Saya Asclepius PoV
I watched as the class entered the Widows Crypt dungeon and left me behind as per my request. I wouldn't like to interfere with their field trip due to the fact I could easily slay S-class mana beasts. Those E-class beasts might as well be small ants in comparison.
I waited outside, sitting on a huge boulder as I watched the clouds blow-by. The wind blew by brushing my hair against my face as I tucked a few strands behind my ear.
'Should I write a note?' I thought to myself about how to say goodbye to Arthur. It was already too late to say anything to him in person.
The moment he entered the dungeon was the last time I would see him for a long while. I release a big sigh in disappointment. 'Why couldn't I just muster the courage to say a proper goodbye to him.'
A flurry of emotions raised in my heart as a jolt of pain went through it. I never imagined things would turn out like this. Staring blankly at the cloudy sky I reminisced over our time together. My time with Arthur.
I had teased him and spent all day with him but here I am, an asura, too afraid to say goodbye to someone I genuinely enjoy being around. Was it just comfort that I found with him? Or was it something else entirely? Part of me hopes the plan will fail. If I could ignore orders and stop Arthur from absorbing that feather, maybe run away with him somewhere and ignore this whole mess.
It would just be us... 'ha-ha- what am I thinking, this is what I was born to do. Ever since I received that initial message my entire life was destined to bring them back.'
Serve the Lost Prince, Lord Mordain Asclepius. After finding and preparing the vessel, I am to be turned into the asuras for treason and to be executed. I smile to myself as I sit there out in front of the dungeon. Here I am sacrificing myself to take all the attention off Arthur.
I keep a straight face as I soon feel a strong overwhelming presence. I look up and find a man with platinum-blond hair and galaxy-like eyes staring down at my pathetic self.
"Hello Windsom," I greeted Kezess's loyal dog as I stood up from the boulder, gently removing any dust that stuck to me.
"I assume you know why I am here?" Windsom asks in a calm but authoritative manner. His stone-cold gaze stayed firm at me, unwavering as he continued to look at me. No, In every way he was looking down on me. Like I was some mere insect that he could squash under his heels at any given moment.
He hasn't even bothered to be in a battle-ready stance in any possible case that I decided to fight back. He simply looked down at my short stature with both arms tucked behind his back.
It didn't take a genius to understand the situation. One look was enough to realize the difference in power between us. Even if I struggled I would've met with the same fate.
"Yeah, let's just get this over with," I said lifting my arms so he can easily place the mana-suppressing handcuffs on each wrist. When each cuff was locked into place it began to glow with a dim white aura surrounding the cuffs.
I felt my mana slow down to a near stop. My body began to feel numb with the little amount of mana circulating to supplement my body. These cuffs were designed to only allow enough mana to flow to keep an asura alive, if they tried to use any mana they would lose bodily function without any mana to keep them moving.
After putting on the mana suppression cuffs he took a step back as he put some distance between us and took out a scroll from his dimensional ring. Opening the scroll with golden engravings he spoke,
"After consideration, the leaders of the great eight have voted for your immediate execution. The Dragons, the Basilisk, the Titan, the Pantheon, and even the Phoenix. With a majority vote, you are to be brought back to Epheotus as a prisoner until your imminent execution." Windsom announced in a monotone as he closed the scroll with a click, revealing the names of all the clans that voted for my execution.
There was no need to retort. I nodded in understanding as he continued to speak.
"To prevent further delay I will bring you to the capital of Epheotus immediately."
He walked over to me, arriving just in front of my face. He placed his hand on my shoulder as he teleported both of us to the land of the asuras, Euphotus.
The teleportation was instant as we both were no longer in the Beast Glades of Dicathen, but now on the land of Epheotus. It's been quite a while since I had last been here, nothing had changed since I had left tho.
The landscape was vastly different from that of the dicathen. We stood on a paved path with hundreds of cherry blossoms on either side, their petals flying in the air as they dyed the whole area pink. The air was brisk and a few rays of sunlight made their way to the pavement amidst the entangled branches of the trees.
Windsom motioned for me to walk by his side as we started walking side by side. The walk was comfortably silent. All the while I could think of only one thing... or rather one person..?
We soon reached the bridge that led to Indrath's castle. Two dragon statues were present in the front. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I felt someone watching me.
'Must be the gatekeepers.' I thought to myself.
We soon arrived in the hallways as we continued our way to our destination. I was surrounded by a giant crowd of asuras of every race staring at me. Some looked confused, while some were disgusted. I ignored their looks as I was brought far away from the crowd.
We walked through the empty hallways as we approached the doors that led to the meeting place of leaders of all great eight. The double doors opened by themselves as a surge of energy washed up from inside like a tsunami. Just their presence alone was enough to make me feel like this. Windsom nudged me by the arm as I walked inside.
Strangely enough, no one else was allowed to enter, there were no guards within a few hundred feet of this building,
'Strange, what were they planning on doing that required them to place no guards? Are they trying to remove any possible witnesses?'
Inside the building, I saw eight figures each sitting on a throne of some kind. Some are more decorated and expensive than others. It generally matched the leader's personality.
Over to the far right was the new leader of the Basilisks, meant to replace Agrona and his Vritra clan. Just looking at them they were the embodiment of greed. Their throne and their clothes all looked expensive, acting all high and mighty even though their clan only gained the position of the Great Eight because the more qualified clans couldn't.
In the front and center were the Indrath and Asclepius clans. Kezess Indrath and the wretched man himself.
The entire room was silent for a few moments with each leader looking at me with various looks, looks of disgust, anger, and even pity. Their emotions were clear to anyone in the room.
The first one to break the silence was Lord Indrath himself, "Thank you Windsom for bringing her here."
Wisdom bowed down to Lord Kezess before saying, "it is an honor, my lord." It nearly made me gag thinking that such respect for this man could be possible. My obvious disgust towards him was visible as I felt a frown form on my face myself.
Kezess Indrath continued what he was saying, "Saya Asclepius, as you have been told by Windsom, we have decided for you to be executed for your actions of treachery against the great 8" I stood there listening to this go exactly as I had been told it would go.
"However there still is a way for you to avoid execution-" he continued. I was shocked to hear him continue his sentence, he isn't the type of person to offer a way for criminals to redeem themselves. I listen in to try and see what he is planning.
"If you simply tell us who you planned to make into the vessel, we will overlook your crimes and you can return to a normal life- with some supervision of course," Kezess explains.
His goal was to stop the entire plan in its tracks by killing the vessel.
"We already know they are a lesser attending the Xyrus Academy, if you tell us it will spare not only us from having to search for them but also spare you from your demise," Kezess explains while resting his chin on his hand. I grit my teeth in anger, there will be nothing stopping them from wiping out all of the students in Xyrus academy just to end this problem.
"I refuse to take your offer, feel free to execute me right here and now," I replied with an unfaltering conviction.
"You have made your choice." He looks over to Windsom, "Take her to her cell so she can wait there for the day of her execution."
"Yea, my lord," Wisdom said as he began to escort me out of the room, the entire way out I could feel the sharp stare of the Asclepius clan leader locked on me.
Upon leaving the building Windsom led me away from any civilization and brought me down to the dungeons where they kept prisoners before their execution.
Wisdom along with a few other soldiers under his command brought me to my cell. It was less than adequate for someone like me, the entire cell was a mess with the bed broken in half from the person kept here previously. The floor was covered in a thick layer of dust beside a few footprints.
I was shoved into the dirty cell with the door closing behind me. The guards following Windsom soon left, leaving just me and Windsom who was standing on the other side of the cell door.
"Are you happy with your decision?" He asked me as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"Of course, I am," I responded without looking back at him. I sit down on one of the chairs in the cell.
"I'm sure you understand how much you have angered him-" Wisdom continues.
"Why do you even bother talking to me, I already chose my fate," I cut in.
"Because after several years of serving Lord Kezess I have learned a few things about the other clan heads. Specifically the clan leader of the Asclepius clan." He answers.
"What would that matter in any of this," I asked, not trying to hide the unbridled annoyance in my tone.
"Because I know the Asclepius clan leader is an unforgiving man, someone unwilling to forgive someone of his own blood. That includes you too," Windsom states,
"Just because you are his granddaughter doesn't mean you will have any mercy for your actions. So rest well before your final moments in this world."
He said those words and left leaving only the echo of his steps. I slumped against the chair as I closed my eyes. The fatigue from the suppression of my mana kicked in as I felt my consciousness fade away. The last thing I remember was feeling a stray tear falling from my closed eyes onto my cheek as I felt myself fall into the warm embrace of sleep.