The Kingmaker System
Chapter 282 - 281. My Burden (3)

Chapter 282: 281. My Burden (3)

The High Priest, following the instructions given to him, stepped out of the Temple with Damon. His face was pale, beads of sweat forming at his temple despite the brisk morning air. Beside him, Damon’s calm yet imposing presence lent a measure of credibility to their appearance. Together, they approached the entrance where the crowd remained, murmuring in clusters.

Meanwhile, I ascended to the top of the Temple, my cloak fluttering behind me in the cool breeze. The high vantage point offered a clear view of the scene below.

For some reason, Asher followed me. His steps were quiet but deliberate, and I could feel his gaze lingering on me. It was unusual for him to defy my orders to stay below, and I found myself wondering what he was after. Did he want to know what happened to Mirielle? Or was he probing my connection to her?

"Why are you here, Asher?" I asked curtly, my eyes fixed on the bustling crowd below, unwilling to look at him.

"I..." he began, the hesitation in his voice telling me more than he likely intended. "I wanted to ensure there were no issues from this vantage point. And..." His words trailed off, caught in a tangle of thoughts.

"And?" I prompted sharply, my tone brooking no nonsense.

"I wanted to understand your connection to Mirielle, Master," he finally admitted, though uncertainty dripped from every word.

I scoffed softly, still not sparing him a glance. "I’m a Dragon, and she’s a Saintess. What connection do you think we have?"

He flinched slightly at my bluntness, but he didn’t back down. "Is she really the reincarnation of Saintess Miella?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Not exactly," I replied, my tone flat yet firm. "But she is devoted to me."

"Devoted... to you," he murmured, his brows furrowing as if he were trying to piece together a puzzle. His gaze shifted toward me, questioning yet cautious. "Then what about Ace?"

I let out a quiet sigh, feeling the weight of his inquiry pressing against the thin veneer of my composure. "Focus on your task," I said dismissively, brushing his question aside like an annoying fly. "We have no room for distractions now."

He opened his mouth, as though to say more, but wisely closed it. Turning my attention back to the scene below, I observed as the High Priest raised his trembling hands to quiet the restless crowd. His voice, though fraught with hesitation, carried across the gathering.

"Brothers and sisters," the High Priest started, his tone firm despite the visible anxiety on his face. "There have been many rumors spreading—rumors that sow fear and doubt in these trying times. But I stand before you today to bring clarity and reassurance."

The murmurs quieted as the crowd leaned in to listen. Dorrith, still standing at the forefront, crossed his arms, his skepticism evident. Damon stood beside the High Priest, his expression impassive but watchful.

"The claims of a Dragon’s wrath upon this kingdom are... a misunderstanding," the High Priest continued, his voice faltering slightly. "What I meant to say was that the plague spreading at our borders... might be seen as divine punishment. I was mistaken in my wording, and for that, I ask your forgiveness."

"Convenient, isn’t it?" Dorrith sneered, his voice cutting through the silence. "You spoke of the wrath of Dragons, and now, suddenly, there’s a benevolent Dragon protecting us? Do you expect us to believe such a tale?"

Damon stepped forward, his presence silencing the snickers that rippled through the crowd. "Father Dorrith," he said, his voice calm but laced with authority, "do you mean to imply that the High Priest is lying to the people? You should tread carefully with your accusations."

Dorrith hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I mean no disrespect, Your Grace," he said, bowing slightly. "But the people deserve answers, not half-truths."

"And answers they shall have," Damon replied. He turned to the crowd, his voice rising to address them all. "The Dragon, who many of you fear, is not here to harm us. It is here to protect us. His Holiness, the Saint, and the Saintess are currently at the borders, risking their lives to safeguard this kingdom. The Dragon’s presence ensures their success in this endeavor."

A murmur spread through the crowd, some faces lighting up with hope while others remained doubtful.

"But why was this not announced sooner?" one of the priests asked, his voice shaking. "Why were we left in the dark?"

"The situation demanded immediate action," Damon explained. "There was no time to delay with formalities. Those at the borders needed aid, and our leaders rose to the challenge without hesitation."

Dorrith’s expression soured further. "And what of the claims that the Saintess was taken by a Dragon? Are you saying the Knights who reported this were mistaken?"

Damon’s gaze turned icy as he answered. "Yes, they were. The chaos of the moment likely led to confusion. The Saintess is where she belongs—working tirelessly for the well-being of this kingdom. Or do you mean to suggest that our Templar Knights cannot be trusted to discern fact from fear?"

Dorrith fell silent, his jaw tightening as the crowd began to sway toward belief in Damon’s words.

The High Priest cleared his throat, stepping forward again. "Please, everyone, remain calm. Pray for the safety of our leaders and for the strength of those defending our borders. Together, we will overcome these trials."

The crowd began to disperse, their initial skepticism replaced by a tentative sense of trust. Damon’s authoritative demeanor and the High Priest’s carefully chosen words had done their work.

As the last of the crowd thinned, Damon turned to Dorrith one final time. "Your position in this Temple is one of service to the people, not sowing discord. Remember that."

Dorrith bowed stiffly, his face a mask of barely concealed frustration. "Yes, Your Grace."

Above it all, I watched in silence, my focus returning to Asher. "See how quickly the tide can turn with the right words?" I said quietly, though I knew he could hear me.

Asher nodded but remained silent, his gaze still fixed on me.

"Let’s move," I said finally, stepping back from the edge. "We’ve done what we came here to do."

"Stay here and keep an eye on Dorrith, I’m sure he’ll try to do something." I ordered and he nodded.

"Yes, Master."

I didn’t walk to the stairs but leapt down instead hearing the muffled gasp of Asher from above before I landed softly on the grass below.

I looked up at Asher and gave him a nod before I activated the invisibility spell and walked towards Damon who after the ordeal was going to return to his residence.

"Good work," I said as he was getting on his carriage.

He paused, his eyes darting in my direction.

"I have some other work so, keep going on with your side, let me know if there are any anomalies in the plan."

"Yes, Master," he whispered before he got on his carriage and took off.

I flew all the way to the inn to find Lyall in the lobby waiting for me.

"What’s wrong?" I asked.

"The prisoner," he spoke up mentioning the Pope.

"What about him? Don’t tell me he’s dead."

"He is dying." Lyall corrected making me look at him.

"What?"

I had casted a Healing spell on him before I left last time and he wasn’t being tortured behind my back so why was he-

It suddenly clicked and I rushed down to the dungeon. The sound of muffled, agonized cries reverberated in the air and I grimaced as I reached in front of the cell.

Marvoni was writhing on the ground with the black mist oozing out of his body, Lyall quickly opened the cell and I stepped out.

I gripped the front of Marvoni’s hair and pulled his head up to have a look at his face. His pupils were darkened and the blood was flowing down his cheeks with his face gone ashen.

"We didn’t do anything, Master." Lyall spoke and I nodded.

"I know, it’s not us, it’s the spell." I said as I casted the Healing spell.

It’s effects were quite slow but using the Connection of Life Energy that I didn’t want to use on him, I managed to bring his suffering to an end for now. The connection didn’t do much effect on me as compared to when I made the connection with the child.

Considering that Marvoni was bound by a body spell, I would have to find the object that is used for the spell. I might not be on him since I had already checked so, the one who casted the spell must have it.

"Oi, Marvoni," I spoke up holding his head up and slapping his cheeks to wake him up.

He groaned and his eyelids fluttered open, as soon as his eyes adjusted on me he gasped and tried to get away. I gripped his hair tighter making him whimper.

"Stop whining like a child, answer this if you could." I ordered firmly.

"What’s the object that was used to curse you?"

He opened his mouth and then shook his head making me roll my eyes.

"Of course," I muttered and let go of his hair.

I would just have to go and find out myself of what it might be.