Gunmage
Chapter 159: Relics and bloodlines

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Relics and bloodlines

"Or at least, there wasn’t"

"Oh?"

The Queen leaned in, her fingers steepled and eyes glittering with intrigue, prompting Selaphiel to continue.

"From what I’ve heard from my daughter-in-law, he was a normal boy before he escaped from home. He became a witness to the collapse of Drakensmar, and, from what we’ve gathered from the Third Prince, also sailed the Devil Sea."

"Yes, I know all this"

The Queen said coolly, waving a hand.

"One of my guards was there the whole time."

"Ah."

Selaphiel paused, her mouth opening then closing. Of course. The Queen’s reach seemed to stretch across every corner of the kingdom.

"That can’t be all you have to say, is it?"

"No, it isn’t."

She drew a slow breath before continuing.

"I got to see him in battle up close today. His swordsmanship—it’s completely unique, but... it bears heavy traces of elven technique."

"Hmmm"

The Queen hummed thoughtfully.

"And?"

"Well, you see, I’ve also seen him use healing magic before. The elven kind."

Selaphiel leaned in, voice lower now.

"And not just any healing. It was far beyond what even I could accomplish."

The Queen blinked beneath her veil. For a moment, she seemed genuinely stunned.

"Really?"

"Yes. I’ve never seen anything like it before"

Selaphiel said, her tone solemn now.

A silence settled between them, quiet but charged.

"...And?"

The Queen leaned forward again, her voice barely louder than a whisper but sharp as a blade.

Selaphiel cleared her throat.

"And what? You have questions and so do I. What we should be asking now is—are there any elves in the Devil Sea?"

The Queen exhaled heavily, her demeanour suddenly turning stone cold.

"Ridiculous. Are you messing with me, Selaphiel?"

The Von Heim elf frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don’t play coy with me."

The Queen’s eyes narrowed.

"He uses elven magic. He demonstrates elven swordsmanship. These things can be explained easily."

"How?"

Selaphiel asked, her voice rising.

"What are you even talking about?"

"Oh, nothing much,"

The Queen said lightly, leaning back on the stone bench. Her voice dripping in sarcasm.

"It’s not like he was born into a family created by a banished clan of elves."

"How dare you!"

Selaphiel shot up from her seat. Her rage was sudden and uncontained.

The royal guards flinched, their bodies tensing, but none of them moved.

"You do not raise your voice at a Queen, Selaphiel."

The Queen’s tone was too calm. Like the still waters of a lake.

"Sit down."

Reluctantly, Selaphiel obeyed, though her glare seemed hot enough to ignite the very air between them.

"Let’s continue where we left off"

The Queen spoke as Selaphiel smoothened her tunic before plopping down on her exquisitely crafted seat.

"Continue what? I already told you I’m not involved. Yet you still doubt me. What more do you want from me?"

"Oh, Selaphiel"

The Queen said with a soft chuckle.

"Things don’t work that way. Just because you don’t know something doesn’t mean others don’t"

"Our clan’s elves know nothing about Lugh"

Selaphiel said firmly.

"We are not planning some grand scheme."

"Oh really?"

The Queen’s voice took on an airy, amused tone.

"And when was the last time you heard from any of them?"

Selaphiel faltered.

"Well?"

"...Some thirty years ago"

She admitted quietly.

The Queen raised an eyebrow, then smiled—beneath her pitch black veil.

"You better contact them. Quickly. And find out who gave him that cursed relic."

"Cursed relic?!"

Selaphiel straightened, alarmed.

"Yes, that sword he used. It’s a good thing he couldn’t activate the enchantments. Things would’ve gone very, very badly if he had."

"That sword was a cursed relic?"

Her voice broke into a whisper, her poise fully shattered.

"Yes. I’m sure I don’t need to explain the implications to you."

"I’ll... deal with it."

Selaphiel stood up again, urgency plain in her steps.

"Ah ah."

The Queen’s voice snapped like a whip.

"We’re not done yet."

Selaphiel froze.

"Oh, that’s right,"

She mused

"You said you had two reasons for calling me here."

"That’s right."

The Queen nodded, her expression hardening.

"I need a status report on your mission."

"Now?"

Selaphiel’s brow creased.

"I was going to compile it into a book and send it to you."

"That would take too long. You can still send it. But before that, I need an oral summary."

Selaphiel sighed and returned to her seat.

The Queen leaned in.

"Alright then. What have you learned these past ten years? Who is responsible for this war?"

—

"You are..."

Flaxen hair, a walking stick, and a blindfold.

Lugh didn’t need to ask.

It was Enji.

The youth turned, voice cautious.

"Who’s there? I could’ve sworn I recognize your voice from somewhere"

He leaned forward, nostrils flaring slightly as he sniffed the air.

"This scent is new... Seriously, who are you?"

Lugh exhaled with quiet patience.

"I am Lugh."

"Lugh? ...Lugh?!"

Enji stumbled back so fast it was as if he had seen a ghost—which would have been impressive, considering he was blind.

"Why—what are you doing here?!"

"What am I doing here?"

Lugh raised a brow, amused.

"This is my house. Why wouldn’t I be here?"

"Your house?"

"Yes. My house. As heir to the Von Heim main family, this is naturally my property."

"What makes you think that? The others haven’t even given their consent—"

"I don’t need their consent"

Lugh replied flatly. His words challenging.

Enji wasn’t daft. He couldn’t see the fight that had happened earlier, but he’d felt it, every quake of impact, every tremor, every echo of steel and rending flesh. And the smell of blood lingered still.

His cousins had already filled him in with trembling voices and pale faces.

He knew he wouldn’t stand a chance.

So he just shrugged and turned, walking away with slow, steady steps.

—

"Now then..."

Lugh’s eyes drifted past the long, polished corridors, beyond the tall glass windows and into the moonlit garden.

A shadow moved between the hedges, ducking low beneath the boughs. Someone was moving with practiced stealth, weaving through thickets and bushes in a clear attempt to remain unseen.

For a fleeting moment, moonlight caught the figure in silver relief.

Lugh’s gaze sharpened.

"...What the hell is she doing?"