"... N-nothing." She lingered for a bit, and added, looking at the carpet of corpses. "Are you the one who did this?"
Zyro contemplated whether to be honest or not, in the end, he answered with a question.
"Who else?"
Scarlet stayed silent for a while, before sighing.
"You really are strange, I'll have you know. I feel an immense threat coming from you, but no presence of Marks. As if you don't have one, like any other average person. It's odd, does your relic perhaps conceal your true presence?"
Needless to say, he doesn't possess such mystical items bestowed by Marks of power. The aura of a normal person on him was genuine, but the danger she felt from him was likely due to sheer intuition or warning of her soul. Unmarked as he may be, his still an existence capable of spreading fear.
Speaking of relics, Zyro asked out of curiosity.
"Let's just say we all have our own secret... Say, you have a relic, don't you?"
Amused by how he intentionally misdirected the subject. She smiled.
"Yes, I do. But as you have probably noticed by now, my relic has no practical use."
"Show me."
Her smile widened.
"By your words, we all have our own secrets-"
"Show me." Zyro persistently demanded, staring at her blankly.
For a while, both were stuck in a stalemate. Eventually, Scarlet sighed.
"I guess you deserve to know, for what you done."
True, he slayed over a hunder foes for the princess, after all. A compensation of this degree is only right. However, Zyro's shameless side strike, driving him to ask for more.
"I think I deserve more though."
Scarlet was speechless for a moment, before chuckling.
"Oh my, do you want a kiss too?"
"No thanks."
Zyro replied without hesitation. He fathom her teasing words had deeper meaning, implying that her current state unable her to reward him anything. However, offering him a kiss suggest the value of what she owe. Which is probably quite a lot of things.
She rolled her eyes, mumbling.
"Good then, you already taken something really precious from me. It would be too shameless of you to-."
"What do you mean?" Zyro cut her short.
"Nothing, forget about it." Scarlet quickly replied. Before raising her hand at chest level in an elegant pose, as if holding a fancy cup of wine. Suddenly, a glass chalice manifested on her hand, full of tantalizing crimson liquid. It looked exactly like a glass of wine, but gave off an air of unnaturalness.
The instant he saw it, Zyro was immediately allured to taste it's sweet content. Fortunately, his mental fortitude aren't easily breached. His only felt inclined to drink it, but doesn't mean he should do it.
"It may seem desirable, but I suggest you refrain from drinking it's poison."
Zyro raised an eyebrow, reassessing Scarlet character. Relics are embodiment of their owners, it reflects the wielders themselves. However, her poisoned chalice didn't fit the elegant princess he knew.
Was she pretending this whole time? assuming a considerate demeanor, with graceful appearance of lost princess. But was actually an black hearted lady with venom in her veins?
She calmly spin the liquid within, watching it with distant gaze. "You're probably thinking I'm a wicked person deep down. Don't misunderstand, Zyro. Although it's poisonous, that just for my enemies. Dad ones made me give him a sip of it, I was worried my relic might harm him. However, instead of poisoning him, it healed his fatigue. He even said it tasted really good." She faced Zyro, saying with pride.
"I'm a cure to my people, but a poison to my enemies." Scarlet then gently offered him a drink.
If that chalice of wine can truly lessen his fatigue, Zyro would be up and running by now. However, trust isn't something he can easily give away.
"Why don't you drink it first?"
Scarlet blinked a couple of times. She unconsciously thought for a moment, before mumbling in low voice. Her pale checks suddenly glowing red.
"I can't, if I do that, we'll be completing the ritual."
Whatever that ritual may be, Zyro didn't care. For him, she's just making random excuses.
'Maybe she really wants to poison me.' he thought.
Under Zyro's uncaring and dubious gaze, Scarlet reluctantly dropped her conflicted emotions within her and took a sip of wine. And offered the chalice to him once again.
"Do you believe me now, it's not poison."
He can at least trust actions shown in front of him. Zyro took the wine, studied it for a moment before drinking. As he did, he said.
"I guess. But what's with that look?"
Scarlet had a strange expression, as if she's doing something she should not have. But still did it, and was now suffering it's consequences. Unbeknownst to him, she's internally freaking out.
However, as a royal of honorable origins. Scarlet quickly composed herself, saying with calm grace.
"I really glad you didn't know. As for what it is, it's nothing you should be concerned about. It's merely an etiquette of vampires we indirectly fulfill."
From the looks of it, whatever they unknowingly done. Scarlet didn't want to talk about it. So, Zyro didn't press on the matter.
Instead, he continue drinking from the chalice. He could feel his energy raising with every sip he made. Eventually restoring him stamina to its former glory by the time the last drop of wine fell into his mouth.
At some point in time of his respite, Pert and Baron meet them with delight and fright. Delighted, because Zyro and the princess was alive. Back then, when they're left by Scarlet to face the assassins. The two was ordered to keep running and wait for all of this to pass in darkness. However, after hesitating for a long relatively time, Pert turned back, deciding to follow them into a bloody battle. The pact he made with the Fallen Knight are not empty words, he promised to aid him in exchange for helping his escape Foggy Ring. And Zyro had chosen the way Scarlet offered. If they somehow survive this ordeal and escort her home, the two of them would be free to go to the Kingdom of Strays. However, the possibility of prevailing against the assassins were slim. Still, Pert came running to them despite knowing that, even though his just a kid.
As for Baron, seeing a kid courageously charge into battle at such a young age. He simply can't be an old coward and followed along. Taking it upon himself to die bravely instead of rotting as a slave.
However, what they face were not dreadful enemies. But the frightful sight of numerous lifeless assassins, paving the path ahead.
With the assassins gone, they are safe to return to the Mine. After a while of respite, Zyro were able to walk again. They made their way over the corpses with varying expressions, except the slaughterer himself, who's completely unfazed. By now, the deadly mist of [Fog Spray] was gone, consumed by the diseased assassins. Making it safe for them to cross the horrid path.
Coming back wasn't as simple though, because a massacre of this scale won't go unnoticed. Especially knowing that there are numerous laborers working further down, which will obviously come up sooner or later. Leading them to inevitably witness this horrid scene of Zyro's slaughter.
Disposing the evidence is not possible either with just the four of them. All they could do now is pretend that this had nothing to do with with. However, due to the blood all over him, it's easier said than done. Scarlet, Pert and Baron were not tainted by the gruesome battle because Zyro had bear it all.
Resulting him to lose another set of garments. Although, his clothes are rags and has no worth whatsoever. Zyro still valued it for he had weaved it himself. It's pinch his heart to throw another one of his hand-made clothes. Furthermore, he doesn't have enough silks anymore.
Left with no choice, the three return first. Leaving Zyro alone in the dark caverns. Zyro made sure no one is around, before stripping the blood dyed rags and revealing the Shroud of Night beneath. Cast in dark steel, it covered his foot to neck in a slim fashion. The metallic designs rolled all over him, like muscles of his own made of black steel. His cybernetic suit was part of stealth edition, prioritizing elusiveness over strength. Making it the most slender armor, slim enough to be hidden under heavy clothing.
Looking at his armoured body, Zyro recalled the last time he didn't hide his suit. He was chased by the Gricks army back then and barely survived.
'I wonder... Can I beat them now?'
Not like his looking for a fight. Although, the Gricks didn't trouble him lately, their threat are still lingering around him. Considering they never stopped searching for the Fallen Knight, suggest how much enmity they hold against Zyro. If ever his real identity was revealed as the Fallen Knight, no disguise could save him anymore and there will be chaos.
'They are free to take my life if my mission are done. But until then, I don't mind turning the entirety of Foggy Ring mad.'
He then heads to an underground pool, where natural water accumulated over the years in this certain area of the cave.
These places are usually used as water sources for drinking, while some unruly miners occasionally bathe in. However, those who did that are beaten to death. There are many examples, so almost no one dares soiled these waters.
There, Zyro washed-off the blood on his clothes and body, not caring about the rules. Before waiting for it to dry and return to higher levels.
On the way, Zyro keep thinking about the Gricks. Eventually, he asked Aizra after a bit of hesitation.
'How likely for the Gricks to come after this?'
Aizra monotone, yet feminine voice respond immediately.
[88.55%]
Zyro can't help but smirked.
"That's pretty high."