Chapter 13: Secret Meeting

(Chapter 13 Secret Meeting)

It was midnight, and in Constantine's room, three people were present: Constantine, Rohan, and Tempest. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows on the walls, as the three men gathered to discuss their plans in hushed tones.

"Mm, very interesting a blade perfect for an assassin."

Constantine remarked, examining the weapon closely. He turned it over in his hands, appreciating its craftsmanship and deadly potential.

"Who attacked you, Young Master? Did you get his name?"

Constantine asked Tempest, who was gazing out the window, lost in thought. The moonlight cast a soft glow on Tempest's face as he turned to respond.

"It was a woman with short white hair streaked with black. Her eyes looked like crosses as if someone had wounded them. No, unfortunately, she did not give me her name, all I know is that she's from the House of the Hearth. "

Constantine put down the rapier on the table and rested his hand on his chin, deep in thought. He pondered Tempest's description, trying to piece together who this mysterious woman could be.

"Short white hair with stripes of black, crossed eyes... Hold on a second, I think I've heard this description before."

Constantine got up from his seat to scurry over his wardrobe.

"Uh, should I be here? Young Master?"

Tempest turned to Rohan as he asked him a question.

"You're one of us now. I trust you won't tell Pierre anything that we discussed in this secret meeting."

Tempest stared at Rohan, his face as emotionless and unreadable as ever.

"I swore my loyalty to you, Young Master, if you truly intend to restore the Proudmoore's legacy my life and sword are at your service. My mouth is shut."

Rohan said, and Tempest simply nodded in response.

"I got it, Young Master."

Both Tempest and Rohan's eyes darted to Constantine as he returned to his seat and placed an old newspaper on the table.

Tempest took the newspaper and read it.

'Breaking News from the Steambird: Mysterious killer strikes from the shadows once more, claiming the lives of a noble and his wife, leaving their children as the only survivors! The caretaker of the children reported that the assailant, described as having white hair with black stripes and appearing to be a teenager, fled the scene. Citizens are urged to report any sightings to the Gardes of Fontaine immediately and refrain from engaging with her under any circumstances!'

"Yes... She was most likely the same age as me. This article was published four months ago. Are there any more cases like this, Teacher?"

Tempest passed the newspaper to Rohan.

"It is said that this is the third time a nobleman has been killed by the same person with the same description. As of right now, there haven't been any cases reported, Young Master."

Constantine answered Tempest's question.

"Curious..."

Tempest muttered to himself.

"She attacked you right? Did she say anything interesting?"

Constantine asked him while he lit up his kiseru.

"She told me that the Knave wishes to see me. I declined, and oddly, she also told me not to join the Fatui..."

"Not join the Fatui? That's strange, yes... I thought they'd do anything to make you join their ranks."

Constantine said, taking a drag from his kiseru, then blowing the smoke out the window.

"As I walked passed her after telling her. I'm not seeing their 'Mother', she attacked. I intended to dodge her, but my Delusion suddenly activated engulfing my left arm in Pyro, and my body subconsciously moved itself to catch her blade."

Tempest explained, Constantine's eyes widened and coughed up as he was taking a drag from his Kiseru.

"Y-You used your Delusion?!"

"I did. Twice now."

Constantine looked at him briefly before speaking.

"Twice?! Did you feel any change in your body? Mentally? Physically?"

Constantine stood up abruptly and slammed his hand on the table as he directed his question at Tempest. Rohan, who had been quiet until then, flinched at the sudden noise.

"Calm down you old geezer, I don't feel anything strange on my body, both physically and mentally... Perhaps it drained my emotions? But my emotions have already been drained long ago..."

Tempest replied to him, Constantine put his hand on his forehead as he sat back in his seat.

"When was the second time?"

"My Delusion activated when I thought Rohan was going to stab me in the back after hearing his sword unsheathed. In truth, he was kneeling on the floor to swear his loyalty to me."

Constantine turned his head to Rohan as Tempest gave him his answer.

"It's true, sir. He was about to strangle me and likely throw me into the sea afterward..."

Rohan said while shivering remembering last night's event.

Constantine sighed in response before speaking shortly.

"Can you show it to me?"

"Let me try..."

Tempest took out his Delusion and attempted to manifest its powers, focusing intensely on channeling its abilities.

"Nothing... Both times my Delusion activated when I thought my life was in danger, once when the unknown Fatuus attacked me, and again when I thought Rohan was going to stab me in the back."

"I see... So you can only use it when your life is in danger?"

Constantine said.

"Most likely... Wait let me try this."

"Hm?"

Tempest closed his eyes, trying to recall every terrible thing his Father had done to him. The memories flooded back, being locked up in his closet repeatedly, his Mother left crippled after shielding him from his Father's wrath, and the forced marriage of his own sister to an old noble from Snezhnaya. Each horrible memory was painfully vivid, etched deeply into his mind, haunting him with their clarity.

"Hm!"

"Woah!"

The voices of Constantine and Rohan echoed in surprise, their tones filled with astonishment and fear at the same time.

Tempest opened his eyes to see his Pyro Delusion glowing in his right hand and fiery Pyro Sword in his left hand.

"I see... So my hatred powers it... My hatred for my Father..."

Tempest inspected the fiery sword on his left hand, its blade shimmering with a pulsating, ethereal flame that danced and flickered with every movement. The hilt, adorned with runes, emitted a faint warmth, contrasting with the coolness of Tempest's touch. As he studied the sword, he felt its power coursing through him.

"Does it not hurt? When you hold it, Young Master?"

Rohan asked him, the room was lit up thanks to the fiery sword in Tempest's left hand.

"No... It's just warm... Like being in front of the fireplace."

"Do you not feel anything draining you, Young Master?"

Constantine asked him.

"No. I feel stronger... I feel hatred burning in my soul..."

Tempest answered Constantine, and his teacher simply looked at him to see if the Delusion was truly not consuming him.

"Put it out now."

Constantine commanded. Tempest emptied his mind of the horrible memories of his Father and took a deep breath, slowly the Pyro Delusion dimmed and reverted back to its original state and the Pyro sword disappeared shortly.

"I'm fine Constantine. I don't feel any different, I promise you."

Tempest looked at him straight in the eye. Constantine sighed in response.

"Well, at least your face is still the same emotionless and unreadable as long as I remembered, if you're smiling after that I think you might have actually lost your mind."

Constantine chuckled.

"Don't overuse it though, Young Master."

Constantine warned him, his face serious.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Tempest answered.

"Now then, let's discuss my old friend who will support us when we ignite the civil war."

Constantine proposed, his voice tinged with anticipation.

Tempest and Rohan turned to Constantine ready to listen eagerly.

"He goes by the name of Callas Caspar. He is the Baron of Poisson."

"Callas. Isn't he the leader of the Spina di Rosula?"

Rohan asked Constantine.

"Yes, and he agreed to meet with us, Young Master, but he wants you to say it directly to his face. He's still not convinced that you are any different from any other Proudmoore."

Constantine finished what he was saying.

"So he wants me to meet him in Poisson?"

"Yes, when your Father leaves Stormwind for a couple of days we will see him. Rohan, you will play a vital part when we secretly leave the mansion when the time comes."

Constantine looked at Rohan and he nodded in response.

"Very well. If he could provide us with weapons and Meks that would benefit our cause greatly."

Tempest nodded agreeing to Constantine's plan.

"Then all is set in motion, now we just wait when your Father goes out."

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In the dimly lit room, Peruere occupied the top bunk bed while her best friend Clervie rested on the bottom bunk. The soft glow of a single lamp cast gentle shadows across the room.

"Clervie, why don't we just kill Mother? With that, we can finally be free."

"Perrie... I can't just kill my own flesh and blood... Even though she is a horrible person, she is still my Mother..."

Clervie said to Peruere.

"I see."

'We don't have much time left together... In the coming months, Mother will force us into a duel, and only one of us can survive. I'm sorry, Perrie. Be free without me...'

Clervie thought to herself....