8 My Lord... (1/1)
”An interesting one you've brought back this time James.. he dealt with that tiger splendidly for someone without any training! I didn't believe you when you said he was a natural, I mean a natural talent for entering the Shadow Realm! Its something I've never seen in my entire three hundred years of guarding this leyline!” James, the old man who Lewis had been cursing for the last few hours - having been chased multiple times by both the mother and now the father of the tiger he'd killed, was standing next to a young man seated on a ancient throne, the young man himself gave off an ancient aura which made him feel inexplicably old despite his young exterior appearance.
”Tch, I wish I could go and teach the brat a lesson - see how he's been cursing me?! I told him to call me gramps, at least James would be nice but it's 'old-man this, old man that' I have a name you know!” He complained like a child to the man beside him, to anyone else the sight would be comedic - a man that looked well into his eighties was acting like a child in front of someone who barely had the physical appearance of a twenty year old.
”I don't like him..” Another voice echoed in the room as a shadowy figure appeared from the ground - her features gradually exposed as she rose out of the Shadow Realm. She was stunning, a beauty that could topple a government if she tried.. ”He has too much potential but also too much impatience, his entire being makes me feel fear as if he's a wolf in sheeps clothing.. and yet he's truly so weak, it's bizzare.” She said to the two straight faced, she showed a slight deference to James as she bowed her head at him before coming to the young man, ”I've completed my mission my Lord.” She said as she knelt on one knee towards the man.
He showed a dazzling smile, ”Well done! Splendid! I can move my plans ahead of time, James get the Light Assassins and Dark Assassins to assemble - you're the only one with a high enough reputation on both sides to command their respect, I expect them to assemble in this great hall by sunset today.” The man ordered in an authorative tone, ”Yes, King.” He said simply and fell into the shadows - his presence soon disappeared from the room as if it had never been there in the first place, instantly the man named King showed a cold smile to his other subordinate who remained in the room. The temperature instantly dropped to icy degrees, frost could be soon forming on the surface of the throne made of iron.
”Why.” He asked her, it wasn't a question no.. it was an order - this wasn't a order she could refuse either, a cold sweat dripped down her brow before being frozen by the icy grip that held her within its grasp, like a noose it tightened ever so slightly as she hesitated to answer.
”I SAID WHY?” This time he shouted, the entire room became filled with ice - half her body was instantly encased like an ice angel, her beautiful face long distorted into one of pain, panic and fear as she looked at the man before her... she knew the answer to his question, but she also knew he wouldn't like the answer..
”My Lord, I-” She was cut off by her mouth instantly freezing over, she was wracked with pain yet could do nothing in response but wince, even her tears turned to small ice shards that hit the floor and shattered. ”Just answer the question...” His eyes filled with killing intent - it was obvious to see that if she dared try and avoid the question he wouldn't hesitate to send her to Hell.. she shivered knowing that even if she was sent to Hell he'd see her soon after, she could never truly escape.. not from him. Never from him.
”Forget it...” He said, dropping the issue - he could see from her eyes the resolve she had not to answer his question, it was infuriating but he knew her character; if she didn't want to say it he had no way to force her, even the most violent of torture wouldn't work on this women who had a will as strong as steel when she set her mind on something, to have such a subordinate King could say was both a curse and blessing which he beared. ”I know you have doubts about this new recruit..” He began after a few minutes of silence, the ice had already completely disappeared and the room had become like it was before his outburst.
”But he has potential, and I won't be on this throne forever.. My time is coming to an end and I need an heir, this world can't go unprotected - specifically this point or else we're all doomed. Even my soul in the underworld would be dragged down with it and so would the trillions of souls of our dead ancestors who wish for a peaceful rest. I can't bear the consequences of such a thing happening and I know neither could you or James.. the other Knights simply fight each other for benefits and to gain power with no regard for the big picture.. honestly I want to just kill them all..” He paused for a second before recollecting his thoughts, ”But I can't..” He sighed - clear regret could be seen on his face, in an instant he seemed to have aged fifty years like a massive weight had been added to his shoulders - or the invisible weight that had always been there was finally rearing its ugly head.
”We need this childs powers.. but I won't ignore your advice, Lucy I order you to gather information on this child named Lewis. I've already checked and before the day James claims he found the boy there was no boy named Lewis in New York who matched the description of the man before us.. track down his origins and if they prove.. worrysome - eliminate him.” Killing intent sparked through her eyes as she heard the order, she was sure there was something wrong with him, she just had to find proof and the nagging feeling at the back of her head would disappear.. and so would that invisible pressure she felt when she looked at him.
”Yes My Lord.” She said and descended into the Shadow Realm in an instant, King waited a minute before he confirmed she was truly gone.. He sighed in relief, ”Finally.. Hahahah, young lad I hope you can prove to be the one I can entrust my life and the guardians before me's lifes work to, or else the lineage of Guardians will truly end with me and those Knights will fight each other to the death for power whilst the world crumbles around them..
Meanwhile Lewis had no idea that there was a potential kill order on his head, he was hiding in a tree from a group of tigers patroling the area - clearly looking for him like an organized gang.. he was speechless at the situation.