Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 366 The Imperial Tutor III

A/N: Sorry for the lack of an update, but Hurricane Beryl left us without internet/power. I just got back internet last night, and it's hella spotty. I'll make the chapters up when we get power; my generator can't handle my computer, lol.

From the look in his eyes, Adrum Faytal was prepared to tear off Altair's head if it were the last thing he'd ever do.

"Now then, Lord Areon, if you'd be so kind. Why don't you tell us your point of contact?"

The shedding of tears from the Viscount did not garner pity. The men of the North who had lived as a part of the Nier Dutchy had all been fiercely loyal to the Dukedom. The love they'd held for the Duke, both new and old, could not simply be measured despite the passage of time.

'But it was that very love that forced the Imperial Family to weaken our forces." He glanced at the Imperial Tutor, finding his current expression amusing. It wasn't every day he had the chance to check a Transcendent. He smirked, returning his eyes to the Viscount.

"It...It...It was Lord...." He paused, his silent cries becoming ever more evident. " Lord Lukcar Malvgrave,"

In the silence, it was Marquis Killian Tovakin who stomped forward, a tendril of viens spreading down his forehead. He slapped him hard enough that teeth were sent sprawling from his jaw and again and again until chunks of flesh were torn from his mouth.

"Lord Killian that—" The Tutor started but was stopped when a Blade of Transcendent energy appeared in Killains hand.

"Hold your bloody tongue!" The Marquess demanded, flushed by rage.

The Kingdom of Kilsidor had only two dutches: House Nier, which controlled all of the North, and House Malgrave, which held the reins of the South. Other smaller nobles, bannermen, and merchants controlled the East and West.

And no northern man held any love for any member of House Malgrave.

"I see..." Altair whispered lightly, loud enough for all with enhanced senses to hear. "Now it makes sense. Isn't the current king married to a Malvgrave? Could there be some relation?"

Hard, cold, unfeely eyes found the Imperial Tutor, who seemed to have eaten a bitter bug.

"Watch your tongue, boy!" Adrum Faytal snapped. "I will not have you implicating the Imperial Family in any folly!"

"The Malvgrave's swore an oath!" Shouted the Countess, her words echoed by the lower nobles. "And it was ratified by the Imperial Family!"

"Speak, Child!" The Old Duke's booming voice thundered, quelling the voice of noblemen and children alike.

"Grandfather," Altair cut in, a piano wire-thin smile playing at his lips. "This isn't the place to force an answer. Especially if the Imperial Family is involved." he glanced at the Imperial Tutor. "Seal your core, or face an early death. Even if you are a transcendent, not even you can escape so many of us."

"I am the Imperial Tutor!" he roared, but it fell on deaf ears.

"And you are in the North." Said Altair coldly.

****

***

Within the medical ward, Corsant stepped in with a gloomy look. She stared at her sleeping son, brushing his head, before turning an eye towards the MedArc.

"It was Nox's doing, wasn't it? It was his demon."

The Medarc bowed. "His Devil, my lady, and yes."

"You knew," Corsant muttered darkly, biting her lip. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"To save the young master's life. Devils aren't bloodthirsty like demons. There sadistic. They like to play with their meat until they break. Had I revealed there was a sliver of Devil Qi in Noctis's body, then I fear what that Devil or her True Master might have done." he glanced at the Second Young Master and prayed for his swift recovery.

"Nox is using my son to threaten me," Corsant explained. "He means to use us to..."

"My Lady.... How much do you know of the Nine Hells?"

Corsant bit her lips. "It's part of the Viel in which you come from, right?"

"Yes... In a matter of speaking. It's a realm that holds nine monarchs, each realm possessing its nobles, economy, and infrastructure." He said, garnering attention from the dutchess. "My Lady, forgive me for saying this, but this isn't a battle you can win. Nox isn't threatening you. He's already won."

"Long ago, there was once a king for whom I worked for. Powerful, young, and naive, he foolishly made a deal with the Hells to the First Prince, Lord Seir. He wanted to create a Legion that never feared death nor felt pain. To do so, Lord Seir demanded his only daughter and a hundred years' time, which my King was more than willing to give since his son would take the throne.

A hundred years later, the daughter returned to her father's court, her maidenhood shattered by over a thousand demons and her belly swollen with seven children. Demonborn, children."

"Holy Ariandel!"

"She had borne all seven of them before the king, laughing before taking her own life. Prince Seir had granted the King his wish. The Seven Demonborne children were the conduit through which other infernal creatures, hellions, were created. But what His Majesty hadn't expected was that those very grandchildren were rearing an army to annihilate his kingdom.

It only took a year for them to grow into men, a year for them to gain control of the court, and a year to have all the imperial harem impregnated with demon children. They were all raped to death, forced to birth children until they could no more."

"What is the point of this story!" Corsant demanded.

"What I mean to say, my lady, is you would think the King was at fault. However, he was merely a sacrifice. For an enemy kingdom had paid the price of a thousand souls to have the entire kingdom sacrificed a hundred years before. That is how devils work. What you see before your eyes is merely an illusion of what they want.

If there is a devil beside Nox, a royal devil at that, ask yourself how many are involved in this scheme. The Duke, the Saintess, and who else?"

"Heavens..." The dutchess gasped, realizing the truth. "The saintess is involved!"

The Medarc sighed. "My Lady... When a devil is involved, the only part that wins is the hell. The same bastard that wished my Old King and his people dead were later slaughtered by the Infernal Creatures my king raised. The only man who won was Prince Seir."