Chapter 25: Strange Ending (Part 1)

The vast cathedral was now devoid of any figures. It had been temporarily designated as a restricted area, with over a hundred knights and mages from the Holy Knights stationed outside, forbidding anyone from entering.

At the cathedral's entrance, Asa presented Commander Roland's longsword as proof of authorization. Only then did the two captains allow him entry. The Holy Knights had never been responsible for guard duties or enforcing lockdowns, and in the short term, it was difficult to find an appropriate token of authorization unique to Commander Roland. Thus, Roland had simply given his personal longsword to Asa as a temporary pass.

This precaution was indeed necessary, as the matters inside were far too important at the moment.

At the center of the cathedral, the grand and solemn holy statue had been moved aside. Its base revealed a pitch-black gaping hole leading to a cellar, resembling a monstrous beast whose wide-open mouth exuded a decaying, putrid aura from its depths.

Asa took a deep breath and plunged into the black void. Although this was not his first time entering, the stench inside was still unbearable. He quickly realized that holding his breath was futile, so he exhaled and inhaled the air, which reeked like rotting cotton. Step by step, he descended the stairs, feeling a strange sensation brushing over him, as though he had passed through a wind of solidified magical energy—this was the feeling of crossing a magical barrier.

Whether it was his heightened sensitivity or something else, Asa had an odd intuition this time while passing through the barrier. The magical barrier didn't seem to be designed to protect this place, but he lacked the magical knowledge to pinpoint what exactly felt off.

As he continued downward, the roars of beasts that once echoed through the dungeon were now absent. The only sound was the occasional crackling of sparks from the torches, providing a faint semblance of life to the silence. Apart from this, the only other sound was a heavy breathing that filled the enclosed space.

The breathing was loud, but it carried no signs of life or vitality. It sounded more like the mechanical wheezing of an air pump. Yet, it was undeniably the sound of a single person's labored breaths, even accompanied by faint vibrations as air passed over vocal cords. Though the breathing didn't sound pained, Asa inexplicably felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

The vast dungeon was dimly illuminated by a single torch mounted on the wall. Asa entered, and the torch in his hand doubled the brightness in the space. Even so, the light remained limited.

There were only two figures in the room: one was Sandru, sitting on a wooden stool, and the other was Jarvis, lying on the ground. The heavy breathing emanated from Jarvis. The once confident, elegant, and composed Cardinal now resembled a dead dog. In the flickering torchlight, his face was pale to the point of being terrifying, starkly contrasting with the dark floor he lay on. His eyes were open, but anyone who looked at them would mistake them for glass marbles, devoid of any vitality. If not for the sound of his breathing, Asa would never have believed he was still alive.

"I originally thought he'd hold out until I shoved his head up his own ass, but he reached his limit before that… What a shame my holy magic isn't refined enough; otherwise, I'd have made it much more entertaining," Sandru remarked, kicking Jarvis's motionless body with his foot. The ground beneath Jarvis was soaked with a large puddle of sweat.

Jarvis' body bore no visible injuries, but Asa knew that in Sandru's hands, physical wounds were irrelevant. Someone could be flayed alive and then healed to perfect condition, so the art of inflicting endless torment without causing harm—or letting the victim die—was well within Sandru's capabilities.

Looking at Jarvis's lifeless face, Asa sighed slightly and asked, "So, did he confess?"

Sandru sneered, "Of course he did. He told us everything he could. Otherwise, why do you think that boy Roland left? To his credit, he was smart enough to spill everything without me even lifting a finger. He knew he couldn't hide anything from me, let alone escape death."

"Then why is he in this state?" Asa was taken aback.

"Paying for his father's sins. Since we can't catch the guy who dared frame me, naturally, I'll have him take on some of his father's burden. That brat used to pride himself on his interrogation skills, so today I gave him a taste of what real torture is like, Dehya Valley style," Sandru said, his tone filled with disdain and a hint of malice. He snorted coldly, as if still unsatisfied. "But this is only temporary. One day, I'll head to Dehya Valley and settle the score with his father. I doubt those old guys over there will side with him; at most, they'll just let him fend for himself."

When Asa later heard Sandru recount how close he had come to falling into the trap and not returning, Asa couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. Had that happened, the situation in the royal capital would have truly spiraled into irredeemable chaos.

After the confrontation with the Marquis, Asa had resolved to counterattack. He instructed Elaine to remain at the Prime Minister's residence and act as though nothing had happened to mislead their enemies, while he himself returned to the inn. Disguising himself with a backup mask, he infiltrated the Magic Academy.

Sandru had always been Asa's hidden trump card. Though the eccentric old man maintained an indifferent, detached demeanor, Asa trusted that when the time came, Sandru would take action.

However, upon reaching the academy, Asa found Sandru absent from the library. Others mentioned he had left urgently on some critical matter. At the same time, Asa heard rumors of strange behavior from the Cardinal at the cathedral. More importantly, while investigating near the teleportation array, Asa discovered that the Marquis had not returned, and the array had already been sabotaged. Connecting Sandru's sudden departure with these clues, Asa immediately deduced this was part of a diversionary tactic.

Before Asa could fully grasp the purpose of this diversion, news arrived that the Queen, the Cardinal, and the acting commander of the Holy Knights were summoning all the ministers for an emergency meeting. This confirmed to Asa that Jarvis and his allies were losing patience and preparing for a final showdown.

Even knowing he was stepping into a trap, Asa had no choice but to go. In the capital, he was the only one capable of influencing the situation, even slightly. However, he also knew he couldn't turn the tide alone. The resolution of this crisis depended on Commander Roland or Sandru. With the teleportation array destroyed to delay them, Asa's only option was to buy time—time for their return.

Thus, he devised a risky plan, freeing Talice from her cell and having her wait for Jarvis at the academy, hoping to delay him when the moment came. Though this gambit put the female knight in grave danger, Asa had no choice under such dire circumstances.

The plan was fraught with peril and uncertainty. When Asa reached the Queen's chamber, he found her subdued, bound by holy magic seals that suppressed the dark energy within her. As a vampire, being constrained in such a way was more unbearable than being deprived of water. Asa immediately realized the Queen was no longer their ally but a tool for their enemies.

Strangely, faced with such a hopeless situation, Asa found himself calmer than ever. Perhaps it was because there was no way out, or because he had matured mentally. He quickly formulated a solution. If Jarvis hadn't come to his senses and returned midway, the situation might have taken a different turn. Even after Jarvis's return, Asa managed to maintain control of the scene, miraculously stalling long enough for Sandru and Roland to arrive.

Although Asa had done his utmost, the ultimate victory strangely hinged on a stroke of luck—a spatial scroll used by the necromancers. Without it, Sandru would likely have ended up as a pile of mangled flesh, according to the Marquis's carefully laid plans.

The Marquis's face, always radiating charm with a bewitching smile and intoxicating charisma, floated once again into Asa's mind. Along with it came the chilling schemes crafted by his hand, every one of them hair-raising. Even now, Asa found it hard to reconcile this man with the horrific deeds he orchestrated. Sighing deeply, Asa asked, "So, you managed to get him to admit that his father was actually the mastermind behind Bishop Ronis' murder?"

"Of course, I got it out of him. But the exact method is still unclear; we only deduce that he likely exploited Duke Murak somehow," Sandru mused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "This guy is incredibly dangerous. Honestly, even I didn't expect his cunning to run so deep, his methods so ruthless, and his plans so seamless—as if everything unfolded just as he anticipated. If I hadn't been lucky, I might have been done for. Hmph. It's been years since I've felt any hesitation about someone, and this time, it's not even because of his personal strength." Sandru snorted again, his eyes brimming with a dark, murderous intent. "Impressive, this guy…"

"And what exactly is his goal in all of this? Did you manage to uncover that?" Asa pressed. He had never been too keen on prying into these shadowy dealings, but under the current circumstances, knowing more could only be beneficial.

Sandru furrowed his brow and shook his head. "Heh, that's the part I can't quite figure out. Whether it's that kid—who was doomed to die at my hands—or that girl, Vadenina…" He paused and glanced at Asa, seemingly on purpose, then sighed heavily, lowering his head. "What exactly do they want? I thought the matter from twenty years ago should've been over by now…"

"Twenty years ago? What happened then?" Asa was stunned for a moment before recalling something he had heard long ago. "Twenty years ago… is it about Vadenina becoming a lich and you leaving Dehya Valley? Was there more to it—"

Sandru suddenly shot Asa a sharp look, causing him to clamp his mouth shut. The glance carried a hint of anger, but more of something that was hard to decipher. He said nothing, simply closing his eyes again with a deep sigh. The sound of his frustration echoed heavily in the underground chamber, lingering for a long while.

Asa hesitated but chose to stay silent. He knew that if Sandru didn't want to speak, asking further would only invite a scolding.

After a long pause, Sandru opened his eyes and asked, "How are things upstairs?"

"Upstairs?" Asa was momentarily confused.

"Naturally, the damned Emperor, Empress, and all those ministers, the court—what's the situation?" Sandru sighed again, heavier this time. He rarely sighed, but these two carried a weight that was palpable. "Damn it, if those old bastards from Dehya Valley who know me saw me worrying about such things now, they'd laugh their asses off."

Asa was about to answer but hesitated as his gaze fell on Jarvis, lying motionless on the floor. Sandru snorted, "You can consider him dead now. No need to worry."

"There's not much aftermath to deal with. Since the main culprit has been caught and the Empress has been cured…"

Sandru, as if suddenly reminded of something, pointed at Asa and demanded, "How exactly did you cure her? Tell me the truth—don't mess around. I didn't bother scrutinizing your methods, but I know no one can turn a vampire back into a human."

Asa chuckled and replied, "I only said I cured her, restored her mind, but I never claimed to have turned her back into a human."

Sandru froze. "Then what did you—"

"You said it yourself. A seed that has grown into a plant can't revert to being a seed. But I didn't turn her back into a seed—just made her look like one. Isn't that enough?"

Understanding dawned on Sandru, and he nodded. "Oh. You turned her… into another type of undead?"

"Something similar to a mix between a zombie and a vampire. She retains her full consciousness and ability to move freely, but I erased the vampire's bloodlust and most of its traits. Her vitality is now sustained purely by necromantic magic. Whether she cultivates it herself or someone transfers it to her, she can maintain her life this way."

Sandru nodded again. "Somewhat like a lich's physique, though much cruder and more inferior. I didn't expect you to come up with such a compromise to muddle through this."

"There really wasn't any other way, so I had to gamble on this. I wasn't certain it would work, but thankfully, it succeeded. As long as she stays away from holy magic and holy water, the secret can remain hidden. I've informed Commander Roland and the Prime Minister, and they've made arrangements to ensure everything stays under control."

Though not a complete resolution, it was enough to…

Sandru nudged Jarvis's limp body with his foot and asked, "What about this guy's accomplice? How was he dealt with?"

"Hmm…" Asa pondered for a moment, then frowned and shook his head. "That guy… While Commander Roland intended to execute him, the Empress intervened to plead for his life. Plus, since he didn't join Jarvis in attacking at the critical moment, and the ministers believed he was coerced and misled, Commander Roland ultimately stripped him of his rank and banished him."

"You're not going to kill him?" Sandru raised an eyebrow.

Asa sighed and shook his head. "He had his reasons. Besides, if they've chosen to spare him, why should I go after him?"

Sandru snorted coldly and asked, "And what about the rest?"

"The rest… there's nothing much left, just the slow work of explaining everything…"

"Looks like Roland has his work cut out for him." Sandru nodded. After all, the Emperor and the Holy Knight Commander had returned on a necromancer's undead creature, defeated the Pope's appointed Cardinal, and apprehended him. Then, the most notorious criminal on the continent, who had just kidnapped the Empress and Prime Minister, was released and disappeared… Explaining the sequence of events, clarifying what was necessary, and convincing everyone to believe what they should believe—this would be no easy task.

"The hardest part will be dealing with the Emperor. He personally witnessed your necromantic magic. Getting him to keep it secret isn't likely—he lacks the composure for that and will keep asking questions…"

"The Griffinhart family always has a few screws loose," Sandru grumbled impatiently. "Either they're missing a couple of brain cells, or they've got a couple extra ones…"

"That's why Commander Roland told me his plan before I came. It's actually something the Emperor requested himself after hearing about everything…" Asa paused, hesitating as he looked at Sandru.

"Out with it—don't waste my time," Sandru snapped, glaring at him. "But don't expect me to help them. If it weren't for the fact that I still need to stay at the Magic Academy, I wouldn't bother with any of this."

"You can certainly stay here. The Emperor wants to invite you to be his teacher… Oh, and there's a title—what's it called? Court Mage… or maybe Royal Advisor?"

Sandru, who had been standing steadily, suddenly staggered and almost fell.