The sergeant's tent was identical to all the others save for the fact that it had a few red fabric patches when Cedar opened the tent flap he was instantly hit by an empty alcohol bottle directly on the head and a string of words arrived to my ears.
"The fuck are you doing? coming Into your superior's quarters without knocking?"
I walked in and spoke.
"Well he had the permission of a more important person so be nice Mr Vex"
The sergeant looked to be in his early thirties he was jacked with dark blonde hair and light brown eyes he would be hot if not for the arrogant look on his face and slightly thick stuble that obviously had food or vomit through it.
The sergeant started laughing and spoke.
"Hahahaha fucking hell little prince I'm not scared of a 'royal' from a backwater micro-state smaller than my parents territory"
The level of stupidity this guy has I can't let this slide maybe if he hadn't insulted me on home turf I might have been nice but he had the gall to insult a prince's territory infront of him on said territory.
Taking a few steps forward I spoke.
"I'm a pretty relaxed royal but even an idiot like you should know just how stupid it is to insult even a minor noble in their territory"
Before he could reply I spoke.
"Imperial decree article 63 section E 'an army envoy except in the case of a person of direct royal descent is subject to the laws of the country they go to.
Declaration of Serothor the independent city state 'the nation of Serothor is to have an absoulute autocratic monarchy capable of making decisions on a case by case basis ignoring any legislation in place.
Do you know what that means sergeant Vex?"
then he began to speak.
"Like I said I'm not scared of a-"
As he was attempting to take a step forward he looked shocked and I smiled at the red threads around his ankles and wrists he looked angry then frustrated and for a moment I saw fear in his eyes.
I spoke while holding a demonic crystal and spoke.
"Aura won't work with this I was given this rare rock by the emperor I'm sure you know what that means right?"
His eyes bulged and he spoke.
"Serothor allows blood magic?"
I shook my head and spoke.
"Nope even royals are banned from it but I'm not using blood magic I'm a genius you see so I figured out a way to use this without any innocent blood being spilled but that isn't important right now"
I wasn't actually a magic genius that is Oz's job but I did know a few tricks from the books this one was around the end of the war arch it is possible to substitute aura for blood.
The demonic crystal only makes it impossible to activate aura if you activate it before hand it is easy to use it for as long as you can and for me I can keep my aura active for about half an hour with the crystal.
I started walking closer and spoke.
"I hate it when people look down on me but do you know what I hate more?"
He shook his head which was now only a few inches away from mine just far enough he can't headbutt me since he didn't have an answer I gave one.
"I hate it more when someone insults my home especially if that someone is a bitch who thinks his influence is worth more than water in a desert or more fitting in this situation who thinks he is more important than the air in his lungs"
I reached my hand out and spoke.
"Gust"
But instead of creating an air current instead I reversed the air flow so that all the air left the sergeant's lungs just enough.
The look of shock and realisation was all the praise I needed then I covered his mouth and pinched his nose so no air could go in or out and I spoke.
"Most people find it uncomfortable to hold their breath for more than 30 seconds it's like your body screams at you to breathe but what's worse is repeatedly being suffocated to just before the point of unconsciousness"
I let go and he breathed in but before he could speak I spoke again.
"Gust"
I held his mouth and nose like before and spoke,
"Uh ah not yet I'm not done, oxygen deprivation can cause consciousness loss within a minute and hypoxia caused by asphyxiation can lead to seizures, coma and death but someone good at it can make it one of the most painful things while keeping you alive and awake"
I let go and he breathed in but like the last time I spoke as soon as he had a air in his lungs and was about to breath out and I closed his mouth and nose again and began speaking.
"A humans natural response from lack of oxygen and too much carbon dioxide is to breath in and right about now I bet your getting pretty dizzy and your vision is bluring right? don't worry I won't let you go to sleep"
The process repeated itself several times and he started crying and he felt limp in my hands and I spoke.
"I'm not a monster who enjoys inflicting pain don't worry but next time you insult Serothor or ignore my authority I promise you that this little example will be like paradise compared to the things I will do to you got that?"
He nodded desperately and I let go and he was collapsed on the ground grasping for air then I noticed the other 5 people in the tent who all looked frightened.
Then I looked at Cedar and spoke.
"Gather all the lay soldiers and get every spare pairs of shoes you can find then put them infront of the main gate! you got that Cedar?"
He nodded and spoke.
"Yes your highness"
Cedar left then I looked at the sergeant and he spoke in a weak voice.
"What do you want?"
I smiled looked him directly in the eyes and spoke.
"Give me your shoes"