User blog:AloofComputer/The man who walked alone: Chapter 15

Chapter 15: The price of power

“Lady Druella! Are you all right?”

“Never mind me, tend to the wounded patrols. What is the situation in the city?”

“An explosion destroyed a large tavern. Thankfully, there were no patrons inside; the tavern was operating at night. The owner and his family lived above, but we found them gagged and bound nearby. Only a few bystanders were injured by the debris, none of it serious.”

“That is… good.” Druella felt tired. That clash with Alatar left her drained, both physically and mentally. Is the envoy ready to leave?”

“A few of the envoy’s escorts were among the injured in the explosion, Lady. We can still send it as is-”

“No. I want full escort. That lunatic is relentless. Tend to them first. I want them to be able to leave as soon as possible.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

---

Alatar dragged his feet to his temporary hideout, in a small cave by a pond. The monster mana inside him lessened the continuous pain in his body, but the feeling of weakness remained. His mana, or rather Veronica’s mana, was dangerously low. The confrontation with Druella had taken a large toll on his body, and he looked forward to some rest. His cloak was ripped; he would have to repair it as soon as possible.

He hadn’t been able to replenish his mana, no matter what potions and spells he tried. His attempts to harness the mana around him only resulted in manipulating it, and in a slow manner at that. ''Seems like the only way to get mana for an incubus is through sex… that is a miscalculation. I’ll have to inform Pallanto.''

 Writing the report was even harder, as fatigue began crawling inside his mind. The owl eyed him intensely, as he strapped his encoded report on its leg. Along with the letter, he strapped his expansion pouch; his supplies were all gone after the continuous attacks. Hoping that the Order would provide him with what he needed was a far-fetched wish, but it was all he could do for the time being. With all their resources directed to the multiple operations across the border, as well as the mobilization of forces, anything he could squeeze out of them would be worth its weight in gold. ''I’d better try to find ways to utilize the local resources. Assuming I can gather whatever is necessary.''

He patted the bird’s head, and let it fly. As his only link with the human world disappeared into the horizon, he lied down on the cave’s floor and drifted off immediately.

---

 H e felt the flow of mana rushing through his skin before his mind registered that someone was touching his face. Snapping his eyes open, a familiar face of violet eyes and long blonde hair greeted him.

“Wha-mmmmmmmfffffff”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Veronica kissed him deeply. I can replenish my mana now… then… then… sleep overtook him like a tidal wave.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Sorry about that, beloved.” She said apologetically to Alatar’s sleeping form. “But I had to use the kiss of sleep to carry you over.” She grabbed his body like a kid’s, placing his head between her breasts. He seemed to have lost weight since their last intimate moment. “Come now… it will be all right.” And with that, she took off to the castle.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">[Later…]

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“I am really impressed, Veronica. How on earth did you track him? Not even Primera and her pack could do it.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Thank you, Lady Druella. It was luck, mostly. I saw an owl taking off from a cave. There are no such birds in this part of the forest. After I came close, I felt traces of my mana. There is only one man who has it...”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Still, great accomplishment nonetheless. How did this guy leave such a trail? He was very careful with such details.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“His cloak was ripped in places, my Lady” came the answer from Mimil, who was studying Alatar’s gear intently. “This allowed some mana to seep through. This is impressive stuff.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Indeed, it looks like we severely underestimated his ingenuity.” Lucella admitted. “He used his cloak to keep Veronica’s mana within him. Incubi release their mana around, so they need to replenish it through sex. His cloak, not only blocks monster mana, but it keeps it within. And it also blocks smell, heat and sound. No wonder he could move freely.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“His mask has the same abilities. He can switch them on and off, which is even more impressive. And… sound muffling boots? Imagine our kunoichi equipped with this-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“That’s enough lip service. Have you made an antidote for his poison? We have people’s lives hanging by a thread here.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“It has already been delivered, Lady Druella.” Mimil answered sheepishly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Good. Now, let’s go to interrogate this... man. Let’s hope his attitude has changed somewhat. You two, come with me. We may need to use some magic to… persuade him.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">---

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Alatar was lying down on a magical circle. The monsters took no chances, however; steel shackles bound his hand s and feet to the ground. He was naked, and his body began shivering lightly because of the cold.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> A door opened, casting a ray of light inside. Light footsteps on stone floor echoed in the room. ''Hooves? And… heels? Druella and baphomets. Two of them.''

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Druella snapped her fingers, and dozens of candles were lit at once, illuminating the area. She approached Alatar, her aides in tow.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“We meet again, incubus.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“So it would seem.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Still like that? No matter. You’ll change your tone soon enough.” She went around and knelt by his head. Pushing mana to her hands, she accumulated a condensed sphere the size of an orange. “Now say aaaaaahhhhhh” she said mockingly, as she grabbed his jaw and forcefully opened his mouth, shoving it down his throat. Alatar’s body convulsed in violent spasms; he grit his teeth and closed his fingers into fists. The demonic mana felt like hot lava, searing and painful, as it traveled through his body. Trying to manipulate it was impossible; the seal under him prevented it. After a long while, his body arced, and a cloud of mana was released around it. The baphomets looked confused.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Well, that is... unexpected.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Alatar’s hands and feet were throbbing with warm pain, as his bounds had dug in his skin during his violent thrashing. His breath was erratic, and his body sweaty. He turned his empty gaze to an irritated Druella.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Lost your touch there, ugly?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">A flash of anger crossed the lilim’s face, and she conjured another mass of mana. “I wouldn’t be so cocky if I were you. My mother has decreed that we are not to kill or torture humans. However, you are not a human any more, so...” she brought the mass of mana near his heart…

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">...when the Seal of Emotions glowed red, sending Alatar into a spiral of pain and filling the room with the smell of burnt flesh.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The baphomets were onto him in a second, looking at the seal intently. Druella was taken aback; her hand had retreated on instinct. She knew this thing meant trouble. Her instincts were never wrong.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Mimil, Lucella, enough with this. I’ll get into his worthless brain. I’ll need mana. Let’s get to the bottom of this.” Kneeling again in front of his head, she cupped it with both hands, while the baphomets stood behind her, grabbing her shoulders. Druella closed her eyes and concentrated.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Getting into someone’s dreams and memories was a delicate procedure. The slightest misstep could cause irreparable damage, and right now, this mind kept precious secrets. She was quite up for the challenge; after all, that was how she turned most of her lieutenants. But this mind seemed like a maze. Getting around it would take time.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The quickest method to bend a mind was to start from his childhood; that was something she had learned and confirmed by experience, so she dug around to see what she could find. “Keep looking” she mentally ordered the two baphomets that were mana-linked to her.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">Finally, the earlier memory popped right in front of her…

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> And she saw it. She saw young Alatar hugging his father, and entering his parent’s bedroom. She saw the scene unfold, young Alatar casting a spell that even novice mages had trouble with. She saw him running into the night, his parents’ house in flames behind him. Sleeping in a barn, trying to steal from a middle-aged mage. The mage’s face seemed familiar…

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Stealing will do you no good, brat.” the mage scowled, grabbing young Alatar’s hand by the wrist. Turning it around, the mage looked at the scorch marks on the boy’s palm. After quickly examining the scars, he turned to the visibly frightened kid. “What is your name, brat?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Alatar. Alatar Moriatan.” the boy said with a defiant face, albeit stained by fear.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Well then, Alatar, stealing is something only thieves and scoundrels do. Follow me. I’ll show you how to become neither.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The rest of the memories passed in a flash. Studying, errands… she skipped along. Those things were of no interest. She could revisit and dwell on them later, if needed. She watched his encounter with Veronica. His flight to the capital. The meeting with the other mage and the priest. His blessing. Him, reporting to the commander of the Order of Holy Light-

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">A bright white seal interrupted her path. “What is this?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“A memory seal, my Lady. It is linked with his spirit energy. Tampering with it can be dangerous.” Mimil answered.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Fine, let’s go for now.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Back in the candlelit room, she opened her eyes. Alatar had fainted, as was typical of such procedures. She turned to her aides. “Fetch the former headmaster, out of his bed and his wife, if necessary. Bring Shasha too. And… Veronica. It seems his body can accept only her mana. We need to keep him alive for now.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Yes, my Lady.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> After the baphomets left, she stood up, visibly shaken. The scene of his childhood raced through her mind. “This is going to be a really tough one.” She muttered.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">---

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">P.S. Chapter 15 is out. Criticism welcome.