Salvos

I sat on a chair in the middle of a room with four Humans standing around me. Their gazes were focused purely on me— like an oppressive, encroaching, looming monster that threatened to gobble me up and spit me back out. I was the center of attention here, and normally I’d be more than delighted over this, but it wasn’t in a good way this time. After all, these weren’t four regular people. They were amongst the top of all of Humankind!

The first was Helena Warshade. An Elite Ranked adventurer. The Great Tempest Archmage of Mavos Academy. The leader of the Rising Veterans Company. She stood with her arms crossed, storm-like eyes fixed on every minute movement I made. As if she was a warden watching over a prisoner, making sure I didn’t escape. I sat up abruptly as her eyes flickered and sent a chill up my spine.

The next was Orgaf, Thief of the Golden Scales, and another Elite Ranked adventurer. He was a [Nightcrawler Shadower]. Level 162 now after the battle with Belzu and the [Hellabomination]. An independent adventurer, and one of the few people who knew the truth about my Demon heritage.

The other two were people I’d never met before. But they were also Elite Ranked adventurers. One of them had even been at the fall of Nighstveil! They were Alder the Augur Elder and Lofus the Broken Berserker of Bherein.

These four Humans were the only ones in the room with me, and they all had the same question.

“Tell me, Salvos.”

Helena Warshade spoke as she strode up to me.

“And speak as truthfully as you can. Do not worry about being eavesdropped. I have set up an extensive system of wards to ensure no [Mage] under Level 150 will be able to listen in on this conversation.”

As usual, she was incredibly blunt. Helena Warshade spared no time trying to warn me against lying or whatever. If Clayton Skyshredder was here, he’d have given me a long lecture about doing the right thing and being responsible. Her gaze simply met mine expectantly, and I pursed my lips.

“Um, so how do I put this…”

I shifted in my chair, looking down. My mouth opened. I sucked in a quick breath. Then I spun around.

“Orgaf help!”

I desperately looked towards the Elite [Rogue] for any kind of aid. He just shrugged.

“Sorry. Can’t do anything. Helena would kick my ass if I tried to get you out of here.”

The Great Tempest Archmage didn’t visibly react. Alder the Augur Elder narrowed his eyes, while Lofus— the burly woman— just looked amused. She faced Orgaf and chuckled.

“I’d have expected you to tell her to ‘fuck off’, Orgaf. Seems like you’ve taken quite the liking to her in a few days, haven’t you? Did she impress you that much in battle against the Primeval Demon?”

“Fuck off, Lofus.”

He scowled as he turned away.

“Anyway, I have my own questions for Salvos once we’re alone. I don’t want any of you assholes poking your head into my business.”

“Aw…”

I deflated. I knew what he wanted to talk about. But at least it was a good thing he wasn’t exposing me in front of Helena Warshade. If he said anything, I already had both a [Greater Teleportation] and [The Devil’s Grace] at the ready just so I could escape. I wasn’t dumb— I couldn’t beat four Elites in a fight.

“Salvos.”

Helena Warshade spoke up, starting to sound impatient. She leaned closer as she placed her hands on the desk before me.

“What can you tell me about the corruption of that Wyvern?”

“Alright, alright, geez. I didn’t think you’d be that up in arms over it. Not when the Kobolds have been talking about it for centuries now.”

I raised my hands defensively, closing my eyes. Then I cracked my right eyelid open to see their reactions. Orgaf frowned, Alder blinked a few times, and Lofus straightened as if I finally got her attention. Helena just fractionally cocked a brow. I smiled.

“Now, where do I begin?”

I met Helena Warshade’s eyes, grinning.

“How much do you know about the history of the Kobold invasions?”

“This is your room. I know it’s not too luxurious— I hope you don’t mind. But we’ve been housing too many guests lately. And it’ll only be more crowded still.”

Rana bowed her head apologetically as she showed the room to Faith. The Fallen Queen of Elutra replied curtly, nodding at the princess of Alyras.

“I appreciate this, princess Rana. But you really didn’t have to bring us here yourself.”

“It is more than my pleasure to show the Fallen Queen of Elutra herself around my palace. I’d like to have something to do, anyway.”

It was just Rana, Faith, Faith’s bodyguards, and Sevika now. After Salvos was dragged away by Helena Warshade— in a rather intimidating fashion— her friends, Daniel, Edithe, and the others, all went about their own way. Edithe apparently had things to do at her company, and Daniel went off with Amanda. Saffron herself was waiting for Salvos to get out of that meeting with Helena Warshade.

And, well, Rana was both glad and upset. She was glad that most of Salvos’ friends left— the princess barely knew them and wouldn’t know how to interact with them. But she was also upset that none of them stayed behind and helped her… with Faith.

It was no obscure fact that the princess of Alyras wasn’t the best at socializing. Especially when it was with someone she just met and respected very much. Faith fit both of these criteria so Rana just stood there as a long awkward silence passed.

“So, uh—”

Rana started out just as Faith turned back to face her.

“This room—”

They both blinked. And Rana shifted back.

“No, you go—”

“Go ahead—”

The pair of princesses spoke over each other again. Rana was blushing furiously out of embarrassment now. She stepped back, gesturing at Faith. The Fallen Queen of Elutra nodded.

“Princess Rana, I hope not to impose, but is it possible for me and my team to enchant the walls of the room and set up our own wards? For added security, of course.”

She eyed the luxurious room analytically. As if she saw not the bright colors and the fancy ornaments. Instead, she only looked at it and saw a death trap. Rana gulped and hurriedly nodded.

“Of course! I’ll ensure that our guards frequently patrol these hallways as well. I understand your worries. It is very much a fair concern!”

Rana waved a hand off, trying to placate Faith’s concerns. She turned to Sevika as footfalls echoed down the hallway.

“Sevika, make sure that happens, alright?”

“Yes, princess Rana.”

Faith gave them a grateful look as the footsteps drew closer. Rana opened her mouth, turning back to Faith.

“By the way, was it true that you—”

Just as Rana started, a voice cut her off. A charming and ostentatious man strode up to them, spreading his arms wide.

“There you are, my darling princess!”

“Oh no…”

Rana felt a prickle run down her spine like hundreds of little ants were crawling on her skin. Peris Dolonia came to a halt with a little bit of flair. He curtsied as he glanced between the two women.

“Ah, apologies, am I interrupting something, Miss…?”

He turned to Faith, and the Fallen Queen of Elutra answered simply.

“I am Faith El of Elutra.”

“Of Elutra? Ah, I’ve heard of you. I am Peris Dolonia of Dolonia. And I am Rana’s fiance. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

He smiled at her before leaning over to kiss her hand. Rana just shifted back, wanting to leave this conversation. Faith raised a brow and turned to the princess of Alyras.

“Fiance?”

“Y-yes. This is my fiance, Peris.”

Rana flushed as she said that. Peris drew back and turned to her.

“I saw you earlier, my dear princess. I was wondering why you left so early, but it seems like you had other matters of import to attend to. To think the Fallen Queen of Elutra herself has come— I am less hurt, though I am still hurt, of course.”

He winked at the princess of Alyras, but Rana didn’t react other than to get even more flustered.

“R-right. Well, Peris, I know you’re a busy man—”

She tried to shoo him off, but he spoke over her.

“Ah, not as busy as you my dear. Your servants were simply showing me to the guest room. I am slightly weary from my journey, after all. But it is worth it to spend your wonderful birthday with you, my beloved.”

Faith faced Rana with an intrigued look.

“Is it your birthday soon, princess Rana?”

“It is. In two weeks’ time, actually.”

Rana answered, lowering her head. Peris patted her on the shoulder.

“Some would say it is unfortunate timing with the meeting happening so soon. Especially if the conference is protracted over a month. But it is good timing for me since it gives me an excuse to see you.”

He walked past her as his bodyguards and the palace servants continued on ahead. Waving at her, he disappeared down the hallway.

“For now, I’ll leave you to it. We need to catch up, princess Rana. There are lots we have to talk about.”

“R-right. Bye…”

Rana watched him go. She felt embarrassed just from that encounter. He shared too much information all at once. She wanted to apologize to Faith, but the Fallen Queen of Elutra just entered her own room.

“I hope to wish you a happy early birthday, princess Rana.”

She turned to Rana with a rueful smile.

“After all, you won’t have much time to celebrate once the meeting is over and decided.”

And Rana closed her eyes.

“Right.”

I gave a brief history lesson of Koboldkind since the Humans basically knew nothing about it. All they knew was that Kobolds invaded because they were zealots who hated Alexander. Because they just thought that Kobolds were [Cultists] who hated Spirits like they hated Demons. Honestly, it was surprising how little Helena Warshade, the second highest-leveled [Mage] in the world, knew less about Kobolds than Orgaf.

But it made sense, if you thought about it. Orgaf himself had ventured deep into the Kobold lands. He would pick up quite a few things about how Kobold society functioned. Meanwhile, even if Helena had been a scholar at Mavos Academy at one point, that didn’t mean she excelled in history or Kobold culture. She might have just been good at teaching magic.

“So, the Kobolds worship what they call the Old Gods. Their ancestors or whatever. Dragons. Basically these giant Kobolds with wings, right?”

I met the gaze of everyone in the room. They glanced at each other worriedly. Alder furrowed his brows.

“Are you saying the Kobolds have been hiding this secret weapon behind their backs?”

Lofus guffawed and raised her waraxe.

“Hah! Bring them! I can tear a Wyvern with my bare hands. I have even felled a [Greater Wyvern] in single combat. An overgrown, bloated Kobold is nothing to me!”

“No! That’s not what I meant at all!”

I sputtered, interrupting the Elites before they could continue with their nonsense. Orgaf didn’t say anything. He just stood quietly in the corner as Helena Warshade placed a hand on her chin.

“Then are you insinuating that it is these Dragons who have created the corruption?”

Her eyes flickered and she muttered to herself.

“Or, rather, that the Kobolds are experimenting on Wyverns to transform them into these Dragons?”

I sighed exasperatedly.

“No! Look, listen to me. The Dragons— the Old Gods— are long gone, alright? They’re not around anymore. They left! It has nothing to do with them!”

“Then what is this about?”

Orgaf finally asked, crossing his arms.

“How does this corruption Helena Warshade speak about relate to these Dragons?”

I looked around the room. I stared at the peering, curious gazes. They all wanted answers. And it was so complex. I had to explain a lot of concepts if I wanted them to even get what I meant. I scratched the back of my head, thinking how best to get it all through to them at once. Finally, I decided to tell it to them as it was.

“The corruption is the end of the world. It is the Apocalypse. The Dragons left Secely to stop it, and judging by the fact that the corruption has gotten here?”

I met each gaze individually before stopping at Helena Warshade. I looked her straight in the eyes.

“They failed, and the world will end.”