Duke

The newly arrived knights were blocked by the knights of the man, who smiled like a fool despite the tense situation. Adam had long since been moved next to the throne and was protected by five men.

Suddenly a handsome man, dressed in expensive garments of golden hue with luxurious patterns, emerged from the crowd of knights. His long blond hair fell over his thin but not too thin shoulders.

He was slim, but not thin. Despite his rather feeble appearance, Adam felt a strange sense of unease as he looked at him.

- What an honor for a man like me to receive a guest like the High Wizard, Mr. Henry,- the ugly man smiled cynically, - Duke Mordred Blackmoor welcomes you sincerely, distinguished gentleman.

Supreme Mage, Henry smiled softly. Beneath his smile, Adam felt dizzy, and warmth rose in his heart.

And, ironically, he was awakened by the voice of Mordred, the man who had captured Adam.

- My God, gentleman, why do you show such unflattering manners? Would a nobleman like you attack without a word? And with the magic of the third circle, - Mordred smirked, his finger twitching.

Soon the knights, who seemed to be in prostration, woke up. They looked at each other and felt fear.

Henry's blue eyes flashed with lightning, and his faint smile became clearer. He walked up to Mordred without fear, standing in front of him.

- Duke Blackmoor, how long since we have seen you, - said Henry, and then elegantly bowed, holding his hand over his heart, - Although I wish our meeting had been more informal.

- It is a pity, a great pity. But what can you do, some people just don't see who deserves trust and responsibility. Perhaps wisdom and judgment have never been their strong points, - Mordred smiled affectionately, and his eyes sparkled slyly, - But in the end, time will always put things right, and true justice will come down on their necks.

- Ah, what words come from the lips of such a noble gentleman? How fortunate I am to witness your ability to find faults in every step that is taken for the good of the kingdom, - Henry smiled, - But let me ask you a question: what exactly qualifies you to judge such difficult decisions? It is said that courage and wisdom seldom dwell in one man. But let's hope that your magnificent ability to find faults doesn't backfire on you.

Mordred's smile twitched, but he let Henry's speech pass him by with a counter-question.

- I could listen to your wise reasoning forever, Mr. Henry, but as you can see, the situation is not easy, - said Mordred, fixing his clothes, - I am trying to save the kingdom from danger while putting myself in danger. So I will be glad to discuss the matters of this country with you sometime later, over a cup of tea.

Mordred waved his index finger, and the knights drew their swords as if they were one.

Adam didn't have time to react as five blades whistled toward his neck, only to stiffen.

- Control.

A soft voice echoed through the quiet room, while Adam only just realized what was happening. His eyes rolled with fear, and his whole body trembled just to avoid the blades.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed that the swords were trembling, and the knights had already begun to break their armor in an attempt to move their blades. They only stopped when Duke Mordred gave a sign.

- Mr. Henry, what do you mean by that? - Mordred said angrily, - You are preventing me from killing a criminal. Do you want to stage a coup?

The High Mage merely smiled, holding the glowing scepter in his hand. At first Mordred ignored it, thinking it was just a toy, but then his eyes widened in shock.

- "The Ruler's Song?! - Mordred shouted, losing his composure, - Why is the treasure of the supreme level in the hands of one such as you?!

It seemed that this scepter was of high value. Mordred was so shocked that he even stopped pretending to be a polite gentleman.

The Ruler's Song was the highest-level item and was considered the national treasure of the Kingdom of Loreno. It is guarded by five guards of the Gold Knight level.

The special effect of this scepter is that it enhanced a spell tenfold, even if it was a fifth-circle spell. And being a mage of the fifth circle, Henry could kill Mordred, who was a Grand Knight.

- Henry, have you and the king gone completely mad? - Mordreda roared, drooling from his mouth. - You put the fate of the kingdom in the hands of a stranger. A stranger!

- Duke Blackmoor, that is not for you to decide, - Henry replied with a smile and moved the scepter slightly, - The spell of the fifth circle, Destruction.

In an instant, the temperature turned colder, and a large sphere the size of a bull's head appeared in the middle of the room. It shook, and then split into fifty smaller spheres.

They swam toward the frozen knights of Mordred and then slammed into them.

A second later, strange noises were heard, as if someone was slowly breaking the glass piece by piece. And then Adam saw the unbelievable: the knights scattered before his eyes, turning to dust.

His face was covered in dust: the only thing left of the five knights. Adam was shocked.

- Henry! - Mordred shouted at the top of his voice and rushed forward.

As he ran, his body grew larger, causing all of his clothes to tear. Soon Adam and Henry saw a man whose height was three meters and whose eyes were colored red.

- Abomination. So this is the Duke's true face? - Henry grimaced in disgust and waved his scepter as if to drive away a fly, - Fifth Circle spell, Absolute Annihilation.

The scepter glowed and a bright beam of light struck Mordred's body.

- Henry... The last moments of my life will be the curses that will fall on you and the king! May sleepless nights and distressing dreams be your daily fate! May every step, and every decision lead to ruin and destruction! And one day you fools will see the end of this kingdom destroyed by the hands of a stranger!

Mordred's body swelled and Henry's face changed. He waved the scepter and Adam felt weightless, and when he looked back, he saw that he was flying!

- What a horror. I've heard rumors about him, but I didn't think he would self-destruct, endangering his subordinates, - Heinrich said, a sadness in his tone.

- Sir, - the knight suddenly flew up to him, - the King asked me to tell you that Viscount Risane and Baron Anaris have self-destructed.

Henry darkened and looked down. His face contorted in irritation and anger.

At the same time, Adam felt a burning sensation in his hand and saw the book! He hadn't paid attention to it or even felt it all the time, and now it was there.

He opened it and saw a new paragraph.

[Kobayashi Yukio was saved by the Supreme Wizard Henry, but at the cost of this was the death of 50,000 innocent citizens. Duke Blackmoor's subordinates self-destructed, standing their ground to the end.]

Adam finished with a shock when new lines appeared.

[Kobayashi Yukio, with Henry's help, returned to the castle, where he was given a welcoming banquet and healed of all his wounds. The next day, accompanied by knights, Kobayashi made his way to the church, where he met the High Priestess, Vera.]