Chapter Eight: The Beginning of the Domino Colpse

  Three days of nonstop running had passed before they finally reached the summit—

  where the Seal resided.

  Then he said, wincing:

  "Owww… that hurts."

  —or at least, he wished he could say that.

  Even if he didn’t tire or need rest…

  this kind of treatment was inhumane, Iron!

  He stifled a wicked grin.

  "No matter... the faster the chess game starts, the faster I get out."

  It was nice sometimes to imagine himself as the protagonist of a novel.

  He used to watch some Chinese ones where the main character pnned everything meticulously and always succeeded in the end...

  And for some reason, we idiots rejoice when he does.

  "Anyway… it was a fun thought to entertain."

  If only I wasn’t the one suffering in his pce...

  ---

  He expected a magical door to open, or something majestic…

  but instead, the Void twisted before him,

  spitting out the guards like someone vomiting spoiled food.

  He almost ughed—but held it in.

  "Ah, dear big brother... If you’re going to send assassins to kill me,

  at least send competent ones!"

  No matter.

  Then Tayren spoke aloud, wearing a fake sorrowful smile:

  "Thank you all, brave warriors,

  for volunteering to aid this wretched prince.

  I am truly grateful."

  And in his mind, he added:

  "To exploit you, you fools."

  He raised his brows theatrically and said:

  "Did you bring what I asked for?"

  The two knights exchanged a gnce,

  then one stepped forward and handed him a bouquet of white roses.

  Tayren received it and said:

  "Thank you kindly."

  Then added in a somber tone—

  one that Iron already knew was coming:

  "I have one more request…

  Will you accompany me to visit my mother’s grave?

  The pce is a bit dangerous, and full of beasts.

  Just being with Iron puts a burden on him,

  so I haven’t been able to visit her often…

  but with your help, I can go safely.

  Of course… if you would be so kind."

  The knights gnced at each other,

  then answered in unison:

  "Of course, my lord. We are at your service."

  ---

  And so, they set out for his mother’s grave.

  They had to stop several times to let the knights rest.

  Each time, they offered him food,

  and every time, he politely declined:

  "I don’t need food. It’d be a waste.

  You should enjoy the taste of normal food while you still can…

  before you have to eat monster meat."

  Two of them visibly paled.

  "Pathetic fools…" he thought.

  "I’m no noble. I would’ve accepted that food without hesitation—

  if it weren’t poisoned."

  ---

  And so, after a long trek, the silhouette of a white tower appeared on the horizon.

  Tayren hadn’t been walking for days just out of boredom.

  No—what he’d been doing was a crucial part of his pn.

  He had been training all week to release his Intent into the Void—

  and now…

  he had mastered it well enough.

  He smiled to himself, thinking:

  "All the pieces are in pce now."