章節 13: Baron's true Identity
Aldwyn's skin prickled with unease. Something felt off, like a trap was about to spring shut around him. The Baron's crimson gaze bore into him, as if trying to peer behind his own mask.
"You know what, I like your ambition, therefore I will tell you the truth," the Baron said, his tone a blend of curiosity and amusement. "But let me check something first."
The Baron snapped his fingers, and a sudden rush of energy filled the room. The candles flickered, and the shadows grew longer, twisting into serpentine shapes that slithered across the floor. The air grew thick with the scent of brimstone, and the temperature spiked, making the sweat on Aldwyn's skin feel like it was about to boil.
The baron's body changed to a dark grey color, his fingers trembled until they became claw-like fangs. The room was full of energy, sending shivers down Aldwyn's spine. The baron's glowing crimson eyes disappeared behind the mask and turned pitch black like the abyss.
After almost 30 seconds, the temperature in the room cooled down and revealed Baron's new appearance.
„The Baron is from the Demon Path?" Aldwyn felt an enormous strength gap.
The baron, or whatever this creature might be, raised his hand and took off his mask.
The creature that revealed itself had a smile that could only be described as diabolical. The room grew colder, the candles flickered erratically, and the shadows grew longer and more sinister.
Aldwyn met his eyes before he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Without any warning, he began to spit up a large amount of blood.
The creature chuckled, a sound that sent a shiver down his spine. "It seems you're not quite as prepared as you thought," it said, its voice now a deep, guttural growl. "But fear not, for I am not your enemy, not yet."
He put his mask back on and murmured, "He's not a threat to us," before transforming back into the original baron.
Aldwyn, still reeling from the sudden display of power, managed to get his breath back. "So you belong to the Demon Path?" He croaked out, his hand still hovering over his stomach.
The Baron chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, so you know of our kind. Yes, I am, but that is not what you are here for, is it?"
The Baron took his seat and began to speak, "You must know that the demons' path has different rules than those of your gods."
"Our rituals are not based on worshipping the gods, instead we summon a demon in the flesh that takes control of our bodies. It's all based on coincidence or luck which demon you reach. In my case, it was the Hollow."
„The Hollow and the Baron are the same person? Or rather, they share a body?" Aldwyn was listening and memorizing everything.
The Baron paused briefly before continuing. "There are no strict rules for the rituals, each demon has its own preferences and as holders of the Demon Path we have to fulfill them."
"My demon well how do I describe it properly... He has a fetish, yes, that's what I would call it." The baron giggled slightly.
"He chooses a particular group to serve as a sacrificial ritual, namely virgins, the younger the better. I think you know where this is going. Lady Yesenia was one of these virgins who were chosen to serve as a sacrifice."
The Red Baron's revelation hit Aldwyn like a blow to the chest. He struggled to maintain his composure, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just learned. "That can't be, after the masquerade she went home, it was there where she behaved strangely before she disappeared. In other words, the ritual could only have taken place later, why was she acting so strangely before?"
The Baron looked at him before answering, "I understand your confusion, let me explain. A sacrificial ritual is not equivalent to murder or dismemberment, even though many demons prefer it."
"As I have already mentioned, my demon is 'special' and has certain preferences. His ritual relates to sexual urges. It satisfies his desire and increases his strength."
"Her behavior was probably a kind of reaction to this. You have to know that she was not able to notice the ritual, she would probably perceive it as a kind of dream or perhaps not even notice it."
„Lady Célia mentions the nightmares of her...so did she perceive the ritual in the form of nightmares and went crazy as a result?" Aldwyn thought about the possibilities.
The baron clapped his hands and the sound echoed through the room. "That is the truth and only the truth. Her ritual sign can no longer be found, which means there is only one conclusion...she is dead. For myself, I have no idea what happened to her, maybe suicide?"
The room grew quiet as Aldwyn's mind raced with the disturbing revelation. He had hoped to find Lady Yesenia alive, but now it seemed she had been lost to the depravity of this creature.
"Why are you telling me this?" Aldwyn asked.
The Red Baron leaned back in his chair, "Because you sought the truth, and I find it amusing to watch you squirm," he said.
The Baron stood up again and continued, "But before I let you go again, I have to take some of your memories away."
The Baron stretched out his hand towards Aldwyn's head. He was unable to move as his instincts prevented him from doing so.
As the baron's hand reached his head, he said a few last words. "You have probably heard about the Hollow's abilities, right? It leaves nothing behind, not even memories. But don't worry, I will only erase the information that concerns me. I'll leave the rest of the information untouched as a small gift for your bravery."
Aldwyn felt a strange coldness envelop his mind, as if a frosty hand was delicately plucking out memories like petals from a flower. His vision blurred, and the room spun around him. When the sensation ceased, he realized that he had forgotten everything what was directly involved with the Baron.
The only thing Aldwyn could remember was that Lady Yesenia had probably committed suicide and that some ritual might be the cause. The rest was missing.
But he noticed the taste of blood in his mouth and as he looks down, he noticed a small amount of blood. In addition, there was the pain in his abdominal area, which became less and less. He was extremely confused.
The Baron leaned back in his chair, his crimson eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. "Now that we have that sorted," he said, "I suggest you leave before the masquerade gets too interesting."
Aldwyn turned to leave, his legs feeling like lead as he forced himself to move through the door.
As he descended the stairs, the masquerade's revelry seemed to taunt him. He pushed through the throng of masked attendees.
Aldwyn's mind raced with the fragments of information he retained. The Red Baron had taken something from him, something vital, but what? The looming sense of loss gnawed at him.
He made his way to Lady Célia, the cobblestone streets of Helgarde cold and unforgiving under the cloak of night. The rain had ceased, leaving behind a chilly mist that clung to the air.
Upon reaching her manor, he was greeted by the sight of her standing at the window, watching the city with a haunted expression. Her eyes searched for something, perhaps for a glimpse of her lost sister.
"Lady Célia," he called out, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. She turned to face him, her eyes wide with hope and fear.
"What did you find?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Aldwyn paused, "I learned that your sister's fate was...tied to something darker than we imagined," he said, carefully choosing his words. "But the details are...unclear."
"The only thing I can confirm with confidence is that your sister is...dead. I can't give you the exact details, but it has something to do with a ritual."
He paused briefly before continuing. "I have no idea what exactly happened, it feels like my memory has been sucked out...but the information about her death is clear."
Lady Célia's hand flew to her mouth, a silent scream trapped within. Her eyes filled with tears, and she stumbled backward. "No," she whispered, her voice a mere breath. "It can't be."
Lady Célia's sobs grew louder, and her body convulsed with grief. Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor, the fabric of her gown pooling around her like a dark sea.
Aldwyn offered his hand to help her up, but she pushed him away. "Get out!" she screamed, her eyes wild with pain and anger. "You're as much a monster as they are!"
He felt the sting of her accusation, but he knew better than to argue. Instead, he turned to leave.
One of the butlers stopped him for a moment. "For you, sir," he handed him the remaining thirty silver coins. "Please forgive the behavior of my dear lady, the loss of her sister is very hard to accept."
Aldwyn took the coins, his hand trembling slightly. He nodded, "Tell her I understand, and I will not bother her again."
As he left the manor, the cold night air washed over him. He stumbled into the streets, the fog thick enough to wrap around him like a shroud.
„Even if it wasn't the result I was looking for, I still got my reward. Minus the ten percent for the guild, I still have twenty-five silver left. However, I can probably forget the favor..."
Aldwyn navigated his way back to the Hall of the Sword. Despite the chilling rain that had started to fall again, his mind burned with the need to understand what had been taken from him.
....
The guild's arched doorway loomed ahead, a beacon of warm light in the otherwise shadowy street. He stepped inside, the door groaning shut behind him. The familiar scent of metal and sweat hit him, a stark contrast to the opulent aromas of the masquerade.
Master Sewell looked up from his book as Aldwyn approached, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Well?" he asked, setting the tome aside.
Aldwyn placed the 5 silver coins on the desk, "It's done, even if not quite as expected. Lady Yesenia is dead, most of my memories are missing, but I can say that for sure."
"I probably came into contact with 'Hollow' unknowingly, that would be the only explanation. Not only was I in a poorly state, I was also spitting out blood. However, I don't remember that either."
Master Sewell's eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "That would be a possibility, but since you have completed your contract, there is no need to worry about it any more. Get some rest and maybe meet some of the other members."
Aldwyn nodded wearily, the fatigue of the evening's events settling into his bones. He made his way to his sparse quarters, the silence of the corridors echoing his footsteps. His room was a stark contrast to the opulence of the masquerade, with nothing but a bed, a table, and a candle flickering in the corner.
He collapsed onto the bed, his mind racing with the faded images of the night's revelations. The crimson eyes of the Baron, the taste of blood, and the shattered hope of Lady Célia.
"What a miserable assassin I actually am...ha haha hahaha"
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