My Devourer System: Rise of the Bastard Son

Lucen soon found himself in the gilded halls of the Grey Keep. He was still on the lowest floor, surrounded by the wave of noise coming from the servants moving around. He had someone to find.

The high roof was ribbed with smooth black pillars as long as roads. A titanic set of armor rose over the crowd. Smooth silver metal, the symbol of an axe wreathed in fire on its chest, its empty eyes watching the ants move beneath it.

Long banners hung on the walls. Rivers of black cloth with a golden trim so wide and high that they could cover a hundred people. In its center was a jagged heart covered in a cloak.

He weaved through the crowd, dodging people carrying heavy baskets of raw meat, and others heaving pieces of furniture outside to clean. His mind was on what Aya advised him to do about Chester.

Their plan was to offer him everything he wanted while gaining everything they wanted behind the scenes. But it was a hard plan to execute. Any mistake from now until the end of their quest would lead to suspicion.

He didn't have much time either. In about thirty minutes he was supposed to meet Set and the other Squires to discuss their roles for the quest.

Lucen wouldn't participate much, but he needed to start pretending he cared about this family. Thankfully, Liam told him exactly where to find who he was looking for.

Lucen would've been here earlier if he hadn't wasted time playing with Liam's new bow. It was a really cool bow, though, and its enchanted abilities were amazing.

Lucen shook his head to clear his thoughts, then flattened himself against the wall as a long line of people passed carrying a long pillar of wood. He needed to focus on Chester's attendant.

Himmel.

Lucen met him in Chester's office when he reported the Crunchers' infiltration. He was an older boy, at most a Low-tier Knight, who ran to prepare Chester's Messenger orb. Lucen heard he was a bit of a playboy with the maids down here.

He was about to start moving again when he heard some servants speaking.

They stood at the entrance of one of the low corridors. These corridors were made for humans by the giants that probably lived here once.

"Cardinal Corswet was assassinated," a burly man said. "Kal guide his soul."

"It's been like this for us Kirkians for a while," a woman beside him muttered. "I'm not even surprised. In Menia and Sicily, they are probably celebrating whoever killed him."

"I hear the Veiled King is taking this seriously though," a man in leather armor consoled her. "They are mobilizing the Toy Men."

"That's their goddamn best," the burly man said, laughing. He clapped the armored man on the shoulder. "I met one of them once. Absolutely terrifying. Dead men just rising again and killing their comrades. A single Knight fighting almost ten!"

They started walking away as the people carrying the long plank passed. Lucen fought the urge to follow them and learn more. He needed to find Himmel now.

He walked deeper into the servants' storage hall, finding a set of stairs at the end of the corridor. Himmel would be down there now, harassing someone's wife.

As comical as that sounded, Lucen couldn't laugh. What those people were talking about rattled him. Kedral had talked about the man that was assassinated.

Cardinal Corswet.

He was from the Kirkian church, an advocate for half-bloods like Lucen becoming slaves. The same Kirkian church Shanakal tried to eradicate.

Why did Kedral mention him?

Lucen had the sneaking suspicion that Kedral was trying to bait him into a reaction. It would take a few days for news to travel to the common folks, but Kedral was privy to a strange communication with the King.

Kedral mentioned the cardinal while he was already dead. At least that's what Lucen was guessing.

Did these people really think he killed him? Why was he catching the blame for stuff that happened thousands of kilometers away?!

Lucen clicked his tongue irritatedly. He spread out his mana sense to find Himmel.

As he walked through the barely lit, dusty hall, he concluded that the Veiled King simply wanted to check if he was connected to the murder.

If he showed any sort of guilty reaction to Kedral that day…

Lucen shivered and focused on the present. He passed rows of wooden doors as he walked down the quiet hall. They were filled with brooms and mops no longer being used and other things forgotten down here.

He was about to give up when he heard voices. His mana sense receded; he didn't want Himmel to sense him coming. He cast [Stalker's edge] to hide his approach. His footsteps grew quiet.

Voices leaked from behind the door at the end of the hall. It was a dead end. Lucen smiled a little and walked closer.

"Wait, Himmel, we can't," a woman's voice pleaded.

"What? You're feeling squeamish now?"

There was a faint moan and Lucen recoiled, face scrunched up.

He had been planning to wait for him to come outside, but this was a bit much.

"I just can't," the woman begged. "I don't want this and I told you from the beginning. But you don't stop, please just leave me alone."

Himmel scoffed. "Oh, please. You liked it in the end though. I had to punish you for eavesdropping on me. Don't act like I'm forcing myself on you when you like it. Also, don't you dare tell me what to do. That's the last time I'll warn you."

The faint sob under her voice turned Lucen's mouth bitter. He knocked hard against the door and stepped aside.

The voices grew quiet and there was a rushed shuffle of clothes, and then the door burst open. A tear-stricken young girl ran out, glancing at Lucen once before lowering her head. Himmel walked out more calmly, eyes ablaze with fury.

His black hair was smoothed back, his golden eyes flared with irritation.

"Lucen, what do you want?"