ALL NOVEL Chapter 75 – Floor 8: Part 1
Chapter 75 – Floor 8: Part 1
The Margrave of Belinger was at his wit’s end.
He was pacing in his hall. The tapestries depicting the triumphs of his ancestors covered the stone walls while guards stood at attention at every entrance. His pale face and bald head were covered in sweat, and he would periodically wipe them away with a white cloth.
His noble clothing, made of the finest materials and threaded in gold, showed dark patches where the sweat had soaked through.
The guards had been watching the man for hours, his muttering and occasional moan of despair breaking up the sound of his endless footsteps. It would have been comical if not for the knowledge of what caused the man’s distress.
Their most Holy Emperor had been poisoned.
Worse, it had happened on territory overseen by the Margrave. The only thing that had saved him from a hangman’s noose had been the fact that it had happened on the road, hundreds of miles away from where the Margrave had been staying.
The Holy Emperor had been passing through on his way to the Empire's western frontier, when he came down with a sudden illness. Surrounded by nobles from across the Empire and his beloved Empress, they had found traces of poison in his wine.
As the lord of these territories and one of the only nobles not present at the time, it had fallen on the Margrave to find the culprit, less the blame fall entirely on himself. The nobles had agreed to this condition, and the Holy Empress herself had expressed her faith in him.
But after two days of questioning and investigation, the Margrave had found nothing. No evidence remained. No servants had revealed hidden instructions, nor had any nobles confessed to the crime.
He was stumped.
As a last, desperate act, he had prayed to the goddess of Truth and Reconciliation for her divine assistance. To his surprise and relief, she had answered.
A Champion will arrive with the ability to parse truth from lie.
That had been over a day ago, and he had heard nothing else. Hence, the source of his pacing and muttering. He could delay no longer. The Empress demanded a name or his own confession if he could not produce one.
“Oh goddess, why have thou forsaken me! I, your most devout and humble servant, beseech you! Please, deliver unto me this Champion!” The Margrave suddenly shouted, kneeling on the ground and bowing his head in supplication.
His prayers were answered.
A loud ‘Ding’ rang out throughout the stone room, and a pillar of light rose from the ground. Shielding his eyes, the Margrave shouted in surprise while the guards drew swords or gripped their spears in preparation for an assault.
The light faded, and in its place stood a man.
‘Young.’ The Margrave thought. It was the first thing he noticed about this stranger. He looked to have seen only twenty winters or so. He was as handsome as a demigod, wearing a strange jacket that reached his thighs and a red scarf that obscured his neck.
The young man had a knife belted on his hip but was otherwise unarmed.
His blue eyes wandered around the room, immediately looking for threats. They paused on the guards, assessing them for a moment before dismissing them from his concern.
The Margrave was reminded of the Emperor’s general, a tough man who had seen multiple wars. He had a similar expression as the young man in front of him, someone who had seen battle and death countless times.
Something was unnerving about him, a heaviness that settled about the room and emanated from the young man. It was like the room froze. Nothing could move unless he allowed it.
The Margrave swallowed, a difficult act due to a sudden lump in his throat and a dryness in his mouth.
“W…welcome. Are you the promised Champion of the Goddess of Truth and Reconciliation?” The Margrave asked, only to be completely ignored as the young man raised his right wrist and stared at a silver bracelet for a moment.
He seemed to be reading something unseen, his eyes moving back and forth across invisible words, only to lower his arm once more.
“Yes.” The Champion replied, and the Margrave let out a breath that he didn’t realize he was holding in. Relief flooded him at the thought of another taking over this burden from him.
“Praise the god-” The Margrave was about to launch into another prayer when the Champion cut him off.
“Your Emperor was poisoned? I’ll need to speak to everyone involved.” The Champion said.
“But first..” The Champion’s eyes locked onto the Margraves, pinning him into place. Nothing existed except for those blue orbs. The Champion’s voice took on a strange tone like it was echoing from a great distance but also surrounding him from all sides.
“Did you poison the Emperor?” The Champion said. The words were like a dagger piercing his mind. The Margrave had no thought of lying or desire to dither.
“No. Of course not.” The Margrave replied instantly. The Champion nodded at the words, and the Margrave was released from whatever force bound him.
“Good. You’re telling the truth.” The Champion stated, sure of the fact in some strange, unknown way. The Margrave didn’t even question his abilities. He was sent by the goddess, after all. Of course, he would be able to know the truth of all things.
“Th-thank you.” The Margrave stammered, but the Champion was already moving. Not pausing for a moment, the young man walked past the guards and out the door toward where the Emperor was resting, guarded by the Empress.
“Wait!” The Margrave shouted, giving chase.
The young man seemed to know where to go, following the turns of the hallway and up a set of stone stairs to a large bedroom that belonged to the Margrave but had been given to the Emperor for his recuperation.
At the door, a pair of guards were standing with halberds upright, preventing all entry when the Champion arrived.
Not slowing, the young man made a strange motion with his hand. Holding it upright with the palm facing the guards, he spoke.
“Halt Movement.” The Champion commanded, and the guards stiffened. Their eyes widened in surprise before even that small action ceased. The Margrave stared in awe at the display while the young man opened the door and left him in his wake.
Tentatively, the Margrave prodded the frozen men. They felt like statues. Some strange force had turned them as unmoving as stone. He was just about to leave them to follow the Champion when they suddenly relaxed.
“You will stay here. The Champion of the Goddess commands it.” The Margrave ordered, even though they were the Emperor’s men, the pair nodded and listened. He left them, rushing through the door to another scene of chaos.
The Empress was standing by her husband’s bed, her finger raised and pointing at the young man who was in the process of pulling the cork from a glass vial.
“What are you doing? Answer me! Guards! Guards!” The Empress shouted, only to look relieved when the Margrave entered instead.
“Peace, Your Grace. This is the Goddess’ Champion. He is here to find the truth of the Emperor’s plight. But…what are you doing?!” The Margrave asked as the young man took a brightly glowing green potion and proceeded to force open the Emperor’s mouth and pour the liquid inside.
“Relax, it’s just an antidote.” The Champion replied. The Emperor coughed violently, bolting upright and spraying black liquid onto the white bedcovers.
“Gah! What foulness!” The Emperor exclaimed, and the Margrave marvelled at the change in his appearance. His pasty white skin was flushed and healthy. The Emperor seemed to be restored in mere moments.
The Emperor looked around, confused at his sudden plight. He met the Margrave’s eyes, then those of his wife, before focusing on the strange young man beside him.
“Who are you? What have you done to me?” The Emperor demanded an answer, and the Margrave winced. From everything he had seen about this young man, he didn’t seem to care about titles or status.
“I’m Mathew. The goddess of Truth and Reconciliation has sent me to help you. You’re welcome. Now, do you know who poisoned you?”