Chapter 19: Hollowed Throne, Silver and Gold

The grating clink of wood and silver settled within the padded room. Ramana looked toward Agi with a faint amusement in his eyes.

Even as the boy drank from the large cup–almost too large for his hands–Ramana almost couldn’t stop a chuckle from leaving his lips.

The child believed he had succesfully fooled him, but how could it be that easy?

“How is it? Bitter?”

Ramana asked, naturally inquiring on the drink within Agis hands.

The boy’s ear twitched, he brought the cup back down to the table, A bit rigid, “It’s fine.”

He said with an empty expression.

“Because it’s juice.”

Ramana let the thought fly through his head for a moment, Agi was really bothered that he had teased him before, wasn’t he?

Agi inwardly sighed, “He didn’t notice…”

“Last time he had told me off for nearly three days!”

Agi shivered at the thought, every time he came after he asked for juice rather than liquor Ramana had laughed at him, saying he was still a boy!

It really made him infuriated.

Ramana set the thought aside, his eyes turning a bit colder as he spoke, “Recently, you’ve been hanging around Adam, haven’t you?”

Agi frowned, “So what?”

Ramana shook his head, “Figures, considering you’d even lie about juice.”

Agi turned rigid, “Wha-I…” He stumbled across his words, even turning a little red on the ears, “That’s not fair!” He huffed.

Ramana leaned back regarding Agi with a stern look, “I hate being lied to, Agi.”

Agi began attempting to retort only to be cut off by Ramana again, “A man must take responsibility for his actions.”

Agi opened his mouth but only looked down at the table, grumbling to himself.

Ramana sighed, “Little brother, If you even deceive me for the sake of juice, then what else would you keep from me?”

Agi looked up quickly, “I don’t deceive!”

Ramana shook his head, “And yet you’ve been running around the Temple, completely invisible like a ghost.”

He crossed his arms, “Ever since your display at the trial, you’ve been unseen. Little brother, what have you been plotting with Adam?”

Agi stood up, “I’m not plotting anything! You’re doing this on purpose, Ramana!”

Ramana remained calm, “Doing what?”

Agi crossed his arms with a frown, “You always tell me off.”

The first lord laughed, “Then don’t do anything to be told off.”

Agi sat down with an angry mumble, “You tell me off for everything.”

Ramana leaned on the table, “Agi, I don’t do these things to make you upset. But fine, I understand. I won’t tell you off anymore, so come, tell you’re brother what you’ve been up to.”

Agi gave him a glare, “I don’t want to…” However, getting no reaction out of Ramana, he slowly began, “But fine, Adam…”

Agi explained his worries, and his thoughts.

He even explained how he had trailed him.

Ramana nodded, “You did good. Many within the Temple hide behind a veil. You must always be careful.”

He took a sip from his cup, “Unfortunately, Adam is one of them.” He sighed shaking his head, “He… It’s not his fault really. Just his nature I suppose.”

“But Agi, you have to be careful, though us siblings are forbidden from killing one another, Adam is know for attempting it.”

He pushed his cup to the side, his keen senses had long since picked up on the man hovering outside the door, “For example, Assassins’.”

A frown marred his features, he thought about Annika, she had so boldly declared her relation to Adam, but perhaps to a madwoman like her, Agi was truly doomed.

In fact, she had killed him. Agi didn’t rule out Ramana’s words.

He hadn’t seen any more evidence, but such things could be covered up.

Agi sighed, standing up, “Thanks, elder brother. I’ll see you soon.”

He said closing the door behind him.

Ramana leaned back in his seat, staring at the ceiling, “Annika, you better handle this properly.” He shook his head, “Such a strong piece, it can’t be ruined by the likes of you.”

Agi feels reasurred as he exits the haven of his brother.

He was still a bit unsure, but he at least knew now that Adam is hiding something from him.

He mulls over it in his mind walking slowly, but quickly turns, his eyes glinting as he looks deep behind him.

Someone is there.

He can’t see them, but he knows, undoubtedly someone is there.

Agi quickly ducks, swish!

A hand flies over his head, cutting the air with a vibrating intensity.

Agi jumps back, his heart shaken from what he witnessed.

Strong!

Immediately the overwhelming sensation he had felt from Rudra previously invaded his senses.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Agi dodged repeatedly, before a foot slammed into his chest.

“Not bad, you don’t even have the gift. I respect ya kid.”

A voice sounded out from the hall.

“Hm… Come back with me, I’ll give you a good deal.”

Agi’s eyes swished around, the voice was impossible to pinpoint, he couldn’t find him.

“Who are you?!” Agi growled.

The man sighed, and suddenly appeared, right in front of him, not doing anything except looking at him.

“I was told you’d be dangerous, so I was a bit worried. What a bunch of fools.”

The man shook his head, his lack of respect toward the Temple was evident.

“I’m a mercenary of sorts, kid. A blade for hire.”

He appeared in front of Agi, grabbing his face and tossing him down the hall, his body rolling limply.

The man walked slowly,

“I’m one who has inherited.”

He spoke slowly, “But in simple terms—I’m a hunter.”

Agi’s head was rolling, “Hunter…?” He didn’t know what that was.

He sent his soul into the depths of his world, vanishing from sight.

Only for neck to be grabbed from behind, halting him completely.

“What an interesting little skill.”

The man commented, “I’ve certainly never seen that before, you don’t have an inheritance, do you?”

He looked at Agi curiously, who was desperately punching and clawing at the man, but he remained unmoved.

Completely unharmed.

Total domination.

It was unlike those he had fought previously, he could hurt them, even those who had opened their gift, he could at least damage them….

So why could he do nothing to this man?!

“Stop!”

He shouted trying to fight him off.

“What a rowdy kid.” He shook his head, only for misty instinct to shoot off Agi, wrapping around him, the manifestation roiled in shiny scales.

Agi bit down hard on the mans arm, his manifestation rumbling with intensity—his eyes feral.

The wide teeth cracked with a bang!

The leather braces covering his forearms tore like paper!

But the boys eyes grew wide as white short fur bristled against his mouth.

“F-Fur?!”

Agi was immediately shocked, the man had been a normal human moments ago!

Suddenly… Suddenly he grew fur, and it’s so hard!

He felt blood gurgling up as he abused his manifestation, trying to get the man off.

The Hunter tossed Agi into a nearby wall, his back slamming hard as he fell onto his face.

The hunter seemed serious now, “A manifestation? Manifesting your instinct? That ability is intrinsic to the inheritance. I’ve never seen someone more suited for the bleeding.”

He took a step closer, “Come with me kid, I’ll take you to the order, it’s much better than this place, and maybe you’ll see the world a bit.”

Agi struggled to get up, “I’ll eat you!” He shouted, lugning at him again.

The man only sidestepped, his foot pressing into Agi from the side, and with a light push, Agi was lauched down the hall!

He flew so far… his eyes cloudly from blood, he didn’t even know where he ended up, only the broken walls and the ache in his chest.

Undoubtedly, he had broken more than a few bones.

Agh…

He grunted standing, he had to flee! Right now!

He began to sprint forward, only to run right into the hunter!

“Wh… How?!”

The man looked down, “I gave you plently of chances, I’ll complete the job now.”

He shot a furry arm down at Agi, and the boy could not react.

His stomach pierced immediately.

The man rummaged around a bit, his fingers brushing Agi’s heart.

“Hm?” He said curiously.

“Thats… Odd.”

He noted titling his head, staring at Agi curiously.

“Ah? Oh!” He began to laugh, “Haha! I see! So that’s why!”

He shook his head, tossing agi’s body to the floor.

“No wonder that old monster from Heart Mountain barged into the Order.”

He sighed, “You’re a real monster, aren’t ya?”

He crouched down, looking at the gasping and struggling child in front of him.

“So you’re that perfect human they’ve been struggling so hard for?”

He nodded a few times, “Heart Mountain, they’re a bunch of ancient freaks, but you can’t say their methods are ineffective.”

He stood up, dusting off the hide trousers exaggeratedly and adjusting the furs hung over his shoulder.

“Well, I’ll let you think about it. If you feel like coming to the Order, just give a shout.”

The man hummed, vanishing as he walked off.

Agi felt so weak… that man had done something to his body, he couldn’t feel his legs.

Instead he crawled, he used everything he could, even as his body began to lose feeling he crawled.

He used his arms, then his fingers,

Finally he could only use his chin.

But he had already arrived.

Vistar had to be here. It was his only hope.

He inched forward, bumping his head into the door.

He couldn’t move his mouth, he couldn’t call out.

“Hear it! Please…”

Agi bumped into it again, his body finally going limp as he lost all feeling.

“Vistar! I can’t die yet!”

He cried out inwardly, he felt tears building up.

He had died once before, and he realized both times, the feeling of a true death was terrifying!

Blood pooled onto the cold stone, the gash in his stomach spilling his life, he struggled to manipulate his soul, whatever was done to him was making his manipulation rigid.

His circulation couldn’t run properly, and soon, he would really die to blood loss.

And as the boy faded into unconsciousness the distinct sound of iron on stone became Agi’s final hope.

It would be a while when Agi finally opened his eyes again.

“Agi,” Vistar said, his eyes tilted with worry.

“What happened?”

He had a thinly veiled aura to him, like a sheathed blade, Agi could see Vistars intent for revenge.

Agi only stared up blankly, not moving from the bed.

He felt… almost empty.

What was that? Inheritance? Bleeding?

He didn’t understand… But that power… it was real.

It was on the level that Rudra had showed, or even higher.

A power so overwhelming it was terrifying.

Why had such an important figure from this “Order,” come after him!?

He was angry, but also felt small, so incredibly small and weak.

He had been toyed with, his greatest method that had never failed him was little more than a child’s attempt to compete with an adult.

He felt pathetic.

But that… that power… it was what he wanted!

His mind wandered, the sound of Vistars worry passing over him.

“That’s right… I’m going to live as a human…”

The promise he shared with Samuel slowly brought him back, his eyes flicked to Vistar and he asked a single question, “Vistar… What’s a hunter?”

Agi didn’t want to mention the so called, “Heart Mountain,” He instincts were warning him, screaming not to speak.

Vistar seemed shocked, but suddenly the situation made sense to him.

So thats it.

A hunter had arrived.

“They… They’re a group of humans under an organization called the, Human Order.”

Agi rolled to his side, staring at the wall, “That’s it?”

Vistar shook his head, “No, They are a very feared group of humans. They undergo a ritual, it’s known as the bleeding.”

He looks a bit unsure before saying, “I don’t know the specifics, as they guard it very close to themselves.”

Agi sits up, “This ritual… is it like the bath?”

Vistar shakes his head, “The bath is different, the bath restructures the heart vessel, in order to grant the gift, but the bleeding changes you completely, those who receive an inheritance receive it from a monster.”

Agi titled his eyebrows, “Ramana told me about those… He said they are overwhelming, that not a single race in this world could dream of killing a single monster on their own.”

Vistar nodded, “That’s why they are so feared. These people, sometimes called inheritors, sometimes called hunters, are the single group capable of killing monsters on their own.”

“They wield their own strength against them.”

Agi stared at the bed, “Is there one who can vanish? Oh, He can also grow fur.” Agi began to describe him.

Vistar shook his head, “It’s common for hunters to be capable of erasing their prescence, in fact, they are masters in that regard. Nobody understands how, but they can all do it.”

Agi was annoyed, but said, “Then the fur, what about that?”

Vistar sighed, “That too is common. Every single hunter can take on aspects of the creature they inherited.”

Agi slumped back into the bed, “Then…”

Vistar had a hesitant expression, “But, Agi… I’m well aware of the known figures amongst the Order… And that man, I have heard his name before but…”

Agi’s eyes glinted, as he listened curiously, his heart burning with rage at his assailant.

“He is really quite average amongst his peers… in fact, I’ve heard he might be on the weaker side.”

Agi’s mouth opened, before he gripped the sheets in disbelief, “That can’t be true! I couldn’t even scratch him…”

Vistar just looked down, “There are many things in this world Agi, the Temple is too small of a place.”

Agi looked around for a second before finally replying, “Vistar… Then what am I supposed to do? If they can send people like that…”

“It’s not possible to fund such expenditure. Whoever this foe you’re facing, they undoubtedly lack the wealth.”

Agi nodded, “Alright… But what should I do?”

Vistar put a hand on Agi’s shoulder, “Agi, tell me who you’re facing.”

The boy looked down, but he knew the iron rule well, the single rule enforced by the Emperor amongst the lords, you cannot kill your siblings.

Nor could he weaponize it against Adam, this only mean direct attempts, not assassination attempts.

Seeing his hesitation Vistar frowned, but finally said, “Agi, at every turn, there is a crossroad. The choices that define your life, your path, you must make them for yourself.”

“Just don’t forget, the second path is always there.”

Agi nodded slowly, internalizing Vistars words.

“I get it Vistar…”

The knight captain nodded, “Good, Then come, have a seat, I haven’t seen you in too long. I’ve been back for a week, yet you’ve been glued to the side of the Sixth.” He chuckled.

Agi groaned stumbling over, “Do you have….” Agi began before his voice trailed off, “Never mind.” He muttered.

Vistar tilted his head, grabbing two cups.

He poured a purple juice into each, “Try it, it’s from the eastern union. A rare collection of city states.”

Agi’s eyes glinted, Vistar actually drank juice? Hmph! He needs to give Ramana a good talking to the next time he sees him!

He leaned back taking a sip, “It’s not often that those stuck up nobles band together.”

Agi perked up, he had heard about the outside situation slightly, but never in detail.

“The Eastern Union?”

Vistar played with the cup, “That’s right, They are not too far from here, though we’re in the Heram region, they are settled comfortably within the Nexa Providence.”

Agi nodded slowly, he was familiar with the surrounding areas.

The Nexa providence was bordering the Heram region from the East, seperated by a so called, “No-Survival Zone.”

“The Eastern Union prides themselves on their cultivation of rare fruits.”

Vistar took his sword off his waist, resting it against the wall.

“It’s really quite the beatiful place, I’ll take you there one day, if you’d like.”

Agi nods quickly, “I want to go!”

Vistar laughs lightly, “Good! Then I’ll make some plans, it’s not bad to leave the Temple for a bit. I happen to have some unsettled business there, so it works out.”

Agi settled back into his chair, “Then whats this juice?”

Vistar sets the jar on the table, “Pinberry. It’s a bit bitter, then sweet, but they are small, with a pointy stem, so they eventually started getting called pin berries.”

Agi held the jar, staring at it like a treasure.

“But amongst the fruit there, it’s hardly a favorite.”

Agi set down the jar, “Really?”

Vistar nodded, “Well, I suppose as a juice its more popular, but for fruit alone, Juro fruit are much more common.”

Agi crossed his arms, “You get to eat too much good stuff.”

Vistar sighed, “It’s a matter of perspective.”

The child huffed, “Big words.”

The knight shook his head, “You’ll get to eat a lot of good stuff too, when you’re older.”

The two chatted for a while, but eventually Agi got a bit quiet, “I can’t stay for long.”

Vistar had a wry smile on his face, “Do what you must, just remember, you don’t have to fight this opponent alone. This isn’t the trial where I can’t interfere, or your mother who holds a greater influence than me.”

Agi knew the truth of the situation and that Vistar could do nothing, “I’ll come visit before you leave again.”

He said, standing up.

Vistar took another swig of the pinberry juice before seeing him out.

“Actually,” He said, stopping at the door, “I have something to show you, It may be of some help.”

Agi followed curiously, eventually arriving at a small room within Vistars hall, before the two of them sat a few large structures.

They were held on wheels, with a small carriage holding the circular tube.

Agi stared in confusion, “What… is that?”

Vistar looked at it with a sigh, “A relatively newer piece of equipment. Some are calling it a cannon.”

Agi looked up toward Vistar, “What does it do?”

Vistar walked to its front, angling it toward a far wall, clearly lined with impacts.

“It’s a weapon.”

He grabbed a match from a side table, lighting the fuse on the end of the cannon.

Agi watched intently as it slowly dwindled.

BOOM!

The cannon flew out, slamming into the other wall with a rumble.

Agi was slightly dazed from the sudden noise, taking a moment to catch himself from his shock.

“Wha…”

Vistar nodded, “it’s a marvelous creation. This could revolutionize warefare.” He shook his head, “Unfortunately its of little value to us. For one, a monster would simply ignore even our largest cannons. Inheritors, those monsters could shrug it off too.”

He pressed a hand to his temple, “Even those with an open gift would hardly notice it.”

He ran a hand along the iron, “But it has potential. And for you, whos likely fighting initiates, this is enough to guarentee victory.”

Agi nodded, “How do I get more?”

Vistar let out an exapserated laugh, “You want more?”

Agi stayed silent, unwilling to allow vistar to understand the scale, “Fine, fine, don’t tell me. I’ll just worry.”

Agi looked at the ground slightly, but still didn’t speak.

“Alright, I get it.” He patted Agi’s shoulder, “Reach out to Ramana.”

“Thank you, Vistar.”

Agi said with glance toward Vistar, “I need to go prepare, but I’ll come back soon!”

He shouts, running out of the room.

Vistar watched his retreating back and he let out a breath, his heart still a bit shaken, it was really quite frightening, seeing Agi against his door like that.

The knight captain walked back to his little garden, and there, he planted a small seed, “It’s good those Easter Union folk dislike Pinberries, I got these for cheap.”

He planted a few, gave it some water and then just strolled the garden.

But while Vistar settled his mind, Agi strolled down the halls, it was time to go meet Samuel.

It wasn’t long before Agi arrived before the gate holding the living hall.

This hall was much like the others, it was that same room, however in its center stood a blood red willow.

Agi made his way over, quickly connecting to it and vanishing.

“Second Lord.”

Samuel said respectfully.

Agi nodded, “Samuel… I… I need your thoughts.” Agi said, sitting at one of the tables within the expansive living hall.

The living hall was a massive hall, it held many rooms, and strangely enough to Agi, the people within weren’t seperated into different folds like other halls.

They all existed within the same Living hall, though only a set number could be within one at a time.

It was strange, but Agi didn’t have the capacity to question it for now.

Samuel sat across from him, subtly appreciating the benefits of being under the Second Lord.

Though Agi rarely spoke of it, he had access to the best food, the best service, Agi could have many servants roaming around if he pleased.

Many from the eigth fold seeking an oppurtunity.

And having an entire Living hall to just the two of them, that was perhaps the best part.

“You wanted my thoughts?” Samuel tilts his head, studying the boy.

He seemed a bit uncertain, which was to be expected of Agi, despite his long conversation with Vistar, his near death clung heavily to his mind.

“Adam, what do you think of him?”

Samuel nodded at the question, it was important. He himself was curious what Agi thought, “I believe he’s hiding something. Though I’m not sure what, but honestly… He seems too innocent.”

Though Samuel was a bit hesitant, this was his true thoughts.

“The Temple is a cruel place, it shapes you to forget what you were before and to fight. To fight or die.”

He shook his head, “But Adam, or the Sixth Lord, rather, is simply too innocent. I can’t possibly imagine someone turning out in such a way here.”

He set his hand on the table leaning in, “It just makes no sense.”

Agi tapped his finger on the table, “I was thinking the same… But, he sent an assasin after me today.” He said painfully, the wound still throbbing in his mind.

Samuel stood up quickly, shocked, “What?! I told you I should have come!”

Agi sighed, “You don’t understand. This man was not from the Temple.”

Samuel–still standing–Furrowed his brow, “What do you mean?”

“He came from a place called the Human Order.”

Samuel’s eyes widened, “The Human Order…”

He was well aware of what they were, he himself had been narrowly saved by a hunter in the past.

During a siege his village was overran by monsters, killing nearly everyone, but him and his sister, who had been heavily injured.

He frowned deeply the thought bitter on his conscious, “Your right, I would have been worthless, but that begs the question, how are you still alive?”

Agi picked at the wood of the table, “I’m not sure, I was sure he’d kill me, but he kept talking about brining me back with him. Maybe he thought I’d join him if I became desperate enough.”

Samuel finally sat back down, “Well, you’re certainly a freak of nature, so I suppose that checks out.”

Agi grumbled, “I’m not a freak.”

“Right, Sorry.” Samuel laughs, “But seriously, what are we going to do about him? If the next one decides he doesn’t like you, then what?”

Agi stares at the table only after a while finally saying, “Samuel, I need you to head down, travel through the folds, finding everyone who swore fealty to me. Only take the most desperate with you, regardless of their strength, and bring them to this hall.”

Samuel put a hand to his chin thinking, “Alright, but how will I get them to follow? Many are hardly loyal enough to just come at your beck and call.”

Agi nods, “You’re right…” He thought only for a moment before finally declaring, “Promise them power.”

Samuel stands up, “Alright, I’ll get to it, Stay say, Agi.” His eyes carried a hint of concern.

Agi jumped off the chair, “I have plans myself, so let’s work fast.”

The Second Lord found himself wandering the halls, maneuvering twists and turns, his eyes constantly looking for a threat.

His eyes locked onto a figure approaching.

“Oh! If it isn’t my little friend.”

Annika giggled.

“I was wondering when you’d come to visit, did you miss me?” She said playfully.

But Agi looked at her with scorn, “Get out of the way.”

She pouted, “So mean! Aren’t we friends?”

Agi didn’t want to waste time with her, trying to walk past, but she began walking beside him, “Where are you going?” She asked with a grin.

Agi ignored her, continuing to walk.

“Haha, ignoring me? No fair!” She huffed.

Agi began to speed up, almost running as he tried to avoid her.

“Going to see Adam?”

Agi finally stopped.

“What do you want?” He barked.

She put her hands up, “No need to be so agressive, little monster.” She patted his shoulder a few times, “Listen, now’s not a great time, just hang out with this big sister.”

Agi scoffed, “What sister? Get lost.”

She sighed, “If you go now, you’ll see something really bad.”

He titled his eyebrows, “What do you mean?”

She shook her head, finally turning to leave, “You’ll see his true self.”

He didn’t give her any credibility, only glad she left.

But inside he was slightly shaken, “what did she mean by that?”

But it wouldn’t take him long to find out.

As he stood outside the door to Adams room a familiar unfamiliar face looked down at him.

“Second Lord.”

“Emperor.”

Agi had an ugly look on his face.

“Why are you here, father?” He didn’t want to speak to him, but now he was forced.

“I can’t visit my own son? What a childish bunch.” The Emperor scoffed, looking down at the child before him.

Agi had his arms by his side, ready to fight, “You came here for a reason.”

The Emperor leaned down, “I come, I go, I do as I please. You’d do well to remember that–son.” He said standing up, “It’s really a shame, Agi.” He said walking off.

Agi only stood there, slightly confused, It’s a shame? What is?

He doubted he’d receive an answer, but he was certainly left shaken… So Adam was meeting with the Emperor.

Meanwhile he was getting attacked by assassins?

He stomped into Adams room, “Adam!”

He shouted entering.

Adam jumped up completely shocked by the sudden loud noise.

“Ah… Agi, so it was just you.” He breathed a sigh of relief, holding a hand over his heart, “You scared me.”

Agi narrowed his eyes, “Surprised to see a ghost? Is that it?”

“What was father doing here?”

Adam invited him to sit, nodding, “Oh, Father comes often.”

Agi sat down as he received shock after shock, it was like saying, “I have Fathers full support.”

Agi tapped the table, “He doesn’t do that for anyone else.”

Adam sat back with an awakward expression, “Well, I’m just weak, aren’t I?”

Agi stared at him, that’s it? He’s weak? “Father who only values strength, would visit someone because they’re weak? I refuse to believe it!”

“I encountered an assassin earlier.”

Adam quickly rushed over, looking Agi up and down, “Are you alright?”

Agi scoffed inwardly, so blatantly checking if he got wounded, he couldn’t make it more obvious that he was the perpatrator.

“Vistar healed me.”

Agi decided to play a card of his own, revealing he had the support of Vistar.

Adam smiled widely, “Good! I was frightened, I thought you got hurt.”

Agi felt an ache where he had been punctured, “He’s mocking me…”

“Brother, I just remembered I had plans,” Agi quickly got up, he couldn’t stay a moment longer, afraid he would blow up with rage.

Adam nodded softly, “Alright, I hope you’ll come visit again soon. I’ve been really happy this past week.”

Agi glanced back, he almost believed him.

Almost.

And as the child strolled down the halls, he felt a fury burning in his heart.

The war that Adam has begun, he intended to end it.