บท 38: Chapter 37: The Lady.
Rigel went to the blacksmith shop after Vania told him the best blacksmith in Alma City. He went there, and it was as Vania said that nobody dared to look at him with that cape in his hands. It felt like he had just gained authority and privilege by just carrying that emblem.
The blacksmith who was busy forging Players' orders, immediately put those works aside and focused on Rigel's request. The blacksmith started to work on the armor that Rigel brought, and it would only take the blacksmith 3 days until he got them all in the correct size for his body.
Rigel didn't dare to go around the city yet, and he had to take specific routes that only outlaws used to avoid authorities. He believed those who hunted him wouldn't think that he knew those routes and the fact that there was no announcement about Non-Player that had killed dozens of Players. He found it fishy because he had killed someone from the Association, someone powerful and important, and yet things were normal.
"(Are they trying to lure me out in the open by making me think that everything is normal since I'm not being hunted publicly?)" Rigel thought as he walked into a dark alley. "(I'm not sure if I'm safe here or not even though I'm treading carefully here)"
"I should stay low for the next 3 days just to be safe," Rigel sighed and entered his room.
(Underground, Unknown Floor)
Arnel looked at his brittle sword after that spar with Rigel when he first met him. He was thinking about that moment and analyzing how skillful and keen Rigel's movements were. He still couldn't believe he got caught off guard even though he went easy on Rigel.
"I should stop taking things too lightly. I don't want to end up like Hien," Arnel put the sword down when he noticed a presence coming toward him. "How's the Lady?" he asked.
The assassin man came out of the shadow on the wall in front of Arnel and shook his head. Arnel sighed and he looked worried about the condition of the Lady and thought if there was something he could do for her.
"Rather than ask me, why don't you go and pay her a visit? She would feel a lot better if you stay by her side," The assassin responded and glanced at the sword that Arnel put down. "Still with that old rusty sword of yours. When are you going to move on from that sword?" he asked.
"I have lots of memories with that sword. It's the sword that the Lady gave me a long time ago, so I want to treasure it," Arnel answered as he looked at the condition of the sword that was already beyond repairable. "I'll pay the Lady a visit. You should come too because there's something I want you to do after the Lady gave me the permission," he added.
Arnel and the assassin walked side by side in a dark hallway with cracked walls next to them and ripped paintings that barely hung on the walls. They passed the hall where the massive chandelier tilted and lost a few chains that it was barely hanging. It looked like a dancing hall since there was a stage at the front and so many broken tables that had been put aside.
It was a hidden mansion that was built a few centuries ago and there used to be so many people who lived there. It was the base of the Resistance army to fight against Players that invaded their place in the tower. Millions of lives had set foot in that place, and now there was barely anyone in it.
"You're zoning out again. The Lady's room is over here, not there anymore," The assassin looked at Arnel who kept going ahead in the hallway.
Arnel followed the assassin and looked at his body from behind which was covered in black cloth and black bandages. The assassin's name was Aria, and to this day, nobody knew what gender Aria was and Arnel always assumed that Aria was a man but with a soft voice.
Aria was the infamous assassin that had killed countless Players for the past 2 decades. He had killed Players before he could run, and he knew how to hold a knife before he could hold a spoon properly. His life was devoted to the Lady, and all his ancestors also devoted themselves to the Lady's ancestors.
"My Lady, may we come in?" Arnel asked as he stood in front of the rotten door.
"Come in," A woman with a low voice could be heard from behind the door.
Arnel opened the door and saw a woman in a black dress where only her left shoulder and arm weren't covered by the dress. She had long black hair, and she was looking out the window, staring at the underground lake. When she turned around, she had a pale face and the area around her eyes was reddened. She looked weak and sick, but her eyes showed a burning ambition that couldn't be extinguished.
"My Lady, how are you feeling?" Arnel asked as he went down to his knee to show respect.
"Better than yesterday at least," The Lady answered. "You're bringing Aria with you. Does that mean you want to borrow Aria?" she asked.
"Yes, My Lady. As we have discussed before, Rigel should be in Alma City as we speak, and I want Aria to keep an eye on him because Madam should know about him by now," Arnel answered as he nodded.
"I remember correctly that he doesn't want to partake in our agenda based on what you said the other day. Why are you suddenly so interested in him?" The Lady asked and coughed.
Arnel looked at the Lady and he looked concerned with her wellbeing because she looked more fragile every time he came to visit. He then looked at the chain necklace that she wore, the same necklace that her parents wore since it was a family heirloom and passed down to her. Arnel didn't know much about that necklace, but it didn't look good on her and somehow it made her look like a slave.
"Don't you think he's the prophesied one, my Lady?" Arnel asked as he frowned with concern.
"Even if he is, what are you planning to do with him? If he's indeed the prophesied one, there's nothing to be worried about because he will become our savior," The Lady responded and turned around to look out the window.
"My Lady, they also know about the prophecy. If they think that Rigel is the prophesied one, and decide to kill him, what would happen to us if Rigel was indeed the prophesied one? Do we really want to risk it?" Arnel asked.
The Lady turned around and realized that it did sound bad after Arnel explained it to her. She thought about it for a moment and then looked at Aria who seemed to be ready to be sent off.
"Aria..." The Lady paused as she leaned against the window behind her. "Go to the 1st floor, and all of you too," she continued as she crossed her arms.
Aria bowed and disappeared into the darkness while at the same time, silhouettes and shadows were moving right behind the Lady outside the window. It looked like a big group of bats were flying across the window, but it wasn't, those were Aria's men, the assassins that belonged to the family of the Lady.
Arnel saw those shadows and silhouettes moving behind the Lady like flashes and he never thought she would take the matter that seriously. He remembered the last time the Lady sent those assassins outside, it was so terrifying that Players were too scared to leave the city for a whole month. The incident was called the Night of Death where thousands of Players from all floors were massacred, and to this day, everyone was still having that nightmare.
"My Lady, is it really necessary to send all of them at once? I was asking for Aria to do it himself, but I never thought my Lady would send everyone," Arnel asked and looked at the Lady who was staring blankly at the wall.
"What's so surprising about it?" The Lady looked at Arnel. "We have been staying low for too long, so why not make a scene while we are at it? After all, Madam would bring her Fingers to the 1st floor, so it's a good opportunity to get rid of them," she smirked.
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