Chapter 436 - Veiled Threats

Fun to have Kassius back!

Once, the idea of walking into a circle of nobles and royalty would have made Hump nervous. But now? He felt oddly steady. Certain.

He didn’t belong here. The political games and social norms escaped him, and he didn’t care to learn them. These people—they danced, drank, and feasted when the next War of the Firmament was right around the corner. All the while one of the cogs in the warlock plan walked amongst them, welcomed home as a hero. For all their wealth and power, very few people knew the situation.

Right now, that knowledge felt like armour. Hump had walked the Remnant Realm. He had seen the truth behind the veil. No amount of silk, silver, or sanctified blessings from High Priests could erase what Kassius had once become. They might be blind to the shadow around his soul, but Hump had once born a shadow like it, and he knew how hard it was to be rid of even just an imprint.

The fact that Kassius had passed the test of the high priests told Hump only one thing—the warlocks had gone to great efforts to ensure his allegiance remained undetected. But Hump had to be sure. The kingdom was about to commit to an attack on the warlock stronghold, and now a great big unknown had appeared at the very heart of Elenvine. If it were to be left alone, the Seal of Elenvine was at risk.

Celaine gave him a wary look as they broke from the crowd. “What do you mean you would never cause trouble? What are you going to say to him?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Hump said. “But it would be unusual for us not to greet him, wouldn’t it, Marcela? Celaine and I were there when he was allegedly killed.”

Marcela sighed beside him. “Hump has a point. It’s only polite for you to speak with him and check in. Though with everyone else frolicking around him, you may just be one more in the crowd. But what will you do if he truly doesn’t remember you?”

“He remembers,” Hump said. “I’m sure of it. I saw it in his eyes.”

Celaine slipped her arm through his and pulled him toward her, slowing him down for a moment. “Are you certain you want to do this? It’s not too late to avoid him for the evening and mind our own business.”

Hump met her eyes and tried to give her a reassuring smile. He nodded. “We’re already involved. This is our opportunity to gather information. We can’t be left in uncertainty, especially knowing what he really is. There’s no knowing what he might do.”

“At least get Bud,” Celaine said. “The three of us were together at the time. It only makes sense for us all to meet him now.”

“Good idea,” Hump said. “And Bud’s got the gravitas to ensure we’re not lost amongst the crowd.”

Celaine narrowed her eyes at him. “You mean he’s tall.”

“Gravitas, Celaine. Gravitas.”

His mind raced even as his body carried him onward through the crowd in search of Bud. For all his reasoning, the truth was that this was personal. He wanted answers. He wanted to look Kassius in the eye—a man he had once admired, who stood against the elitism of the Chosen and advocated for practitioners—and show him that not everyone here would be fooled.

Hump found the knight deep in conversation with a striking young woman who was laughing at something he’d said. Emilia stood nearby, snacking on miniature food items, her face somewhere between amusement and disapproval.

“Bud,” Hump said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go have a word with a prince, shall we?”

“With a who?” Bud asked.

Hump gave him a look.

“Oh,” Bud said, more serious now. He glanced at Celaine as if for approval, then back at Hump. “Are you sure?”

“We were comrades,” Hump said evenly. “It’s only right we welcome him home. Have you seen Dylan?”

Bud nodded in the direction of the dance floor, where Dylan and Lorissa held each other closely, wide smiles on their faces.

“Let’s leave him to it,” Hump said. “He didn’t know Kassius anyway.”

Together, Hump, Bud, Celaine, Marcela, and Emilia crossed the ballroom. As they approached the cluster of nobles surrounding Prince Gregory and Kassius, Hump felt a few eyes on him. He met them with an awkward smile, but they weren’t interested in him. It wasn’t long before Hump caught Prince Gregory’s eye, who gave him a nod.

Kassius was at the centre of it all. He was mid-story, recounting the Battle of Fort Nordric, how he had been released into a scene of fire and destruction and fought his way to join what was left of the defenders. Through fire and blood, they had carved a path through the demons, and Kassius finally felt free. For the first time in two years, he could fight back.

It was a powerful story, and perhaps some parts of it were true, but Hump had heard Kassius speak like that before. He knew how well the man wore the mask. And he knew what hid beneath it. Though he also knew the man had the skills to back up what he said. In Bledsbury, relying on his warlock powers, he possessed power to rival even a silver ranked adventurer. Though in Hump’s current state, he was confident he would prove victorious. At least, against the old Kassius. Two years had passed, and if High Priests were not detecting the warlock in Kassius now, much had obviously changed.

Prince Gregory’s voice cut through the hum of conversation with practiced flair. “If you would all excuse my cousin and I, there are some people I’m sure he’s very eager to hear from.”

“Is that so, Cousin?” Kassius asked.

“A wizard and his party from Bledsbury. They have become quite the stars in recent times.”

Hump caught a twitch at the corners of Kassius’ lips—the barest hint of a smile.

A few nobles murmured, glancing over with interest. Hump ignored them, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him like a blanket, his shoulders suddenly heavy. Maybe I should have planned this out more.

The crowd parted as the two princes made their way over, then together, though Hump noticed most did not leave ears reach. Kassius approached with a smile. He looked every bit the prince—poised, composed, regal. If anything, the deep scars on his cheek only made him appear more battle tested. More real. His eyes settled on Hump with unsettling ease, his face giving nothing away.

“Wizard Humphrey, Robert, Celaine, and Emilia,” Prince Gregory said, gesturing to each of them. “And then, of course, there is Lady Marcela.”

Kassius took Marcela’s hand first, shaking it delicately. “We, at the very least, are acquainted.”

“It has been some time, Prince Kassius,” Marcela said. “I am pleased to see you are in far better standing than stories would tell.”

Kassius laughed. “Standing at all seems to be quite the shock for everyone.” He turned to the others, greeting Bud, Emilia, and Celaine first, before finally tunring to Hump and offering his hand. “Wizard Humphrey. Your name rings familiar. I believe we met before my unfortunate… demise. At least, if my information is correct.”

Hump took the hand and met the prince’s gaze. “Yes, your Highness. We worked together quite closely, actually.”

Kassius gave a pensive frown. “Is that so? I’m afraid my memories of the days in Bledsbury are gone entirely. A shame. I do hope this new acquaintanceship ends far better for me than the last.”

A few nobles tittered politely nearby—a sound that was anything but sincere. They chuckled because they were supposed to. Because everyone else did.

Hump didn’t laugh. He studied Kassius’ face, trying to discern something.

“I do have a question in that regard,” Hump said. “Something I’ve been curious about since hearing of your return. Forgive me for being blunt, but we saw you die. I watched with my own eyes as the dragon unleashed fire upon you, until not even a body remained. How is it you can be alive?”

Of course, it wasn’t true. Time had frozen, and a figure had stepped out of a rift, taking Kassius back with him while he was on the verge of death.

“I believe you would know that better than I. All I remember was waking up already in chains, bound to a bed, my body burnt. For months, I was their captive, kept alive by healers who cared nothing for pain. They took everything. My strength. My sense of time. Even my name, for a while. But somehow, I endured. And I pray, Wizard Humphrey… I pray that you never experience anything like it.”

The man’s eyes truly appeared haunted, lost in the memory of what he had experienced.

Something twisted in Hump’s chest. Disbelief. Pity. Doubt. One part of him interpreted Kassius’ words as a threat, the other almost believed him. After the damage he had taken, perhaps the warlocks truly did rebuild him. But there was no changing a soul.

“How did you escape?” Hump asked quietly, unable to help himself.

Kassius turned to him again, the mask slipping seamlessly back into place.

“I didn’t,” he said, voice soft. “They let me go. No warning. No demand. Only a message.” He looked past Hump now, turning to Prince Gregory. “A message for my uncle, and him alone.”

Prince Gregory smiled. “Of course, Kassius. I already told you I will not ask again. We are fortunate for your return, Kassius. Dark days are ahead, and Alveron will need your strength.”

“It shall have it,” Kassius said. “In all that time I spent locked away, vengeance was always at the forefront of my mind, but as the pain diminished and clarity returned to me, it became more than that. These—I dare not call them people—these warlocks, they are beasts that must be stopped. I did not come to Elenvine only for shelter, but to fight for a better tomorrow.” His eyes roamed over Hump and his party. “And I will be pleased to fight at your sides once more.”

“It would be our great honour,” Emilia said. “My companions have spoken often of you, but I was never fortunate enough to make your acquaintance. I am a martial of the Transcendent Blade form.”

“Of the Rike family,” Kassius said with an eager nod. “I am familiar. I didn’t realise there were two practitioners in your party. Times truly are changing. When I was your age, the only way I could go off on an adventure was to sneak out without permission.” He chuckled. “Now we have a party of rising stars consisting of two practitioners, and a Chosen from beyond our own Pantheon. Do you know of your next task yet?”

“We are currently on leave,” Hump said, not wanting to reveal anything. “I suspect we will be assigned to the fortresses of the north to defend against the Fallen Lands at some point in the future.”

“A noble cause,” Kassius said. “Well then, I truly do hope we meet again before then, all of you.” He gave Hump a smile. “Especially you, Wizard Humphrey. I would be very keen to hear more about your advances in wizardry. Even in the short time I have been back, tales of the White Flame have reached me. I hope we can find the time to speak.”

Hump matched his expression. “Hope is for Chosen. We’ll meet again, I’m sure of it. I fear reality would not live up to the stories, however.”

The man barked a laugh. “I would not be so sure. From the sounds of it, you have made an enemy of every warlock out there, and that reputation only grows by the sounds of it.”

Their gazes locked for a breath too long. Hump did his best to hide his worry, but Kassius had hit a sore spot. His reputation truly had grown far too quickly. Not just warlocks, but demons and other organisations were after him. Whether Kassius had noticed or not, he soon turned back to with an elegant nod, slipping into the next conversation as if nothing had happened.

“We will talk again soon,” Prince Gregory said.

Dismissed, Hump and his friends stepped away.

In a way, nothing had happened. Hump had wanted confirmation that Kassius remembered what had happened. From the way every other word had felt like a veiled threat, he was confident he had got that much at least. As for what he could do with that information now, he wasn’t sure. The Three Eyes might help, Count Daston was already working against Kassius, and then there was Prince Gregory.

“What did you make of it?” Bud asked quietly. “I couldn’t tell whether he was telling the truth about his memory or not.”

Celaine scoffed at that. “Oh, he remembers alright.”

“You could tell?” Bud asked.

“How could you not? The man’s eyes barely left Hump, and there was a hunger in them.”

“I thought the same,” Hump said. “Not that we can change anything knowing that. We just need to cross our fingers that those in command keep a close eye on him.”

“I’m sure my father would be interested to hear your thoughts,” Marcela said. “He’s somewhere here if you want.”

Hump nodded. “I think that would be wise.”

“Probably best if we wait a while first,” Emilia said. “No point in making it easy for Kassius to identify those suspicious of him. Let’s take some time to eat, dance, and pretend we’re enjoying the night.”

“You mean act normal?” Hump said.

Emilia smiled. “We all got dressed up for it. It certainly wouldn’t hurt.”

“No, it wouldn’t.” Hump turned to Celaine and extended a hand. “Care for a dance?”