BXBX NOVEL Chapter 23 Shadow Sword & Beric Zastan
The awakening ceremony of Rio was originally planned after a week from now but after learning about the curse - I don't think Rio's parents would risk it now as my body is still weak and would probably delay it for some time. That also helps me , as there are some things that could help me better prepare for my awakening so I will have time to go and get them.
Aside from Noah , the one who poses a big threat to me are Esme & Beric. Esme is in prison as of now and she would probably be killed if Artemis learns of her vampire origins so I don't need to do anything. But Beric is still free and if he is the one who put a curse on me then I have to take care of him faster.
Though killing him now would change the story as he was supposed to be killed by Leon much later but I can't let him be free - when I don't know anything about the curse.
Thinking about all this I decided to tell Artemis about him. Knowing about Artemis's nature from the book if Beric really was the one who cursed me then I'm sure she can get all the answers from him.
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*** 3rd POV
" It was Beric Zastan who cursed me MOTHER. He's been working with Evil's Scion." - Rio said in a serious tone.
Artemis who was lost in her thoughts was shocked when she heard her son's voice. She looked at his face and seeing him all serious she could tell he wasn't joking. - "How do you know?" Artemis asked .
" When I was playing with Ria that day I saw him talking with someone using the communication devices which aren't ours. He was asking someone about the NETHER CARDS*. I was coming to tell you about that but I fell unconscious on my way." - I replied in the same tone.
Artemis still would have doubted Rio before but after listening to his explanation , she knew he was probably telling the truth. He had no reason to lie about a matter this serious. She didn't ask why Rio knew about Evil's Scion and Nether Cards cause as the future heir of Duchy he was taught about almost everything that he should know about the world and Rio himself was a genius at learning and never slacked off .
Artemis was now worried that if during Rio's awakening the Evil's Scion used Nether Cards then what would've happened.
During awakening ceremony the mana present in the surrounding gathers around the person's body and rebuilds it to make it more susceptible to mana and if at that time anyone used Nether Cards, which are used to disrupt the mana flow in a certain area and make it go berserk - the awakening process would fail and that person would be crippled at the best case but there's also chances of him dying.
Just a week , just one week later was Rio's awakening ceremony planned. Which means if Rio didn't fall unconscious and they didn't learn about the curse - there's no chance that Rio would survive that attack. With his body already affected by curse and awakening if they add the nether cards - his body would break apart.
The thought of Rio's death in such a horrible way made Artemis so angry that her mana went out of her control and pressure of a S rank started spreading in the whole mansion. All the remaining staff and nearby guards were on their knees as they had trouble breathing. Some weaker ones even fell unconscious.
Artemis clenched her fists so hard that blood started dripping out from her hands , her dark black eyes were shining as a red hue started surrounding it. Her bloodlust was leaking out as she imagined the scene of her son trapped in the nether zone dying.
It was then that she felt a hand on her shoulders , she turned around and saw her shadow Myra , who was now holding Rio in her arms as a blue veil of mana surrounded both of them. Myra shook Artemis's shoulder as sweat drops started forming on her head. - "Please control yourself master. "
It was then that Artemis came back to her senses and calmed her mana pressure. It was only for a few seconds but just from pressure alone she had suppressed almost everyone in the mansion.
She looked at her shadow and said - "Thank you Myra."
Myra bowed at her master and freed Rio. She then took two steps back and stood there silently.
Artemis looked at her son who was standing straight like nothing happened , his face still looking calm. She knew he was trying to show that he was fine and wasn't affected. And Artemis would've believed him if she couldn't see the sweat drops on his head or hear his fast heartbeat.
She started blaming herself again cause if not for Myra protecting him , he would be the most affected. Though his life won't be in danger as there are many treasures on his body that could protect him but still it would hurt him badly. She took a deep breath as she bent down. She wiped the sweat with her sleeve and kissed his forehead.
"Myra, take Rio back in. I have something to deal with. And stay with him till I come." - Artemis ordered her shadow and turned around. She took a final look at Rio and then melted in the shadows around her. With no signs left that she was ever here a moment ago or where she is now.
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(Shadow Queen of Schilla - So that's her power now)
Rio thought as he looked at the spot where Artemis was standing. He wasn't afraid when she released her pressure , as he already knew about Myra and believed that she'll save him. He was actually thinking about how he would have to fight Artemis once in the future if everything went according to the plot and if he would be strong enough by then.
"Let's go in young master. I believe young lady Amelia is still waiting for you." - Myra said as she thought Rio was still shocked by that pressure. And his sister could help cheer him up.
It was only then that Rio remembered he had promised to come back early and play with Amelia. He shook his head and decided to not worry about that for now , for he was already changing future events and he still had time. So he said - "Yeah, let's go in."
_
While Rio and Myra were going towards the mansion , Artemis was on her way to Beric Zastan. Who was currently sitting with his friends and chatting happily in the barracks. Totally unaware that his death was coming towards him.
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Beric who was listening to his friends talking about the increased security and punishment for the captured staff in the mansion. Suddenly threw his drink aside and stood up. He drew his sword out and started looking all around him carefully. But aside from his 4 friends he couldn't find anyone.
At first his friends we're surprised by his unusual behavior but soon they too felt that something was wrong , the mana in the surrounding area was getting thinner. It meant that either someone had casted a superior spell or used an artifact to make a closed barrier. Both of these were situations that they were unaware of so they too drew their swords out and looked around. All 5 of them got into a formation and Beric who was their leader was standing at the front , said - " whoever you are. Listen carefully , This is Duke Blake's territory. Get out now and show yourself. "
Everyone looked around but they couldn't spot anyone. It was then that light around them started getting dimmer. One of them turned around only to see that their shadows started moving from the ground and covered all the windows and places from where sunlight was coming in. The hall was fully thrown in darkness.
" Captain try to use your spells. We need some light." - One of the guards looked towards Beric and said.
" I'm trying , the mana is acting weirdly around here. Hold on." - Beric said as he had no idea who would be so brazen so attack here . He was trying to cast a spell for light but it wasn't working. Finally when he gathered all his mana, a small white ball of light started floating above his hands.
He looked around towards his friends but all of them were already on the ground knocked out.
He pushed the light a little further and there he saw shadows gathering towards one place. Soon he started hearing noises of footsteps coming towards him and then came a voice - " You would regret going after my son."
(First shadow magic & then a women's voice - it can only mean it's her)
A shiver ran down Beric's spine when he figured out who this voice belonged to . He didn't even waste time trying to think about why she came here or how she knew about him. He took out a square black card and tried to supply his mana into it but he couldn't do that. He already used all the mana he could in this affected area and now he couldn't even gather a little bit to activate the nether card , that he had on him.
" I told you, you would regret going after my son."
He heard the voice again and before he could say anything he felt the pressure of a mountain crushing on his shoulders and he fell on the ground face first.
Artemis came near him , she bent down and picked up the fallen nether card. She looked towards Beric and the coldness of her eyes was the last thing he saw before he fell unconscious.
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NETHER CARD - A card made by pure cursed mana. Once used it could alter the flow of mana in the surrounding area and even make it go berserk. In the past some Evil's Scion high ranking officials also used it to kill themselves if they are ever caught by their enemies, by infusing their own mana into the card, thus blasting themselves into pieces.