'If only we went to that place, then we'd recover a lot quicker compared to this terrible fitting saddle.'
'You know I can't bring them there, what would they think? Look at them, their eyes are filled with respect. Can't tarnish that now.'
'Yeah, yeah.'
While the soldiers were cheering that they were victorious and Thurin was thinking on how to use Augustinus to his fullest, Lucas was left thinking on the words their foxy friend had told them.
In the beginning both Thurin and Lucas made the obvious conclusion that the ruler of the Barbarians asked him to simply watch from the sidelines. That looked like the most logical choice.
Barbarians had long infiltrated their country and were keeping silent, simply gathering information and acting only when absolutely needed. Would the ruler of those ruthless barbarians join this group of spies? Or were they just here to visit Augustinus?
The guard that came as a messenger at the very beginning had a slave brand. Carian researched it, it was the brand the barbarians gave to their slaves.
'The Empire got that slave back through a trade that wasn't recorded, making Augustinus the prime target since that was his main business. We were wrong from the very beginning. We shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.'
'Well, to be fair, at the time, I don't think there were any other obvious targets, it's not often a high society prick visits another country in disguise.'
'Now that I think about it, they probably got their spies into the country through this trade. Nobody would suspect the slaves that got rescued as spies. Since a lot of villages were destroyed, you could probably make a bunch of good excuses as to why you don't have any family.'
Lucas was satisfied on one hand and felt terrible on the other hand. There were feelings in his heart that he had trouble dealing with. While the biggest issues with Augustinus were cleared up, saving them from an internal war, his own strength was a lot lower than he expected.
'So what do we do now? If the war started in the south, are we going to visit them and fight alongside our soldiers? I can probably convince the Senate to help us out. Or are we...'
'No, that would be foolish. Carian should manage that front. We need to improve our tactics again. We rely too much on our personal rune and the Dark Beam. We need more tools.'
As Lucas said indirectly, since stating it outright hurt him too much, his own personal trump card that he had long seen as a special weapon could be used against him. His last resort could become a suicide weapon. That feeling was terrible, his pride and joy that he worked so hard for was useless or even backfired in certain situations.
The last attack was something that he never expected, just like his aura boosted Grok's, the opposite was also true. His own aura had started to absorb and utilize Grok's to unleash his strongest attack to date. Still, that didn't mean that he would be that lucky every time.
'Perhaps if we look at it positively, the chances of this happening could be low.'
'Are you fucking kidding me? If that brute who can barely think can take control over our rune and aura, then any mage with half a brain can.'
'I still don't understand it, how did he use his own aura to absorb ours?'
'Nah, it didn't look like he absorbed it, it was more stealing the energy from our aura.'
'Why didn't the others use their aura to fight back then?'
'This was the first, I wouldn't count those stupid ass beasts as capable as a Rank 2 mage. It looks like our aura will only be useful against lower ranking opponents.'
'That can't be right, what's the point of having it then?'
'You tell me bud, I've already accepted that our rune can only be used on animals or ourselves. We should focus on new tactics. Then again, we're missing information.'
'We don't need better tactics, we need better equipment, like an artifact would be useful now.'
'Sure, go ask that old fart in the warehouse for some weapons. We're not going to find any artifacts down here.'
'Artifacts perhaps not, but we learned plenty from their spell structure, I think there's still more that we can learn.'
'Tch, you're naive, no way in hell will those scholars give us anything more useful. We should just take some time to focus on researching our spells.'
'Flying would be nice.', perhaps Lucas was tired as his thoughts jumped from one point to another, trying to respond to random impulsive ideas.
Lucas kept himself busy as he tried his best to plan ahead. At this point he couldn't predict if the other assassin would rush at him or retreat and request back up. Either way, he had to make sure to get out of harms way as soon as possible.
Thurin, who accompanied him had a light smile on his face the entire way back. "You did great Lucas, thank you, not only as the Emperor, but as a friend."
"What are you talking about? I would've done it if you weren't the Emperor.", Lucas said half jokingly.
"Now you're just lying. No need to sweet talk me, Carian already made that deal to give you everything you wanted. I'll help with whatever you need as well. Still, thanks for saying that."
"So he told you.", staring at the road in the far distance, Lucas wondered how this would impact their relationship, but he was taking it too seriously. Lucas was a stranger in these lands and needed something or someone to stay afloat. He just got lucky to meet Carian.
"Of course, can't have my close aides hiding secrets now, can I? Still, I do wonder how he's doing now."
"Probably cursing at me in his mind for leaving all the work to him.", Lucas smiled while Thurin chuckled slightly. "You might not be far off."
Traveling a bit in silence, Thurin opened the can of worms he had been keeping. "So, do we now hunt after the ruler of the barbarians? Go to war with them?"
Hearing Thurin talk about their next target, Lucas felt that he was missing something. Besides the fact that he didn't know anything about the barbarians or their hierarchy, he just felt that Augustinus was hinting at something.
"I feel that we're missing something.", instead of keeping it inside him, he spoke his worries out loud. Even if he was more worried about his combat capabilities, there was a nasty feeling poking him at the back of his mind.
"What should that be? I don't think there's anything left? We know everything."
"I can't think of any questions right now, but it just felt too easy."
"Hahaha, I know what you mean, Augustinus is a strange man. We went there, ready for battle and death, yet he gave us highly important information like it was nothing. All our worries are solved in an instant, so it only makes sense to be worried that you're missing something."
Hearing him laugh like old times made Lucas feel something. It was the same thing when he was down on the ground during his fight with Grok. It was clear enough for him to recognize even if he didn't like it all that much.
But Thurin was a friend. As someone who saw himself as a lone wolf with little to no friends, Thurin might be the only exception next to Asta and Elam. And even then, Asta was more a sparring partner. This would be the first person he cared for after his own deceased family.
It didn't take long before they arrived back at the castle, seeing that the beacon above was still shining brightly and there were no fires in the streets said enough about the tranquility present. Still, Lucas couldn't help but wonder about what they just experienced.
"Let's go see him, he's probably waiting for us.", Thurin said as he took the lead.
"You go ahead, I need a moment to gather my thoughts.", to which Thurin nodded, leaving Nero and a few of his men behind to aid Lucas in any need he might have.
"Don't take too long though, I want to talk to you about something important."
Waving him goodbye, he took some time to clear his mind, or so the soldiers around him though. Instead, he spread the willpower he recovered throughout the journey to check on his surroundings.
Seeing that everything was fine around him, he made a quick check with the other soldiers, making sure that not a single string was found anywhere. Scouring the entire castle and its surroundings, Lucas made certain that his absence didn't result in a trap. After being satisfied with his thorough check, he went to catch up with Thurin.
Lucas started to walk towards the throne room. Eventually the soldiers bid him farewell as he ventured forth alone. Standing in front of the big doors, the guards instantly let him inside. The place hadn't changed much, Thurin on his throne with Carian by his side. The only surprise was that Thurin's mother was also present. Perhaps she was glad to see her boy unharmed.
"Oh, looks who's here? It's your very good friend.", the queen said with a teasing smile towards Thurin, who just couldn't handle his mother's teasing, Carian smiled wide. Lucas stayed silent as he stared towards the queen.
Staring at her talking to her son in such a teasing manner, made lighting strike in Lucas's mind. Suddenly, he froze in place as his mind suddenly made connections that he had missed completely. The gears that had gathered dust and rust started to move again.
His hairs stood up as his skin got goosebumps, sweat formed on his forehead the moment he realized. Skipping a beat, his heart raced as his entire body shook.
Seeing such a stare, the former Queen smiled lightly. "I know I'm very pretty, but please don't stare like that, it's rude, you know?", her mannerisms and beauty would've enchanted anyone. "Although I guess it's time to stop playing."
She slowly bent down and grabbed Thurin's hand. Pulling him straight out of his throne she hugged him before standing behind Thurin and placing her fingernails around his throat. By the time Thurin realized his current predicament, it was already way too late. The Queen had complete control over the situation.
"Fuck, I should've thought it through, goddammit!", Lucas felt his hatred for himself. His aura already blooming once more. Although his aura was small since it hadn't recovered enough, it was still enough to send everyone on guard, except for a single person.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, such foul language from a Starborn such as yourself, how uncouth.", she gave him a light grin, which still looked extremely beautiful on her figure. Carian, who stood at the side was completely caught off guard.
"What's going on!?", he couldn't help but raise his voice, to which the Queen laughed. "Why don't you explain smart boy?"
"A high level client is someone who can rule a country, the Hidden Order who had trouble deciding who to follow and the Royal Guard that came as a messenger. All three clues point to someone of royalty, but specifically of the Empire."
Lucas felt like the most stupid bastard that lived in both the Underworld and the world above. How could he possibly miss such obvious clues? Even Augustinus was making a slight hint towards it.
'We're the biggest fucking idiot of all time! A clueless child would've figured it out! We should be quartered and hung! Incompetence of this level is madness! '
'Shut the fuck up!'
Already having enough to struggle with, Lucas didn't have the time to curse himself any longer, even if he so wanted to. Not too long ago he was peacefully thinking about what to do next, but fate was twisted in ways he loathed so much.
Carian still wasn't fully aware of what was going on, but it wasn't the time and place to talk about it.
"So I guess the barbarians don't have a king?", he said with anger seared into every word.
"Rightly so, you should've studied our customs a lot more, you know?", she said as she smiled wildly.
"Still, you think you stand a chance here? If you dare kill him, think you'll make it out alive?"
"Do you?", the Queen said with a light smile as the royal guards in the throne room threw their weapons away and raised their fists. They were all barbarians, there was even one Lucas recognized. He never even noticed their disguise, not thinking they would've gotten this deep into the castle.
Still, with the guards everywhere and the power the barbarians had, he still reached a new level through the second trial. He wasn't afraid of a fight.
"Yes.", Lucas said as he started to gather his mana, he had recovered quite a bit thanks to the crystal of Augustinus. Without it, he probably wouldn't have enough now. Perhaps even that was a move from that fox.
"Hahaha, well, knowing what you're capable off, that might not be a boast, but don't worry. I've not exposed myself just to fight, how barbaric would that be?", she said, the words laced with irony.
"Then what do you want?", Carian said as he was eyeing both the movements of the guards as the Queen.
"Well, considering the current circumstances, all I want is complete peace. Let us keep the lands we currently own and inhabit. I want a decree to stop all wars and ban together as partners to let both our countries flourish. In fact, I would go one step further to say we should come together and help each other in times of need."
Lucas didn't understand why she wanted something so convenient, yet it shouldn't come as a surprise, Lucas just wasn't educated enough. Carian on the other hand realized why she wanted this. Besides the barbarians in the south and the Empire, there were other countries around them, eyeing them like vultures.
"Quite a thing to say while threatening the life of our Emperor.", Carian said with a slightly angry tone.
"And my son, mind you. Although we don't share a bond by blood, family isn't determined by such a little detail. Besides, if I were to release him now, I doubt your hunting dog won't do anything he'll regret.", she said as she stared at Lucas.
Being insulted didn't get to him, he was already bashing himself enough as it was. He calmed his nerves and mana as he took a straight stance.
"You've eluded us and schemed this entire time for this? Why not come right out and say it. You wanted us to collapse and pick up the scraps.", anger was hidden in his tone, partially directed at her, but more so himself for not realizing it all this time.
"I shall be candid with you all, that was indeed our first plan. This war has been going on for far too long, we have suffered enough. Our homes and cities were burned to the ground multiple times. When Aurelian came into power, things just got worse. His speed of conquering our lands was hard to swallow. You would've done the same in my shoes, Starborn."
Her serious demeanor didn't reduce her magnificence in the slightest, but it did show how ruthless she was in her scheming. All her actions were the result of years of plotting, the amount of sacrifices she had to make weren't small.
"Still, times have changed. After keeping a close eye on you, I know that if you were to go to war with us, it would be like Aurelian came back from the grave to haunt us forevermore. Thus, I want to simply forbid any more bloodshed."
"What good would that do us? We can just trample you if needed.", Lucas said as he tried his hardest to stay calm. He didn't know whether his anger came from acknowledging his own incompetence or that Thurin's life was hanging to a thin thread.
"Let me remind you that you are not alone Starborn. We might not be able to kill you, but can the same be said for all the peasants plowing their field? Our army is standing ready to rush into the country and inflict as much damage as possible. You can kill us all, but don't think we'll go down without a fight."
"Lucas.", Carian said while shaking his head. This wasn't the time for heated arguments and igniting hatred towards each other. He was calm enough to see the path forward. He didn't like it, but it was the only out of this for him.
"Then in the power invested in me by the Emperor, I declare that we, The Aurelian Empire will not engage in war with the Kingdom of Elise. We shall be neighboring countries that will share trade, materials and forces in times of need. Peace shall rule over both lands for now and forever. War shall be a thing of the past, a horrible memory, as both countries embrace a future of rest."
As a Scholar he knew perfectly what to say in this kind of situation. With this declaration, all that he needed was the approval of the Emperor himself to make it true. Thurin nodded slightly, not to be pricked by the nails of his mother.
"Indeed, I agree. Of course, everything will be discussed later in detail, but no war or any kind of fight shall be waged between us."
Hearing that, the barbarians, or knights of the Kingdom of Elise walked towards the Queen to protect her the moment she let go of Thurin. "A promise made by the Emperor is a pact, I hope you still follow through on your promises like my dear husband did."
He slowly took a few steps forward before turning around to face his mother.
"I have but one question.", his voice was a bit quiet, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Go ahead honey, while that moment was a little intense, I truly don't want to see you suffer.", he couldn't explain why, but Thurin felt that she meant what she said.
"Did you do it? To him?", Thurin said as he stared at her eyes to make certain she wouldn't lie. She herself, instantly knew what he was talking about. Dampening her smile, she looked a bit towards the ground.
"I shall not keep secrets towards you anymore. I was not the one to kill him, but I was planning on it. It seems the Stars were ahead of me."
"I appreciate your honesty. Please leave."