Bane noticed it was cloudy as he walked with his advisors to the palace. As he stared up, he had a dreadful feeling, yet he didn't know why. They had received a letter the night before from a royal guardsman stating the King himself had requested a meeting with them and, although he didn't specify, Bane knew it had to be important. However, what he did notice was that his advisors were looking quite unhinged.
Once arriving at the palace, the guards gave them expedited entry. As they walked through, Bane noticed that although seemingly massive, the palace's interior was simple. Not usual for a King. They were eventually led to a large meeting room, and as they entered, Bane could see ten figures all sitting around a large table with the King at the head.
Two individuals in robes that could only be described as clerks stood with magic tablets. Bane immediately noticed the overbearing auras surrounding the ten and recognized them as the Kingdom's Vanguard. He didn't like that such powerful individuals all had grave looks on their faces.
"Please, take a seat. We have a lot to discuss," the King motioned for Bane to sit.
"Now I want you to know before we begin, what we know we have only recently found out…so hold your questions until the end as I doubt I could effectively answer until getting everything out." Once he saw Bane understood, he continued. "Now with that, I will not be candid…. The kingdom of Algoro... is gone."
Bane tensed up instantly. His advisors slowly looked down and started to silently mutter prayers in their home language. The King continued, "Now I'm sure this may come as a great shock, but from what our sources are telling us, it was a horde of Ifrit that attacked them."
"PREPOSTEROUS!!" One of the advisors stood up shouting, clearly furious. "You're telling me some damn beasts were able to lay siege to an entire kingdom! Not to mention topple the Three Tribesman!" The advisor was fuming as the others slightly nodded in agreement.
"Lore, sit down. You are being disrespectful to our host," Bane had heard enough. "But young master, these claims... T-They are outrageous!!"
"Lore, sit down before I make you." Lore instantly tensed up as he felt a shiver run down his spine. Bane had a cold gaze locked on him that even made Serena admire him a little.
'This little one has quite the killing intent for someone so young.' Of course, looks can be deceiving, as she shot a quick glance over at Goddrick.
"I am sorry for the rude outburst of my advisor, King. Please continue."
The King wasn't surprised by the outburst. He knew of the Tribesman and knew how they were with unverified information affecting their Kingdom. It's likely anyone outside of the inner court was kept in the dark about the recent intellectual advancements of the Ifrit.
"From what we know, the Ifrits had somehow infiltrated. This could be due to a newly developed ability by one of them. Some cover and concealment technique."
Bane looked deep in thought, feeling an array of emotions. "How did you find out this information?"
The King looked at Bane, and Bane could tell he was struggling with what to say. No, what exactly to reveal.
"We, of course, have intel gathering methods, but we got this information from a survivor..."
"A SURVIVOR!!" All three advisors stood simultaneously, as this was possibly great news if it was a Tribesman. Now they were curious as to who could've survived such devastation.
The King raised his hand to quiet them back down. "The reason we haven't told you who is due to the sensitivity of the situation. But frankly, he's being held captive by us for his own safety."
Bane was now the one to interject as it wasn't adding up why Mordell would hold a survivor of a devastation captive. "Sir, just who is this person?"
Everyone looked to the King as even the Vanguard didn't know who this person was. In fact, they had no idea a survivor had even been found. All except one.
"Vanguard Servious, bring him in," the King stated in an authoritative tone. Servious was the 5th ranked Vanguard and was in charge of the Research and Shadow Ops Division. He had an extensive intel gathering network throughout all five major guilds and most of the smaller ones.
On cue, he then disappeared into a shadow and within seconds reappeared, holding a captive man in shackles. Everyone looked towards them and immediately noticed his appearance was ragged and that he looked out of his mind.
Bane immediately stood up in shock as he recognized him. "That can't be! Freego... The War-Master!"