Chương 11: The Rightful Heir

Oscar drove his blade through the air with swift, precise strikes. The sound of steel cutting through the void echoed through the castle's underground halls, mingling with the smell of dampness and ancient stone. He was focused, his breathing controlled, his body tense like a drawn bowstring. The sound of heels interrupted his training. He turned. His mother, Teresa, was walking toward him with determined steps.

"What are you doing down here?" she asked.

"This is where prisoners are kept. It's dangerous". Oscar lowered his sword and calmly sheathed it.

"Don't worry, mother. I'm not weak like Oliver". Teresa's expression stiffened.

"Do not speak about your brother that way". Oscar clenched his jaw.

"Why? Isn't it the truth? That fat bastard is dragging the kingdom into ruin. He's humiliating our house. Father fought on the front lines, leading men into battle. Oliver eats, sleeps, visits prostitutes, and lets the kingdom burn". Teresa lowered her gaze for a moment before taking his face in her hands.

"And what do you propose, my son?" she whispered.

"He is the rightful heir". Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Oscar brushed her hands away with a sharp movement and turned his back on her.

"You could convince him to give me the throne. Think about it". He walked away quickly, leaving Teresa alone in the silence of the underground halls. Felicity, Leah and Xia traveled toward the Southern Lands. The road was long and the journey would take weeks. Arid fields stretched across the horizon, interrupted only by barren hills and wind-beaten paths.

"And once we get there? Are we supposed to ask the locals if they've happened to see a legendary sword lying around?" Felicity asked sarcastically.

"First, let's focus on surviving the journey", Xia replied. Felicity scoffed.

"The sword we saw controlled the dead like puppets. The one we're searching for in the Southern Lands, what kind of power will it have?"

"It's not the sword's power that should frighten you", Xia answered.

"It's the one who possesses it". Meanwhile, the reinforcements sent by Oliver advanced southward. At the head of the column rode Ethan Light, commander of the Golden Knights. His platinum blond hair was cut short, his blue eyes alert, his powerful body wrapped in gleaming armor. He raised a hand.

"Halt". He dismounted and stepped forward. A corpse lay on the ground, half-devoured by vultures that took flight when disturbed. Ethan lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, friend…it shouldn't have ended like this". He turned toward his men.

"We're close. Continue in this direction. We'll find the allied troops".

"Yes, commander!" they answered in unison. They resumed their march. In a nearby inn, the coalition's mages and human soldiers celebrated their recent victories. Tables overflowed with alcohol, loud laughter, and off-key music. Prostitutes wandered among the men. One of them, a brown-haired woman, sat beside Xarath and placed a hand on his chest.

"Hey, handsome…want to have some fun?" Xarath looked at her with empty eyes.

"Why not". The woman smiled and took him by the arm, leading him upstairs. Once inside the room, he closed the door behind them.

"Lie down on the bed", he ordered. She obeyed and lay down on the bed. Xarath stared at her, the blank expression on his face. He raised a hand toward her. A sudden pain shot through the woman's body. She screamed and tried to move, to escape.

"What are you doing?! Stop!" Xarath remained motionless and expressionless. An instant later, the woman's body exploded into a rain of blood and flesh. Xarath lowered his gaze to his own hand.

"My control is weakening…" he murmured.

"Is it exhaustion? Or is Seer Aelira controlling me as well?" The silence of the room answered him.