Sir Alden walked through the stone corridors of the imposing castle of the Kingdom of Lior, his boots echoing on the ground like a dark echo. King Canvos had urgently summoned him. Before crossing the gates of the throne room, Alden glimpsed the distorted silhouettes of two knights. Sir Oswald and Sir Valen, familiar figures, yet mysteriously blurred as if they were not entirely present in that space.
The air was heavy, and as Alden entered the room, King Canvos broke the silence. With a serious expression, he revealed that Aelion, who had arrived in the kingdom a week earlier, had reported the disappearance of Midoki. Canvos explained that the kingdom needed Alden's help, as among the Knights of Divine Auras, Alden was the only one who knew both the Celestial Citadel and Olympus.
But the king had another matter to raise. Canvos questioned Alden's constant disappearances, recalling how he had vanished after the Dianmari Tournament and was last seen when the kingdom's barrier was deactivated, marking the disappearance of Durin and Gronnak.
- King Canvos: "What have you been doing, Sir Alden?" Canvos asked, tension growing in the air.
Alden stepped forward, moving closer to the throne with a grim expression.
- Sir Alden: "It's... because..." He began, placing his hand on Canvos's right shoulder, but before he could finish, the king shouted for Sir Valen. The knight, however, did not move. The air in the room seemed to freeze.
Canvos felt something strange, as if a spiritual seal had been activated. His eyes widened as he realized that the seal was already spread across the kingdom. Alden's presence there, at that moment, was insignificant. Then, a low laugh echoed through the room. Mammon, Lucifer's servant, who had been posing as Alden, smiled maliciously.
- Mammon: "The Seal of Shadows, as I call it," he explained about his technique. "I activated it as soon as I entered the castle. Now that your power no longer threatens me, Canvos, let's talk about the real reason I'm here."
The king, still in shock, could only ask:
- King Canvos: "What do you want with my kingdom?"
Mammon moved closer, his gaze cold and cruel.
- Mammon: "Your power will be useful to my master, Lucifer," he replied calmly. "The power of Destiny, the unique ability that can predict fates, that's the ability you used on Alden to find me and interfere with the breaking of the Underworld seal."
Canvos trembled, his eyes desperate.
- King Canvos: "But that ability... can only be used on close family members. And only once a month!"
Mammon grinned sinisterly.
- Mammon: "Ah, but technically, I am part of my master Lucifer's family. I was created from one of his cells, and that makes me... something like a relative."
The king felt the weight of the revelation and fell to his knees. His kingdom was doomed. In a desperate act, he pleaded.
- King Canvos: "Please, if you are going to destroy everything... at least spare Lancy and Cusadler. They are the sons of my cousin, Alden Voss. I beg you, let them live."
Mammon, for a moment, fell silent. His expression was impassive, but there was a brief flash of consideration.
- Mammon: "Normally, I wouldn't do that," he began, sighing. "After all, Alden has caused me many problems over time. But... I've developed a certain curiosity... maybe even a feeling for those pathetic creatures. Lancy and Cusadler. They interest me."
With a Dark Blade, Mammon raised his hand and, in a quick and precise motion, slashed the neck of King Canvos. Blood flowed across the throne as the king's eyes slowly faded. And then, amidst the darkness, one last memory came to Mammon's mind, a whisper of Lucifer echoing in his memory.
Flashback from Chapter 15.1:
- Lucifer: "Why did it take so long?"
- Mammon: "A knight stole the Chaos Fragment that was with me, using the ability of a king who predicts fates, my lord!"
- Lucifer: "I want that power... you know."
End of Flashback
The chapter ends with the sound of the king's body hitting the ground, while Mammon, still wearing a sarcastic smile, prepares to fulfill his master's plans, now with the fate of the Kingdom of Lior sealed.