Chapter 396 - Investigation
When Tynessa's body fell on the ground, Zaos approached to check it. Her presence had disappeared, but Zaos still had to check something. He sighed when her body returned to normal. Maybe her real hair was also red, but Zaos didn't want to believe that he had killed the queen as well… yet he did it. Redhead, around forty, a small sign under her left eye… it was really the queen.
"Everything makes sense now…" Zaos said and then sighed again. "Regardless, there is no point in worrying about what already happened."
Zaos had noticed when he was fighting, but that room was actually the secret library of the kingdom. He didn't have much time left, so he had to hurry and check the thousands of books there. At least their titles… However, it didn't take much time for Zaos to understand that he was wasting his time. In some parts of the library, he found ashes on the ground, and in front of those places, he found bookshelves with books missing. Tynessa got rid of all books that could cause problems for the demons…
Despite that, Zaos decided to keep checking. When several guards approached the library, Zaos paid no attention to them. When they got too close to him, he just used Sleep. He didn't have much mana left, but he would rather lose mana than waste time. No matter what happens, he couldn't leave the castle empty-handed.
After two hours, and when a whole squad appeared armed with crossbows, Zaos realized that he wouldn't find anything… he had wasted his time because of that fucking demon.
When the archers pointed their crossbows toward Zaos, he ran to the side and dodged the projectiles. He dashed toward them before their weapons could be used again and then hit their necks with his sheathed sword. There was no point in killing those who weren't under the control of the demons. Zaos found other guards while he was escaping, but they couldn't keep up with his speed. After knocking down some guards, Zaos disappeared into the darkness of the castle. Even though hundreds of guards that still were in the capital looked for him, they didn't find a single trace of his footsteps.
Aleni didn't have to ask the result of the invasion when Zaos arrived and then sighed. He smelled like blood, his own blood, and enemies' blood. However, he looked more depressed than annoyed. After hearing the report, Aleni frowned. Another demon… their fears were spot on. The whole war had been oncestraded by the demons to make both kingdoms lose a lot of resources and manpower. That was really troublesome since the demons apparently had a certain level of immortality.
"Well, don't feel too dejected about this," Aleni said and then patted Zaos on the shoulder. "Thanks to you, we know a lot more than before… And before you try to say something sarcastic, shut up."
Zaos laughed a little bit and then took a deep breath. It was time to change his mood. While he didn't find what he wanted, he learned a few things more about the demons. However, when he recalled that according to Tynessa, he and the demon god had a lot in common, he got troubled again. That certainly wasn't something good… Regardless, it was time to sleep. The next day will be an important day since they will leave the capital.
----- -----
Two days later, in the current border that separates Sairus and Ashiris kingdom…
Cohnal sighed in relief when the rest of the army roared in celebration. The golden spears were passing through the battlefield while raising two spears that had two heads in it. Drannor's special unit managed to kill both princes of the enemy's army, and now they were using their heads to raise morale. It seemed that worked since most of the enemies were running away.
Melisse approached and then offered a high five, he ended up accepting, but he obviously didn't look that excited. Melisse could understand that when she looked at the golden spears.
"It seems our future king likes the old fashioned ways to raise morale," Melisse said.
"Don't say that out loud…" Cohnal frowned. "This damn war is over and that is all that matters."
"There is still the capital…" Melisse said.
"Without a proper army and with so many soldiers with low morale, they won't last for even a month," Cohnal said.
"They won't last even for a day," Nyana suddenly approached and said. "We just got some news… apparently, the king and the queen of this kingdom have died and the citizens of the capital want to surrender."
"The citizens rebelled and killed them?" Cohnal asked, visibly surprised.
"No… apparently, an assassin invaded the castle and killed many people, the king and the queen probably were the only targets, though," Nyana replied.
"It was our king that issued the order?" Melisse asked. "I am surprised that he didn't do it sooner…"
"Something is off… the king gave the order for them to target the princes," Cohnal said. "When did that happen?"
"Two days ago… considering the timing, it wasn't one of those working for our king," Nyana said. "Still… who could do an assassin job better than those guys?"
"We are moving to the Capital," Drannor, with his golden armor and spear, said while glaring at those two. "Kill anyone with a weapon in hand."
"... Yikes, he always scares the shit out of me," Cohnal said. "And I am old enough to be his father."
"... Let's get going, we need to see things in the capital with our own eyes," Nyana said.
Although the troops were exhausted since they had been fighting for quite a while, they still marched toward the capital at top speed. In the end, they reached their destination after five days, and the rumors were true. The city had decided to surrender the very movement the royal family had been killed.
Cohnal sighed in relief while thinking that he would have some time to rest. The last few months, he had to think about battles day in and day out, after all. However, he also knew that the war wouldn't ever end until Zaos and Milliendra were found.
"Follow me," Drannor said to Cohnal, Melisse, and Nyana.