Wreath of Lilies, Cauldron of Poison

Chapter 167

The Devil's Offer

The next day, A wagon and a Centaur went out the gate early in the morning. So early that the Lamplighters had not yet started their morning round. Three half-asleep guards yawned as they saw them vanish into the misty darkness outside the safety of the town.

Martell stood by the gate for a good while until he could no longer see them, before returning to the mansion, fully intending to burrow himself deep under a warm blanket.

“What a nice morning!” Akula laughed as she breathed in the chilly air. She was taking them in now, knowing fully that she would have to suffer the humid heat of the Dungeon soon.

They arrived at the edge of the Untouchable Marshes a few hours after lunch. Four Dark Elves descended the trees and bowed towards Illumca. They then led them to a gathering of makeshift tents near the Dungeon Entrance. Built in a circle for safety. Though they were forest people, they did not dare to be lax when staying in a place under the effect of a Dungeon Break.

The eyes of the Dark Elves lit up once they saw Illumca. They followed her as she walked past them to the center of the circle of tents made out of branches and leaves. She saw in their eyes, a desire for someone to point them in the right direction.

But she knew, that direction was not something she could give.

She glanced at Connie, who was walking beside her. “Do as we discussed,” The blonde girl said.

Connie saw Illumca walking faster until she reached the center of the tent, where a communal pot filled with soup was brewing. Arryn and Leyn were sitting there, tending to the fire when they saw them. They stood up and greeted their Chief.

“Gather everyone here. I have something to announce.”

This is everyone. Leyn wrote.

She looked at the hopeful eyes of the Dark Elves and wondered if this was how it felt to be her father. To have the hopes and dreams of the Clan thrust upon him without any right to refuse.

She felt no attachment to the Clan, and she did not care whether the Clan would survive; Not after what had transpired between them. But if they could be used for her and Connie’s goal, then she would happily give them a chance to be of use.

“Everyone. As you all have heard, I’ve been made a Chief by the Elders. However, you must all know, first and foremost…my loyalty is not to the Clan,” she gave a pregnant pause to press the importance of her statement. “It’s only towards the person that had saved my life, Cornelia Asterium Steelheart.”

“And like I have said to you before, her will is my will. Anyone who has any complaints is free to leave,” Illumca spoke bluntly. She had no liking to speaking in front of an audience and just wanted to get it over with. “No one? Good. In that case, she has a proposition for you.”

Connie then stepped towards Illumca, who left to join Akula and Lihua in a hurry, uncomfortable with being the center of attention.

“You could use a bit more training with making a speech,” Lihua commented.

“I’m an Assassin. I’m not supposed to be noticed.”

“You tried your best,” Akula said kindly as she watched Connie taking center stage.

The young girl standing in front of them looked weaker than she did when she returned from the Dungeon. But they could feel their instinct saying that the human was dangerous.

Connie swept her gaze around her and laughed.

“Look at you. Look at you all. It seems to me that some of you are still unsatisfied with having to listen to a human,” Connie began.

“I get it, of course. Having been enslaved by Demons for so long must have made you uncomfortable to listening to the order from another Race, least of all…a human,” So many distrustful eyes were gazing at her.

She expected this. Winning over the trust of others – those who had suffered, even though it was from their own folly – was no easy task. However, she did not need goodwill, she needed only for them to obey. Discipline could be instilled later. She then continued, her voice a good deal sharper now.

“But I don’t care. I’m not here to offer you succor. I’m not here to heal your wound and whisper sweet lies, saying that it’s gonna be okay. Because believe me, things are going to get worse from now on. Bet-Zebek was just a lackey compared to the creature that orchestrated the downfall of your Clan. The thing called…Ged-Abinadab.”

Her words earned a few strained gasps and looks of despondency. They had never seen the Demon, but by how subservient Bet-Zebek was to him, they could imagine how helpless they were. “And if you think that you can save the rest of your people with your current abilities, then you’ve lost your mind.”

Lihua smiled at her Mistress’s bluntness. Make them understand their position, make them see with clear eyes their predicament…

“Don’t think that your current situation is just bad luck. No. you’ve all made the wrong choice. Trusted the wrong people,” she pointed with two fingers at Illumca while her eyes were staring into the eyes of each and every Dark Elves before her. “Accused the wrong person!”

“This hole that you’ve fallen into, is the hole that you’ve all dug for yourselves.”

Remind them of their wrongs. Their guilt. Make them uncomfortable.

Illumca looked at the Dark Elves, staring at her with guilt in their hearts. She stared back, unperturbed.

“The Demons crippled you!” All attention returned to Connie as she bellowed her words. “Took away your voice! Reduced you to indentured slaves, unable to whisper the names of your beloved, or singing lullabies to your children.” she said as she clasped one hand into a fist in front of them. “They controlled you with fear. The fear of losing your loved ones. The fear of an uncertain tomorrow! Does that not make you angry?!”

Then, make them angry. Make them furious.

Lihua saw many a fist tightening in suppressed anger. Eyes that burned with hate. Tears that fell from sadness and despair. They knew that she was right. Every word a dagger that stabbed into their hearts.

“But…” she raised a finger. They gazed at the finger as if hypnotized. “…that does not mean all is hopeless.”

And finally, give them hope.

Connie smiled inwardly as all their distrust had turned to thirst. The thirst for a light at the end of the tunnel.

“I shall give you a chance. A chance to gain a strength beyond Magic! Beyond the limitation of your body!” she bellowed. “Yes, the strength to take away their voices in return! But it will come at a cost. Because nothing in this world is free.”

What is it that you want? Arryn wrote on her slab. Her hands were visibly trembling.

“I want your utter and complete devotion. But you must remember, betray me…and your life is forfeit.”

Illumca’s eyes widened as she began to understand what Connie was offering. “Connie, you mean?”

“Yes, I am offering them the chance to become Cultivators.”

What do you mean by Cultivators?

“Me, and Illumca. We are Cultivators. Those who seek the truth. Unbound by the fetters of Status and Skills.”

The Dark Elves quickly descend to chaos as they furiously made hand sign to each other. They made them with so much gusto that it looked like they were doing an odd dance.

And in the midst of that chaos, Arryn stepped forward.

I will take your offer. She wrote resolutely.

“Oh? You’re not going to think about it for longer?” Connie rubbed her chin with a smirk.

Like you said, we had made the wrong choice once. I am not going to make the same mistake twice.

“Then do you swear that you will never betray me? Even if it means your death?”

Yes.

Satisfied with that answer, Connie told her to sit cross legged with both hands resting on her knees with the palms facing up. She took out a few Essence Crystal in her possession and infused her body with the Energy.

After awhile, she spat out black blood, earning worried looks from other Dark Elves.

Arryn then looked at them in puzzlement as every senses she had became more acute. She touched the grass and looked at them as if she was looking at the green for the first time in her life.

She then took the dagger strapped to her leg and threw it at a tree behind her. A Dark Elf that was next to the tree was surprised by the sudden movement and turned to see the dagger; he found it embedded into the head of small poisonous snake.

She looked at Connie, and then at Illumca, with eyes filled with puzzlement.

“Congratulations, Arryn,” Illumca congratulated her with a thin smile. “You’ve made the right choice.”

Soon after Arryn took the first step, others followed. One by one they joined in until almost all the adults became Cultivators. The ones that did not make the choice were old ones who were too tired of everything and handed over the future of the Clan to the young ones.

As for the smaller ones, Connie did not insist on making them Cultivators.

While they were getting used to the new sensation, Connie took Illumca, Akula, and Lihua aside so that they could not be heard.

They found a nice place under a shade with a handful of large rocks. Connie sat down on one of the rocks and bade them to sit with her.

“Fortunately, the Clan is not so foolish to not understand the chance that you’ve given them. I will make sure they serve you well.”

“As they will. Lihua, I want you to teach them The Raksha Blood Palm Art.”

“That’s the secret art of the old Imperial Guards…” Lihua looked at her as she began to understand Connie’s intention. “Do you intend to make them your Shadow Guards, just as the Ancient Emperors did?”

“Despite the lack of resources, the Dark Elves managed to infiltrate deep into the Kingdom. With the right guidance, they can be used. And who else can train them if not for the Queen of the Frozen Cave and former leader of the Shadow Guards of the Martial Emperor?”

The black-haired beauty clasped her hands together and responded. “This one obeys.”

“As for the two of you, Illumca and Akula. With the battles that we have fought, you have grown well. But you two are lacking something important. Something that differentiates those that are merely good and those that can achieve greatness,” Connie said. “Because of that, I’m going to hand you over to Lihua. Her method of training is very different, but in case of results, she is better than me.”

“Is she strong?” Akula asked. “Stronger than you?”

“In some matters, yes. You will find out after you experience her tutelage. It will be…enlightening,” Connie chuckled, as if amused by an inside joke. She glanced at Lihua, who smiled meaningfully. “Spoilers, Mistress. Spoilers.”

Connie then continued. “Those were my orders for you as your leader. Now, I’m going to speak to you as your friend. These are more important.”

“First, Akula. While I’m gone, I want you to protect Illumca, as you protect me.”

“You don’t have to order me to do that, Illumca is a precious friend that had spilled blood alongside me.”

“Why does everything have to sound so gruesome with you?” Connie shrugged with a thin smile.

“And as for you, Illumca – “

“Connie, wait. Stop,” Illumca quickly interrupted her. “I don’t like this. Why are you talking so ominously? This isn’t like you. You’ve been like this ever since we returned to Greyvault!”

“Ominous, is it?” Connie rubbed her chin. “Perhaps. Yes. Right now, I am quite nervous, but excited at the same time. But - to be frank - a part of me also feel rather…scared.”

“Scared, you?” Akula said, before she clasped a hand on her mouth when Illumca glared at her.

“Explain!” she demanded.

Connie looked gently at Illumca, and said. “In short, Illumca…”

“I’m going to die.”