Chapter 3 Big new's at the worst time!

Within the Shadow Sword headquarters in a big room with a round table filled with people wearing cloaks and masks. At the head of this table sat a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her 50's.

She had thick Blond hair and fair skin with green eye's; this woman was Kenora Flarando, the current empress of the shadow sword.

She raised her hand " this meeting shall now commence. Now then who would like to begin?" she asked.

"I will!" a woman's voice was heard, a figure stood up removing her hood revealing brunet girl woman with light brown skin and black eye's " Lady Linra Valtina wishes to speak my empress."

Kenoria looked at the woman and said: "What is it you wish to discuss?"

Linra smiled "as you know its been 14 year's since the mage order disbanded and absorbed into the shadow sword order, and is now called the mage faction. during this time thanks to the help of the order we've managed to improve the magic arts ten fold, erasing many of its past weakness."

Kenoria found " where are you going with this Linra? " she said sternly.

Linra continued " over time we trained many new mages, and the mage faction's strength has increased severely, and we've accomplished much, devoting everything for the benefit of the order. However, we have never asked for any reward at the start because we were sincere about appeasing the misunderstanding between mages and the shadow sword order 14 year's ago. so I ask you my empress have we done a lot more than atone for that misunderstanding and are now eligible to ask for a due reward for our loyalty."

Kenoria nodded "indeed it is as you say but what may I ask is it you want as a reward?" she said.

Linra bowed respectfully " my empress I have but two request's, one is that id like to double the research funds for the magic art's to strengthen our ability's further"

Kenoria was a little startled " double your funding, Linra can you not tell silly joke's from what I know, the mage faction is already capable of destroying city's with merely 100 top tier mages combining their magic, or so I'm told. So why would you want to further your power's of destruction?"

" my empress misunderstand's the mage faction's has no further need to further our firepower, rather we wish to put the further study into healing magic so that we can cure illness and heal physical wound's. Just recently my faction has discovered magic we now call light magic, so far we've managed to heal light wound's with it; I believe with further study's we can save a lot of life's and will benefit the shadow sword order." She explained calmly.

Kenoria nodded " if what you say is true it is indeed worth it to increase your funding's. I'll grant your request, but you must provide results within three month's or ill remove the extra funding."

" thank you, my empress" she bowed.

"whats your second request?" Kenoria asked curiously.

"I wish to plea for the crane clans case; the Shadow Sword suppressed them for their betrayal 14 years ago. 14 years of suppression, sanctioning cutting them off resources and supplies. The Crane clan has Declined as a result. I ask that you give the Crane clan another chance to flourish, after all, it was the former mage order who had enticed them to betray you, yet were given a chance to make amends, yet the Crane clan suffer's." Linra places her face on the table " the Crane Clan were once a pillar of the shadow sword order, I beg you empress please give them another chance!"

Kenoria sighed deeply " Lady Linra I to believe the Crane clan should get another chance, but this matter is complicated, there is a reason why I've been punishing the Crane clan forcing them to decay all this time. And that reason is to make sure they don't get wiped out from this world" she said gravely.

Linra raised her head and became shocked at her word's. " Can empress please elaborated so this humble servant can understand?"

Kenoria looked her in the eye's "it's quite simple it's because of your former fiance Shinta Crane and the shadow sword's most powerful weapon revered as the Assassin god; code name Demon!" she said solemnly.

Linra Trembled after hearing that name; it was a wound on her soul that doesn't heal. The name of a man who she spent her teen years deceiving with false love, under the order's of her now deceased grandfather Boris Valtina; to lead him into a death trap eventually. A man who she hated to her very core but feared him the most.

"my empress, the Assassin God Demon, had not shown himself ever since the incident 14 years ago, no one has heard from him all this time or knows if he's even still alive." She said nervously trembling than spoke on. " furthermore even if The Demon returns. I doubt hed pose much of a threat I'm confident our mage faction can keep him in line if he tries to go against the Shadow Sword order's wishes to forgive his clan, which he was born in?" she said; mocking as she finished speaking.

Hearing Linda's words the empress placed her palm upon her forehead than glance at her as if she were looking at an Idiot. " Linra you spent some of your teen year's with him, yet you don't know him at all; you have no idea what kind of man he is."

Linra frowned "empress forgive me for speaking out of turn. But I fail to see why Shinta Crane would wipe out his clan; no one is that ruthless he is after all still a human. Besides with how far and powerful the mage faction has become, isn't it safe to assume that Shinta Crane is but a relic of the past?"

Kenoria snickered at her " Are you saying that you believe since magic arts have evolved and become more powerful and efficient since 14 years ago you'd be able to take the Assassin god down? furthermore, you're saying that this Assassin god is human and would take blood tie's into consideration when dealing with his enemy's?"

Linra felt agitated but did her best to keep her composure," does the empress think my words are untrue?" she said anxiously.

When Linra finished her sentence the room filled with laughter, And ridicule towards her, by her fellow counsellors, A few of the black cloaked figures spoke out.

"ha ha ha, the lady Linra shows her naivety ha ha ha!"

"Indeed She knows nothing of the demon she almost married."

"a woman this stupid and ignorant is in the high council for her faction? I fear for the Mage factions survival."

she was mocked brutally by the other counsellor's, Linra was very much annoyed.

"why do you all mock me!? are you making light of my faction!?" she yelled.

Kenori yelled out "silence!"

the room instantly went entirely not a sound could be heard.

Kenoria sighed before talking " Linra they do not mock you because they look down on your faction. They mock you because of your ignorant's. do you know how Shinta Crane earned his nickname Demon?"

Linra was dazed at this question because for the past 14 year's she honestly believed he had been dead all this time and never given him a second thought, Which is why she never bothered to investigate his past when she became a counsellor. Nor during her time spent with him in her teen years; So she could only Shake her head in response.

Kenoria smirked at her "then allow me to explain it to you. Many years ago there was a clan of equal standing to the Crane Clan. This clan was known as the Eagle Clan, at the time these two clans Shared a deep rivalry and hatred for each other. They were both mighty pillars of the Shadow Sword order.

However upon my order's at that time I oranged for their civil fighting to come to an end and organised the two be in-laws through marriage. A woman of the Eagle clan was to be married to current Crane clan head. The Crane clad head was Shinta's father and one of my close friend's Haku Crane, and the woman chosen to be his wife was Shinta's mother, Diana Eagle. after there marriage, there was peace between the Two clans for a time; shortly after Shinta was born."

Linra was quite startled at this new's because she had never heard of the Eagle clan before, she stood there patiently not missing a word.

Kenroria continued after taking a breath "Shinta grew up as a happy child, pure and innocent he was also a prodigy in chi wilding and martial arts, already defeating adults in single combat. Then one day it was discovered, that during the nine years of marriage to Haku and the Crane clan. His mother Diana was Secretly smuggling cultivation's resources, wealth and family secret's to the eagle clan throughout her entire marriage. This weekend the crane clan while making the Eagle clan flourish and surpass the Crane clan. When this happened the Eagle Clan dispatched its forces to subdue the Crane clan, however, before the eagle clans invasion, Diana eagle Layed out the groundwork. She Assassinated many of the key leading elder's of the Crane clan, Leading to the clan falling into chaos. However, Haku soon found out that it was his wife who was the traitor. When he confronted her, Diana killed him without hesitation right before her son's eyes and another servant present. Diana was a complete loyalist to her clan she married and bore a son to Haku, playing the dutiful wife all for the sake of one day having her clan take control over the Crane clan. But Something happened beyond expectation's When confronted by the eye's of her 9-year-old son She told Shinta everything, how his very birth was a means to an end for her clan to flourish and conquer all, then she killed herself in front of him; and the worst part was she died with a smile on her face." Kenoria clenched her fist just recalling when she saw her corpse back than after the incident.

The room became very gloomy people couldn't bring them selfs to speak. Linra felt a deep chill hearing this dark truth.

Kenoria lowered her head "after that incident the crane clan became subordinate to the Eagle clan without a hitch. But the day they subdued the Crane clan was the day they sealed their fate. Because the young boy, Shinta had gone into hiding and he hid so well not even all the elite trackers of the Shadow Sword could find him, he Vanished without a trace. Then one day three year's later a big tragic calamity befall the Eagle clan. I received a report that the Eagle clan was wiped out, not a single survivor." She raised her hand placing up her chest"I personly went to the Eagle clans domain to investigate this incident, after all, The Eagle clan was now the core pillar of the Shadow Sword order's strength, losing them cost us greatly." Her eye's narrowed at Linra "when I reached the town gate's of the Eagle Clan along with my escort's, do you know what I saw ?"

Linra was Trembling she was far too frightened to dare answer that question.

Kenoria's voice became very Serious " I saw a 12-year-old boy dressed in black Holding a bloody Dagger and Katana in his hand's, standing in the middle of the town square; Surrounded by a countless number of corpse's scattered throughout the entire town! Not one survivor, men woman, and children all dead. In a duration of fewer than 48 hours, the Eagle Clan was wiped out by a 12-year-old boy! And that boy was Shinta crane! And! When I looked into that boy's eye's He was smiling he looked so happy like it was his birthday party receiving gifts. Furthermore, The Eagle clan, Was his maternal Family!"

Boom! It was as if a bomb had gone off in Linra's mind; She was completely unaware of all of this. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, how could a 12-year-old boy be cable of wiping out a clan that powerful by himself there must be an explanation is what she thought.

"Impossible! if what you say is true how could a mere boy be cable of such, destroying one of the pillars of the Shadow sword Order, this is just surreal!" Linra creamed out in fear and shock.

Kenoria scoffed at her "Indeed very surreal; I also thought the same until I asked Shinta to tell me everything that happened, such as how did he do it, it was needless to ask why he did it. He to told me he consulted a poison master than received a lethal poison, which he used to poison the Eagle clans water supply, a poison that leaves no sign and no pain, you die peacefully hours later after you drink it. It was the weapon he used to kill the woman and children who were in their households. And as for everything else that was all his physical handiwork. As for how he became so powerful, he wouldn't give me an answer; he just smiled at me." she said bitterly.

Linra was trembling after hearing this new's she was at a complete loss for words. after a bit of pondering she asked: "if things are as you say than how were you able to tame him, and swearing allegiance to the order?"

Kenoria smiled bitterly "Shinta didn't swear allegiance to the order, he swore his allegiance to me alone and to my future air's and so on. And as for how I managed to do it, its quite simple I promised to Forever erase the Eagle clan from the history books and forever band the name Eagle from being spoken nor be used as a family name throughout the six kingdoms. And, to return everything the eagle clan took from the Crane clan, and to do everything in my power to restore his clan to its former glory. In exchange, he swore loyalty to me alone, because there was a small part of him who cared about his clan. "

Kenoria Stood up " Do you understand now Linra? Do you now understand why I can't lift punishment on the Crane clan? Its to appease the demon on the off chance he may return and seek revenge. And the Crane Clan will be number one on his hit list. If I were you Linra a remnant of the mage Order Who enticed his clan to betray him, I would Pray to the Heaven's that the Demon never returns" after she finished speaking she sat back down sighing.

Linra was very much startled, but she refused to give up" my empress at the end of the day it's been 14 years. If Shinta was still alive how come, he has taken no action? Why does he wait?" she said sternly.

All the council member's nodded their head in approval at this point because they too were also wondering the same thing.

Kenroria frowned she was in a bit of a pickle she never revealed the information regarding Shinta's amnesia because she was waiting patiently for her most potent weapon to return. She couldn't refute her word's without telling the truth about Shinta.

Suddenly the Door's to the room open a man dressed in rushed in with haste " my Empress!" he yelled in distress and panting heavily.

Everyone was startled, all except the Empress, She spoke calmly "what new's do you bring messenger to be brief him in the middle of an important gathering."

When the white messenger caught his breath, he spoke gravely "The Assassin God lord Demon has returned!"

The whole room was in an uproar "What!!!!" the council member's said in unison, and Linra got a big chill down her spine while facing the messenger. But when she turned looking back at the empress, she was Shocked. Kenoria was smiling; she was not startled in the slightest.

Kenoria laughed " Ha ha ha ha ha ha.. what small world we live in ha ha ha ha ha ha it, it looks like you spoke too soon Linra ha ha ha ha" she was at the pinnacle of joy.

everyone went silent and was puzzled by this.

Linra spoke up " my empress I don't think this is a laughing matter the shadow sword order could be in danger, why are you in such high spirits!"

Kenora Soffed at her then looked to the messenger "Messenger has the demon killed anyone yet?"

the messenger bowed " no my empress; he seems docile for the moment, adjusting to his current lifestyle after recovering from his amnesia" he said respectfully.

Boom! an uproar broke out once again.

"What!"

"You're saying he's been alive all this time but had suffered amnesia."

"How come he's been hidden from us all this time."

"What's going on if he didn't die how did he lose his memories."

Random question's continue to be thrown out, the empress frowned and halted them " silence!" she yelled. Once again they all paused and faced the empress, she raised her hand " thank you, messenger, you may leave now."

"yes, my empress" the man dressed in white turned around and took his leave.

Linra couldn't console herself she had to ask " Empress can you please give us all an explanation?"

Kenoria ignored her " this meeting is adjourned you're all dismissed, take your leave until called upon again." she said solemnly.

Without hesitation, all council member's stood up and left. However, Linra lingered still facing the empress waiting for an answer; she couldn't accept today's outcome.

Kenoria frowned " Linra did you not hear what I just said?"

"I... I.. ah" Linra became flustered.

"get out !" Kenoria snapped.

Linra regained her composure and bowed "yes my empress ill leave now" she turned and left out the doors.

Kenoria pondered to herself. ' I hope my daughter is safe, and I hope my gamble bore fruit. If my daughter is unharmed, it means my plan worked, if she's dead than the situation is beyond solving.' she sighed ' it seems my daughter is safe for now' "Cora!" she called out, a moment's later a red-haired woman in dark leather armour with brown skin, and blue eye's appeared beside her, bowing " yes my lady?"

"ready my carriage and luggage, tomorrow I leave for the slovark kingdom," she said firmly.

"Right away my lady" Cora than faded into the shadows.