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| General POV |
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In Kael's quarters,
"There's something strange going on here."
Kael was seated on one side of the table, focusing on the red-clothed box at its center.
[It looks like we have sixteen finalists who will proceed to the next level of the tournament. Make sure to place your votes on who you think will win. We are closing voting soon. Good luck to all of you! And good nig—]
Crash!
Deep inside Kael's television set, a shard of glass lodged itself, shattering the screen. The holographic projection of Arsol's final remark for the day disappeared along with his voice.
"Son-of-a-bitch!" Kael yelled, standing up from his seat.
His hand shot out before he even realized what he was doing. The sound of metal clashing against metal rang throughout the room as he smashed the screen over and over again until it shattered completely.
The silence that fell after he finished breaking the last piece of the broken screen felt awkward.
His mind reeled, trying to figure out what he should say or do. He wanted to lash out, but he couldn't. Instead, he found himself kneeling down by the broken shards of the TV, picking them up and throwing each one onto the floor.
"What the hell was I planning? Why can't I remember why his face makes me so mad?! Why does everything look so different?!" Kael asked no one in particular, still fuming.
Kael's hands were shaking uncontrollably. His breathing was ragged. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He repeatedly slammed his fists against the floor, cursing everyone involved in whatever game they were playing here.
Then suddenly, the door opened.
Kael didn't realize he had been yelling until the sound of his own voice echoed through the room.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw the king standing in front of him.
"It would seem we're having some trouble, aren't we?" King Zephyr said it calmly, walking past him without a second glance.
Kael stared at him, dumbfounded.
'What is he talking about?'
Zephyr turned back toward Kael, his expression hardening. "I'm afraid your incompetence has cost us this round, dear friend."
Before Kael knew what was happening, the King grabbed Kael's throat.
"Don't make me regret giving you the chance to prove yourself worthy, Kael! I could rid you of your remaining lifespan if I wanted to, just with a single touch while my ability is activated."
With those words, Zephyr yanked Kael to his feet and pushed him back against the wall.
Kael tried to speak, but his airway had become constricted. His eyes widened as panic began to overtake him.
"Sire, please... let me explain..."
"Explain what exactly?! That your hunch was a mistake?! That you forgot to state who the girl you were tracking was before your memory of that moment was mysteriously wiped?!" Zephyr roared, tightening his grip on Kael's neck.
Kael gasped for breath, his vision blurring.
"You said you would bring me a slave with an incredible mana reserve! Someone who could offer me an advantage for centuries! You said you'd find someone capable enough to be a pawn for my pleasure and fuel for my longevity!"
"Yes!" Kael shouted back between breaths.
"And yet you failed miserably!" Zephyr growled. "Instead, you brought me nothing but a sorry excuse of 'selective amnesia'?! What did you do during those moments you were gone at the show?!"
Kael shook his head. He wasn't able to answer. He only knew he needed to keep his cool if he wanted to live another minute.
"That's right. Nothing. Because there is nothing worth remembering! Not since you've been gone! It feels like half the people in this damn palace are useless! They don't know how to fight! How to play their parts! And now, thanks to you, I have lost my best bet!"
Kael was now gasping for air.
"My only hope for ending this tournament before that host or his crew gain more credibility than I do is to find a flaw! I need to eliminate everyone who could potentially undermine my plan! Do you know how hard it is to smile at my subjects when all I want are obedient yet remarkable slaves to feed my youth?! To watch them die serving their king until they are no longer useful to me?!"
"No, I don't," Kael whispered through gritted teeth.
Zephyr released Kael and shoved him away. Kael stumbled backward, falling to his knees and coughing violently.
He looked up into the king's cold blue gaze, which seemed to bore straight through him.
"I just... I don't understand what went wrong, sire! All of my research pointed to a certain girl in my vision, yet those I had sent, along with a few others, had all vanished into thin air."
The king looked confused.
"What do you mean, vanish? Did they not tell you where they'd gone?"
"They were supposed to go after who I had marked. Only they never showed up again."
"It would seem that since you're not in the right state of mind at the moment, I'll have to contact a certain someone who can take care of this situation," Zephyr replied, turning around to leave the room.
"Wait, wait, wait! Not him! Please, sire, hear me out!" Kael pleaded, scrambling to his feet.
King Zephyr abruptly halted and turned back toward Kael.
"Don't tell me you're scared of that sly commoner." The king stated it with a sneer. "I thought you had more guts than that."
Kael didn't reply. Instead, he stood silent while his thoughts raced.
The last thing he wanted was to have that psycho return to the palace. Especially considering everything else that has happened lately.
"Sire, Daine shouldn't—"
But Zephyr cut him off.
"If I remember correctly, he's not the one you need to fear, but me."
"Please, sire, give me another chance!" Kael begged. "Give me another chance to prove myself! Let me send out more spies, or better yet, allow me to search for the girl myself!"
King Zephyr crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh, so you're ready to put yourself out there instead of sending out spies?"
Kael nodded.
"Then it seems we have a deal," King Zephyr declared with a sly smirk. "For now, I'll need a new batch of expendable servants. Ones who won't question orders will serve as distractions for the real mission."
Kael bowed low.
"Of course, sire. Whatever you need."
The king chuckled darkly and turned around to leave the room once again.
Slam!
Kael cautiously walked towards the wrapped box that was still lying on his table from earlier.
"Now... what do I do with this?" He muttered to himself, staring down at the package.