章 550: Spies Demise

Priscilla frowns and stares into the dragon's eye. "Does that mean you hate me?" she asks.

The ancient dragon slowly blinks again, it's slit pupil focusing on her, "No... The sins of the parent don't belong to the child. You. Are the last of my family, I wish to keep you, and my lineage safe." it states, though Reima couldn't extract any emotion from its words.

Priscilla nods, becoming silent for a moment before finally asking. "Do you have a name?"

...

"Eeuwigdurend was what they called me."

Reima "Erwigdurend?" he mutters, trying to pronounce it properly.

Quelaag "Who's they?"

Eeuwigdurend "The humans. We dragons don't use names unless we interact with mortals, the Pale One being called Seath by the small god because of his "Seething Rage" towards us... Even now it amuses me."

Reima "Yeah, sounds like the edgiest dragon that had ever lived." he says sarcastically.

Priscilla "Do you like it here?" she asks, interested to hear what the dragon thinks of this world.

The dragon nods, "The air is clean, the world fresh. These mountains remind me of the ancient times humans did not exist. I feel warmth on this peak."

Quelaag "Must be that Place of Power, I still feel it from here."

The group continues to talk with the dragon until it gets tired of their presence for the day, it sends them off but not before telling Priscilla that she's free to visit him any time she wishes. She happily accepts and skips down the mountain with Quelaag and Reima, the smile on her face never leaving.

Reima "What did you think of the old man?" he asks Quelaag.

Quelaag "There isn't much to say, he's old, powerful and lazy."

Reima nods, "Yeah, to be honest, I find it hard to distinguish him from a statue..."

Quelaag laughs, "Yes, I'm sure most would."

The group reaches the settlement and Reima thanks them for accompanying him, "We should do this again."

Priscilla nods, "Eeuwigdurend would get lonely if we didn't visit him." she says and skips away, probably to tell Solaire about what the dragon had said.

Quelaag turns to him and smiles, "Doing this again would be nice... Maybe just the two of us next time?" she says while she rests her hands on her spider lower-half.

Reima nods, "Sounds good." he says and she scuttles off with a blush, taking glances at him as she does so.

He's left alone after they both leave, he still has a couple things to do today but he should probably start with the most pressing...

*Flash!*

Reima teleports to the Painted World, specifically to the only tower currently holding a prisoner.

The man is currently shivering while hugging the warm rock he'd previously enchanted, when he sees Reima he quickly gets up and almost throws himself at the bars. "P-please! Let me out! I'll freeze in here!"

Reima "Hmm, I think you've got the situation twisted... You are my prisoner, I'm the one who makes demands. Got it?" he says with a glare, the man crumbles to his knees in a mixture of exhaustion, fear and desperation.

"Yes."

Reima "Great. I'll just tell you straight off the bat, if you lie to me, you die. Cool?"

The man shivers and slower nods.

Reima "First, what's your name?"

"Krundi Hasro." he says after a moment.

Reima nods, "Mmm hmm... And your real name?"

...

"Krundi Hasro." he repeats after a moment.

Reima "Ok, Krundi... What were you doing so close to the mountains? Wanting to commit suicide? Because I'll tell you right now, the monsters wouldn't have granted a swift death."

Krundi "I got lost, the same I told to your companions."

Reima shrugs, "Yeah, it seems no one tells me anything nowadays." he says with a fake sigh.

Krundi "Yes, they kept speaking of rebelling against those who ruled them."

Reima looks at him with interest, "Oh? It seems I need to crack a few heads."

Krundi nods rapidly, "I can help you if you let me out!"

Reima snorts, "Man, what a brave peasant, offering advice on subterfuge and punishment? Alright, I've had enough of this farce." he says as he raises his hand and uses telekinesis on the man, forcing his face against the bars as he retrieves a small vial of Veritaserum. Krundi struggles and whimpers as he mouth is painfully pried open to allow the liquid to stream down his throat.

Reima releases his hold on the man once he's sure the serum has been ingested, "Remember what I said at the start? If you lie to me you die? Well, let's just see how truthful you were... What's your real name?"

"Krundi" struggles and tries to keep his mouth shut, only for Reima to telekinetically break one of the man's fingers. He gasps and a few words slip out... "Florentijn"

Reima "Hmm, Florentjin? Doesn't sound like your from around Kaedwen now, does it?"

Florentijn begins to tear up, "Please, I was-They made-I didn't-" every time he tried to speak an explanation he found his brain unable to finish the thought.

Reima "Why are you here?"

Florentijn "You captured me."

Reima shakes his head in annoyance, "What were you doing so close to Kaer Morhen?"

Florentijn "Mansfeld commanded me to-" his hands go to his throat and cut his words off, a disbelieving and shocked expression on his face.

Reima examines his nail, "Uh huh, who's Mansfeld?"

Florentijn "The ruler of Kaedwen."

Reima "Hmm, what would Kaedwen want with Kaer Morhen?"

Florentijn has tears streaming from his eyes as his resistance can hold up no longer, "He wished to find a reason to send the Eternal Fire to your doorstep, I do not know for what reason... Please don't kill me!"

Reima "Youknow, I'm a man of my word, I don't think I've ever told a lie before... Would you have me become a liar?"

Florentijn "Please sir, I won't spea-" he's cut off yet again, his words obviously not truthful.

Reima shrugs, blinks inside the cell and grabs the man by the throat before teleporting to the Unicorn and Thestral herd. He looks around and sees a House Elf tending to them, keeping the area clean of shit and the animals well-fed. "Have the Thestrels been fed yet?" he asks the Elf who jumps in surprise to see him.

"No master! I was just-"

Reima "-Then, prepare less food than usual, I've got a treat for them." he states as he throws the man inside, but not before breaking his arms and legs to prevent him running. "Enjoy your time petting the animals, be careful though, they bite!" he says with a chuckle before disappearing, leaving the unfortunate elf to listen to the man's agonizing screams as he's devoured by the Thestrels.