Chapter 11: Awakening and Conspiracies

Alistair sat in silence, his golden eyes reflecting the soft glow of the green status window hovering before him. A smirk formed on his lips. Ha, it's like a game quest—but real life. I like it.

He reached out, mentally navigating through the window. The familiar categories of his Status Window displayed before him:

Name: Alistair Drakos

Age: 11

Race: Human (Draconic Bloodline)

State: Poison Neutralized – 0.01% (Previously: Severely Poisoned)

Blessings: ???

Skills: ???

His eyes widened. The poison... is being neutralized? The severity had changed from severely poisoned to neutralized at 0.01%. His heart pounded. If using mana helps neutralize the poison, then why can't I use mana freely? Is it because the poison still lingers in my Dantian? Or... is my body simply incapable of handling mana? No, that doesn't seem right. Then what exactly is the problem?

Before he could analyze further, the soft creak of the door broke his concentration. Sofia entered, carrying a tray with a teapot and a cup of his usual herbal tea. However, the moment her emerald eyes fell upon the blood splattered across the floor, her face paled in terror.

"Your Highness! What happened?!" she gasped, rushing toward him.

Alistair quickly dismissed his status window and shook his head. "It's nothing to worry about."

But Sofia was unconvinced. She bit her lip, sadness flickering in her gaze as she knelt and began preparing the tea. She poured the steaming liquid into his cup, placed it gently before him, and then bowed slightly.

"Please, Your Highness, drink. It will ease your fatigue."

Alistair hesitated, his thoughts still lingering on his condition. Nevertheless, he picked up the cup and took a sip. The warm liquid spread through his body, soothing yet oddly numbing.

ALERT: YOU ARE POISONED.

His grip tightened on the cup. His breath hitched. His pupils shrank. What?! The bright red notification blinked furiously before his eyes. Poisoned? The realization sent a cold shiver down his spine.

Meanwhile, in the Royal Council Chamber, tension hung thick in the air.

Duke Lucian Aurelius, one of the two Dukes from the Holy Kingdom of Aurelius, stood with a grim expression. "We must prepare our troops for battle. The increasing monster surges near the Drak Forest threaten our borders. If we wait too long, we risk catastrophe."

Duke Veyron Drakos shook his head. "Preparation alone is not enough. We need a complete solution to this problem."

Duke Cedric Aurelius tapped his fingers against the armrest. "What if we grant the land to a noble house? Let them govern it as their territory. That way, the responsibility shifts to them."

Archmage Eldrin Faelora, seated beside Grand Sorceress Selene Nightshade, scoffed. "Duke, have you forgotten the nature of that land? The Dark Forest is not just any land—it is the Land of Monsters. Even for my kind, the High Elves, who originate from that very forest, it remains a forbidden zone. No one has set foot in the heart of the forest for centuries. And beyond that, the Twelve Legendary Beast King Mountains encircle it, making it an impenetrable fortress."

Grand Sorceress Selene added, "Not to mention the Dark Sea on the other side. It serves as a second entrance, but even during the Ancestor Era, no human has dared set sail across that cursed sea."

General Roland Stormcrest frowned. "So we’re talking about a place that even the strongest warriors have never dared to enter? Ridiculous."

Duke Fenrir Drakos nodded in agreement. "Even I have never climbed those mountains, nor do I intend to."

The chamber fell silent as all eyes turned toward King Aldric Drakos. He sat upon his throne, his fingers steepled, his gaze cold and unreadable. Then, with a commanding voice, he spoke:

"That is why we will assign a Lord of the Land through the Blood Renewal of Drakos Ceremony."

A collective gasp filled the room.

Queen Eleanor’s expression darkened. "That... that would put our children’s lives in danger."

The King’s gaze never wavered. "That is how they will prove they are Drakos."

Duke Zephyr Drakos narrowed his eyes. "Prove? Are you referring to the **Twelfth Forsaken Prince, Alistair?"

A stunned silence followed. Many nobles exchanged hesitant glances. Duke Kaelith Drakos scoffed, crossing his arms. "The Twelfth Prince? Don’t be absurd. He hasn’t even awakened his mana. There’s no way he could survive, let alone win the competition. Don’t say something so ridiculous."

General Darius Valeheart, who had remained silent until now, chuckled, a knowing smirk on his face. "You won’t know until you see it with your own eyes."

Archmage Eldrin Faelora’s lips curled into an eerie smile. "I agree with him."

The chamber fell into stunned silence once more.

Back in Alistair’s chamber, his mind raced as he activated Appraisal on the tea. The status window displayed:

Mana-Nullifying Poison

Effect: Completely nullifies mana within one’s body.

Long-term Exposure: Prolonged consumption leads to the inability to use mana permanently.

Special Effect: Neutralizes other poisons in the body.

Alistair’s fingers curled into a fist. He turned to Sofia, his voice calm but firm. "Sofia, how long have I been drinking this tea?"

Sofia hesitated, sensing something was wrong. "Your Highness... you've been drinking it for six years."

His heart clenched. "Who chose this tea? Where does it come from?"

"It was sent from the Holy Kingdom of Aurelius... chosen by the Queen—your mother, Your Highness."

A storm brewed in Alistair’s mind. The strings are coming together. He had been poisoned by his stepmother and half-siblings as part of the succession struggle. But his parents... his mother and father must have realized it. They countered the poison with another poison—one that prevented him from using mana but kept him alive.

They never abandoned him.

A smirk slowly spread across his lips as he placed the teacup on the table.

There’s no need to take this poison anymore.

He turned his gaze to the Quest Window still floating before him.

[NEW QUEST: Reclaim What Was Lost]

Objective: Train and grow stronger before the Trials.

Reward: ???

Failure: Remain the Forsaken Prince.

Golden eyes glowed with fierce determination.

"It’s time to take back what I lost."

To be continued...