now, all I am capable of is unleashing my aura," Silas concluded, his voice heavy with resignation and bitterness.

"I should've impaled that whore while she still carried that cursed half-blood in her womb all those years ago," Silas seethed, his voice thick with venom.

Cyrus's eye twitched at his brother's relentless tirade, "Are you quite finished with yet another rant about your wretched state and that abominable half-blood?"

Silas swiftly spun around in his wheelchair, fixing Cyrus with a chilling glare, "What did you just say?"

"Exactly what I said.", Cyrus retorted, his patience wearing thin, "You launch into these tirades every time I bring news concerning her."

"Now shut up and listen to what I have to say, or I'll personally see to it that you take a tumble out of that window," Cyrus threatened, his tone sharp and commanding.

"And you know I'm more than capable of doing so, aura or no aura.", he added, his golden eyes flashing dangerously in the flickering light of the storm, his scar lending him a terrifying countenance as he spoke those words.

Silas fixed his brother with a steely glare before letting out a resigned sigh, "What news does the spy bring?"

Cyrus's expression darkened as he delivered the grim report, "She has become a Reaper and is on the verge of attaining S rank status."

Silas narrowed his eyes, "She has one more year left, right?"

Cyrus nodded gravely, "Indeed. And it's entirely plausible that she will achieve S rank by then."

"And after she is free, what is to stop her from paying us a visit and finishing what she started four years ago?", he continued in a grim tone.

Silas's eyes glinted dangerously, "She can never touch Father."

"And what about us?", Cyrus's expression grew grim, "You are crippled and I am only an intermediate A ranker. She will slaughter us like pigs."

Silas's fingers intertwined as he contemplated their predicament, "We must eliminate her."

However, the situation required delicate handling. The Shield stood as a vital bulwark against the encroaching threat of the daemons. 

Any damage to the structure in their attempts to get rid of her would have dire consequences.

And they can't send assassins disguised as Deathwalkers to the Shield.

She has a very keen nose for assassins and there is also the no-killing rule inside the Shield.

Violating this rule by killing someone even in secret will alert the Shield's AI, leading to the killer facing an army of seasoned Deathwalkers thirsty for blood.

Not even the hardiest assassin would want to face those insane killing machines.

Silas noticed the expression on his brother's face, "You look like you figured out a way."

Cyrus's lips curled into a sly smile, "Indeed I have."

From his pocket, he produced a glass canister, its ends adorned with intricately engraved metal runes.

To an outsider, it might resemble an ornate soda can, but to Silas, it was unmistakably something more significant.

Silas's eyes widened at the sight of the canister, "Is that...?"

Cyrus nodded affirmatively, "The wraith trapper, ready for use."

He held up the glass canister, "This device can ensnare a wraith in its ethereal form for an extended duration. The runes etched into its surface act as a lure, attracting the wraith as soon as it emerges from a daemon and securely imprisoning it."

"With this version," Cyrus continued, "we can trap up to a hundred wraiths."

He tapped a small cap on the top of the canister, "Release this, and the trapped wraiths would escape."

Silas arched his eyebrows, "You think they would possess her?"

Cyrus nodded firmly, "Even if she doesn't get possessed, the wraiths surrounding her would tear her to pieces."

His wheelchair-bound older brother gave him a disturbing smile, "That sounds delightful."

Leaning back, Silas continued, "Immediately send it to our spy and instruct them to start filling it up."

Cyrus nodded in agreement, "Understood. I even have a plan to finish her off."

He outlined the plan, and a wide grin spread across Silas's face, "That is a good one! We could use a servant for this."

He glanced at his brother, "You better get started."

"Understood.", Cyrus affirmed before turning to leave.

"Oh, and Cyrus?", Silas called out.

Cyrus turned back to face him.

Silas's expression turned serious, "Father must not know of this."

"Of course.", Cyrus assured him before exiting the office.

Silas maneuvered his wheelchair next to the window, observing the intensifying storm outside.

Lightning illuminated his obsidian eyes as a malevolent smile played across his lips.

"You better enjoy your life while it lasts, you vixen."

*******

[Back to Mordred]

"Are you sure about this?"

I yelled over the deafening roar of the ardor railguns raining powerful projectiles on the battlefield.

Iris nodded, excitement gleaming in her bright blue eyes, her smile wild and daring.

"Of course! This is going to be highly effective and fun!"

I stared at her and then shrugged.

"Fine.", With a swift motion, I wrapped one of my blood tentacles around her waist.

"Ah! That's tight!", she exclaimed with a yelp as I lifted her into the air.

"Oops.", I smirked, adjusting my grip before launching her forward.

"HEADS UP YOU BASTARDS!",

I bellowed, hurling Iris straight at the approaching horde of daemons emerging from the Tear.

As she hurtled toward them, Iris cloaked herself in darkness.

At the last moment, just before colliding with the horde, she unleashed an explosion of sharp tentacles made of pure darkness, decimating the enemies in her path.

I whistled as I watched the result from where I stood.

"Can't believe that actually worked!", Artemis exclaimed as she landed beside me, her yoyo glowing bright green as powerful winds swirled around it.

"It's Iris after all.", I replied, grinning as I watched The Fairy of Tenebris weave through the remnants of the enemy forces, her movements fluid and graceful amidst the chaos.

Artemis nodded with a smile, "You two make quite the couple."

I smiled back, "Indeed we are."

Suddenly, a daemon appeared right beside me, it immediately swung its daggers at my face, timing to make ribbons from my beautiful visage.

In a shower of sparks, I stopped the attack with a blood tentacle and looked at the blank swirling faceless visage of the daemon.

"I guess this is not the right time to admire the sheer insanity and beauty of my girlfriend.", I noted.

Artemis shrugged, "It is not but I think it's kinda sweet."

"Really?", I turned to her, looking into her golden eyes.

She nodded with a smile, "I mean, what is wrong with thinking about the beauty of your love during a battle?"

"Huh. You are quite wise for a fifteen-year-old.", I remarked with a chuckle.

I then turned to the daemon, "That is quite refreshing to hear and has improved my mood."

My lips curled into an insane smile of my own, "I guess I'll just rip your heart out."

*******

Hey hey! justafox here!

Thanks for staying with my book despite the month-long hiatus and a huge thanks for the support you all gave me, dear readers.

My exams are almost coming to an end. Two are left but my fingers were getting quite twitchy to click the publish button. I also have upcoming practicals but I am sure I can handle them along with cooking up the novel.

So yeah. Releases would be quite inconsistent until mid-April but the hiatus is done!

Also. Thanks to some of my readers for wishing me luck for my exams. I really appreciate it.

Alright then!

Let's continue this weird tale!