V1 C12 - The Cauldron Boils

Castle Kelsey was gone.

In its place was the Demon Emperor’s bastion of evil.

Guarded by hundreds of skeletons and demons, the buildings were slowly being shaped into something befitting of the Demon Emperor; all the human servants had fully submitted themselves to their new lives.

No one had come to investigate them, nor had there been any messengers or patrols looking for Lord Kelsey.

The castle was secure, something that Mímir was a little proud of as his Ravens were making large contributions to keeping it safe from outside threats. They were always out patrolling the surrounding lands for any threats to the Demon Emperor’s operation.

Once he returned to the castle, Mímir had gone to Abaddon to tell him what he’d learnt in Stonefall earlier that day.

“Giants?”

Mímir nodded. “I found an extermination request from a town called North Pass near the Dragon Spine Mountains. From what the receptionist told me, the giants usually keep to themselves but have started raiding the nearby villages and some passing caravans, so they’ve requested help from several adventurer guild branches.

“The giants could potentially be a powerful asset that the Dark Lord could use to take control of Themis. I had intended to run this by his majesty, but it seems that he has not returned yet.”

“I’m guessing the reason you returned so soon after learning about the giants is because you want to deal with them quickly, right?”

“Indeed. However, you are currently the only general available to subjugate the giants at the minute, which is why I informed you about it.”

Abaddon grinned and smacked his chest. “I would love to handle it! I’ll start making preparations right away.”

Before he could confidently march off, Mímir grabbed Abaddon’s arm.

“Shouldn’t you wait until his majesty gets back and check that he wants you to handle this first?”

“I think our Lord Emperor would be happier if we took the initiative while he’s busy with other duties.” Abaddon broke free of Mímir’s grip. “If I go and subjugate the giants and make them his, he’ll be pleased. If I have to wipe them out, then that’s one less enemy our master has to worry about. And, even if I do kill them all, couldn’t the Dark Lord just revive them as undead giants instead?”

“You aren’t entirely wrong, but I think that his majesty would rather have live giants than dead ones.”

“Why’s that?”

“A giant’s strength comes from its size and muscles. An undead giant will either be a foul, rotting zombie of some description which could infect the Machai or our workers, or it could just be the giant’s skeleton alone.”

“Wouldn’t that be pretty intimidating and strong anyway?”

Mímir struggled to keep his irritation in check.

It wasn’t that Abaddon was entirely wrong in his thinking, but it was very short-sighted, something that Mímir had come to expect of his colleagues.

It’s good that Abaddon is thinking more before acting, but I wish that he would properly address his eagerness to rush out without his majesty’s permission.

“Abaddon, you do remember why we are trying to hide in the shadows, don’t you?”

Abaddon lowered his gaze. “…Because we aren’t strong enough yet.”

“Correct. We are not strong enough to overthrow Themis and forge the Demon Empire. If we were to create too much noise in one region of the world, it could draw more attention to us than we already have with our previous failures.”

“I think you mean your previous failures.”

Mímir felt a vein pop on his forehead.

Why are Mania and Abaddon both so incompetent?

Even though it had originally been Mímir’s idea for the three generals to work together, it was proving quite taxing to do so.

“Abaddon, you were the first to disappoint his majesty in the goblin hive, weren’t you?” Mímir asked, making Abaddon flinch. “And then again when we took control of Castle Kelsey.” He flinched again. “I might have made my fair share of mistakes and yes, Mania and I have both drawn more attention to us than his majesty wanted, but that is precisely why we must make sure not to do so again.

“If you go up to North Pass and end up killing all of the giants, there is no way that would go unnoticed, especially with this request from the adventurer’s guild. If all the giant raids suddenly stopped one day, that would raise questions and questions without answers draw curious people in.”

“Precisely, Mímir,” a booming voice said as a portal appeared beside them.

“Welcome back, your majesty!” Mímir and Abaddon quickly dropped to one knee.

“Were you successful on your mission?”

“…I was,” David said, gesturing to them stand. “Within a few weeks, we will see the results that I desire. Where is Eva?”

“I saw Eva about ten minutes ago cleaning the main hall,” Abaddon answered. “Shall I escort-?”

“…There’s no need,” Lady Rebecca said softly. She stepped in front of David and curtsied. “If you will excuse me.”

“Did something happen, your-?” Mímir tried to ask but David cut him off.

“What were you and Abaddon discussing?”

Mímir quickly summarised the information to David about the giants, and that he thought that it would be worth investigating further.

“I see. Depending on how many there are and how strong they are, it would be worthwhile bringing them to our side. However.” David glared at Abaddon. “I don’t remember encouraging your more impulsive side, Abaddon.”

“F-forgive me, Lord Emperor. I just wanted to be of use to you and I thought you would be happy if I had brought the giants under our control.”

David was quiet for a few seconds before sighing. “Abaddon, I don’t know if Mímir has said this, but your idea itself is not a bad one, and your enthusiasm to prove yourself is admirable, if nothing else. However, right now, we are very close to being discovered, so much so that a single slip up could reveal our entire operation.

“With the Hierophant under the eyes of the Sons of Tartarus and perhaps even the city watch and adventurers, not to mention the absence of Anthony Kelsey from the slave auctions. One more thread that leads back to us will unravel our entire operation. However. I will permit you to go and subjugate the giants on the condition that you get them to serve me, and that they will continue their lives as normal until I order them to do otherwise.”

“Thank you, Lord Emperor!”

“However, your majesty, one point that I did not raise earlier as a potential issue is that Abaddon’s absence from the castle would leave a gap in the chain of command, would it not?”

“I don’t plan on leaving for a while now that I’ve returned. With the preparations underway at the tombs, I can assume those duties.”

Mímir seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the Demon Emperor’s decision.

“Unless there is something else that requires my attention.”

“It wasn’t just the request to subjugate the giants that I discovered at the guild. I found an extermination request that was most peculiar and brought it with me.”

“Show me. Abaddon, finish up your duties for the day and make preparations to head to the Spine.”

“At once, Lord Emperor!”

Once they were alone, David asked, “What else did you find?”

“This, your majesty.”

Mímir reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to David.

“A request to handle some Ash Wood Spiders in the Summer Lands near Themis’s Eye. According to the additional information I gathered at the guild, the people who submitted the request said that the spiders were the size of horses and that they were highly intelligent.”

Highly intelligent? Horse sized?! David repeated in his mind, trying his best not to imagine such a terrifying creature.

While he wasn’t a massive arachnophobe, he couldn’t help but recoil a little in fear at the image of such monsters.

If we could get them to join us, we could use them as mounts if they’re trainable. If they’re smart enough that we could communicate on a higher level, then maybe we could gain a useful new ally.

“I take it that you want me to handle this then?”

Mímir nodded. “Normally, I would suggest that either myself or another general were to go in your place, but I believe that you would be best suited to handle this. Unfortunately, Mania and I are tied up in Stonefall and Abaddon has gone to handle the giants on your majesty’s orders.

“While it would mean you would have to teleport to the castle every night, it is the most ideal way of handling this matter that I could come up with.”

“On the contrary, Mímir, you and I are of the same mind once again. It is unfortunate that I will be leaving so soon after I’ve gotten back, but it is unavoidable. More than that, I wish to handle this matter myself.”

Based on prior experience, I don’t want to leave too many of these tasks in the hands of others. The more things that I have a firm grip on, the more control I will have over the way this whole thing unfolds. Right now, I only have control over the operation at the Shadow Tombs.

My generals aren’t totally incompetent, but I trust myself far more than them.

“Shall I have a carriage and supplies prepared for you, your majesty?”

David nodded. “Have it ready for tomorrow. I plan on teleporting to a closer spot first and then continuing the journey from there. I’ll be borrowing a Raven again, assuming you have no pressing needs for them.”

“I do not, your majesty.”

“Good. Then, get things ready for me and head back to Stonefall once you’re done.” Just before Mímir bowed and left, David grabbed his shoulder. “I’ll be expecting a full report on everything that’s happened in Stonefall since my last warning. I hope that I won’t be disappointed by what I hear.”

For the briefest of moments, Mímir’s expression changed before he bowed and left.

…Something happened then, David groaned in his mind. I hope it’s nothing too bad this time.

***

From her bedroom window, Rebecca could see the renovations Castle Kelsey was undergoing.

The stone was being painted black, the towers and ramparts were being lined with spikes, ballistae, catapults with skeleton soldiers manning the walls, and there were foundations being laid to expand the castle’s size greatly.

“Are you tired, my lady?”

Rebecca didn’t turn to face Eva; she just shook her head.

“Very well. Would you care for some-?”

“How have you been, Eva?”

Eva paused her work. “My lady?”

“Since the castle was taken over. How have you been?”

Eva put on a small smile and continued making the bed. “May I speak freely, my lady?” Rebecca nodded. “It’s hard and I’m terrified that I might do something that could upset our new masters. But they haven’t done anything to me or forced me to do anything more than just my old work. Why-?”

“What about the other servants? Have they been abused or mistreated? What about the ones that were sent to Stonefall?”

“They haven’t abused or harmed the others either, my-?”

“How’s Hilda?”

“She’s well. Lady Mania says that she’s excelling at her training and that it might be possible to be the knight for the Demon Emperor.”

“…Is that a good thing?”

Eva looked worryingly at her. “Lady Rebecca, what’s wrong?”

Slowly, Rebecca turned to face Eva and showed her a weak, frail smile as tears gathered in her eyes.

“Eva, tell me the truth: am I a good person?”

Eva’s eyes widened and she quickly ran towards Rebecca.

“Of course, my lady.” Eva held her gently. “What in Themis’s name made you-?”

“How can I be a good person when all I’ve done is stand by when horrible people have done horrible things?” Rebecca wept. “How can I be a good person when I knew what my parents did and that I didn’t try everything I could to stop them? How can I be a good person when I know what’s going to happen to Black Port and I’m not able to do anything to stop it?

“How can I be a good person when I can’t do anything to stop people suffering when I know about it?”

As Rebecca’s cries grew, she threw herself into Eva’s chest, her whole body shaking.

Eva didn’t know what to say.

She had never seen Rebecca like this and had no idea how long she must’ve had those feelings pent up inside of her, or how much courage it took to finally get them off her chest.

Eva tried her best to smile and stroked Rebecca’s head.

“Lady Rebecca, do you really think you’re a bad person?”

“Of course I do! If I had stood up to my parents or told someone outside of the castle about what was happening in the castle, then I could’ve saved so many lives. If I had the strength to stand against the Demon Emperor, then I could save tens of thousands of lives. But!” Rebecca looked up at Eva. “I’m scared.”

“Scared?”

“I’m scared that I’ll get everyone here killed. I’m scared that my life will be nothing but this castle and horrible memories. I’m scared that I’ll spend my life as a bystander to terrible things again and again. Eva, has anything changed now that my parents are gone, or am I still chained down by them even now? What do I do?”

Eva shut her eyes and held Rebecca tightly.

“Lady Rebecca, I don’t know what your heart or mind is telling you to do, but I can say this confidently. You are our saviour, no matter what the rest of the world says. There isn’t a single servant in this castle who doesn’t love you and wants you to be happy from the bottom of their hearts.

“Lady Rebecca, no matter what you do and no matter what happens, we will be behind you all the way. That’s just how much you mean to us.”

Rebecca cried even louder than before and hugged Eva as tightly as she could. Eva held her back and stroked Rebecca’s back.

“Thank you, Eva. Thank you.”

***

The next morning, right before the Demon Emperor left, Rebecca approached him.

“Lord Allaric, might I have a moment of your time?”

Her voice was surprisingly confident and clear.

The nearby Machai tightened their grips on their weapons for it was the first time Rebecca had addressed his majesty by name.

“Is it urgent?”

“It is, Lord Allaric.”

He nodded and ordered the Machai to back away a little.

“I overheard your generals yesterday talk about dividing up various responsibilities to accommodate your trip to the Ash Woods and Lord Abaddon’s mission to deal with the giants. As I understand it, you intend to teleport home every night to handle matters as you travel, Lord Allaric.”

“Indeed.”

“Your majesty, might I offer you an alternative solution?”

An alternative?

“You may.”

Rebecca swallowed hard, looked deep into David’s eyes and asked. “Would you please consider leaving the matters of running the castle to me?”

David, the Machai and even the Raven on the carriage were all startled by Rebecca’s rather bold suggestion.

“…You wish to run the castle on my behalf?”

“I do, Lord Allaric.”

“Lady Rebecca, you are not officially a member of my inner council. You are, with all due respect, our ‘guest’ and I appreciate the help that you have given us so far, but why should I trust you with such important tasks? What guarantee do I have that you will perform your duties to the best of your abilities?”

“Because I want to be of use to you and because I want to show you that you made the right choice by sparing my servants and I.”

“Go on.”

“If you leave me specific instructions or guidelines that you wished me to follow during your absence, then I believe that I could manage the day-to-day business here at the castle, including the renovations and allocating work among the servants. That way, Lord Allaric, you and the other members of your council can focus on their own tasks and you will have less work to do each day.” Rebecca smiled slightly. “I believe that you mentioned how much of a shame it was that you had to head off back to work so soon after returning to the castle.”

“Oh? And where did you hear that from?”

Rebecca’s smile almost faltered, but she forced it to remain on her lips. “One of the butlers overheard and reported back to me last night.”

David narrowed his eyes.

“Lord Allaric, if you deem my work or my attitude towards the work you assign me lacking or undesirable in any way, then you may punish me as you see fit.”

Rebecca lowered her head a little to David and tried her best to remain calm; she could hear the angry growls of the Machai and the Raven tapping its fingers along its knife.

David, however, was thrilled.

This is a brilliant idea! If Rebecca’s able to excel with her tasks, then I don’t have to worry about doing a load of boring, stressful work, and it gives me an opportunity to develop a friendly relationship with Rebecca too.

It might mean that I could relax a little bit more around her once we get to know one another better.

“Very well, I’ll allow it,” David bellowed, surprising all of those around him. “Until I return to the keep, you will be in charge of all matters relating to the running of this castle. However, the Machai, the skeletons and my other servants will only assist you in tasks that will benefit me and not any other matters. You will not be permitted to leave the castle without my authorisation and I will be expecting high quality work from you.

“One of the Machai will escort you later to my office where you will find the work that I was meant to handle upon my return tonight to the castle, so I shall leave that in your hands. I hope you don’t disappoint me, Lady Rebecca.”

“I won’t, Lord Allaric,” Rebecca replied with renewed confidence.

David summoned his armour and turned to climb into the carriage, but stopped when he saw Rebecca still standing there, fidgeting a little.

“Is there something else you wanted to discuss, Lady Rebecca?”. She nodded. “Then, speak quickly I cannot afford to waste-”

“When you attack Black Port, do you intend to kill the people of Cliff’s Edge as well?”

“Of course. I cannot afford to have them warn Black Port before the attack begins.”

Rebecca’s fear threatened to overcome her and dragged her next words down her throat, but she took a sharp inhale and steeled her resolve once more.

I’m not running away anymore.

“…Your majesty, I think that it would be much better for you to let them live and spread word throughout the empire about what they saw.”

David narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“…I understand that you want to test the might of the Empire with this attack, but as I understood it, Lord Mímir and Lady Mania’s plan was to spread pandemonium throughout the Empire, was it not? Therefore, would it not be more beneficial to your majesty to let the people of Cliff’s Edge live and spread more stories about what they saw, about how terrified they were, and how they couldn’t warn Black Port in time to prevent its destruction?”

David opened his mouth to speak, but Rebecca interrupted him.

“Not only them!”

Rebecca’s shout had been so startling that both David and Rebecca had been taken aback by it, so much so that they didn’t say anything again for a few seconds.

Rebecca brought a fist to her chest and stared up into David’s eyes.

“If you were to minimise the civilian casualties at Black Port, they would also spread such stories throughout the Empire. It would accelerate your plan to sow fear throughout Themis and could cause a refugee crisis as well. And!”

Rebecca’s resolve collapsed a little when she realised that David had been staring directly at her for quite a while. She lowered her gaze a little; then, she whispered, “You would still be able to achieve your original objective of testing the Empire’s might.”

I don’t want to do this either, Rebecca, but I have to.

There’s no reason for the Demon Emperor to spare them.

If more people died, then the undead horde would grow in number.

The bigger the threat, the greater results from our test.

You gave me some good reasons, Rebecca, and you convinced me, but. David ground his teeth together. Would they convince Eris?

If they don’t, then she could use that as justification to kill me.

It’d mean everything I’ve done would be for nothing.

David felt his anger gathering in his heart. I could try and save some of the people of Black Port and Cliff’s Edge. Maybe, but…is it worth the risk?

As David struggled, he looked back down at Rebecca and the courage she had mustered to make such a request of the man she thought a monster.

If someone as frightened and shy as Rebecca can stand up against a monster, then why can’t I?

David took a long, deep breath and closed his eyes.

“…Very well, I shall permit it this time.” Rebecca’s face light up a little. “However, Black Port’s fate has already been decided upon. I won’t order the horde to pursue anyone who manages to escape, but that is it. I trust that you have no problems with this arrangement?”

Rebecca straightened up and her smile vanished. “None, Lord Allaric.”

“Good. Perform your duties well and I will invite your council again. Do not disappoint me, Lady Rebecca.”

Rebecca curtsied. “I will do my utmost for you, Lord Allaric.”

David nodded and climbed into the carriage.

As they were departing, David couldn’t help but smile a little just before they teleported away.

She used my name.

***

The world turned grey as time stood still.

“I was wondering when you would show up,” David mumbled as he tried to open the carriage door, but found that it wouldn’t budge, even with his full strength.

Eris giggled across from him and David snapped to look at her; she had appeared out of nowhere.

She had appeared with the same haunting aura oozing out of her and with her usual, sadistic smile. Eris was lying casually against the side of the carriage with her hands in her lap and her wings folded against her back.

“Did you miss me so much that you were willing to risk breaking a rule?”

David shifted back in his seat.

He dug his fingers into the wood beneath him and tried not to panic.

After all, Eris had warned him not to do anything unbefitting of being a Demon Emperor and then, seconds after his agreement with Rebecca, she had appeared.

I messed up.

“…Eris, I have legitimate reasons for agreeing to Lady Rebecca’s request,” David said, trying to hide the fact that his teeth were chatting. “As Lady Rebecca said, I-”

“David.”

He instantly stopped talking.

Whilst never breaking eye contact with him, she slowly moved towards him. Eris lightly tapped the air and dismissed David’s armour, exposing the terrified man beneath and taking away any last remnants of safety David had left.

Eris purred and touched his cheek, lightly stroking it, enjoying the way that David’s body shook from her touch.

“I wonder if I wasn’t clear enough about what would happen if you didn’t live up to your name as the Demon Emperor?” She caressed his cheek. David closed his eyes, but didn’t dare move from her. “Open your eyes, David.”

He did so nervously and found that her face was less than an inch from hers, putting her cruel, monstrous eyes that pierced his soul before his.

“Do you know why I came here?” He nodded. “Say it.”

“B-because I…I broke a rule.”

Her smile grew a little, but she lightly shook her head. “Wrong.”

“Wrong?”

Eris put her other hand on his face and held him in place.

“Why did I come here, David Athelward?”

“I-I…I-don’t know.”

Eris laughed and put her forehead against his.

“Why did I come here, David Athelward?”

“T-t-to remind me not to cross you.”

Unable to hold herself back any longer, Eris laughed loudly and released David floating before him, but keeping her face close to his.

“Ah, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of seeing you squirm, David.” Eris’s wings flapping giddily. “Well, I will leave it at that, I think. However.” Her expression turned cold. “Never forget that you are bound by my rules.” She smiled and then began to turn into a cloud of black feathers. “Remember, David Athelward, you are the Demon Emperor.”

She giggled as she disappeared into the abyss, causing the world to regain its colours and time to move forward.

Once it had, David sat in stunned silence for almost a minute, before collapsing onto his hands and knees, hyperventilating and sweating.

He clutched his chest and winced, curling into a ball. He tried to calm himself down, to stop himself from having a panic attack; he tried everything he could think of, but nothing worked.

His breathing exercises, distracting his thoughts, trying to focus on the pain he inflicted on himself with his fist as he beat his leg; it all did nothing.

Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! He couldn’t hold back his tears and he wept loudly, trying his best to muffle his sounds by covering his face with his shirt.

I thought I was dead! Didn’t Eris come down to punish me for breaking one of her rules?

If not, then what the hell did she come here for then?!

Just to mess with me?

What the hell is wrong with that woman?!

Why? Why? He hit the carriage floor so hard that he destroyed a large portion of it, splintering it. Why the hell did she have to come here and do this? Why today, when I was feeling a little bit happy for the first time in weeks?

***

When Eris had returned to her realm, she laughed loudly as she watched David struggle.

“That’s exactly why, David Athelward!” Eris cried, looking down at him from her throne, wearing a smile much more vicious than any of the ones that David had ever seen. “I had considered punishing you for trying to find a loophole in one of my rules, but this.” She giggled. “This is much, much better.” She exhaled and brought a hand to her chin.

“David, what you and Rebecca don’t realise is that you aren’t showing them mercy. Once they escape and become refugees, they won’t ever be able to find true happiness again.

“Their homes, friends, families; they’ll have lost so much and have been powerless to do anything to stop it.

“They will despair over their own weakness and never, ever be able to move on from the deep wound you’ll inflict upon them. They’ll suffer a fate so much worse than a stab through the heart.”

Eris giggled and leant forward a little in her throne, licking her lips.

“David Athelward, sparing them was the most evil and cruel choice you could make, one perfect of my Demon Emperor.”

***

Mímir was waiting for Rebecca inside the Demon Emperor’s office with a massive stack of paper by his side, and a long list of jobs for her to do.

Much to her surprise, Mímir thoroughly explained all of her duties and gave her a few general guidelines about what the Demon Emperor wanted her to achieve. He had left about two hours ago; Rebecca, not wanting to waste even a single moment, got to work immediately.

The first order of business was understanding the Demon Emperor’s plans for Castle Kelsey, what the renovations were to look like, how large the castle was going to grow, and that it was to be the crown jewel of his empire.

As she set about her work, Rebecca couldn’t help but smile.

She had gotten through to Lord Allaric and had saved some people’s lives.

Maybe I shouldn’t be so happy about something like that, but I feel like I’ve finally loosened the chains on my wrists now.

This is the path I’ve chosen to walk down, right or wrong, and all I can do now is try to save as many people’s lives whilst at the Demon Emperor’s-no, by Lord Allaric’s side.

***

In the dead of night, in what was a storehouse for spices and herbs in Stonefall, twenty corpses littered the floor.

“Please…please don’t hurt me,” the man beneath Herakles’s foot begged, his words muffled by Herakles’s boot.

“You know, this wouldn’t have happened if you’d just talked when I asked you nicely the first time.” Herakles put more pressure on the man’s jaw. “Now, there’s two ways this goes. Either you die from my boot, or.” Herakles swung his club down on the man’s ribs, cracking two of them and making him scream madly. “You talk before I turn your ribs into dust.”

“I-I’ll talk! Please, just-”

Herakles put more pressure on the man’s face. “Less begging, more talking. Tell me: how many bases do you have in the city?”

“T-Three more. Two in the lower district and one in the noble’s.”

“Oh? Where?”

“I-I swear, I don’t know. I was just told the general location, not specifics. My captain would know.”

“Where can I find him?”

“Y-you killed him.”

“Oh.” Herakles looked around the almost destroyed room and couldn’t tell which of the disfigured corpses could possibly have been the captain. “So, you don’t know anything else? You swear?”

“On Themis’s name, I swear it.”

“I see.”

With a weary sigh, Herakles lifted his bloodied club onto his shoulder.

“The boss was right,” he groaned, crushing the man’s skull beneath his boot. “The Night’s Eye really are weak.”

***

The next morning, the corpses were discovered by a worker who reported it to the city watch.

It was a sight they had come to expect, but there was one thing that caught their eye this time.

The message left at the scene of the crime was different.

Death Took Them.