Chapter Eighteen

"Edgar? Like Edgar Konstantinos, the guy clad in black armor who almost hit me with his spear twice?" Ludwig asks, completely in shock.

"So Aviva's been spreading more lies? Typical." Rye's demeanor is no longer calm and quiet, but rather seething with hate towards either Edgar, Aviva, or both of them.

"Huh?"

It is all Ludwig can say, being left speechless.

"If we are talking about the same Edgar, his name is Edgar Tirlus, son of Aviva Sylfiel and Rowan Tirlus. They had two sons: Edgar is their eldest, and I am their youngest. Once Rowan was supposedly killed by Aviva, Edgar wanted to take the throne, so he stabbed me with his spear, right where I am sitting, on the night of Rowan's death.

"But before I could recover from the injury to the point where he could deal the second and final fatal killing blow, Aviva took him away and hid his lineage from the rest of the world, changing his name and lying to her entire bloodline that he was the son of herself and a spearman from Aegia who she fell in love with whilst with Rowan: Braylon Konstantinos.

"I don't know what Edgar will do if he sees me again. Will he kill me and take the Kuu bloodline throne, or will he acknowledge that I lead the bloodline? If he does the latter, what will he be left to do? My best guess is that he will not wish to be around both the Kuu and Rosenrough bloodlines and desire to be like his 'father': Commander of Aegia's spearmen," Rye closes his eyes and takes a deep breath after explaining everything he knows about Edgar to a silent and frozen Ludwig.

The spy tries his best to relay, in his mind, what he was just told. Did Edgar really attempt to kill his own younger brother? And why did Aviva kill Rowan when she had two children with him? Why lie that Rowan was not Edgar's father, but some random man she fell in love with?

"I apologize. I have said too much. Please, forgive me," Rye return his eyes to the fire, and Ludwig scrambles to find a reply.

"A-ah, it's really okay! I'm sorry to hear Edgar tried to kill you. I hope you two can reconcile somehow in the future if possible!" Ludwig blurts out, and he instantly regrets it.

Why did he say that? It was the equivalent of saying you should try and befriend a cold-blooded killer despite said killer murdering someone you loved. Ludwig rests his elbows on his thighs and his head in his hands, too embarrassed to even look at the dancing flames.

"Thank you. I hope it may be possible," Rye reaches for something with his right hand that Ludwig can only hear him do, still not bothering to raise his head despite Rye's dismissiveness of his rushed suggestion.

The spy suddenly remembers Rye mentioning Fredrick lost a "life" so to speak, and straightens his posture, letting his arms rest by his side, preparing to ask the young man how.

He turns to face Rye, but the items in Rye's outstretched hand catch his eye first. Five small, black spheres, the size of peas, are in his palm. Ludwig hesitantly puts his right hand out near Rye's left, and the spheres roll off the latter's hand into that of the former.

The young man pulls out the small pouch he gave the Hinora to Theo in, and puts the small items in it, before fastening it with a purple ribbon instead of the pink that was originally around the pouch.

"They are to help with the pain in your abdomen. You do know you were affected by magic exclusive to the Kuu's spears, yes? Specifically that of Veri, the most powerful spear- and dare I say weapon- known to the Keiju. Of course, whoever hit you doesn't have the actual weapon, but it is an uncanny replica," Rye begins to explain, and Ludwig can not help but interject into the explanation the name of the person with the spear.

"Edgar has a replica of the most powerful spear? What does the magic within it do once it hits someone like me?"

"It's no surprise Edgar has a replica. Rowan, before his suspected death, must have willed for a replica to be made, and granted it, as per tradition, to his eldest son. Thankfully, he trusted me with the actual spear. Do be grateful you were not stabbed with this spear.

"Anyway, you are now infected with dark magic known to the Keiju as Verda. If left untreated, which all cases are since there is no confirmed cure yet, you will give into the madness and become a merciless weapon, killing all those who you see, even those whom you care about deeply.

"Any time you feel pain, it signifies the growth of the scales that now cover more of your abdomen than before. Eventually, once the scales cover your entire body, from your head to your feet, you will lose all Dracecean senses and become what us Kuu call a 'Creature of the Moonless". Hopefully, you are able to come across a cure before that time comes," Rye explains again, and Ludwig's eyes grow wide.

He didn't want to become a killing machine! Would he end up killing Theo? Mykel? Her, even? He would never want to kill those three, much less anyone unless his life was in danger and there was no (non-violent) way to get out of it!

"How long do I have?" Ludwig's voice comes out in an unsteady whisper and Rye answers with a sorrowful sigh.

"At best, three months. If the time comes, and you do not want to become a Creature of the Moonless, someone will have to 'mercy kill' you. Any other method of death will not purify your system of infection. I am sorry that you have to receive such news here, at this time, from me, but I figured you wanted a reason for your pain."

Silence. A long silence.

Three months was all Ludwig had, and it was made worse by the words "at best". Ludwig had only three months or less to return Theo to Luimesha and find a possible cure to his infection, or he would very well take to end his own life if no one he cared about wished to kill him, which was very likely.

"Oh..." Ludwig lets out a shaky exhale, and vigorously blinks in order to hold back the tears that threaten to roll down his cheeks from the corners of his eyes.

"I suspect you would like to continue on your way to the Fielnon camp, so I will let you go. But rest assured, I will offer whatever assistance you may need in finding Crown Prince Veles of Luimesha. I wish you the best of luck in your travels," Rye rises from his seat and offers a hand to Ludwig, which he accepts, being pulled into a standing position.

"Thank you. How, may I ask, did Fredrick receive a fatal injury? Someone so energetic should be on everyone's good side, right?" Ludwig tries his best to summon a smile of gratitude for Rye's assistance, but it fails to come across his lips.

"You will receive a sensible answer when you ask him. It was a true pleasure to meet you, Mister Casimir."

Ludwig nods, thanks Rye for his explanations and help in treating his infection, and heads out of the living space and into the long hallway that now leads ever so closer to his inevitable death.