Vestia takes the contract from my hands and begins to scan the page. After she's done, she looks at me with wide eyes and exclaims, "Great gods, this... this letter completely changes the election; this is huge." With a pained expression, I explain, "We got it from some berserker in the bar we were investigating; the man mentioned in the letter was him, Torsten. It would appear he was supposed to deal with people sniffing around about Samuel." Vestia looks at my foot again and says, "Guess he almost was successful." I frown, "Yeah, a little too close for comfort." Vestia tucks the contract into her pocket and says, "Alright, I will work with you since you have proven yourself capable, but before we do anything, let me see that wound."
I protest, "No, we should head to Samuel; it is almost time for him to give his rally speech at 12:00 p.m. We need to get over there before then." Vestia shakes her head, "We still have time; it is only 11:22 a.m. Now, hold still; this will only take a second." I thought she was going to pull out a medical kit or something else, but no, she only holds out her hand. She touches the leg with her right hand and begins to concentrate. I ask, "What are you doing?" She replies, "Hold still a moment, boy." Her hand begins to radiate energy; it is a small white light. My leg gets super hot, and I almost jerk away. I feel the pain in my leg get duller and duller before I no longer feel any pain in the leg, and I can walk on it just fine. That's impossible; this kind of magic can't exist, or at least, this kind of magic is extremely rare.
After healing my broken leg, Vestia looks up at me, "There, does that feel better?" She seems to notice my surprise and adds, "I was born with light magic, contrary to my family. I can heal wounds with my magic, but it takes a lot out of me. We don't have time to gawk though; let's hurry to the speech." I regain my composure, put pressure on my leg, and it appears like the bone is mended and properly placed back the way it was. I still can't believe she can heal; it is said that in a million people, only one person has the chance to be gifted with light magic. I thank her properly, "Right, thanks. Let's hurry to the town square." Vestia nods, and we speedwalk to the town square, which isn't that far from our current location.
In the square, people have already gathered around; there must be hundreds of people here to attend the speech. In the center of town, there is a giant statue of the god of fortune, Plutus, who stands over 7 feet tall; he is made of marble, holding a crown in his hand to the sky. A podium has been set up and is ready for Samuel to give his speech, which he will be starting shortly. We start discussing our strategy here before Samuel arrives to give his speech.
Vestia explains, "Listen, both of you, we need to get ready for anything. I will interrupt him when he is giving his speech. I have thought about what I wanted to say, and I will give my own speech. I am hoping to rally the crowd against Samuel, and with any luck, we can get the guards to respond. The guards always show up to rallies like these to control the crowds and provide security. Schemes that are on this level are serious; if this goes right, they will want to detain him."
Era responds, "What are you suggesting can go wrong?" Vestia frowns, "For one, this might not be enough evidence; he can dance around the truth with sly words. Two, we need to rally the crowd; if the crowd doesn't show outrage, we won't get anywhere. Lastly, he might have an ace up his sleeve; if all else fails, he might try to escape, just be ready." We both nod, and I suggest, "We will take care of stopping him should he make any stupid moves; that will be payback for my leg."
As we discuss this, a man appears at the podium. He stands tall with long, golden-blonde hair that flows down his back and eyes as blue as the ocean. Samuel has a white cloak on, and he looks regal, with a mature face and a gold watch around his neck. He appears to be a bit older than Vestia, in his mid-30s. He wears a high-collared, tailored suit with rich fabrics, indicating his affluence. The color palette consists of deep blues and blacks, highlighting his regal nature.
Samuel claps his hands together and says, "Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Veilstead, I stand before you today as a humble servant of progress and prosperity. Our beloved city has faced many challenges, and it is my solemn duty to lead us towards a brighter future. I've dedicated my life to the betterment of Veilstead, and I am committed to ensuring that every one of you, regardless of your station or background, shares in the city's success. In the days to come, you will witness the fruits of our labor, the culmination of years of tireless work and unwavering dedication. Our streets will be safer, our markets more vibrant, and our schools more accessible to all. Together, we will foster a spirit of unity and cooperation that transcends the challenges that have plagued us for far too long."
He sticks his hands to the sky, "One of these challenges takes form in the drugs that have run rampant in our streets. I offer you, the people of Veilstead, a solution: vote for me as your leader, as your mayor, and I will clean up these streets, I swear it to you."
Right as he seems like he is about to detail just how he will clean up the streets, Vestia calls out to him. Her voice booms as she yells out, "Samuel Blackwood, you speak of cleaning up our streets, but let us not forget who is responsible for this plague in the first place! It was your clandestine dealings that flooded our neighborhoods with these dangerous substances, all for your personal gain! Your hypocrisy knows no bounds!"
Murmurs ripple through the crowd as Vestia boldly accuses Samuel of his involvement in the very issue he now claims to combat. Gasps and shocked expressions spread like wildfire. Samuel, caught off guard, attempts to deny the claims, "Wh-what is this, Vestia? You dare interrupt my speech with this drivel? Guards, please, at once, stop this woman." Vestia ignores him, "Open your eyes! This man stands before you, promising change, but he is the root of our problems. We have evidence! I present to you a contract that tells of his shady dealings. Read it for yourselves, my fellow citizens!" She holds up the contract, and a few people gather around to read it for themselves; a few of them mutter. I hear whispers as the crowd begins to voice their rage at Samuel; they shout and voice their anger.
The damage has been done, and the citizens have decided to side with Vestia. The overall tide of public opinion begins to shift. Samuel is left sputtering and yelling back at Vestia, but he has very little hope to get out of this one. His face now red, he realizes his predicament, but after a few seconds, he calms down. This sudden change sends a chill down my spine; this might be the last resort that Vestia talked about. Samuel chuckles, "Okay, okay, I know when I am beaten." He points to a young-looking guard in the crowd, "Guard, I have committed a crime. Is it not your responsibility to arrest me?" The guard frowns; it seems he really wasn't expecting that response. He approaches Samuel.
I look at Vestia, "What is going on? He is being rather cooperative." Vestia frowns, "No idea. Maybe he realizes he has no hope of beating me now." I add, "Giving up so easily, though? I don't like it." I watch as Samuel holds out his hands, waiting for the officer to put chains on him and take him away. The young guard, with pure green eyes and black hair and a naive expression, brings out some metallic cuffs. He approaches Samuel.
However, in a sudden and unexpected move, Samuel moves with lightning speed. With a swift, fluid motion, he disarms the guard, relieving him of his sword. The guard's eyes widen in shock and fear as he stumbles backward, clutching his now-empty scabbard. Samuel holds the stolen sword menacingly, his eyes filled with a dangerous glint. He slashes the young guard right down the middle with his sword in one motion. The poor soul doesn't get to even utter a sound as Samuel snuffs out his young life with one swing.
He turns his blade toward Vestia and smiles dangerously, "You just couldn't help but interfere, girl. I just knew I should have killed you when I had the chance. Now you will have to die the hard way." He brings out a dark amulet out of his pocket; he smashes it in his hands, blood pouring as the amulet cuts his hand open. His eyes glow with an unholy light, and his demeanor transforms into one of ruthless determination.
As the amulet's magic courses through him, his muscles expand, and pure power radiates off his body. His body becomes enveloped in a dark aura, and his body seems to be almost humming in the daylight. With a sinister smile, he turns his malevolent gaze toward us. In that moment, every nerve in my body screams to run away, and I know that we just awakened something we shouldn't have. The man in front of us is beyond anything we had bargained for; he is an unimaginable threat that I had never anticipated.