"So that's what happened." Kurt softly said, finally grasping with his little brain. Sig, I could understand he's retarded, but my god Kurt? This idiot is supposed to have a brain. Have his emotions enslaved him so much?
Having explained the situation, I turned to Cleo and Ezra, the only two who seemed to have a clear mind or one that wasn't burdened by bitches every waking moment.
"So I can only think of one solution at this given moment," I chose to say, " And that is to stay with me in the Black Estate. Valice might be a little angry, but nothing we can do about that. I can't have any of you becoming captured."
'What about leaving the city," Sig suggested.
"In the city, if your attack, you can make a stir and get help, but outside, where only chaos reigns, I'm afraid, death will follow. I don't know how long Yornen was listening for, but the moment I leave, he could use clairvoyance to know what you're doing. The Black Estate is our best bet."
"Bet. Valice got that ass on her. I don't mind."
"Father, is he in on this?" Ezra uttered, her tone icy as stone.
"I don't know, but I would have liked you to take over Drar's spot. If each prince had their own legion, once we return to the Bed of Chaos, operations would run much more smoothly," I replied, batting my palm through the ether of darkness, parting it as a small domain covered everyone. And with a bit of intent guiding my path, I shadow-stepped within the Black Estate.
"There are nine rooms in this guest house, so pick one."
Taking my leave, I pushed through the doors near the base of my home and strutted towards Valice's office, located within the central manner. Guards seemed to part as if expecting me as I knocked, having come to a halt, and pushed in without waiting for a reply.
"Mr. Blackwater," Valice sharply announced, pronouncing every little letter to a T.
My lips curled at each end, watching her furious expression. " How do you do?"
Why is it that every time you mysteriously vanish? I hear reports of people battling. I'm even hearing tales of someone killing a Prince of Hell."
I pointed towards myself. 'You think it was me?'
"Don't play coy, Blackwater. Who the bloody hell are you? And why do you carry such a name?"
"Oh, I'm sure we'll have time for that when I meet with Aethers King. Tell me about the Ilthad."
"What'd you say?" She darkly asked, rising from her chair with a panicked look. "You met an Ilthad. That's impossible!" Valice pounced with a devilish drive towards me. "Who the hell did you meet!!"
Taking back by her intensity, unease trickled down my spine, " Yornen—'
"Of the Deep. That bastard still lives!" Valice barked, whipping her hand over my neck; I instantly shadow-stepped to dodge, but as if she had foreseen my movement, her hand still connected to my throat. "Who are you!"
Shadow Stepping again, I massaged the bruising around my neck and frowned, " No need to get all physical. I'm not telling till I get my meeting. Now would you like to know more, or would you like to continue assaulting me? I don't mind being choked, but I'd prefer it in bed."
"This is serious, Mr. Blackwater." She replied, snorting cutely.
"I'm sure it is, but business before pleasure. Who is this Ilthad?"
"Yornen of the Deep is a monster in the purest form. Elegant, noble, and poised, he was Aether's greatest advisor and chancellor. " She sucked in a large breath stiffening her already tense shoulders, and continued, "Yornen's mind was so feared, Zena came to me with a warning not to allow him to rise to power. But in our arrogance, we ignored her warning and paid dearly."
"You gave him power?"
"He earned that power,' Valice barked in her defense, clenching his fist. "He earned it all, as did his people. Never before had our kingdom run as smoothly as it did back then Until they betrayed us and brought our kingdom to its knees in a single day. What did Yornen promise you."
"Nothing. We are enemies. He tried to kill my wife and child." A sigh of relief flickered out; she only stiffened as I continued, " But he did say his people would love to collab with me. If I were to grant them a safe space and—"
"Don't do it. The ilthad are to be feared. Unlike devils who constantly scheme for power, the Ilthad are beings who are empirically calm and collected and will always do everything in their empower to benefit 'their' community. They are a race of pure unity."
"And their goal?" I asked, not in the least bit swayed by her words. It takes a devil to battle a devil. If one wishes to play the game, one cannot be half a step in the dark.
"Not even we know; their entire culture is structured around someone named the Great One. Everything the Ilthad do is cultivated around this entity.
"Cthulhu?"
"Perhaps," She softly said, a little taken back that I knew who that was. " But even when asked, the ilthad didn't confirm or deny it. They simply smiled and sneakily pushed the conversation along. Even when tormented and subjected to every form of torture imaginable, they never once gave up anything. Never in my day have I seen such a set of brainwashed bastards."
Stroking my chin, I smiled, " Are their prowess high?"
"Depends. The Ilthad is not a physical race but one that follows the Path of the Arcane. And with their innate aptitude to Astral Essense, a single one is capable of trapping a Paragon given enough time and resources."
"Are you serious!" I blurted out.
"The Ilthad are beings known for their seals. They don't fight like usual. They seal their enemies' movements and go in for the kill. When they are sure, you are without plays. They do the same in politics."
So, in the end, it could come down to sacrificing my kingdom or surviving. However, that is the worse possible outcome. But that's a risk I'm more than willing to accept. After all, I'm the first true King of Noctem.