âYou haven't found anything? How is that? âVictor asked annoyed.
âNo one has seen the girl, your highness. We've been from house to house. â the guard replied.
âWait a second... your pendants turned red. âVictor said looking at the three pendants.
The three guards looked down at their pendants and gasped.
âSomeone used magic on you and you didn't even noticed?! âVictor asked raising his voice.
âYour highness... â one of the guards said, swallowing hard.
Victor walked in front of them and touched the pendanr of the middle guard.
âHypnosis? Someone wanted information from you, huh? Have you drank or ate something while investigating? âVictor asked, raising an eyebrow.
âWe... just a tea... please don't be angry, your highness. â The middle guards replied.
Victor took him by the collar and looking in his eyes with a cold glare.
âFrom who? â
âA young woman living in a shabby house. She was alone and I felt bad for her... so we accepted tea from her. â
Victor threw the man on the ground and sighed.
âShow me the way to her house. âVictor replied and the guards immediately nodded.
Zhia Xiang landed behind the bush and sighed relieved.
âWe're in. â She whispered as she sneaked inside the Palace.
She decided to see this barrier around the secret room for herself so, following agent 0,Zhia Xiang is on her way to Victor's secret room.
Zhia Xiang successfully sneaked behind guards and servants, entering the library. She pressed the button in the fire place and the wall opened, revealing a dark path.
âStop right there. â a masculine voice warned.
Zhia Xiang stood still. She heard the figure approach and dodged his hand.
âGood reflexes. Who are you? âVictor asked as he stared at Zhia Xiang.
âSubject #654, he is strong so be careful. â Agent 0 warned.
âMhm, I feel it too.âZhia Xiang replied.
âAre you not going to answer? âVictor asked, taking a step closer to Zhia Xiang. âHow come you know about this secret path? â He added as his face was inches apart from Zhia Xiang.
âSomeone told me about it. âZhia Xiang replied.
âSomeone, huh? Are you saying that I have a traitor under my wing? âVictor asked, raising his right eyebrow.
âMaybe. âZhia Xiang replied.
âHmm, ambiguous. Why don't you show me your true face? âVictor asked.
Zhia Xiang blinked twice, confused.
âSurprised? I can see you're using magic to alter your appearance and I would like to see your true face.âVictor added.
Zhia Xiang straightened her posture and looked into his eyes.
âWhy If I prefer this one better? â
Victor giggled and touched her cheek.
âIf you don't do it, I will. âVictor whispered.
Zhia Xiang was confused by his reply until she felt the effects of her pill vanish, exposing her red eyes.
âBlack hair and red eyes...it so happens that I search for someone who looks just like you, but she's a child. But then... you used magic to look like an adult, didn't you? âVictor asked smiling.
He turning around and walked to the opened path, turning around again to face Zhia Xiang.
âYou're the woman who used magic on those three guards, aren't you? âVictor asked.
Zhia Xiang looked at him silent.
âYour eyes already answered me. I must admit you did a good job. Only if you noticed their magic pandant. â
âFucking pendant. âZhia Xiang muttered under her breath, annoyed.
âI'll take that as a compliment, I made them myself. What information did you wanted from them? â
âWhy would I tell you that? â
âMaybe because you have no choice? I've already sealed this room and I'm pretty sure you can't get out and I've also caught you trying to sneak into my secret room. Do I need to tell you the punishment for your crime? âVictor asked smiling.
âI just asked them the reason for you searching for me. âZhia Xiang replied.
âHm, and how did they replied? âVictor asked.
âThey didn't know. They only said you wanted to talk to me. âZhia Xiang replied.
âI see. Are you curious about why I want to see you? âVictor asked, staring into her eyes.
âKind of. âZhia Xiang replied.
âKind of? You should be a little more excited, only a few people get to talk to me. âVictor replied smirking.
âAm I here to listen to your arrogance? â
âOh? The courage is returning to you? â
Zhia Xiang rolled her eyes at his attitude.
âFollow me. âVictor said turning to face the dark path to his secret room.
âWhat about the no one allowed rule? âZhia Xiang replied.
âLet's say you are privileged. But I hope you know there is no escape for you now. âVictor said taking her hand and dragging Zhia Xiang after him in the dark.
âMy senses are telling me that this room has traps in it. Is this why were walking in darkness? Are the traps activated by light? â Zhia Xiang wondered as she let herself dragged by Victor.
âIf you're curious, yes, any source of light activates the traps and you'll be burned to ashes. â Victor replied as if he knew what she's thinking about.
âInteresting. âZhia Xiang replied.
Victor stopped and Zhia Xiang did as well and then she heard a door unlock in front of them. He pushed the door open and entered the room.
Zhia Xiang followed and looked around:magic books, research, magic objects and potions, treasures and such.
âHow do you like it? âVictor asked smirking.
âImpressive. Now that we're here, can you tell me what's your plan with me? âZhia Xiang asked looking into his stone cold blue eyes.
âLet's sit down and enjoy some drinks. It's a relaxing brew I personally prepared, it also increases magic power. âVictor said as he poured a blue substance in two crystal glasses.
He offered Zhia Xiang one and she took it, sitting down on the armchair. Victor sat down in the armchair facing hers and looked at her as if waiting for something.
Zhia Xiang sighed and took a sip from the drink. Her eyes widened a little.
âThis drink really is amazing, I can feel the magic in this body grow and also I'm not tired anymore. It's like energy drink, but better. â Zhia Xiang thought.
âI'm glad you liked it, now that I have you something so precious, I expect cooperation from you. âVictor said before taking a sip from his drink as well.
âLet me hear your plan first. âZhia Xiang said looking at him.
âAlright then. As you already know I dislike the church and I want it gone. âVictor simply stated.
âWhy the dislike? âZhia Xiang asked intrigued.
âMostly because they deemed dark magic as evil. You see, I've studied dark magic for long and it's such an amazing force to work with and I believe our Kingdom will be more powerful if we stop treating dark magic users like they're monsters,but the stupid church opposes me and I hate being opposed. âVictor spoke calmly, his chilly aura reaching Zhia Xiang.
âYour highness is hiding something. âZhia Xiang said looking at him.
Victor smirked.
âSeems like I did the right choice by taking interest in you. Yes, there is a secret about the church that I discovered not long ago. â Victor said and paused for a moment. âKilling dark magic users is beneficial to them. In the dungeons of the church, they hide a magic artifact that collects dark magic from the sacrificed, turns it in light magic and they feed on it, growing their own powers. âVictor explained.
Zhia Xiang looked at him in silence as she took in the information.
âThe fuckers sacrifice innocent people to grown their own power and preach kindness and light in the same breath? Morgan died so they can use her powers for themselves? I'll kill them, I'll fucking destroy them. â Zhia Xiang thought as anger took over her.
âIt looks like we share hatred for them. âVictor said, noticing the murderous aura Zhia Xiang let out.
âWe do. What's the plan you came up with? âZhia Xiang asked.
âTurn people against the church and executing all of them after exposing their dirty secret. âVictor said.
âHow do you plan to turn people against them? They're pretty much brainwashed, I expect they condamn you as being against God or some stupid excuse. â
âOf course they will, but that is why I created a magic artifact that will delete the brainwashing that the church did on people and would make them see the church as the bad guy. âVictor explained.
âI see, where do I come in this? âZhia Xiang asked.
âYour immense dark magic will help the artifact work. Such artifact needs a lot of magic so it can work on the whole Kingdom so we need to work together.âVictor explained.
âAlright. How are we doing to use it without the church interfering? â
âI'll personally go to them and demand they find the little girl that escaped the execution or I'll punish them for the crimes you've committed. They can't refuse me and they won't find you either, but that would keep them occupied in the meantime. âVictor explained.
Zhia Xiang thought about the plan and hummed in agreement.
âSeems like you've though about everything. One more thing, what will happened with that artifact they have? âZhia Xiang asked looking into his eyes.
âI don't find a use for it so I'll destroy it. Are you afraid I'm after the artifact? âVictor asked guessing her worries.
âI was, but you're telling the truth about destroying it. âZhia Xiang replied.
âHow do you that I'm telling the truth? âVictor asked intrigued.
âI just know. âZhia Xiang replied with a smile. âSince I'm helping you, I also want you to do something for me. â
âAsk away. âVictor said leaning back on the armchair.
âI've heard Duke Albertine is trying to push his daughter onto your little brother. âZhia Xiang simply said, knowing Victor will understand what she wants from it.
âI can do that, no problem. My brother isn't interested in her anyways. Is this part of your revenge? âVictor asked.
âYes. Thanks.âZhia Xiang said and finished her drink.
âI've placed another bed in my room for you. âVictor said.
âWhy your room? Afraid I'll vanish? âZhia Xiang asked.
âNot really, but I need to have my eyes on you at all times for safety reasons. Are you able to change your appearance again and do you need help? âVictor asked.
âI can do it myself. Speaking of that, how could you see through my disguise? â
âAnother brew I made, you can't use such illusions on me, I'll see right through. âVictor said smiling proudly.
âI see. âZhia Xiang added.
âIt's late, let us go to our room now and from tomorrow you'll play the role of my fiance. âVictor said standing up.
âCan't I just be a servant? âZhia Xiang asked frowning.
âNo. I'm never surrounded by servants and having one suddenly would raise suspicions. âVictor explained.
âBullshit. You're never surrounded by women either, weirdo. â Zhia Xiang thought as she stared at his back.
âI don't enjoy the look you're giving me. âVictor said turning around.
âLet's just go. âZhia Xiang said sighing.
âThink about a new name until tomorrow. âVictor said and the two walked into the darkness once again, returning into the library and then to Victor's bedroom.