110 the first weapon (1/2)
The heart-warming moment was cut short when a loud crashing tear it apart. From their side, all could see the large golem made of dirt. On it, a dark-cloaked silhouette rapidly jumps inside the cracked tower, retrieving a light purple cast before returning on the golem head.
While the crowd was too shocked to react, they rapidly exit the academy, toward the forest.
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What slowed them to react was the king clutching his head after hearing Chione's trills. It may not be known for the others, but Alex knows that phoenix trills ward off the evil/ KNowing that something was wrong with the king, he immediately appears to his side. Raising the monarch head, to look in his eyes, he let the mental probe sink into the man subconscious, searching for the correct memory.
It didn't take long to found what he was searching for. While the king was examined by Alex, the queen, her, react.
”what are you lot waiting? They had taken away the princess!”
The surrounding soldiers snap back and immediately go after the two. As the Queen send a good part of the soldiers after them, before turning to Alex, who was still looking after the king, before taking him to the medical bay, followed with the queen and the headmaster.
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Laying him down on the bed, Chione land on the bedpost, letting fall three drops of clear tears in its mouth, open by Alex. The effect was immediate, the king complexion, that has rapidly turned to dead pale, return to a healthier shade, but still showing a trace of affliction.
Letting the healers take over, he takes a small distance from the bed, joining the worried queen and headmaster.
”What happens?” Ask her worried.
”Someone has killed the king, and made his return as a living corpse by the mean of a ring sporting a large purple gemstone.” Answer grimly Alex, making the two other gasp, before they hear the old man.
”The Andvari ring!”
”What!? but that would coincide with the rising of the water level's report...” Say the queen.
”What is that ring?” Ask Alex, seemingly the only one to not know about it.
”It an old ring guarded by the water spirit of the Lagordian lake, it says to have the power to bring back the dead and alter the mind. If someone had killed the king and used the ring to bring him back and alter his mind, it would explain the situation.”
”Why killing him and bring him back after rather than directly altering his mind?”
”Because of magic flowing in the veins of the king, it easier to subvert the mind of commoner rather than noble because their magic offers them some protection against it.” Explain the old man, clutching his staff.
”Will he be alright?” Worried the queen, looking at her husband.
”He will, phoenix tear have the power to heal nearly any affliction, other than death. Since he was brought back by the ring, before the effect fade, he was considerate dying, the tear will heal him but he will some time to recover.”
”Thank the founder.”
The two could see the tension exit the queen, hearing that he would be alright.
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The group of soldiers sent after them would return four hours later without what had been taken or the suspect.
They were able to track it down until founding a large mont of dirt, resulting in the spell keeping the golem, fall apart. After the king awake, not long after the guard return, he was able to remember giving a private audience to the Valliere duke.
Says man had brought with him a black-draped stranger, who strikes him, leaving him to catch glimpse of the ring before he falls dead. Is memory between this and his waking into the infirmary was confused.
When men were sent to arrest the Duke, they found him dead in his chambers, only for Alex to catch a wisp of the same magic from the corpse than the king had given.
”This smell awfully like a plot destinated to take our attention elsewhere while someone had stolen the scepter de destruction off the vault, using the commotion that the ritual would have brought to hide the breaking in the vault.” Say the headmaster in his office at the group composed of Alex, the king, the queen, and viscount Wardes, captain of the griffin corps.
”Don't your majestic, I and my men will track down the thief!”
”WOuldn't it better to let me do it? It wouldn't be a good option that letting the king without the griffin corps captain as a guard while sending him and his men after a single thief, don't you think it a little overkill?”
”Overkill. I don't know the meaning of this name, put a peasant hadn't the right to speak to the king like that, less be in is presence!”
If he was trying to have a rise from Alex, he falls as he was only gratified with an eyebrow.
”Are you provoking me?” Cooly says, Alex.
”That I do! Not only you have murdered my future mother-in-law, but also render my fiancee unconscious by your wicked way!”
The man had immediately jumped from his position against the wall and shout while going for his sword. Before any in the room could move or say something, they saw him being raised high in the air, suffocating by the strong grip of Alex on his throat.
”By careful of what you say, old man, the bitch had it coming, no one strike at my familiar without paying at least an equal price. Do I also need to make you remember that the duchy of Valliere is actually under suspicion of lese-majesty? That I save the princess's life two times already and keeping her alive while just saving the king live, YOUR job and discovering attempts against the crown? What have you done the last day?”
Hearing nothing, he realizes the man, making him crumple on the floor while coughing harshly from his damaged throat. None of those present have said a word at the confrontation.
”Can you really do something about the thief?” Ask the king once Wardes has stopped.
”I can try and follow the trail left behind, it shouldn't be too hard.”
”Then, please do, retrieving the scepter of destruction should be the highest priority, if you can also arrest the thief, even better.”
Alex only nods, before exiting the room, catching the barely veiled anger in Warde's eyes in passing.
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Exiting the tower, he returns to the breached wall giving to the portion of the tower housing the vault. Taking his wand, the only thing he was gifted with when entering in this world, and a wrist motion later, blocks of stone elevate in the air, returning to their previous position, closing the huge hole.
Taking a light sniff, he could make the light perfume still lingering in the air, along with the earthly sent of the golem. Having a good hold on the sent, he blots out of the academy boundary, crossing a large patch of land in record time.
In little less than half an hour, he had already rejoined a large amount of dirt coming from the golem. Following the trail, he soon arrives at a wooden house hidden in a little glade. Processing cautiously.
”Revelio”
Not receiving any feedback, he enters, easily spotting the case. Opening it, he immediately recognizes what they call the scepter of destruction as a rocket launcher. Putting him and on it, he rapidly decomposes it.
With his previous knowledge, it didn't take long for him to discover the inner working of the weapons, along the rocket system. For now on, as long as he had the necessary material, he would be able to craft the weapon and munition as much as he like.
Looking around, he transfigures a chair into the previous weapon, inscribing a hidden rune on it to give it a more final form as transfiguration always reverts back. Closing the case back, he takes it with him.
The moment he exits the house, he feels the light breeze suddenly rising, and the similar sent than the golem.
He had enough time to jump on the side and stood to see the new golem fist crash into the wooden construct, blowing it off into bits. On it was the same covered thief that had to take the weapon from the academy.
”Miss Longueville.”
Hearing it identity already discover before even having the time for a second attack, the cloaked figure was startled, before bringing it hood back.
”How did you know it was me?” Ask her, more curious than furious to be caught red-handed.
”Your perfume, I have a sensitive nose.” Say him, lightly tapping a finger on it.
”I see.” Sighing, she ready for another attack when he once again caught her off guard.