The Kingmaker System
Chapter 287 - 286. What Ifs (2)

Chapter 287: 286. What Ifs (2)

The night air was cold as I flew across the darkened sky, my wings cutting through the stillness with precision. I had left Lyall behind at the inn, entrusting him with the child’s safety. He was the only one I trusted for such a task.

As I approached Damon’s quarters, the faint glow of light from his balcony guided me. I landed silently, folding my wings as I activated the invisibility spell and stepped onto the wooden ledge. The faint hum of magic dissipated as I deactivated the spell, revealing myself in the dim light of the room.

Damon was already awake, standing by the table with his back to me. His shoulders were stiff, his hand gripping the edge of the wooden surface as though it was the only thing keeping him steady. His energy felt off—unusually tense, even for him.

When he turned to face me, his expression was heavy with concern, his jaw set in a grim line.

"What is it?" I asked, stepping closer.

Wordlessly, he picked up an envelope from the table and held it out to me.

"This... letter was delivered," he said, his voice low and guarded.

I frowned as I reached for it, the weight of his demeanor unsettling me.

"It’s addressed to the Dragon," Damon added, his tone measured.

"For me?" I muttered, my brow furrowing in confusion.

The envelope felt odd in my hand, its wax seal blank—no insignia, no markings. Just an anonymous delivery, designed to unnerve me.

Tearing the seal, I unfolded the letter and scanned its contents. As the words sank in, my grip on the paper tightened. A wave of anger surged through me, hot and immediate.

"That bastard," I snarled, my teeth clenched.

Without a second thought, I spun on my heel and strode to the window. My mind was already racing with possibilities, calculating the quickest way to intercept the situation.

"What are you—" Damon began, but I didn’t let him finish.

I leapt out of the window, unfurling my wings as the cool night air whipped past me. I didn’t have time to explain. There was no room for delay.

I needed to reach the path—the one Lyall’s men were taking to escort the Pope back—before it was too late.

"Dear Dragon,

It’s me, your enemy. I’m well, just wanted you to know that I can’t have our rendezvous tonight. I have some work to do. That’s why let’s meet after three nights, and also, I’ve changed the venue. You are smart, I know that, so, come to the place where I will be in three nights. And we’ll carry out our task.

Also, you don’t need the Pope anymore, right? So, I’ll be taking him.

See you soon.

Your enemy."

The letter crumpled in my hands, its mocking tone echoing in my mind.

I acted quickly, spreading my wings and taking to the sky as fast as I could. I poured every ounce of my strength into reaching the path where the Pope was being escorted to the Temple. The icy wind stung my face, but I didn’t care. My heart hammered in my chest as if warning me that I was already too late.

When I finally arrived at the scene, my worst fears were confirmed.

The ground was littered with bodies, blood staining the earth in dark, ugly patches. The men who had been tasked with guarding the Pope lay scattered, their forms grotesquely mutilated. A bitter wave of nausea rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down, forcing myself to move.

I crouched beside one of the bodies, my hands trembling as I checked for signs of life. It was a futile effort—their injuries were far too severe. The precision of the attacks left no room for doubt. Whoever had done this wanted to make a statement.

The demon had already made his move.

I stood, my fists clenched at my sides. My thoughts raced as I tried to assess the situation. The Pope was gone, taken by the enemy, and my plan was in shambles. For a moment, despair threatened to creep in, but I couldn’t afford to dwell on it. There was still too much at stake.

With a heavy heart, I left the gruesome scene and made my way back to the inn.

Lyall was waiting for me in the dimly lit common room, his expression growing tense as he saw my face.

"The Pope was kidnapped," I said grimly.

His eyes widened, and he gasped. "Kidnapped? By the demon?"

I nodded. "I don’t know what he’s planning to do with the Pope, but we need to ensure the child stays safe no matter what."

Lyall straightened, his voice steady despite the worry etched on his face. "What should we do now, Master?"

I considered my options for a moment before replying. "I have another way of dealing with things, but it’s not ideal timewise."

"I’ll do my best to assist you, Master," Lyall said, his resolve unwavering.

I gave him a small nod. "I know you will."

With Marvoni, the corrupt root of the Temple, truly gone, my original plan had taken a severe hit. But there was still the other key. For now, we had to adapt.

"I’m going to the Temple," I told him. "You stay with the child at all times. If anything happens, notify me immediately."

Lyall nodded. "Understood."

I left the room and climbed the stairs to the child’s quarters. The soft glow of the moonlight seeped through the cracks in the shutters, illuminating his small form curled up on the bed. His chest rose and fell gently, untroubled by nightmares for the first time in weeks.

I stepped closer, my boots making no sound on the wooden floor. I hesitated for a moment, then reached out, brushing my hand over his hair. His soft locks slipped through my fingers, and he stirred slightly, his eyelids fluttering open.

"I’m sorry I woke you," I said softly.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes as he looked at me. "What’s wrong?"

"There’s been a slight change of plans, child," I said, kneeling beside the bed. "The curse cannot be lifted today, but in three nights. Do you think you can handle that?"

He blinked at me, the sleepiness fading from his eyes as concern took its place. "Is everything all right?"

"There’s just been a hitch," I replied, keeping my voice calm. "But don’t worry. You will be free from the curse soon."

He nodded slowly, though his gaze lingered on me, searching for reassurance. "I trust you..."

His quiet words struck a chord deep within me. This child, who had endured so much, trusted me implicitly. It was both humbling and a reminder of the weight I carried.

But there was something I needed to know—something that had been troubling me for some time.

"Can I ask you something, child?"

He nodded, his wide, innocent eyes focused on me.

"Why... are you not accepting my Blessing?"

He hesitated, his small hands clenching in his lap as unspoken emotions flickered across his face. He lowered his gaze, staring at his fingers as if the answer was hidden there.

"Because..." His voice was barely above a whisper. "Because I want to receive it... when you give me my name."

I froze, the weight of his words settling over me.

"You said you would give me my name when everything ends," he continued, his tone timid but firm. "And we can start a new life. I... I wanted to have your Blessing then, when you call me by my name."

I stared at him, unable to speak for a moment. This child, so young yet so steadfast, was willing to endure his suffering just to wait for a new beginning with me.

I reached out, placing my hand on his head again. He glanced up at me shyly, his trust shining through his eyes.

"I understand," I said gently. "So I have to make sure this all ends and we return safely, right?"

He nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile.

Something stirred in me—an optimism I hadn’t felt in days. I didn’t know if I could survive the deal I intended to make with the demon, but now, my resolve was stronger than ever.

I had someone counting on me, someone who believed in me with unwavering faith.

And I wouldn’t let him down.

I went straight to the Temple and had Lyall send a message to Damon from me. I had the invisibility spell on as I entered the Temple.

I looked for Asher first and found him in the training grounds behind the Temple with a couple of other knights.

"You don’t think those knights lied, do you?" One of the knights said.

"Yes, they clearly saw a large Water Dragon taking the Saintess when she was in the dried up Holy Lake." Another one said.

"That’s not the case with the others though, how come only Captain Asher returned while everyone else went along with the Saint and His Holiness?"

Asher was training alone while the other knights were gossiping around, I could see how he might have endured the suspicious gazes and the taunting words but I also knew he was able to endure it.

He swung his sword while the other knights looked at him, he didn’t seem like he was hearing it or rather he was ignoring them well.