Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Chapter 270 A Meeting with the Strongest [Part 1]

Several members of the Aedridan royal family sat in a court-like chamber. Two women, in particular, sat on opposite sides of the room in elevated thrones. On each side, a handful of people, clearly their siblings, had gathered behind them. Letheya had six siblings behind her, and Ayalla had five behind her.

According to the sisters, there was at least one brother who was not present and had thrown his support in with Ayalla. This brother was apparently away at Stark Academy, the major academic institution in Aedrider.

Lucius was standing near the doorway, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Desmond and Jade stood beside him, exuding an aura that befitted their noble upbringing. Lucius had been taught how to carry himself in a similar manner. However, the way he saw it the elves needed him, not the other way around. With that in mind, he saw no need to try and present himself in any special manner.

"So, sister," Ayalla broke the tense silence. The word 'sister' dripped out of her mouth as though the very concept of the word would make her vomit. "You wish to prove your point that we should maintain open borders with the savages outside our nation by inviting the single-most boorish non-elf you could imagine.

"Not only that, but you allowed him to beat our poor baby sister within an inch of her life. What an embarrassing display you have shown us today."

Above their heads, the match between Lucius and Corva had been playing on repeat for the audience. No one in the room looked happy at the sight. However, the loser, Corva, watched it intently while taking notes on a small pad of paper and using a strange writing utensil that Lucius didn't recognize.

"Ayalla," Letheya said carefully, "It was our sister who desired the match. If you remember, she fought against yhis man in Arcadios. Her honor demanded..."

"Honor!" Ayalla spat. "What good is honor when talking about this man? This... Titan. Do not think I didn't look into him. Have you heard what he has done since his entry into our borders? Varris may not be the same for months.

The populace still speaks of a man of ill-omen that brings storms and the rage of the skies. I fear they will scare children with this story one day.

"You would have us allow more people like him into our country? You would expose our citizens to such barbarism for the sake of coin and trade? It disgusts me. Our siblings who insist on supporting you for the throne should simply join me. It is plainly clear that I am the one who cares for the safety of our people and culture."

The realization that Lucius was a handsome half-beast caused several female elves in the room to suddenly blush. The warriors in the room began to pale, their focus being drawn to the large battle scars around his face and neck.

"You look so much like him..." Tenia whispered so quietly that only Lucius could hear her.

Her statement caught him off guard, but he quickly realized that this was not the place to press further into why she reacted in such a way.

Ayalla was the first elf to recover. "Great Auntie... I mean, Lady Tenia, to what do we owe this pleasure?"

Ayalla's voice quivered with concern. Tenia was known to spend most of her existence at the mountain's peak. Save for holidays and other important reasons, she rarely descended to the palace. Everyone seemed concerned as to what the purpose could be. None of them felt that she would be involving herself in the succession dispute, but that only made her motives more mysterious.

"I came for him." Tenia said, still looking at Lucius. "I have a favor I wish to ask of him. You do this, and I will give you one favor in return. There is a human in this palace that little Letheya wishes you to meet. My own goals align with hers.

"Meet with the leader of the Wisteria Concord. Perform the task she asks, and you will have the ear of the Strongest as well as whatever it is that the human offers."

"I came here for..." Lucius started.

An intense pressure weighed down on the room. Many of the elves dropped into unconsciousness, saving only the members of the royal family, Lucius, and his friends. The walls and stone floor cracked simultaneously.

"Perhaps I should be clearer, boy. This favor of mine is not a request. It is a command. It is by my own kindness that I offer you anything in return at all."