Plotting

In a room deprived from light, there was a figure sitting in a throne like seat. In front of him, a man with black eyes, long hair of the same colour reaching his shoulders and fine features was kneeling in show of respect. There were faint signs of nervousness in the man's face as there was a domineering pressure exerting from the individual in the seat. It was so intense that the man was having a hard time keeping his body from collapsing to the ground. After a few minutes, the faceless man on the seat spoke.

"Noah, what is the meaning of this?"

The pressure increased a bit more as some windows trembled before glass breaking sounds surrounded the room. Noah was using all his strength just to stay conscious.

Seeing the state of Noah, the man reduced the pressure by a margin that would allow him to speak without fainting, which he did.

"L-Lord Zolaris... I-I don't know what happened ... I-I lost track of Drek and many others when I was reaching Malhad... o-only ten members of the s-squad including me made it back. A-As for the objective... w-we lost it."

*BOOM*

The faceless man destroyed one of the handles of his sit with a single hit, enraged by the report he was receiving.

"I don't care the slightest about your puny group. They can all die for what I care. The fact that you failed the mission that I assigned to you is what annoys me. More importantly, why weren't you with the group during the abduction... 'Captain Noah'?"

Noah was feeling helpless. Not even the Emperor felt so imposing in his perspective when he met him.

"I-It was my idea to split ways with the group. I-If they abducted the child and separated it would've been harder t-to get tracked." He made a pause before continuing.

"I'm proud to say that I'm the fastest magi in my rank, so I considered it was a good plan to bring the boy, going from the Elven Country instead since I wanted to save energy to reach the empire faster." Noah said with a firm conviction, managing to control his emotions at the moment.

"So your group would take the child, you would collect him in the border between Menrir and Malhad , and then rush to the Empire?...

HOW IS THAT A GOOD IDEA, CAPTAIN NOAH?"

The pressure from before increased by twofold, which took Noah by surprised. Unable to defend against such pressure the man collapsed, falling unconscious.

*Sigh*

"Pick him up and leave." As he said this a shadow imbedded Noah's body before disappearing.

" As you wish, master." A female voice responded from within the shadows.

Now, in this room full of darkness, only Zolaris remained.

Focusing his vision in one direction, he stood from his broken seat and walked towards a book shelve, before moving a book slightly backwards. After doing this, the shelve opened in two halves revealing what seemed like a secret passage. He got in the passage and the shelves closed behind him.

Zolaris was surrounded by darkness, unable to see much so he said, " [Ignite]" , as he was extending his left arm. A blue sphere of flames appeared in his palm, illuminating the passage as well as revealing his appearance. Under the majestic bluish robe he was wearing a muscular and tall body was hidden. His hair was black and short, which contrasted with his long and white horns. His face was distinctive to one of a warrior, fierce and rough, with cuts and stitches marks all over it. There was one specific scar that was bigger than the others, starting from his left eye going all the way to his upper lip. Although he looked like a mad warrior his posture and conviction was one of nobility. His every step was executed to perfection, avoiding unnecessary movements.

After walking for a few minutes, the demon count arrived to a large silver door. With unnoticeable effort he pushed the door open revealing a spacious room. There was a round table in the middle with a single seat next to it, resembling the one from the previous room. In the centre of the table there was a squared crystal like object with a dim blue light within it. Sitting in the chair, Zolaris took a deep breath and extended his right arm, pressing the crystal while applying his own mana. By doing this the whole place illuminated. Since he no longer needed [Ignite] to see he dispelled the skill, closing his arms as if waiting for something to occur.

[{"What seems to be the issue, Zolaris?"}] A strong voice that screamed 'Nobility' spoke from the crystal, startling the demon count.

" My lord, the mission has failed."

There were a few seconds of silence that became minutes. Then, breaking the latter, the noble voice spoke.

[{ "Is the child dead?"}]

"I don't know my lord. They lost track of him when running away from Dorian. It is all my fault, I should've-"

[{ What? Abduct him yourself? If you put one foot outside of the Empire you would cause a commotion. Not even you have full authority and power to go around without being tracked. Also, I ordered you not to."}] The noble voice said while interrupting Zolaris.

" Right, I'm sorry for overstepping my lord." Zolaris said as he bowed, placing his forehead on the table.

[{*Sigh* It's fine my child. You are just frustrated for not being able to do it yourself. Find someone better, and try again. It might be harder this time as we don't have his location but there's nothing we can do about that for now. It might even take a few years.}]

" I will find the right person for the job this time my lord. I swear it in the name of the Empire."

[{ I'll put my trust in you again then. Don't make me regret it later."}] The noble voice said before the connection was cut and the room lost it's only source of light.

" [Ignite] "

Zolaris stood up and walked back into the passage, going to the previous room he was in before. His [Ignite] which looked a little unstable than before illuminated his path as he was mumbling something with a hard to describe look on his face.

" I can't fail again. I can't fail again. I can't..."

Arriving to an empty wall he extended the hand that wasn't occupied by the spell and pressed on it applying his mana. The wall moved to the side and the room from before was in full view. He walked in and the passage behind him was sealed as the bookshelves returned to their original position.

"Ester." Zolaris said while dispelling his unstable [Ignite] skill. He stopped mumbling as well, getting back to his domineering self.

" Yes, master." From a corner of the room a stunning woman in a classical maid dress who seemed to be no older than twenty morphed from within a shadow. She had white perfect skin and curves in the right places. Her long black hair which waved around mixed perfectly with the darkness in the room. Her eyes, similar to her hair, were as dark as a starless night. Though she looked like an expressionless doll her beauty would put some queens to shame.

" Call 'him'. Tell him he has a job to do for me." Zolaris said as he sat on his broken throne.

" As you wish, master." Ester accepted the command without protest and merged with a shadow pool that appeared below her feet.

*Sigh*

" Now I have to fix this chair."

.....

Five individuals were sitting around a teapoy in a pleasing to look white room with sophisticated art works in the walls. At the front of this room there was a locked door with golden handles, while at the back there was a rectangular table with some documents and a few framed family pictures.

" This is my personal office. It has a [Sound Concealment] rune attached to it so feel free to speak now." Allan Mort said to the priest who looked different from his usual self.

" Uncle, it's fine now. Tell us what you found." Said Clarice with a serious expression and crossed arms. She was clenching her nails against her shoulders, trying her best not to cause a scene.

" Clarice I'm so sor-" He tried to apologize but was interrupted instead.

" Stop it, uncle. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself for not being able to foresee something like this happening in the future. Please stop blaming yourself. There was nothing you could do." Clarice uncrossed her arms as she said this to the priest.

" Let us put our focus on the affair in hand for now folks. We need to do so to find a solution and bring Ash back. Whoever is at fault is insignificant right now." Owen said as he took a sip from his teacup.

The two nodded and the priest started to tell them about how the events unfolded. From how he had captured a few of the infiltrators but they killed themselves before imploding and erasing any traceable clue, to how they lost track of the group when they reached Menrir, a few kilometres away from the boarder with the city of Malhad, from the Elven Kingdom. He also told them about the huge linear crater and how Rolland was on his way to the Empire.

*Sigh*

" This is worst than what I expected, to be honest. That guy will make a mess if we don't start moving." Allan said as he leaned back on his seat.

" I will talk to father. I don't care about what those old foxes will do when they see me. It's time for him to grow some balls anyways." Clarice said with a childish pout.

" C-Clarice you shouldn't talk about the 'King' like that." Owen said while sweating profusely.

" So what ? What are they going to do about it ? Sue me? I wanna see them try." She said with a look of conviction.

" How are you getting to talk to him though? They might stop you before you even arrive to the entrance of the royal castle." Said Tomas as he rubbed his temples. The big guy was having a headache from all the talking.

" Who said the only way to get in the royal castle is the main entrance? You are talking to someone who lived there for twenty years of her life, I know my way around." Clarice said with a cheeky smile.

After hearing that her husband had gone after Ash a part of her felt more relieved. She knew exactly how strong her husband was. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to erase her worry, though she was in a better mood now.

" In fact, there is a very secured and well designed entrance right here." She concluded.

" Oh, that's true, I had forgotten about that." Allan said in realization.

" You two are planning to use the scape route to get to the castle?" Owen said with a raised eyebrow while holding his staff with one hand and rubbing his beard with another. He then added. " That's a good idea."

" Well we don't have any other option do we?" The priest agreed.

" Ok then, uncle Ray is coming with me. Tomas and Owen, you two may stay with Allan and look after our people. We will be back in a few weeks, I reckon. I will send a letter to inform you about our actions to follow so please be attentive. You are all dismissed now, uncle let's go." Clarice said with a noble demeanour she hadn't use up until now as she stood up from her seat and walked to the office's door, opening it in the process. Ray, the priest, followed behind her and the others bowed in unison while saying.

" As you wish, your royal highness!"

.....

Ash was lying down in bed. He was in the midst of waking up when his left hand grabbed on something. He never felt such softness before. He could "swear to himself" about this, even though he remembered nothing about his past. But he knew!

His hand squeezed and submerged further to prove his hypothesis. He felt trapped by the sensation his fingers were giving him, unable to imagine a life without such feeling. The scent he felt as he came closer to the "cloud" like entity he was interacting with made him feel comfort no mortal knew.

Ash was in dreamland hugging a sphere of heavenly softness, when a sweet yet cold voice woke him up.

" Isn't too early for you to be doing that?"

Opening his eyes Ash was welcomed by Ingrid's face of disappointment lying next to him. Although he was awake, he still felt that divine sensation fully. When he looked down, searching for the source that made him not want to wake up earlier, his eyes landed on his left hand as it was squeezing on Ingrid's right breast. She was wearing a dark nightgown with nothing else beneath.

He gulped and blood accumulated around his face, as a silly smile manifested with traces of lust.

" Good morning... Master?"

*SMACK*