After releasing this monster, Dr. Voss was nowhere to be seen again.
As the chaos unfolded in the Great Hall, the creature, a grotesque manifestation of Dr. Voss's failed experiments, charged towards the trio. Panic erupted among the nobles, and the guards scrambled to regain control, but Lysander felt a rush of adrenaline wash over him. In that moment, he was ready to act, heedless of the potential consequences.
"Hey! Big fat meat, you look mouth watering!" Lysander shouted, his voice breaking through the din of screams and clattering armor. With a reckless grin revealing itself on his face, he readied his fists, pointing them defiantly at the monster. Well since they were chained, his hands weren't loose.
"You think mere food can scare me? You've got another thing coming!"
Just as he readied himself to jump at the creature's direction, Seraphina stepped forward, her presence commanding the attention of all in the hall.
"Stop!" she called out, her voice strong and clear, cutting through the chaos like a beacon. The creature paused, its monstrous form wavering as it turned to face her.
"Lysander!" Seraphina's gaze locked onto his, filled with a blend of exasperation and concern. "This is not the time for bravado. We must handle this with wisdom, not recklessness."
Lysander's bravado faltered for a moment, but the creature lunged forward again, and he knew he had to act. "I know you are supposed to be the Queen and all that, but as long as these chains are on my hands. Don't you think this monster will just eat us all if we don't act?" he countered, eyes wide with determination. "We can't just stand here!"
Seraphina, embodying the benevolence that had guided her for two centuries, raised her hand. "I will not allow harm to come to my people nor to those who seek to protect them," she declared, her voice resonating with authority.
"We must find a way to resolve this without further bloodshed."
Before she could talk any further, a figure emerged from the floor. It was the Spymaster, in a dark cloak covering their whole complexion. Nobody knew how they looked, and upon their arrival they gestured the Queen to talk together in private.
With a calm demeanor, she turned her attention to the Spymaster, her eyes softening. "You are here already, let's head to my… " she spoke gently, her voice carrying a soothing cadence. She glanced at Lysander's direction and they got locked in a gaze, and she could feel that his gaze had nothing impure. "…You know what, anything you need to say you can just say it in front of these three."
The Spymaster was confused as to why the Queen is reacting in this manner, but they thought it was fine as long as the Queen ordered it.
"Your Majesty, many Islands close to us are complaining. They're saying that people from their islands have gone missing, and they're most likely to be found here."
"How can that be? I thought the only people we didn't know about were his corsair crew," Seraphina said so after pointing at Eron's direction.
"Yes, while that was the case. We have to consider the fact that it can be someone from this island who does not live with anyone else," The Spymaster concluded.
"You guys clearly don't see that all of this is that Insan's doing?" Orion stated that without his expression changing from seriousness at all.
"That is a huge claim Orion, but you're quite famous in Bloem for your cunning. Do you mind filling us in on how you came to this conclusion?" The Spymaster asked.
"Okay, for starters… the guy is a doctor, but I have never heard someone say they've been treated by him. Secondly, where is he located? I can swear that I have never seen him before, and last but not least… he wanted to take Lys and I as potential experiment."
Queen Seraphina could be seen deep in thought, "Yes he is a doctor, but he is a government doctor. Those kind never tend to treat every person they meet. He is supposed to have a lair deep within the forest, that's where he spends most of his days. The third one, do you seriously think humans are his experiment?" The Spymaster was dumbfounded by the way Orion carelessly said shocking stuff but he was unmoved.
"That is by far understandable, since I know nothing about government officials. And you're saying his lair is situated in the depths of Forest Nercia? The very same forest that is crawling with monsters even scarier than this one? Come on… whoever you are,"
Orion then shifted his attention towards the creature, "Can't nobody else see that whenever we are talking something that can only be understood by humans, this creature doesn't move a muscle?"
'Hmm, I see. That is why the people of Bloem hate this kid, I mean with that kind of mentality… he can easily scam everyone coinless. How interesting, Orion.' The Spymaster thought to themselves.
Everybody in the court was shocked breathless, and they all turned around to look at the creature. And sweat started to drop from its head, seeing as so many gazes were locked onto it at once.
"Yep, that looks like some monsters in the forest doesn't it Ori? But, this one seems to be hesitant in attacking us when compared to those fierce ones in the forest." Lysander broke the silence.
Orion started to stroke his chin, "I think there is something big we are missing here, but for now… we need to test if this creature is truly a human transfigured."
As Lysander was getting ready to go at the direction of the creature again, the Queen once more asked him to stop. She got off the throne, and wanted to go to the creature and see for herself.
With a calm demeanor, she turned her attention to the creature, her eyes softening. "You are not a monster," she spoke gently, her voice carrying a soothing cadence. "You were once human, and I believe there is still a part of you that can be reached."
The creature hesitated, its growls softening as it regarded Seraphina. She stepped closer, the aura of her compassion enveloping the hall like a warm blanket, defusing the tension. "You are a victim of ambition gone wrong, just as these young men are victims of circumstance. Let us find a way to heal the wounds inflicted upon you."
Meanwhile, Lysander, still caught up in his impulsive nature, seized the moment. " If it was human, then it will not mind of we tickle it, right?" he suggested, half-jokingly, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I mean, it looks like it could use a good laugh, right?"
Seraphina shot him a look that was part disbelief, part amusement. "Lysander, I appreciate your spirit, but we need to approach this with care, not frivolity," she said, a hint of a smile breaking through her stern facade.
But Lysander, who was unfazed, took a few bold steps toward the creature, raising his hands as if to demonstrate his intention to engage it.
"Okay, okay! Just hear me out!" He paused dramatically, gathering everyone's attention. "How about we make it a game? If it can catch me, I'll let it eat me! But if I dodge, it has to let us go!"
The people present in the court gasped except for Orion, they were all horrified by his suggestion, while Seraphina covered her face with her hand, torn between frustration and admiration for his audacity.
"This is not a game, Lysander!" she exclaimed, but her voice was laced with a reluctant edge of laughter.
The creature, sensing the shift in energy, began to regard Lysander with a mix of confusion and curiosity. It tilted its head, as if trying to understand this strange human who dared to challenge it with humor rather than fear.
"Seriously, though!" Lysander continued, emboldened by the creature's response. "What do you say? You show us you're fast, and maybe we can find a way to help you! But if you can't catch me, we all get to leave in peace!"
Seraphina watched in disbelief as Lysander spun around, ready to dash away. "Lysander, wait—!" she called, but it was too late. He took off, darting toward the far end of the hall, laughing as he led the creature on a wild chase. And the creature was gone as well, it was engaged in a battle of speed with Lysander.
If the nobles were here, they would be torn between shock and amusement, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the Great Hall shifted from fear to a bizarre spectacle of chaos and… childishness??Seraphina, recognizing the opportunity, seized the moment to rally the guards, urging them to prepare to assist Lysander in finding a resolution.
Suddenly Lysander came to an abrupt hault, and everyone was surprised once more as the laughter died in the room. The only one laughing was Lysander, of course. "It's true that you were once human, but I promise you I will help you."
"And you realize that comes at a cost of assaulting a government official, don't you?" The Spymaster asked.
"And why should I care, I will become a Crownbearer! Everyone must trust my judgment." Lysander replied to the Spymaster without even a hint of hesitation.