The Kingmaker System Chapter 767 - 766. Picking Sides (3)

The silence of the dawn was quite unsettling for Alys who stood by her bedroom window watching the sky. It had been three days now since the last day of the Trial and the siege. Three days since her existence was exposed before the world.

She wanted to dwell on the fact that she had to do it because there was no other choice but she also couldn’t deny the feeling of relief that came along. She had been hiding in the shadows for far too long believing that she wasn’t strong enough to face her enemies but she had with her own hands and power killed the very person who had killed her parents and who made her life a living hell.

It was far too sudden though, Alys had thought of exacting revenge but she had a different plan and she was going to discuss about it with Reina and Silas after Eric was officially declared to be the Crown Prince. But now everything was ruined... or maybe not. She had managed to save her Uncle, she always had a sliver of doubt that her uncle might also be involved in the deaths of her parents but after reuniting with him and watching his reaction, she knew he genuinely wanted to protect her.

Still, the biggest hurdle of their way was gone now so, Alys had no reason to fear for her life and she also had no reason to stay in hiding. But she knew things would only escalate now that she had come forth, there weren’t many people who supported her father after all these years but the masses remembered Crown Prince Soros so there might be some who could find courage to bring up the topic of putting her on the throne since she had the right to the throne, even more so than the present King’s children.

Alys sighed, she had no intention of taking the throne, she was far to happy at the Mage’s Tower with Silas.

Her eyes drifted over to the man sleeping in the bed, his long pink hair spilled over the white pillow and his sleeping face was irresistable. She felt a little sore from their last night’s activities but she also recalled the conversation that had happened before it.

Silas had asked her if she would be comfortable with going before the people with Eric and Carlos by her side. He had told her that Reina was the one who suggested having Alys’s opinion since everything had happened so suddenly. Alys, would have disagreed at first but now she had no reason to. She knew she didn’t want the throne so, the best way to avoid it was by showing that she trusted and supported Eric. She trusted that Eric would make a good King unlike his father since he had been working hard towards it.

Alys wondered if Reina was all right, Silas had mentioned that she had lost a lot of mana and needed to stay back at Edrisyl for recovery.

Alys watched the faint light slowly starting to spill from the horizon before she turned and walked back to bed. She had to accompany both her cousins today so, she could at least catch a couple of hours of sleep before that.

Silas groaned softly and she turned to look at him as his eyes slowly cracked open revealing his captivating blue orbs, drowsy and vulnerable because of sleep. He wrapped his arms around her and she sighed, maybe a nap would help later.

At Ryujin mansion, the early morning routine of the household personnel had begun. The cooks had begun with the breakfast preparations while the maids approached the doors of their Young Master and the guests.

Kai had woken just a few minutes before dawn so, he quickly took his bath and then with Lyall by his side, he walked towards the Eastern Wing of the mansion. Normally, he wouldn’t need to since Doc was taking care of the two mages that they had captured but Kai wanted to see them for himself.

Lyall walked quietly behind him until they reached in front of the corridor that had large thick metal doors on both sides. Lyall took the lead from here on and as they walked ahead, they could hear the sounds of the groans and wheezes from a few of the cells. These were the cells that were made especially for the dangerous and strong individuals like the dark mages, the doors and everything made of metal inside was from mana cancelling ore to keep the prisoners from trying anything.

"Footsteps? Do I hear footsteps?" Suddenly they heard a man’s voice, "He-Help me, please spare me! I’ll tell you everything! Marquis please, I’ll do anything!"

Followed by that one voice, several other started shouting as well.

Kai had no idea who these people were and Lyall seemed indifferent as he kept walking ahead with a straight face. He stopped before one of the doors and then turned to Kai.

"The beast tamer is here." He said.

Kai had specifically asked to see the young girl who had the capability to control the shifters. He knew keeping her alive and bringing her to their side would be very beneficial and Ocean probably would also be thinking of the same thing that’s why Kai had asked for both these captured individuals to be kept alive.

There was a small, rectangular slit on the door which gave a view of the inside of the cell. There was another slit on the lower side of the door slightly larger for the food tray to be delivered but then again, being in this place made Kai recall of the similar cell he was in.

Kai suppressed his unease and then gave Lyall a nod, Lyall pulled the keys from the keyring and placed it in the slit beside the door and a crack opened up in that space. Lyall then glanced at Kai.

"It will need your mana, Young Master."

Kai nodded before he walked up to it and saw the palm sized thin crack. He placed his palm flat on the stone surface and pour a little amount of mana into it, the crack glowed softly before he heard the sound of the gears from inside and the door moved.

Kai was amazed to see this, it was quite an elaborate but also very controlled method to incarcerate some of the most dangerous criminals.

He pushed the large metal door and then looked at Lyall.

"I wish to talk to her alone."

Lyall nodded and stayed back as Kai walked inside.

One would imagine the cell down here to be like the dungeon cells, with stone floors and walls and nothing but a rocky bed. But this cell was made with a modern approach, mostly to keep the cellmates alive for a longer time and also to keep them from killing themselves.

The cell wasn’t quite large but it had the facilities like a basin and a bathroom stall that were across him on the far right side. A tiny rectangular window about the same size as the slit on the metal door was on the wall but it was too high for the prisoners to escape and too tiny for a human to fit. There was a table and chair on his right and a simple bed on the left. Kai looked at the girl who was curled up in a corner of the bed, she was awake and glaring daggers at Kai.

Kai moved and she flinched bringing her knees even closer to herself, Kai hear the sound of the metal clinking and he saw the heavy metal cuff on her right ankle, it was attached to the thick shackles that ran from the cuff to the center of the room where a ring was embedded in the floor. The metal ring was the size of two adult men’s wrist so, it was thick and impossible to break. But it allowed the limited mobility to the prisoner.

Kai couldn’t help but feel his own memories come back from the time when he was in shackles too, it had been years since he had escaped that life and came to live at Ryujin mansion. Those wounds were completely healed by now but facing a young girl in the similar situation as him made him feel unsettled.

Yet, he refused to let though dreary memories overshadow his present. He had grown up to a stronger person now and he had people by his side whom he was responsible for so, he simply inhaled deeply and gathered his thoughts.

Kai didn’t approach the girl and simply walked over and sat on the chair, both the table and the chair were fixed to the floor.

"How are you feeling?" Kai asked the girl.

She didn’t answer, just kept glaring at him.

Kai had expected as much, he had a good look at the girl, she was fixed up only enough for her to keep from escaping but then again, she didn’t have many physical injuries in the first place.

"I wanted to ask you a few questions," he started as he observed her.

"First of all... why were you with those dark mages? You don’t seem like you have been corrupted by the demon’s blood so, why?"

The girl didn’t answer, she just kept glaring.

"You are from the Shifters’ Nation, aren’t you?" Kai asked, "I had my people look into your background to see if we could find some place for you-"

"Damn you humans..." He paused as he heard her grumble under her breath.

Kai continued, "But since the Shifters’ nation is hard to infiltrate so, it will take time."

The girl scoffed but didn’t say anything else, Kai tapped his finger on the table as he thought for a while and then asked, "Do you want to return home? I can help you go back."

The girl’s eyes turned red as her glare grew intense, Kai felt like he just touched a raw nerve. He waited for a few seconds wondering if the girl would curse at him but she just kept glaring at him.

"Or is it that you... don’t have a home anymore? Was that why you were with those Dark Mages?"

The girl clenched her fists and opened her mouth, "What would you know? You privilged young master of the noble family, for you everything is as easy as ordering someone around. You have no right to talk to me like you own my life here. I am in this state because of you greedy nobles. I will kill each and every one of you once I’m free."

Kai could feel the raw, explosive hatred brewing behind her glaring eyes. Kai wondered what her story was, what had happened for her to have to be filled with so much hatred that was burning her so fiercely.

Regardless, he was determined to at least try. He saw her situation to be similar to his so, if he could bring some extent of stability to her then he might feel like he was one step closer to be like his parent.