Chapter 434: Darius Is Dead
Allen was anxious, sweat dripping from his forehead. In just a week, Xion had pulled together a sizable force to face the rebels pressing at the city gates.
The soldiers were those Darius had left behind, along with the ones Berry had managed to bring back.
Even though Berry’s forces were crippled and far from battle-ready, they still stood with their spines straight.
However, what worried Allen most was Xion. With no reply from the border, his teacher had become silent.
Since Xion was carrying out his duties perfectly, the others couldn’t see it. But this facade couldn’t fool him.
When eating, Xion seemed to just shove the food down his throat, and despite the nausea building in his guts, he would still eat it all.
Almost as if he was forcing himself to stay afloat.
The exhaustion of these months had started to catch up to them all. With how thin Xion’s arms had become, it was evident what was eating at him.
"Why are you not sending letters back, Ray?" he whispered, looking at the east side where the border was.
He wiped his forehead before entering the office.
Before he even opened his mouth, Xion beat him to it.
"You don’t have to persuade me. I am doing it."
"But it would be suicide, Your Grace. You’re not meant for the battlefield."
This was what had Allen more afraid than anything. They could lose the city, but not Xion.
"His Grace will kill us all if he sees even the tiniest scratch on you."
"That’s why I am going there prepared. There will be Berry and all the guards. No need to say more."
"But, Your Grace—"
"You are dismissed." Xion didn’t look up from the sheets. His fingers moved swiftly as he wrote down a new letter for Darius.
Allen hesitated before silently bowing in surrender.
The moment Xion was alone, his fingers halted. He glanced toward the closed door and sighed.
Allen didn’t understand. In fact, no one but him did.
It was all Michael’s doing. All to get to him.
With their actions, it wasn’t a secret where Xion had been staying. He just hoped Darius was fine.
That stupid elf tended to lose his rationality when he was in the picture.
He rubbed his toe over the delicate chain resting over his ankle. The touch was cold and yet warm.
"Your Grace! I-Its.." The guard gasped, looking frantically at Xion.
"What is it?"
"There is s-someone at the city gates, demanding you see him."
Xion’s eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"It’s Caspian Hale, the new duke of the East."
Caspian... Xion chuckled. A mirthless laugh spilled from his lips. "Good. Then we will see him."
While they were traveling from Darkhelm capital to Suniva, Darius had taught him how to ride a horse. Even when Xion practiced every day, Darius still didn’t let him use it when they were crossing the harsh roads.
Now seemed like a perfect time to test it all.
When Xion rode his black horse to the main gates, Allen was with him. Berry, though, remained stationed behind.
"Hello, Your Grace. We meet again," Caspian said with a smile. It was the same smile that had frightened Xion nearly to death. Two times at that.
"I have to say we tend to meet in awful conditions."
Xion didn’t climb down from his horse. He looked at the group of around 500 people armed with heavy weapons.
"I agree with you on that, Caspian. Every time I see your face, it’s a bad day. But don’t worry, this time I won’t let it go bad."
Caspian’s brows raised when he noticed there wasn’t a shred of fear on Xion’s face. He had assumed this boy to be terrified by now.
Anyone would be, especially when surrounded by orcs. Or Xion had gotten better at controlling his emotions.
"I get that you are angry, but in my defense, I was also under the wrong influence of the saintess. Surely, we can put that little misunderstanding behind us?"
The moment Caspian took a step forward, an arrow shot right where his feet would have been the next second.
"Speak." Xion tapped his fingers over his knee.
Everyone present understood that it was a warning and also a timer.
Caspian looked genuinely defeated. "You leave me no choice, I guess. I am here on the orders of His Majesty to take Suniva under my control. We will spare you if you don’t oppose. So, if you leave a way for us?"
"And why should we do that?"
"Because your darling Darius is dead."
For a moment, Xion said nothing. The wind carried only the creak of leather straps and the faint clatter of weapons.
"How dare you?!" Oswin yelled. "Do you think we can’t tell your lies apart?"
Caspian shrugged. "That’s the point, Governor. It’s not a lie. And if you don’t believe me, why don’t you ask your soldiers? Ah, you can’t, right?"
The vein on Oswin’s temple twitched with suppressed rage. All of the destruction was due to these pathetic nobles.
"Do you know why you haven’t heard from them in months? Because they were under siege. Now that they’ve lost, His Majesty—being the generous man he is—sent me here with an offer."
Xion didn’t believe a crap of what came out of Caspian’s mouth.
"Do you really think our liege is someone you can hurt? Keep dreaming." Allen finally snapped. "Not that you can for long."
Caspian clicked his tongue in annoyance. He waved his hand, and his guard threw a sack on the ground.
Clothes drenched with blood tumbled out of it. Those were Darius’ clothes, the shirt Xion had personally picked up for him.
Before anyone could make a sound, Caspian kicked the pile.
A hairpin slipped from the folds of fabric. It had two angel wings on it, completely soaked in crimson.
The blood was days old. It had dried up all over, even sticking inside the delicate detailing of the wings.
"Proof enough?" Caspian smirked. "Now, if you come to me, I’ll spare the people. But if you don’t, everyone will die. Your call, divine healer."