TYND 67

TL: Motokare

Two days later, the brainwashing specialist from the Northern Assassin guild arrived. Theon first sent the specialist to the adult assassin who’d been an instructor. The brainwashing process was expected to take two days, and once it was complete, it’d be Naran Daisy’s turn. By then, a decision about his fate had to be made.

How much should he trust that kid?

A great deal would change depending on whether they trusted him completely, partially, or not at all. 

“He mustn’t be trusted. It’s a ploy to shake Lord Rothy’s resolve and cause confusion.”

“So far, all the confidential information about The Mandate and Givarche shared by him checks out on verification.”

“Every assassin worth his salt knows that you need to mix truth into your lies to make them believable.”

“Throughout history, assassin guilds have collapsed more often due to internal strife than external pressure. Particularly by internal assassins whose curse marks had broken for whatever reason, returning to exact revenge for their lost childhood.”

“The Mandate has lasted over one hundred and twenty years. They know dark magic we probably don’t. Faking a failed brainwashing attempt wouldn’t be impossible. And if The Mandate’s brainwashing really didn’t work, there’s no reason to think our specialist’s will either.”

“I’m not suggesting we trust him completely. Perhaps if we added a few more oath magic…”

“A sixth-grade mage is required to cast oath magic. Are you suggesting we ask for PLEIN’s help again?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“What if we pretend to trust him? We could release him and lay a trap—”

Theon sat back and listened without a word as his subordinates debated. Count Yemvei, a loyal retainer of House Falsen, was in favour of trusting Naran Daisy. Among the six people seated at the table, he was the only one with such a view. He looked around, searching for an ally, and noticed a young man with the same troubled look as his own.

“Lord Chungnip, you’ve been quiet. What’s your opinion?”

Chungnip crossed his arms and let out a long groan.

“Uuuuggggh.”

“Something’s…”

“Something?”

“Something doesn’t feel right?”

“So you’re saying we shouldn’t trust him either?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Something, something… I feel like there’s something he hasn’t told us.”

Chungnip tapped his forearm lightly with two fingers. Since he was the only mage seated at the table, the others stopped talking, waiting for what came next.

“I believe his hatred for The Mandate and desire for revenge are genuine. I’ve cast truth verification spells several times these past few days. It even passed Lord Rothy’s seventh-grade spell, so we must accept it as truth.”

“Then what do you think he’s hiding?”

“I’d like to know that too. What I can’t figure out is why he seems so desperate and anxious. Each time I speak to him, he keeps insisting we must raid The Mandate as soon as possible… The way he’s going, you’d think he left something important behind…”

Chungnip added jokingly, 

“Maybe he left a friend behind?”

No one laughed. Chungnip hadn’t expected them to since he hadn’t intended it to be a joke in the first place. It looked like this meeting would stretch late into the night.

Ultje quietly swapped out the cold tea in front of Theon for a fresh, hot one and asked quietly, 

“Shall I tell Lord Rothy to retire first?”

“I’ll go tell him myself.”

He could’ve let Ultje relay the message for him, but Theon wanted to brush Rothy’s soft white hair aside and kiss his cute, round forehead. He stood up and walked to the bedroom while Ultje stayed behind, knowing he couldn’t match Theon’s pace anyway. 

Theon thought Rothy was probably still awake, reading his new storybook. Theon’s lips tugged up at the thought. The knights standing guard at the door bowed to him. 

“Your Grace, has the meeting concluded?”

“I’ll be returning shortly.”

“You must’ve come to see Lord Rothy, I take it. It’s been quiet for a while. I believe he’s fallen asleep.”

“He’s probably reading. Rothy never falls asleep before saying good night to me.”

“Ah, yes…”

The guard looked uncomfortable, unsure how to deal with Theon’s prideful tone. Oblivious, he opened the door himself. 

“Rothy—”

There was no answer. Immediately, Theon’s expression turned frighteningly cold. The bed was empty. No one was at the desk. The dressing room was the same. Rothy was gone, and Chi-chi, who was his shadow, was also gone. 

“Your Grace?”

“Your Grace, is something wr—”

The guards were about to close the door but hesitated at the ominous atmosphere. Theon released his aura. Thick and black as pitch, it swept out like night itself, enveloping the vast ducal estate entirely. 

But he couldn’t sense a trace of Rothy anywhere. 

I need to get back soon. If I don’t hurry, those children will…

Naran Daisy glanced at the iron bars. The underground prison had strong magic suppression walls and Black Lion Knights as guards, making escape difficult, but the above ground prison’s security wasn’t as strict. He could break the magic restraints and leave right now, but he held back from making such a hasty move.

Theon Detre Falsen’s still deciding what to do with me.

Even if it was conditional on adding a few more oath spells, he might eventually be released. Starting trouble by escaping now would only make things worse when the situation might be solved peacefully.

I need to sort this before he notices.

Naran bit his lip with worry. He’d to return before Theon Detre Falsen discovered what The Mandate was doing. If he found out, that man would definitely try to use ‘those things.’

Should I try sending another telepathic message?

But casting magic wasn’t easy here. The restraints made it hard to gather magical power, and the prison contained devices that caused pain when magic was used. But he’d only know if the pain was tolerable after trying it firsthand. He reached into the crack between the bricks and touched the needle he’d hidden there. Even retrieving it undetected wasn’t easy since the guards here never lowered their vigilance. 

There were four of them, switching in pairs every twelve hours, and during their shifts, they never changed their stance or expression. They didn’t even indulge in idle chatter. The surprising part was that these men weren’t even the Black Lion Knights.

So even House Falsen’s private guards are exceptional too.

If he used the needle to unlock the cell door, how would he get past the guards? Dark magic would solve that easily, but he didn’t want to use dark magic on Theon Detre Falsen’s people. Not because he cared about them, but because doing anything to anger that man was unwise.

I’ve to get out of here.

What kind of pain were those children enduring at this very moment? Naran hugged his knees, lifting his head slightly to glance at the guard staring at him. One of the two guards faced the prisoner, while the other faced the corridor, watching all directions without leaving a blind spot. As He stared at the two of them standing like statues, debating what to do, something curious happened. 

“Hey!”

“I know.”

Both guards moved at once. They tensed as if sensing something suspicious, their hands immediately on their sword hilts.

“Who’s there? Come out now!”

What peeked its head around the corner at the guard’s shout was…

Scree

“A weasel?”

It was a snow-white weasel, and it was wearing clothes made out of the navy-coloured fabric that Rothy had bought at Elsea Falls. 

“That’s Chi-chi. But why’s Lord Rothy’s weasel here…?”

“Strange. It’d never go anywhere without Lord Rothy.”

The guards who’d been watching the prison like a stone now looked very confused. As far as they knew, the weasel Chi-chi had never been separated from Rothy. Was it lost?

Then something even more curious happened.

Screee!

Next to Chi-chi, another weasel appeared. This one wore white. It was about the same size, but if Chi-chi had sharp, triangular eyes, this one’s eyes were round and shining like glass beads.

“Lord Rothy has two weasels?”

“Uh… I thought there was only one.”

“Maybe the other’s a wild one. Might just be showing his mate around the estate.”

“Either way, we need to check. If the weasel’s missing, Lord Rothy will be worried.”

“I’ll go.”

“Take the weasel with you.”

Screee!

When the guard reached out, Chi-chi stepped forward, placing itself in front of the white one like a shield. Its fur bristled, baring teeth, and ready to bite. The guard quickly withdrew his hand at this threatening behaviour. 

“We could get hurt if we’re not careful.”

“If anything happens to that weasel, Lord Rothy will be heartbroken. Just leave it alone and hurry back.”

One of the guards rushed out of the prison. 

Screeeeng…

The white weasel crept forward, glancing warily at the remaining guard with each cautious movement. Chi-chi walked beside it on two legs, staring the guard down without blinking. Anyone watching would’ve agreed it was guarding the white one.

“Hah, seriously. What’re they, lovers? Lord Rothy might get jealous.”

Scree!

“Alright, alright, look around. Just don’t go inside the cell. Not that you could anyway.”

Scree!

With the guard’s half-hearted permission, the two weasels made their way right up to the bars. The weasel in navy blue clothes folded its arms… and glared at Naran, while the weasel in white clothes…

—Hi, Naran.

It waved its tiny front paw. 

Naran was shocked. Not because a weasel was greeting him with a friendly wave. It was because the voice echoing in his head was definitely—

—No way… the living magic stone?

—I’ve a name, you know… It’s Rothy…

Naran’s eyes bulged.

—Transformation magic…!