Chapter 617 - My Sacrifice
Newest Chapter For Highest Tier (July 2021)
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Archdemon Empress Luna
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As she listened to all of her husband's honest complaints with an open mind and ears, Apollyon told her bluntly that she despised those Archdemon Familiars around her vicinity, hanging behind them like another set of insidious shadows, from sunrise until midnight.
Luna replied that they had no choice about this since it was the Goddess Hecate's command, and the binding rites were already done.
All she ever wanted was for Apollyon to compromise with their existence.
Surprised, Apollyon waved his hands in front of him in dismissal and explained that he wasn't blaming her for the situation at all, which made her exhale a breath of relief.
It turned out that he wasn't mad at her.
He thought it was the perfect time to voice his frustrations, advising her that it would be best for them not solely to rely on tricksters and find clues if they could.
She also honored Apollyon's wish to separate with the Archdemons for a while while they searched one floor to another.
Their group met at the staircase when they found nothing.
They returned to the room filled with gilded mirrors—the room where they found Princess Ourania with Caelano the first time.
She commanded Sloth and Ravin to break into the room with the use of Archdemon Magic.
As they searched for the paintings, they didn't find anything important that could have given them an indication of where to find the Garden of the Four Seasons.
All the black mirrors and self-portraits were removed from the walls as if they were ripped apart.
As if the culprit was in a hurry to hide them.
Checking the room for more pieces of evidence was futile.
Later, the four of them gathered outside to think about their next move.
They came across a servant, and Apollyon asked immediately, "Do you see Princess Ourania anywhere inside the Castle?"
The maid curtsied gracefully even while holding a rag in her hand, "She is practicing with her fiance, Sir Tristan, in dueling, Your Highnesses."
Sir Tristan?
That pathetic Knight who couldn't even stand a chance against Apollyon?
Luna frowned at the idea of Princess Ourania mastering the art of the sword despite the unique power she held.
Apollyon's mother can generate orange crystals around her, shaping them into whatever weapon she desired in that instant.
So, what was her aim?
Was she preparing for their confrontation now that she was back in the Summer Castle alive and well?
Did she want her to die and stay dead this time?
Maybe, this madwoman offered marriage to Sir Tristan so that she could bring this weak Knight to the Summer Courts without suspicion and train her in sword fighting.
Well, she picked the wrong person to be her instructor.
Sloth asked, "Who is this, Tristan?"
"A Knight from the Fall Courts."
Mayhap, this lowly Knight from the Fall Courts might be a skilled swordsman all along.
Only the male royalties and aristocrats, knights, warriors, sentinels and soldiers from the Fae Militia were heavily trained in this area, priding themselves on the suffering and discipline they went through.
Yet, training with strong and resilient metal weapons wasn't appealing to female Faes—especially the iron gladius—since, in their mind, their magic was enough.
Nowadays, swordsmanship was rarely used on the battlefield anymore.
Swordsmanship became an avenue to defend a woman's honor and dignity in a joust or a duel.
Fae Magic always ruled when two Faerie Realms fight.
So who was Princess Ourania defending up against?
Was she preparing for Luna's revenge the moment she finally comes to collect the debts?
Killing other creatures had no rules.
For the first time in a long while, Ravin looked at her seriously, which meant business. "You said we were looking for the paintings Princess Ourania made,? Amare. She is hiding that room housing her paintings in a special glamour that would take me longer to decode. However, I can learn how to crack which Magic she used and reverse it. or... I could kill this Sir Tristan to disturb the Summer Princess' mind and persuade her to tell us."
Sloth's lips curved upward. "Well, that escalated quickly."
"I just felt like it." Ravin brushed the silky dark brownish-black hair away from his golden eyes. "You seem to bristle when Princess Ourania's name was mentioned."
"She is Apollyon's mother, Ravin," Luna replied.
"That made me want to kill the woman who spawned the devil himself. Wouldn't you find it interesting?" Ravin stepped closer towards her, and her husband immediately blocked him, keeping their distance away from each other.
"Kill her, and I would never shed a tear over that madwoman who tried to kill my wife."
"She tried to kill Amare?" Ravin shifted his attention to her husband. "--and you allowed your sick mother near her when she was pregnant?"
"--It was my fault," Luna said.
"--None of your business." Apollyon's interruption drowned her voice.
"Oh, it is my business." Ravin smirked, "I am the one who will decide who was worthy enough to kill a wife of an Archdemon."
Apollyon's shoulders went taut as he growled in his face and jabbed a finger on his chest, "Dream on, Familiar, and shut your mouth."
"Shut up, Ravin." Luna directed and pulled Apollyon away from the Archdemon. "Ten minutes. We will watch her shadows in silence."
They followed where the maidservant told them of Princess Ourania's whereabouts.
Rhododendron Colosseum was also a well-known landmark in the Summer Castle, where commanders train their recruits for the Summer Militia.
Here, jousts, duels and captured slaves and criminals from other Realm fought to their death were considered normal to provide entertainment for the Summer Fair Folk.
Apollyon's mother was seen wearing full-bodied armor except for the helm.
Luna had no idea if Princess Ourania had seen them spying on her and Sir Tristan at the highest outermost seats on the empty colosseum.
Today, she wasn't the one making the sacrifice but Ravin.
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