Lazarus ca back with dozens of the Northern Stars and Paladins that were badly injured, the sll of blood and rot thick in the air. The priests and priestesses treated the wounded with everything they got and the holy water that Moriganne had prepared. Arthor and Maximilian watched Lazarus enter the Sancticus Monastery before they followed him.
"Father, how was Nehas Creek? Seeing that everyone is badly injured, it was bad?" Arthor asked Lazarus, who was standing at the statue of a Goddess, staring at it with a cold expression.
Lazarus stood there, slowly removed his fur cape that had been covered in the blood of the dead, the Corrupted. He removed his cloak which had the pungent sll of rotten flesh. A man who was said to be the strongest man in the whole of mankind, a force of nature, the one who had single-handedly prevented the demon forces from advancing and conquering the north, Lazarus Wyverncrest.
"They were there again, the Demon King rank demon. We were lucky that we didn’t lose anyone," Lazarus answered, placing his hands behind his back. "The enemy has grown weaker," he pointed out, looking over his shoulder at his son and his grandson.
"Weaker? They have been trying to expand their territory and even more active in the past few weeks," Maximilian asked with his brows furrowed.
"That’s exactly why they’re weak, Max. They know that we have the Orthias that want the sa thing as us, eliminating the threat. They’re out of option, their master is starving, and we have been stopping them from feeding the master. They’re desperate," Lazarus explained, his eyes closed as he prayed to the Goddess.
Eveline Sancticus arrived at the Monastery, slowly pulling down her hood as the priestesses followed her from behind. She was relieved when she heard that Lazarus had co back safely and that nobody had died during the battle.
"Elder, you’re safe, thank Gods," Eveline said as she stood behind Lazarus. "If you’re looking for Her Holiness, she’s not here, Lady Sanya took her to the land of Orthias," she revealed.
"The land of Orthias? They have finally accepted our request?" Lazarus slowly turned around and looked at Eveline. "It’s the greatest news that we can have in this situation. When did Her Holiness leave?" He asked, slightly tilting his head.
"Two weeks ago, and Monica has been the one that handles the safety of the people. She has been waiting for your arrival, elder," Eveline said as she pointed at the door in the corner of the big hall. "She has sothing to discuss with you, elder, about the future wars," she revealed.
Lazarus nodded with understanding and allowed Eveline to escort her to Monica’s working space.
"My Lady..." Lazarus lowered his head when he entered Monica’s office with Eveline.
"Elder, please co in and have a seat," Monica bowed her head and pointed at the couch. "How was the battle, elder? Things have been quite chaotic in the past two weeks. Any particular reason behind their approach?" She asked as she sat down after Lazarus sat down on the couch.
"Things aren’t great, My Lady, not when the Corrupted have entered the world of the living. The report has stated and confird that the Corrupted have crossed the Blackcliffs," Lazarus answered, watching Eveline pour a hot tea into his cup.
"And their numbers?" Monica asked, reaching for her teacup and bringing it to her lips.
"Five to ten millions, My Lady," Lazarus answered, his expression stoic and pointed at Monica. "Their numbers will increase and have increased exponentially in the past weeks. Soon the North will be flooded by the Corrupted," he warned.
Monica halted the teacup that was already on her lips. She stared into Lazarus’ eyes for a mont before she took a sip of her tea and put it down. She humd with understanding, there was no panic or anxiety in her face or in her eyes.
"I heard that Her Holiness is currently at the land of Orthias with Lady Sanya, My Lady. For what reason?" Lazarus asked, sipping his tea, washing the dry throat and the lingering scent of blood in his mouth.
"Lady Sanya proposed that the Orthias have accepted the Northern as the only humans that are worth their recognition. It was all thanks to Lady Sanya because she was the one who managed to convince the Orthias to recognize us," Monica answered with a calm expression. "Her Holiness has been chosen as our representative, and the Orthias wants to speak with their elders, to create a connection, a relation, an ally to fight the sa enemy," she explained.
"But I summoned you here wasn’t for this, elder," Monica said as she pulled a small scroll from under her sleeve and placed it on the table. "This ca from the Magic Tower, the Great Sage herself," she pointed out.
Lazarus looked at the scroll and took it as he opened the scroll. He read it carefully, his expression unchanged even when he scrolled the paper once again and put it back on the table. He took a deep breath, his gaze was distant and filled with thoughts.
"Should we believe that information, My Lady?" Lazarus asked.
"That information is from Count Blackheart, and whether to believe it or not, it will depend on us, elder. I have sent people to investigate this matter, and if what was written there were true, I would like the elders to take this matter personally," Monica answered with a serious expression.
"I have known those families ever since I was a boy, My Lady. Those families are quite influential in the North, and if questioned their loyalty, it would only cause more problems if you were wrong," Lazarus stared into Monica’s eyes with a sharp and serious gaze. "This isn’t about whether you’re prepared for the risks and consequences, but it’s about bearing the downfall of the North if you were wrong, you would be the reason of that downfall," he warned.
"I understand, elder," Monica nodded without hesitation.
Lazarus observed Monica’s conviction and confidence that were quite endearing to look at. He had noticed the changes in his grandson, Maximilian, and they both said to have changed ever since they enrolled into the academy. He rembered the person who had caused those changes in those two, and it was Rasmus.
"This man, Count Blackheart, your trust in him is almost like soone has a blind loyalty toward their master. It’s admirable that soone can put my grandson and the future Saint to have such trust in him. I have asked Max about this, and I have heard his answer, but I have never asked this to you, My Lady. Why do you believe in this man?" Lazarus asked, and his gaze was that of a predator that stared at its prey.
"Because Count Blackheart is soone who has an undeniable purpose and would do anything to achieve it. He’s a dangerous person, the most dangerous person I have known, elder. However, he never lied, he never used empty words to achieve his goal. He gave this information not for free, but he never asked sothing in return either. He gave this information because it aligned with our goal, and that’s how he manipulate people, to give them what they needed and he gained sothing from it as well. That’s who Count Blackheart is," Monica answered without blinking her eyes or averting her gaze from Lazarus’ predatory gaze.
Lazarus humd, slowly nodding as he tried to understand this mysterious man called Rasmus Blackheart.
"If you can describe Count Blackheart, what kind of a person he is, My Lady?" Lazarus asked.
"A man with undeniable wisdom like you, elder, but the difference is that he doesn’t hold on to morality," Monica answered.
"So a wise man with a reason to turn the world upside-down," Lazarus said, nodding with understanding.
"Yes, elder," Monica nodded in agreent. "To trust soone with the ability to turn the world upside-down, I believe his information is worth to be considered. He may despise humans, he is, but he knows better than letting demons to interfere with his goal, elder," she added.
Lazarus nodded with understanding and emptied his cup of tea that had gone cold. He slowly got up from the couch and looked outside the window where the moonlight lit the sky. His breathing was calm, a man who never let fear and uncertainty haunt him.
"Please keep an update to your investigation, My Lady. I will keep my squire here by your side, to send the report you have gathered about this matter, about the demonic cults that have been hiding in the North," Lazarus said and lowered his head to Monica.
Monica got up and bowed her head to the elder.
"I will check my n because the winning the battle doesn’t an winning the war," Lazarus said and excused himself, leaving Monica and Eveline in the room.
Monica took a deep breath before she exhaled deeply and succumbed to the couch.
"By now, my mother should be with the Orthias, right?" Monica asked Eveline.
"I believe so. Moriganne has always been a strong one compared to , I know that because I’m her younger sister after all. Moriganne will be able to pull this out, my niece. She will," Eveline said, looking at Monica’s cold and stoic expression.
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