23
23
After midday, few hours after Valariel starts the controlled battleground
Teclis pov
“I have come to a decision.” I said to Valariel. “I will make a contract as things are proven to be more complicated than I initially anticipated.”
This draw frowns from the three mages assisting in powering the seal. But their frowns turned to surprise as I showed them the draft of my contract. Since the daemon cannot offer its true name, the content of the contract will allow me to practically own it like I have its true name. I did not show the contract to Valariel though. As she will no doubt object. But this is what will give the most benefits while ensuring there is no loophole.
“Prepare to stop channeling the banishment seal.” The three wizards now perform checks and make sure everything is working properly.
“Before that… Can I meet my mother?” Valariel suddenly asks. I turn to my prepared answer.
“She is preoccupied at the moment. It is a complicated matter. I will explain after the daemon signs the contract.” She is skeptical but nodded in understanding. Then the banishment seal is finally unpowered.
“So daemon, I have decided on a compromise.” I start
“W-wait, Lord Teclis. I am still here.” I stopped and looked at her.
“The banishment seal is properly unpowered.” I checked along with my assistants. “Why the daemon not come out?”
“I don’t know.”
I frowned. Is this another problem?
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“Allright. Valariel, I need you to meditate like last time. I will try to visit its Sanctuary again.”
She nodded and closed her eyes. I tried to enter the Sanctuary like last time. But found myself blocked from entry.
“This is odd. Is the daemon blocking my entry?”
But then someone enters the room. It's the tower guard. My intuition warns me of another problem. He looked at Valariel and back at me. I approached him and he whispered what I thought the problem was. Asahane has escaped.
“No one is allowed to enter this room. Do not allow anyone to enter before I return!” I commanded my 3 assistants.
“Should the banishment seal remain unpowered my lord?” I thought and weighed the risks.
“Yes. The daemon will not be able to breach the seal anyway.”
“Is there a problem?” Valariel asks
“Nothing for you to worry about.” I promptly left with the prison guard
“Anyone died?” I asked the tower guard as soon as I left the room.
“None sir.” the guard answered as we make our way to the prison under the tower
“Anyone accounted for? Anyone missing?”
“We have checked. No one has gone missing and no one else has entered the tower since the handmaiden. We have also closed and guarded all entrance”
“Then we have one or more extra people or someone is a traitor within the tower. Make multiple groups to investigate. I want Asahane and whoever helped her captured as soon as possible.”
—
Kal’s Pov
Our number has passed one thousand. The other beastmen herd stops their useless attacks. Instead they now rely on traps. Bladed pitfalls, swinging logs, some javelin traps, etc. Again just annoying. With the quality of their weapons and traps, none of them capable of properly piercing our metallic skin, we would just be scratched and bruised at most. And again it is a good experience for me and other to spot traps
Still no Bestigors, Bovigors, or other gors that are blessed by the gods. I also can’t really send scouts too as we can still be overwhelmed. While we can fly up to scout the area, everything is covered by the thick trees from above. I have tried that. The only thing notable is that we have passed some fortress inhabited with weird green men. We didn’t raid the place as our stock of food and loot was already slowing us down. I have also thought about claiming the place. But it is heavily defended and they might have more numbers than us. Besides, I think the other herd will lose their patience soon enough. And losing who knows how many taking a fortress will only weaken us when the other herd finally decides to attack.
The chaos mammoth, while not yet growing as big as its parent, has now started breeding too. Mother’s lesser daemons and a weird human volunteer for that. Druig also finally healed. Our herd have returned to its former power and keep growing. It is now just missing one thing. I hope Mother can return soon.
—
Somewhere before midnight. The door of the ritual room opens. One of the three wizards confronts the intruder.
“Halt! Leave the room imme-” But before he can finish his sentence, he is surprised to see who it was. Even Valariel leans from within her magical cage to confirm who she saw.
“Lord Tyrion. Pardon my rudeness, we don’t know you are here. But Lord Teclis forbids anyone entering this room.”
“It is alright. Just arrived this evening myself. I have also come to notify you that Teclis wants you to prepare a similar room and seal like this one. As he is preoccupied in containing the daemonic intruder I relay this order in his stead.” Tyrion explained his presence and delivered his command.
“Very well, one of us will stay here to power the seal.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that, I have brought along another wizard to power the seal.” Tyrion then said. And true enough there is a wizard just behind him. Tyrion’s imposing presence all but reduces the wizard behind him like a background.
“I see. Very well then.” The three wizards perform one last check before leaving. They then saw the wizard Tyrion bring. She is wearing a cowl that partially covers her face. But other than that, there is nothing strange. The three then left for their new task.
As soon as the door closes, the wizard behind Tyrion pulls down her cowl. Her face returned to its original form.
“Mother?” Asahane then ran towards the cage.
“It’s okay. Everything will return to normal. No, it will be perfect.” She then took out a set of keys and tried to unlock the cage by trying the keys one by one.
“This our daughter then?” Tyrion asks as he steps closer.
“What!? Mother, what does Lord Tyrion mean?” Valariel asks in disbelief
“You should know if you didn’t run away. I have arranged the meeting with your father but you ran before I could take you to him.”
“Is that why you keep me within the house and forbid me to leave?”
“Yes. Yes! Sorry dear. But everything worked out.” Asahane continues to try the keys. But her hands are shaking in so much excitement that it is taking too long to unlock the cage.
“Once we leave we can be happy.” Tyrion rolled his eyes at this. “I will properly marry Tyrion and we can be happy as we should be. He promised!” Then a sigh from Tyrion
Valariel is flabbergasted. Too shocked by the sudden revelation that she did not take note of Tyrion's reaction and neither did Asahane in her excitement.
After a while, Asahane finally opens the cage. She pulled Valariel to a hug before taking her hand to lead her away.
“Finally it is done.” Tyrion said before suddenly pulled Asahane. Making her trip with the force he used and falling to the floor. He choked Asahane on the ground and pulled a bluish purple dagger with moving eyes on the hilt.
“You are so gullible that it is boring.” The Changeling, a Herald of Tzeentch, shed its disguise. A deep blue cowl and cloak hides its face and form. two extra arms appear on his left side. Then it stabs Asahane’s head with the dagger.