บท 53: Meeting the king
"Is that him?" A gruff voice spoke while looking at my beaten self.
…What? You think I'd win just because I injured Windsom? I can win but that'd bring more trouble than its worth.
"Yes, my lord." The 'victor' of our fight spoke with a salute. It would've looked straight out a theatre play had I not been in the picture with bloody face.
"And why do you look like that?" Finally! He asked the question! The Crème de la crème of questions! How are you going to dodge this, my dear Windsom?
"…He was a strong foe." It didn't take an expert to know what the pregnant silence meant. A 'lesser' had injured Windsom to this degree despite him having an ascended core stage. But among the shocked faces, I could see some of the asuras slumping their shoulders, as if relieved.
Ah…right, these guys think my core is put under a limiter, meaning I can no longer get stronger. Well you can think what you'd want, the impression you have of me is of no concern.
"How long are you going to pretend?" A soft voice rang out from the other end of the throne room. If my guess is right, then this is myre. The wife of Kezess Indrath. But that wasn't important. What's important to note is that she caught onto me.
"How'd you know?" Ignoring the gasps surrounding us, I asked her by turning my head around, still hanging my Windom's grip on my collar.
"Your ears were twitching." She spoke with a smile marring her face. I could've sworn to see her pupils glowing a golden hue like mine as she tilted her face a little after sitting beside Kezess. Based on the terrifuied faces of the soldiers and Windom's tightening frip on my collar, it was not a good thing.
Was she like this in the script? I remember her giving grandma vibes when she met Arthur, so why the discrepancy? Or was it a pretense she used to cozy up to him? Did she never see Arthur as a threat back then like she is seeing me right now?
"Hmm….curious" I ignored the twitching king Kezess who was likely pissed about being ignored and focused on Myre. That was probably why the king ordered everyone to leave including Windsom, much to his displeasure.
"Pray tell, little child. What is this curious thing you find about me."
"Anhedonia is the inability to experience joy or pleasure." I stopped my lips from curling up when I saw the two lizards enlarge their pupils. "It has many causes, the rarest one being head trauma."
"And? What is your point in saying that?" Kezess spoke to interrupt me before I could go on any further.
"Nothing, I just found it interesting. If I may ask lady Myre, what exactly did you do in your prime before you were reduced to this?"
"I do not recall doing anything dangerous lesser." She spoke while narrowing her eyes and smiling at me. The last bit was probably a taunt to gauge my character.
"That's strange, I don't recall saying you did something dangerous explicitly."
"...."
"There's also your strange skin which lacks any pores for sweat, unlike the others. It's pretty common in healed skin surfaces. A lot more obvious when healing magic is being used frequently on oneself."
Right as those words left my mouth, a familiar but heavier pressure descended, this time from both of them.
"Speak carefully lesser. You are not as irreplaceable as you think you are."
"Is it the same for your daughter?" A pregnant silence ensued as I spoke those words.
"Pfft- I'm joking of course. But seriously, I don't appreciate these hollow threats."
"Oh?"
"You say you'll kill me. But can you really afford to do that? When I'm the strongest man Dicathen has to offer?" I spoke while pointing at them, unfazed by the waves of pressure pressing down on me like a truck.
"You let me operate how I wish without interference, and I end this war before it reaches its climax."
"You underestimate yourself."
"And you overestimate your control over world affairs. You were just lucky due to the head start you had with the dijin's." I didn't wait to meet the gloved hand reaching for the blade to swing at my neck and teleported out of range.
The aftermath left a deep gash on the ground. "Healing magic really is a wonder, don't you think?" I dodged the kick followed by a terrifying slash across my chest by crossing my arms coated in titanium.
Ting—!
The sparks left from our clash.
"You think you'll get away with this? After speaking about my daughter." His words had venom in them. Promising me a gruesome death. "Yes I do."
"Then die!" He yelled before going for a stab at my heart and core at the same time.
"Interesting technique." I said without moving, fully prepared to take the hit.
"But you lack the intent."
His sword went through my flesh. Ripping through my bones and muscles, forming a pool of blood, yet missing my vitals. I spoke, with the sword still digging inside me (no homo). The pain was excruciating, almost making me yell out, but my mind wasn't so weak as it was back then.
"Let's stop this charade shall we. You know you are a king before you are a father. Brute force won't work here, I'm sure you''re smart enough to know what the right step is."
"…. What do you want?" He let out a breath, scrutinizing me with his brows forming a frown.
"Autonomy"
"….."
"What? You think I want your relics? Hell no! Keep your dusty treasure to yourself!"
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