Chapter 25

  Drakkel spent the next days waiting for Rilian Adore to heal up while also attempting to use his sword. But after several tries and with the sword still not moving from it's sheath, he gave up, deciding he didn't really need it anyway.

  As for his interactions with Rilian Adore, they were short and awkward.

  Rilian Adore would try to have a sincere talk with him and Drakkel would shoot him down before he even had a chance to speak.

  In the meantime, Drakkel had been updated on stories being told in all the major cities and towns. The incident in Towering Heights had already spread to the ears of the common people. Now, on top of being a murderer and kidnapper, Drakkel was also said to have been a lecherous and rapacious libertine whose insatiable greed had led him to manipulate and capture the Golden Blade. Some even said his actions were revenge for the Golden Blade beating him so long ago.

  Drakkel was unsurprised. Even the only true thing about him was twisted to such an extent. Still, if everything went right during the summit, someone else would be the subject of some of these accusations while others would naturally disappear.

  After some more days, only two weeks remained until the Sword Summit and it was by then that Rilian Adore had fully healed.

  When Rilian Adore was finally able to walk around and communicate without issue, Drakkel and the demon lords had gathered in the throne room.

  At the center, stood Rilian Adore who held the box he had brought.

  Drakkel now looked downcast at him with narrowed eyes and a structured indifference.

  “Tell me, what is in that box?” he asked.

  The box was ordinary, being made of common wood and fortified with iron on the corners. Drakkel and the demons had tried to open it before but found that they were unable to. Although they had demonic arts, the box was immune to all of them, leading Drakkel to think that although it seemed simple, it likely was not.

  This kind of craftsmanship could only be done by the SwordSmith Villa Swords Clan.

  Only when Rilian Adore was well enough to think clearly did he finally announce that he knew how to open it.

  Within his sword hilt was a secret compartment. It was there that he kept the key to the box. As he revealed this in front of everyone, Drakkel also got a quick glimpse of an item that felt very familiar. However, like trying to recall something one has forgotten, the thought of why it was familiar sat at the edge of his mind; not quite close but not far away either.

  When Rilian Adore closed this compartment, Drakkel’s thoughts shifted from the item to the box.

  Rilian Adore grabbed the box and opened it in front of them. Then, he presented its contents to Drakkel. “The answers you seek are here, Your Highness.”

  Drakkel was nearly taken aback by Rilian Adore’s behavior. He had not addressed him by his name, but by what the demons called him.

  For a moment, he wondered if he did it because it was safer for him since the demons would lash out at whoever showed Drakkel disrespect, or because he was trying to set some distance between them.

  The latter thought disappointed Drakkel a bit, but he quickly moved on. He also wanted to set some distance between them so he decided not to dwell on it.

  Under a guise of apathy, he signaled for one of the demons to bring the papers to him.

  Standing closest to the spot, Knowl gathered the pages in hand and brought them to Drakkel. As Drakkel read what laid on the soft papers, his eyes widened and the corners of his lips slowly turned upwards.

  He wanted to laugh.

  Retribution!

  Perhaps destiny was on his side after all!

  Who knew that the Golden Peak Swords Clan Leader had such a hidden past? For all his talk about reputation, his was ruined before he even got to build it! Now Drakkel had a motive for the Golden Peak Swords Clan’s actions and he would make sure the world heard of it!

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  “Rilian Adore, have you read what lies on these pages?”

  Rilian Adore nodded. “I have.”

  “And you’re ok with me revealing this information? If I do, your clan might be unable to recover.”

  Rilian Adore stated, “I give you this information not for free, but to ask for one thing. Please, let me hear my clan leader’s explanation.”

  “Hmph.” Drakkel answered. “Why should I do that? The pages are in my hand now. I could just capture you and go to the Sword Summit on my own with this proof.”

  Rilian Adore’s expression didn’t change, as if he knew Drakkel wouldn’t do as he said. “I showed you my sincerity because I knew you wouldn’t betray it. I only hope for a chance to speak with my clan leader and hear his answer. If he did these things, he can admit it and if not, he can help find the true culprit.”

  Drakkel smiled. “And if he does neither of those?”

  Rilian Adore’s fists clenched, “Then, I can assume he doesn’t stand for justice. Whatever happens afterwards would naturally be his fault.”

  Drakkel laughed. “Stand for justice? After what he did to you for the past year?”

  He continued to laugh.

  “Your unyielding loyalty to those who don't deserve it never ceases to amaze me, Rilian Adore.”

  “Fine,” He crossed his legs. “I’ll grant you only one opportunity. If the Golden Peak Swords Clan decides not to listen, then I can only defend myself.”

  Rilian Adore nodded.

  Once everything about the upcoming Sword Summit was discussed and broken down in detail, the demon lords dispersed and only Drakkel and Rilian Adore were left in the room.

  “Why haven't you left as well?” Drakkel asked.

  “I forgot to tell you something.”

  “Oh?” Drakkel answered. “What is it?”

  “Your sword… there should have still been traces of the night-raising flower poison on it.”

  “Hmm. And how do you know this?”

  Rilian Adore replied, “When Mistress Taliyah was still…” He shook his head and continued. “The time we were on Earthly Mountain, when you were undergoing treatment and Mistress Taliyah was checking on my cooking, she told me that if an item was layered with a poison as strong as one from the Night Raising Flower, there would be traces left behind even if the item in question was no longer poisonous. She gave me a bit of poison-detecting powder to test out the theory and told me to try it out on the places I thought the poison might have touched. She did this to help me discover its true origins.

  The first place I applied it was on your sword and to my surprise, there were indeed traces. Then I remembered and perhaps you do as well. I didn’t use Sun-tinged rays to challenge you that day.”

  Drakkel’s eyes widened.

  He just recalled that he was right. He didn't notice before because he was too preoccupied with his defeat. But why was he using a different sword now than the one he used in the past?

  “The sword you used before, where did you get it?”

  Rilian Adore looked down, appearing to hesitate a bit before answering. “My Clan Leader was very excited for my debut battle but he said that Sun-tinged rays was not in the best shape and might break if I tried to use it against a Sword Master. So, at the time, he took the sword from me and sent it to get repaired. But I couldn't be left without a sword for the battle, so he let me borrow a sword. When I returned from the duel, he gave me Sun-tinged Rays back and I never saw the other sword again...”

  Drakkel slammed his fist on the armrest of the throne, his face forming a scowl. “Despicable!”

  Rilian Adore rushed to say, “I found this out but I'm not sure if he knew. After all, anyone could have touched the sword before tha—!”

  However, Drakkel interjected.

  Shooting up from his throne, he exclaimed “How dare he!”

  As his anger grew, his demonic energy became rampant. Within a few moments of getting up, he immediately sat down, sinking into a coughing fit.

  After a few coughs, blood started to leak from his mouth.

  His control of his demonic energy was not yet perfect. When combined with his sword energy, it was like fire and water. Two opposing forces met each other and the results of their battle were bound to leave his body in shambles.

  Rilian Adore worriedly stepped towards him, but Drakkel put up his palm.

  “Don’t,” he said, following up with a cough. “I only need to meditate.”

  As he got up and made his way out, Rilian Adore grabbed his wrist. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Drakkel jerked his wrist out of Rilian Adore’s grip. “Nothing that you should concern yourself with.”

  Drakkel continued to walk out, but right before he left, Rilian Adore shouted, “You always sacrifice yourself looking after others! But who’s looking after you?”

  After stopping for a moment, Drakkel had no answer for his words. He could only shake them off and continue walking, pretending as if he had heard nothing. He had people who were willing to look after him and yet the world took them away.

  What good was it to depend on others when they could disappear at any moment?