Chapter 815 |
Phoebe closed the lid and stepped forward again, presenting the cigarette case with both hands.
Ian stopped in front of her and accepted it.
“And this one is from me,” said Thesaya.
When Ian turned, she smiled faintly and added, “Phoebe? Give him that too.”
“Yes.” Though her eye twitched slightly, Phoebe complied, pulling out a small glass vial sealed with leaves.
Inside, a milky, faintly glowing liquid shimmered.
Ian’s smile deepened. “You really brought only what I needed most.”
It was clearly the Essence of the Tree of Life.
Phoebe offered it forward again with quiet respect, and Thesaya added, “It was originally meant for me. But I’ll be heading South again, so you take it.”
Lightly lifting the case in one hand and the vial in the other, he added, “I was about to ask why you brought the Wardens Deep Forest, but now I’ve already taken the bribe.”
“So you heard?” Thesaya smirked, placing the cigarette back between her lips. Her gaze flicked sharply toward Diana, who was behind him.
“I didn’t reach out first. They did,” said Thesaya.
“They approached you?”
“Long story. You won’t find it very interesting.”
Ian turned with her, watching the ship being secured to the dock. “Give me the short version. Before they get off.”
“While we were waiting for you in the North, the elders of the Deep Forest held a council. Afterward, three houses were punished, and one was sealed off indefinitely. They had no choice but to accept this if they didn’t want to be expelled.” Thesaya said quickly.
Ian chuckled under his breath, taking the cigarette she offered. “So they actually drew their blades to prove their innocence.”
They had revealed the existence of the Round Table to Rowena, the elder who served as the keeper of the forest, and even given her clues to identify their agents. That information seemed to have been put to good use.
“Exactly,” Thesaya said, nodding. “Southern fairy society was thrown into chaos. The power structure shifted completely. Just as the leader wanted.”
She watched the workers scrambling nervously under the eyes of gathered fairies.
“When things finally calmed down, I announced my alliance with the beastfolk and my plan to support the central region.”
Ian exhaled smoke. “And the Elder offered to join in.”
“Right. Not just her house. Two others asked to participate as well.”
Thesaya nodded, taking the cigarette back.
“They’re the rising houses after that council. Apparently, helping stabilize the central chaos is their ‘duty.’”
“So they’ve realized the situation’s changed. Got impatient, didn’t they?” Ian let out a chuckle.
Rowena had always harbored ambitions to rise as the dominant force within the fairy society. Appointing Thesaya as her representative had been part of laying that groundwork.
“Exactly. A perfect excuse to make a move just fell into her lap—no way she could resist. Typical pointy-ear.” Thesaya snorted, her tone sharp.
She didn’t seem to care in the slightest that the fairies of her house were within earshot. Of course, they likely didn’t know the full story anyway.
Watching the gangplank being lowered, she added, “So I agreed, on the condition that I’d have full authority over the wardens they sent.”
“And I’m guessing you didn’t mention that things might not go the way they expect,” Ian replied, the faint smile still lingering. After all, they were waiting for the capital to fall.
A dangerous smile spread across Thesaya’s lips. “They’re hiding their intentions just as much as we are. By the time they figure things out, they’ll be in too deep.”
“Maybe. Or they might be the first to betray us,” Ian murmured as he looked up at the figures gathering around the way.
Of course, with the beastfolk involved this time, they wouldn’t act rashly out of pride alone. However, that still wasn’t enough reason to trust those pointy-ears.
Thesaya nodded. “Exactly. Which is why I’m planning to break that pride first: making it so they can’t even meet our eyes without their knees giving out, ensuring the thought of stepping out of line never crosses their minds.”
Ian glanced at her. “And how do you plan to do that?”
“Good knight, bad square. What do you think?” She met his gaze, giving a subtle wink.
Under the curious looks of the scouts, Ian’s lips curled upward. “Not bad.”
“Then wait a moment. I’ll play the square this time.”
Smiling faintly, Thesaya placed the cigarette between his lips. As fine veins began to surface faintly around her eyes, she stepped forward, turning toward the ship with a hazy glow of magic in her gaze.
Step, step.
The wardens were disembarking in a steady line. Like the scouts, they wore gray hooded cloaks, their faces hidden behind wooden masks carved with animal motifs, including a few familiar fox-like masks.
Ian showed no reaction despite the stares sweeping over him, simply exhaling a slow stream of smoke and watching them with sunken, unreadable eyes. The wardens’ silence, however, wasn't caused by him.
Swoosh—
Magic was spilling from Thesaya. Her thick silver hair swayed slowly, as if stirred by an unseen current.
The workers, their faces pale with fear, began backing away, then turned and fled.
“I hear some of you clashed with the beastfolk.” Thesaya’s voice dropped to a whisper. Laden with magic, it sounded colder, more chilling than before.
Beneath their cloaks, the wardens’ shoulders stiffened.
“You knew they were allied with me and that they follow the Agent of the Saint. Yet you dared to act out.”
Her gaze swept over each of them in turn. The air itself felt as though it had been plunged into ice.
Diana stared at the back of Thesaya’s head, looking like she might drop the cigarette from her lips.
As expected, she’s going to press this issue.
Given the history between fairies and beastfolk, this was bound to happen. Still, it was a perfect justification and something that had to be addressed at least once, especially since she stood here as the Representative of the Deep Forest, holding full authority from the Council of Elders.
“Those responsible, step forward and kneel. This is your first and last chance.”
Her voice carried a biting chill. As she spoke, she raised her right hand slightly toward Phoebe behind her.
“If I am forced to identify you myself, I will deal with you under the harshest punishment.”
Phoebe immediately stepped forward to stand at her side.
A few scouts subtly folded their arms beneath their cloaks. Judging by their expressions, they had already taken a dislike to the wardens. If Thesaya so much as snapped her fingers, the culprits would be pointed out on the spot.
Fairy loyalty really is something else….
Rolling only his eyes to glance over them, Ian shook his head.
The wardens, who had been stealing glances at one another, finally began to step forward one by one. There were about ten of them. Among them was the familiar fox mask.
Was his name Eli?
As the name crossed Ian’s mind, the wardens lined up before Thesaya and slowly dropped to their knees.
Their faces were hidden behind masks, but their bloodshot eyes and trembling fists, barely visible beneath their cloaks, made it obvious that embarrassment had twisted their expressions.
“Choose. One arm, or both ears.”
The shift from shame and anger to shock took only an instant. The kneeling wardens all looked up at once, eyes wide behind their masks.
“Th-this… is too harsh, Elder!”
A strained voice broke from among them. It was the fox-masked one—Eli.
Thesaya’s silver hair rippled sharply, like a sudden wave.
“Too harsh?”
“It was nothing more than a fistfight! Th-those—no, the beastfolk fought back the same way. But to go this far—”
“You disregarded the Agent of the Saint, insulted me and my house, endangered an alliance, and nearly weakened our forces.” Thesaya cut him off, stepping forward.
Eli froze on the spot.
She reached out and seized his throat. “And instead of being grateful that I’ve spared your life and given you a choice, you call this harsh?” Eli couldn't respond, even as his hood slipped back.
Like a frog before a snake, he trembled violently, looking up at her—not from pain, but from pure, instinctive fear.
“I revoke your right to choose, Eli Aseniv.”
After saying that, Thesaya finally turned her head. “Agent of the Saint, may I ask you a favor?”
Though faint veins pulsed at the corners of her eyes, her expression remained as calm as her voice.
And it wasn’t an act. If needed, she would truly sever limbs without hesitation to ensure absolute submission.
Ian placed the cigarette back between his lips and gave a light nod. “Gladly.”
“Then please administer proper punishment to these criminals who dared insult you.”
At her words, every gaze turned to him. Not just those kneeling—the wardens behind them, too, now carried unmistakable fear in their eyes.
It was obvious they knew Ian’s reputation and accomplishments well, having traveled with Diana.
Only Diana closed her eyes with a resigned expression, drawing in a breath of smoke.
“If the Elder asks…”
Exhaling slowly, Ian stepped forward, his right hand moving to the hilt at his waist.
Schwing—
A faint blue sheen shimmered along the blade as it slowly emerged.
Eli’s eyes widened as if they would split apart. At the same moment, Thesaya twisted her grip, forcing his head sharply to the side.
Beneath the mask and tangled blond hair, his pointed ear was exposed.
“I—I have committed a grave offense!”
The desperate cry burst out just as Ian raised the sword.
“Please, just once more—grant me another chance, Elder! Agent of the Saint! I swear—it will never happen again! Never! Please!”
Eli pleaded, eyes bloodshot, looking between Ian and Thesaya. The others, who had been frozen stiff, finally collapsed forward as well.
“W-we were wrong!”
“Please forgive us! Elder, Agent of the Saint!”
Desperate pleas followed one after another.
Of course, not a trace of warmth appeared on Thesaya’s face as she looked down at them.
If anything, the veins on the back of her hand tightened further around Eli’s throat.
Just as his breath faltered, Ian said, “There’s no need for them to pay with limbs or ears, is there? Elder.”