Inferno sighed softly as he helped Scathatch and Marz patch up after the fight, still a bit shocked about what had happened as Bael walked in to see, a few bandages on his head and around his chest but mostly looked fine. Marz stood up slowly and noticed Bael “Good thing we all took minimal damage, huh?” He asked, trying to lighten the mood with some conversation as Bael cracked a slight smile and rolled his eyes under his black glasses, no one knowing it, but he was definitely surprisingly upbeat despite what they witnessed. “Being find isn’t really the crazy thing. The fact we went toe to toe with a monster like that was more impressive. You guys did really well despite not knowing the enemy, especially you Scath, considering you fought it alone while we tried… poorly, to handle Alucard.” Bael told them as the three all nodded, Scathatch standing up and taking his hand, tracing her claw on it ‘you did well to, don’t leave yourself out of that.’ She smiled at him as he gave a soft chuckle and a nod.
“You’re right.” He said gently and watched the patched up fighters all gather themselves to head out to continue their duties. Inferno stayed behind and took a careful seat as he grunted slightly, the dragon-wolf clutching his stomach a little as he winced “Fighting in my current state definitely wasn’t a smart choice, but who knows what would have happened had I not.” He said to himself as he looked out the window a bit, a sigh escaping his lips as he carefully stood and winced again, feeling continuous pain as he slowly walked out, he needed to ask the doctors.
Marz headed to talk to his father to give him a rundown of what fully went down in their battle as the king would need a plan to fight against this new threat. As he entered, he noticed Jamie and Lyle were there discussing something with the king already. He took a moment to listen, as Jamie was speaking. “The reason I think we should start preparing and showing some people the Abrien teachings is because it’s part of what saved us in the last battle. I’m not saying everyone should, but at least a few like Lyle, Bael, and Ornstein should, just because us as retainers will more than likely be in the front lines in these fights. But if Alucard is alive, we can’t slack in taking any chances. Hard to believe that bastard survived a shot to the head, what magic forces are at work here?” He spoke with surprisingly stern but respectful mannerisms, it was no wonder to whoever heard him that he was chosen to be the head of the archers of the kingdom and the personal guard to king Drax, that upon his fighting prowess showed brightly.
Drax listened carefully to his guard as he nodded and gently stroked his chin in thought and sighed, before looking over and seeing Marz there and growing a smile as he waved over at him. “Oh, son, didn’t notice you there, sorry if you were kept waiting.” He said and walked over to his son, gently hugging him as he looked down at the boy. “Did you need anything from me?” He asked with a father’s tone, drastically different from his kingly.
“I was coming to give a rundown of what had happened, but it’s clear Jamie beat me to it. So what I needed was done faster than intended.” He said and smiled slightly towards Jamie who nodded in acknowledgement as he watched the royals talk. The conversation was cut short however when a young human woman rushed in and painted a little as she looked around nervously. “Pardon my intrusion your majesties and lords, but your son, Inferno…” she panicked a little to gather her thoughts before breathing in “It’s time.” She said as Lyle and Drax both looked at her in surprise before quickly rushing behind her. Jamie chuckled a little as he went and walked alongside Marz a bit as he looked ahead. “A child is about to be born. Inferno is quite brave to have a child and still fight like he doesn’t. Let us go greet your new nephew shall we?” He asked as Marz nodded and followed the group towards the infirmary.
Upon entering, they see Inferno lying down in a bed exhausted as a doctor cleaned up himself and a black and grey colored egg as Drax looked in shock, chuckling as Ornstein was standing by the bed proudly. “It’s a bit sooner than we anticipated, but it’s finally happened.” He said gently to the exhausted Inferno who smiled softly and sighed happily while the doctor handed the two the egg, turning to Drax and bowing. “Your majesty, thank you for rushing. It was quite sudden that Inferno was having the egg, so I apologize for not notifying you sooner, but your grandchild has arrived safely and the egg is healthy. Welcome to the world John Maxwell Adams.” The Doctor said smiling warmly seeing the proud parents as Drax and everyone gathered to look. Inferno had a weak smile as he looked at his family, holding the egg similarly to how he held the one unborn egg. The doctor continued as they watched “Despite the pain it is to talk about this, this egg is guaranteed to hatch unlike the other one. So there will be no fear of that.” He told them as they all nodded, some sighing.
Inferno looked down a little, but kept his smile. Despite the pain he’s been through, he kept smiling because he was happy to even have this one, and to be with a caring family as he held the egg. “I have hope. It might not be much, but I know things will end up great.” He said, Drax smiling proudly at how strong he was, as he gave a gentle nod as he then turned to the nurses and started instructing them to get the young princes room set up for the egg, knowing it would need to be kept safe with him. Everyone then started disbanding, the only ones staying were Lyle, Ornstein and Marz, the three watching as Inferno slowly dozed off to get some rest, Marz chuckling softly at his little brother as he sat down beside the bed and watched, he was proud of him. As he did, Lyle and Ornstein decided it was safe to step out, and so the two retainers took their leave. Ornstein and Lyle both bid each other farewell and headed off, the knight heading towards Bael’s chamber.
Upon arriving he carefully knocked and was soon let in, the man just getting some stuff organized as this all happened. “Oh, Ornstein. What brings you by?” He asked, quite shocked to see him suddenly coming to him as he let him in and pulled a chair out for him to take a seat. “Thank you Bael. I’m just here to ask something of you. My son has just been born, and it’s hard finding retainers for young royals. So my request for you is… I want you to become John’s retainer when he is hatched and older. Just in case something happens to either me or Inferno.” Ornstein asked, looking noticing a surprised but understanding look on the man’s face as he gave a soft nod listening to what he was saying.
“Quite the tall order to be asking of someone, but I have no reason to decline such an order. I will gladly fulfill this request once your son is born. But I can’t guarantee I’ll be perfect.” He told him, as he was still struggling with everything that had happened within the last year. After losing his family, and learning Alucard was alive once again, he started growing distant and irritated, but there was still some people, like Ornstein, he’d show respect for. Ornstein smiled and nodded in appreciation as he stood up shaking Bael’s hand. “Thank you very much Bael, it is much appreciated.” He said sincerely as the man nodded and let Ornstein out of the room as he sighed shutting the door, looking at his nightstand and sat down on the bed holding the picture of his wife and daughter, and clutched it softly as he thought.
“Can’t guarantee… such an understatement.” He said to himself as he gently lied the picture face down on the nightstand and buried his face in his hands. “I already failed two people I cared about… am I really going to risk this again, for the royal family.” He said to himself as he had a couple tears escape as they slid down his pale face, he was conflicted to multiple ends. He lost his wife, his daughter, one of his former best friends. He even lost someone he cared about. “Alucard, why did you succumb to such a dark power. You were once… caring, and friendly. What lead you to be so corrupt. If I can. I will get you back. I won’t let you stay succumbed to the darkness forever. You just… need to find your way back.” He spoke, no one in particular in his mind to hear.
Little known to him, there was someone listening from outside his window, an orange dragon holding a sword and looking around. He seemed to have been spying on the castle. He smirked a little to himself as he leapt from the roof and landed in a tree and started rushing himself out of the kingdom, leaping over the kingdom walls and landing outside, a guard right in front of him. He quickly grabbed the man and twisted his neck to not be caught, and headed off. He walked down the path silently, approaching the rebel camp where Leblanc and Alucard were waiting. “Any news Thanatos?” Leblanc asked as she looked at the man who approached. He smirked a little as he walked with them to her tent.
“I’ll tell you what I gathered. That brat Inferno has a child, they named him John Maxwell Adams. He’s going to be protected by a good friend of Alucard’s.” He smirked seeing Alucard clench his fist but slowly relax as Leblanc gently rubbed his arm to show he would get his chance. “Bael, He was asked to protect John. He said some pretty interesting things though.” He said as Leblanc handed him a bag of coins. He smirked and stood up, heading towards the entrance as the two stood. “Where are you going?” Leblanc asked as she watched him head off, the dragon giving a slight smirk.
“I don’t affiliate with any group. I just did what I was hired for. I didn’t promise I’d join your little rebellion.” He said as he started walking. “Besides, I have other matters I want to take care of without you getting in my way.” He said as he left their camp, pulling out a slip of paper from an unknown person. The writing was in an entirely different language but Thanatos has managed to figure it out. ‘Kill Inferno, end Drazernon’s line.’ Was all it said. “Whoever left this tip in my supplies overnight really had it out for this kid. To bad, he seemed like a strong adversary in the making, but a job is a job. Guess I have no choice.” He said pocketing it again and setting his sword upon his back once more before walking down the path away from the rebel encampment and the kingdom. He had some Business he needed to attend to in a nearby village before he could get to work.
-
It wasn’t a long trek before Thanatos arrived in a small village, a tribe of snow leopards, known as the Chitvani, inhabiting the land. Some gave skeptical looks while others just paid him no mind as he headed to the center of the village where the chief would be waiting. He approached and smirked a little as he waved “Ah Sahïr, my old pal, I told you I’d be back.” He said as he went on to act like they had known each other for years. The older leopard man just grunted in annoyance as he put a book he was reading aside and looking at the dragon assassin. “Thanatos, I told you before, the Chitvani want nothing to do with your kind, you’re a murderous and evil assassin and we have no intentions of working for people like you. We have our ways, you have yours and we are currently happy not being between any accursed wars.” He told him simply and sternly, a time befitting the chieftain of a village.
“Oh I’m not here to try and convince you all to join anything, trust me I’m over that. Especially now that Drazernon is dead.” He smirked as he was lying to the man to deceive him as he had already shown to be associating with whoever paid best. “I just wish to know some things. You know, namely your little ritual you conduct at times. I’ve been quite interested in the works of soul transferring and making beings out of other beings.” He said as he tried sweet talking the chief slyly as he examined the book he was reading. It was in similar language to the anonymous note he got but with a few unmatching letters. He was confused as to why that was, but kept it to himself.
“Those are secrets only members born of Chitvani lineage are allowed to know. A ritual passed down to us for generations, a gift from my ancestors from the ancient dragon gods. We can’t merely throw away something like that and let a stranger know about these things.” He said as he stood up. “If you have nothing else, please, leave my village. We have stuff we must prepare for and can’t have nonsense speakers like yourself present.” He said as he was motioning for the man to leave.
Thanatos stood and chuckled. “Alright alright I know when I’m not wanting, I’m a reasonable man. But I do have one last thing I wish to ask. This time it’s nothing personal.” He said taking the note and sliding it towards him. “What is this language, and who sent this?” He asked as Sahïr took the paper in hand and read it, comparing it to the book lying nearby as he read it aloud. “‘Kill Inferno, end Drazernon’s line?’ This is quite the mystery to be had. It does not match any of the text I have but it is quite similar. Maybe a tribe near the former kingdom of darkness will present you your answer. If you have questions like this and not regarding my tribes customs, I’ll gladly assist you. Bring me anything you find and I’ll find the man wanting them dead. But does them dying really affect you so much?” He smirked a little as he wasn’t too fond of either side so seeing the royals as a targrt was quite interesting to him.
“I have no gripes about the job, I just don’t like having anonymous quests because the odds of getting paid are always fifty fifty. I’ll gladly end the brats life, but I just wish to know who’s life is gonna end if I don’t get paid.” He smirked as he left to go and do his investigating, leaving Sahïr to ponder as he smirked reading the note. “Someone wants to end crown prince Inferno, and bring the kingdom of Elderitch to anarchy? Quite the development, I’ll have to look into this. Maybe this will lead to… an interesting outcome.” He laughed silently to himself, the laugh quite twisted and sinister, but still composed quite well. Sahïr was quite the mystery.
-
Leblanc patiently paced as she thought to herself while Alucard just casually continued opening and closing a demon portal just to amuse himself. “Do you mind? I’m trying to actually plan something here. Play with your new toy later.” She said as Alucard looked at her with shock before hiding a snicker at how she reacted as he stopped. It mostly just caught him off guard as he stood and closed it for now as he walked over to her. “Simple plan, we just go to the castle, manipulate one of the maids and we go to the child and…” he picked up an egg from her shelf and threw it at the tree, watching it shatter as she winced a bit just from the fact he did that.
“No. As much as I hate the royals, killing a child is quite out of the question. We just need a way to lure king Drax away and kill him, and then disarm the remaining soldiers.” She said as Alucard thought before summoning a couple of minor demons. They looked at Leblanc awaiting orders as she sighed a bit at his determination to use his powers. “No killing, but rendezvous inside the castle, and scout the area, tell us where the best places to infiltrate are and where the king resides most of his day. Don’t get caught.” She said as they disappeared in smoke, leaving to execute their orders as Alucard sat back down. “They’re going to die aren’t they?” She asked as the demon man nodded, he knew the moment the royals saw a demon Jamie would make quick work of it like the last ones, but he wasn’t telling her everything. He could sense what they sense and think what they think and so he’d be getting the knowledge of there recon mission without them having to return.
Leblanc silently left the tent and went to where Sazh was, sighing as she sat with him. “Sazh, are we doing the right thing here? I know the people here despise the royals but is it really necessary to end their lives?” She asked showing concern for her own plan, while the black furred panther grabbed her hand and nodded softly. “Don’t ask me. We follow you. Whatever you order, we do. What does your heart think?” He asked gently as she looked down and started thinking. Her thoughts were everywhere, she didn’t know what was right anymore.
![Tale to the King [Arc: 2] [chapter: 5]](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/2580/2580324_YusukeNakamura_583f124c-d3d9-4051-b9c4-a60f4bef1248_noncustom.jpg "Tale to the King [Arc: 2] [chapter: 5]")
![In Another Realm [Chapter: 1]](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/2844/2844977_YusukeNakamura_in_another_realm_ch._1_cerin_request_.jpg "In Another Realm [Chapter: 1]")
![Tale to the King [Arc: 2] [Chapter: 9]](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/2983/2983286_YusukeNakamura_tale_to_the_king_2.9_.jpg "Tale to the King [Arc: 2] [Chapter: 9]")