They are all silent. The king walked back to his table. Sitting back down, he tapped his forefinger on the table. "How could you think that a demon was behind that explosion, General Adelman? We anticipated the possession by killing everyone who didn't act like themselves again after waking from a coma."
"Your Majesty, we did anticipate it in such a way. There must be families that don't want their dead sons, daughters, fathers, or loved ones to come back after living and hide the fact of bringing those people back to life." Adelman explained what might have happened. He thought about it all night and to the capital.
"You are right Adelman!" The king confirmed this. "I would also think twice about reporting my son or daughter who woke up after their death."
Even though the King is a person who cannot carry feelings in every matter that is decided. However, he was also a man, a husband, and a father.
Adelman clenched his fists. Adelman did not want to say. He hoped what he was thinking was wrong. He knew that Cyril was not part of the devil, because that must be wrong. However, reporting and anticipating what would happen was the right thing to do.
"I know of one person who died then woke up, Your Majesty."
The King paid attention immediately to Adelman. "Who?" he asked.
"You must know the knight that made the Crown Prince pay attention. He was previously reported dead. During the examination by the Doctors and healers, he suddenly came back to life!"
"And no one reported it to the palace?"
"His knight squad chief observed the young man for several days. Even asking questions that only the youth would know. He answered it because that's probably why a report wasn't filed with the chivalric watchdog body." Adelman added the possibilities of all the stories he heard.
"Then his death in the monster beast explosion a few days ago was a stroke of luck. We don't have to bother eliminating it ourselves." The King sounded greatly relieved.
Adelman was oddly annoyed to hear that. Adelman should also feel grateful if indeed Cyril has been possessed by a demon. Adelman quickly shook off all the bad feelings that came over him. He said whatever is happening now is for the peace of the kingdom.
"Your Majesty, I also fought with the cause of the explosion. He seemed to be doing experiments with the black beasts. We found a pile of black beasts of various kinds piled up, the carcass was missing its heart. My knowledge offers no clue as to what a black beast's heart is for, Your Majesty!"
The King again tapped his index finger on the table. This time a little longer than before. He seemed to be weighing and thinking wisely about who to ask for help.
"Do you think we will find something in the palace library?" asked the King.
"There must be a note in the palace library about this, Your Highness. Thus, I hope that you can order the academics to look for him immediately." Adelman made a suggestion.
"Okay! I will immediately order research on the history books that have a restricted section in the palace library."
Adelman was relieved to hear of the decision. He looked down again and thanked him. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty the King."
The king lifted the bell and the king's study door opened again. The palace butler entered and lowered his head waiting for orders. "Call the palace academics, and have them gather in the meeting room. There's something I'll order them directly!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The maid bowed and left immediately.
"I would love to invite you to lunch at the palace, General Adelman. However, it seems you want to hurry back to the Varden Fortress!"
What Adelman loved about the King was his wisdom. The king did not restrain Adelman in the least. Adelman lowered his head and took his leave. "I wish you long life, Your Majesty! I beg your pardon!"
"If I find anything. I will send a trusted knight to inform you!"
Information about obliges is too dangerous to pass on through magical messages. The demons were very sensitive to magic and they could intercept magic messages sent to the palace and change the actual contents of the messages to their advantage.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Adelman turned and left. The two knights who were his retinue followed Adelman from behind back.
"We're going back to the Varden Fortress now!"
"General, The Crown Prince's maid just came here!"
Adelman stopped in his tracks. He turned around. "Did the Crown Prince leave a message?" asked Adelman.
"He asked you to pay him a visit to the Crown Prince's palace."
Though Adelman wanted to mount his horse and ride out of the capital back to the Varden Fortress. He wanted to think about the possibility of Cyril. Only one reason that made Cyril free from accusations of demonic possession.
***
Adelman's arrival at Algis palace seldom happened. Adelman rarely went to the capital. As far as Algis can remember, he only heard the news from around Adelman a few times. And if it weren't for Cyril, Algis would never have thought it was worthwhile asking Adelman to visit him.
"Your Highness, General Adelman has come and is waiting in the living room!"
Algis quickly moved. He came out and with hasty steps toward the palace living room. Adelman sat there with two knights standing behind him.
"Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince--."
"No! Cut off the greetings and let's get to the point, General Adelman!" Algis could not wait to ask. "Are you sure that Cyril is dead?"
"Your Highness, we have searched the entire area to find him--." Adelman paused. It seemed that the general had something else to say. "Would you like to hear what happened?" asked Adelman.
"Of course! What happened, General?"
Adelman sat up straight. "He tried to escape injured the day after the attack. We tried to prevent him because it was dangerous, but he paralyzed us all with magic."
"Then how do you say that he has died!" Algis really couldn't believe this.
"At the time of the explosion we didn't kill all the black beasts that were charging at your highness. Most of them fled into the forest again and would usually attack each other or attack living things that came near. Cyril fled outside the fortress unprepared and he won't be able to face a magical beast with vicious instincts!"
Algis sat down limply. It feels very disappointing.
"Was the body found? Or the rest of it if there is?"
"Unfortunately, we did not find anything left of Cyril. Nothing!"
A glimmer of hope appeared in Algis' eyes. "What if he's still alive? He must still be alive!" said Algis excitedly.
Adelman looked at him expressionlessly. It seems that whichever of the news is likely to be true makes no difference to Adelman. "It's good that he's still alive, Your Majesty! Because then the mystery about the devil can be solved a little!"
"Devil?"
Algis doesn't understand the relationship between Cyril and the devil at all.
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty! We must hurry to get to the Varden Fortress before nightfall!"
Adelman stood up. Borneo who was at the door walked ahead of Adelman and his two accompanying knights and pointed the way out. Borneo returned to meet Algis to report Adelman's departure in the living room. Algis was still sitting silently thinking about the relationship between Cyril and the devil.
"They say if Cyril was alive he would give a hint about the devil? How could all this happen?" Algis asked Borneo a question.
Borneo bowed slightly before answering. "Forgive me, Your Highness. If I may remind you, General Adelman has previously told us about the process of infiltrating demons among us?"
Algis recalled the story again. "Revival after death!"
"That's right, Your Majesty. Fearish knight tells us that Cyril came back to life after he stopped breathing. It could be that there was a demon in his body now. Didn't he also gain the ability to see the future?"
"He said I punished him in the future! Is it because of this?" Algis thought again. "If that's true, isn't he guilty?" Now Algis sounded disappointed to himself.
"Your Highness, you shouldn't feel disappointed just for someone like him. You can find people of great ability as well."
In his heart, Algis added that it must be something close to the word impossible. "You're right, Borneo! All I have to think about is when this punishment ends!" Algis shook off the thought of Cyril now. Gotta get rid of it ASAP.
"You may not remember, Your Majesty, but there will soon be a hunting festival in Miscello! His Majesty the King will soon complete your sentence."
Algis comes to Miscello every year with his younger sister, Adelelain. He and Adelelain loved the place because of the friendliness and beauty of the land.
"I want to meet Adriana!" said Algis before leaving Borneo alone.