Chapter 433: Meeting With An Old Friend
The border was far. It usually took two to three days for the letters to arrive. Over the past five months, Xion had sent many letters but received four in return.
It felt like Darius replied only once for every two letters Xion sent. Not that Xion was complaining.
That was enough to tell how tense the situation was on the battlefield.
He was patiently waiting for the fresh news while performing his duties.
But when more than half a month had passed with no fresh news, Xion’s heart started tensing again.
After waiting for another three days, a small army arrived at the gates of the main city. It was led by old man Berry.
If he was there, it meant the situation was better at the border.
Xion let out a sigh of relief as he went to welcome Berry.
"You look old," Xion joked as he filled Berry’s cup with alcohol.
Berry had lost one of his arms during a fight, and yet his laughter was as booming as ever.
"Still more handsome than all of yah, young lads. Right, Your Grace?"
Although the title was there, and so was the respect, Xion could feel the lightness in Berry’s tone. It was as if they were back into their earlier days when Berry helped him with his first clinic.
’Cheap clinic for the sick’.
It still made his toes curl in embarrassment.
"Yes, you are the most handsome," Xion agreed easily. "How are things there? And Darius?"
Berry took a big gulp before letting out a sigh. "Good, actually. We almost wiped out the entire army. That’s why His Grace ordered me to return to your side. I am sure we will be welcoming the Archduke with a celebration in a month or so."
"What about Noxian? Is that kid behaving, or giving you trouble?"
"Oh, no." Berry shook his hand in denial. "That kid is a gem. He has more patience than our commander, Raymond. Honestly, he would be a great warrior in the future."
"That’s... a relief."
Xion had an urge to ask more. He wanted to know many things, and at the top of the list was Darius.
Was he eating properly? Was he taking a rest?
But he didn’t.
Although Berry was smiling and laughing, Xion had caught the way he glanced at his arm before turning away. It was as if the sight burned him.
Maybe it did.
Berry was a simple man who wanted to go back in one piece and spend his old age with his dear family.
And now, when he was near his dream, he lost his entire arm.
As someone who had lost his sight and got it back, Xion could more or less sympathise with Berry.
"When Darius returns, I will make sure he gives you a big retirement pension."
Berry widened his eyes before letting out a happy laugh.
"You’d better do it, Your Grace. Or I doubt the Archduke would let me go. He says I have to stay with him till the end."
That was the oath every loyal subject took before entering the Darkhelm household.
And for them, that was the only truth. Although Berry wanted to spend his time with his family, he never dared to bring it up to Darius. Not even once.
But now with Xion speaking up for Berry, it might really come true.
Just the thought of it made Berry grin from ear to ear. "I will thank you in advance, Your Grace. And now that we are talking about our families, can I tell you something?"
"Go ahead," Xion said, taking a sip of his tea. Getting drunk wasn’t an option for him, especially when Darius wasn’t there to clean up his mess.
"I have a granddaughter, you see. She... she is studying in your school too. A bright child, really. She wants to become like you, Your Grace."
Xion seemed to understand, but also not.
"What I am trying to say is... If you don’t mind, can you... Maybe meet her? Just a glimpse from afar would be enough to encourage her, Your Grace."
Xion had never seen Berry being so flustered. The drink was sure getting to his bald head.
"Sure, we can do that. I can also give her a private lesson if she likes it."
"Ah," Berry looked baffled. "That... really? What if His Grace, Darius, kills me?"
"Pffttt..." Xion doubled over the table with laughter. "You look scared, old man."
Scared? Berry was frightened. But he also knew Darius wouldn’t do anything as long as Xion was there.
So, he patted his chest, forcing his heart to calm down. "I’ll bring her to the castle then?"
Xion hummed, a bright smile lingering on his lips.
For the first time in days, he slept without nightmares.
However, the next day brought another news that shook his peace.
"They are here, Your Grace. The rebels are surrounding the walls of the city, and many of them are death walkers."
How was that even possible? If these were really Death Walkers, how were they not attacking the other rebels?
Xion climbed the countless stairs to reach the highest side of the big wall covering the entire city.
If not for these walls, the city would have long since been trampled to death.
The sight made his heart icy.
As the guard had said, there were hundreds of rebels trying to force their way inside.
"They claim we’re hoarding food and medicine and deliberately not giving it to them."
Oswin stood beside Xion, looking at the dying Suniva. "Just when I thought we had passed the disaster."
Dark smoke rose from various places, probably from the burning houses or the entire streets.
The loud shouts didn’t reach him, only the faint rustling of overlapping voices.
"What should we do, Your Grace?"
Xion remained silent.
It wasn’t hard to guess why they were doing this. Michael had managed to get a few cities under his control despite Darius’ strict rectification.
He was using them to threaten the Archduke.
With Darius winning the war, it wouldn’t be easy for Michael to have the support of royalty and the common people.
If there was any weakness they could use, it was him. The weak little healer, who had never even stepped on the battlefield before.
They wanted Xion to send a panic signal to the front, forcing Darius’ attention on Xion, so they could take the chance to kill the northern lord.
Kill his Darius...
How dare they?
The shine in Xion’s eyes dimmed. The sharp fury blazed inside his chest, rushing through his veins.
It nearly burned his senses.
He closed his eyes, his hand clenching hard until the crescents on his nails left deep dents on his delicate palms.
Kill, was it?
Then he would show it to them.
Michael was the only person Xion had hated to this extent, even more than Soren or Capsian, or even Klein.
I will kill you with my own hands. I promise.
The corner of his lips curled up into a smile. It was beautiful, yes. But it was equally cold.
"Your Grace?" Oswin nearly stuttered at the uncanny resemblance of that look to the Archduke.
"What did the guards tell you about the situation?"
"Ah? Ah, that... When they rushed to the outside of the walls, there were dead bodies. M-Most of them were bitten to death. And by the clothes, they belonged to different places."
"They are gathering here while also killing each other. Is that it?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
Oswin glanced at the calmness emitting from Xion and sighed in admiration.
There was no way any normal person could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Archduke.
For someone who dared to hit Darius, Xion’s demeanor was far too gentle.
However, Oswin could see it clearly now. Xion was equally scary when angered.
And the rebels hadn’t just angered Xion. They had enraged him to the limit.
"Call Berry. We need to discuss a plan."
"A plan?"
"Hmm." Xion gave one last look before turning back. "A plan to slaughter them all."
There was no telling who had those orc genes swimming inside their guts.
At first, Xion had asked Allen to inspect every refugee. His goal was to keep them separate if they belonged to the area from where it began.
Most of the people belonged to the capital city. The suspects had already turned into ashes in the burning forest.
Now it seemed, Michael was keeping a tight leash on his pets.
At least he wasn’t stupid enough to send them on the battleground. Sure, they could cause a ruckus.
However, with Darius at the front, the Archduke would simply kill them all, including his own soldiers.
Xion loved him, but that didn’t mean he was blind to Darius’s sycophantic tendencies.
He was going to do exactly that.
Even the innocent people, brainwashed by Michael, would have to die along with the monsters they carried.