Chapter 41: 13 Dakus's Left Hand

Chapter 41: 13. Dacous's Left Hand

The next day, on the Dark Road.

Marus Blackblade had gotten himself into massive trouble. He had killed a noble steward of Kracallonde, and his attempt at the Haxiye Voyage had ended in failure, leaving him empty-handed. Now, he was drowning in debt. His father, Lehan, could resolve the debt with a simple nod, but Marus was a burden to him, and his father would not nod.

Marus's father did not like him, but he hadn't killed him on the spot at birth, because his birth was a transaction between his mother and father. His half-siblings seemed to sense this as well; they were much older than him and could kill him at any moment. However, they stopped at monopolizing the family wealth, leaving him to slowly wither and rot alone.

Marus had been foolish, naively believing they were too busy with other conspiracies to plot against him. But how did they know he was selling goods in Kracallonde? Who were those nobles waving at him from the city walls the day before yesterday? Calonde Karl was far to the northeast, one of the most distant large cities in Nagaros. Could a messenger run faster than a Cain assassin, riding a horse to death along the coastline through the Heartless Sea and the Malice Sea? Was that possible? Or did they communicate through a sorceress's crystal ball?

These questions tormented Marus throughout his journey on the Dark Road. Ignoring the Slave Gate of Calonde Karl to sail directly for Kracallonde was heterodox and reckless, yet even so, his enemies had been waiting for him. There was even that damned letter, he thought with loathing.

In Kracallonde, at the training grounds of Night Warden Castle, Dacous was still being beaten by Kyles, though it was slightly better than yesterday; at least he could parry now.

Suddenly, a servant entered, saying a Druchi from Nagalonde was in the waiting room requesting an audience with Dacous.

"Nagalonde? Has the Warlock King Marequis noticed me? Has he sent someone to have me study black magic with him?"

Filled with doubt, Dacous had the servant invite the distinguished guest to the drawing room.

After practicing with Kyles for a while longer, Dacous asked him a question, but he remained silent, merely repeatedly gesturing toward Dacous's footwork and blade technique.

"Sorry, Kyles, we'll stop here for today. I have to meet a guest," Dacous said, bowing to Kyles.

Kyles returned the bow, then looked at Wate, his meaning clear: *There's no need for you to go; I'll keep him company.*

Dacous donned his noble robes, his Hardrica, and his noble curved sword, then headed toward the drawing room.

He had only walked a few steps when he heard Wate's scream and the sound of a weapon hitting the floor. He didn't need to look back to know how badly Wate had been beaten; Wate was only good at horsemanship, his martial skills were inferior to his own. He shook his head.

Inside the drawing room, a middle-aged male Druchi sat quietly. Dozens of family guards stood ready to act at a moment's notice; they were all somewhat tense, keenly sensing that this quiet Druchi was extremely dangerous, despite his missing left arm.

Outside the drawing room, Steward Dia was waiting to inform Dacous.

"Who is in the room?"

"Young Master, he should be a Blackguard!"

Dacous looked at Steward Dia in surprise. Dia nodded in confirmation and said, "Young Master, I must go report this to the Young Lord."

Taking a deep breath, Dacous pushed the door open. The drawing room was long, with a Haig Grave marble table placed in the center, roughly ten swords long (one sword being 2.4 meters). The man was sitting at the far end of the table.

Seeing Dacous enter, he stood up and bowed, saying calmly, "Nagalonde, Baine Bloodcalamity, pays respects to the House of Hell's Disaster. I salute you."

"Dacous Hell's Disaster."

After Baine finished his greeting, he looked at the family guards beside him; they looked at Dacous and gave a slight shake of their heads.

Dacous estimated the length of the table and then said, "This is not proper hospitality. It won't look good if word gets out. You all leave first, but leave the door open!"

Having said that, he adjusted his chair, sat down, propped his left hand on the table, and braced a foot against the floor, even scraping it against the ground to ensure it wouldn't slip. He settled into a posture that allowed him to bolt through the door at any moment.

At that moment, Kyles entered the drawing room carrying a curved executioner's blade, looking at Dacous's sitting posture with disdain before standing at his left side.

The family guards were filing out, and Baine looked at Kyles with a suspicious expression.

"Let me introduce you. This is Kyles, the Family Law Enforcement Champion of the House of Hell's Disaster. He is not in a position to speak."

Baine stared at Kyles for a long time before nodding and saying, "I have heard of you in Nagalonde. I heard you are quite a fighter?"

Kyles raised the curved executioner's blade and brandished it slightly.

"Good! We shall spar in a moment!"

Dacous was speechless.

Baine began his self-introduction: "I was once a Blackguard, a Lord of Extinction, and a Master of the Twelve Towers."

Out of politeness, Dacous did not stare at his missing left arm.

Baine gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Of course, that was all in the past. I am a cripple now."

Dacous asked suspiciously, "Then why have you come to find me?"

"I come by the oracle of Edrez, Lord of the Blade, to find you and teach you martial arts. I heard you can't even beat a monkey?"

Dacous thought to himself, *Whoa! This Druchi really knows how to rub salt in the wound. Thanks, Morayge Heg, and praise be to you, my dear grandmother!*

Then, Dacous said deliberately, "If I may ask, where is your left arm? Korlan Blackhand?"

Baine nodded despondently. "Yes. Korlan sought me out for a duel. He said he had made a new breakthrough."

"How long have you served?"

Baine looked up and said proudly, "Three hundred and eighty-eight years!"

"Holy shit! Then, do you have any conditions?" Dacous immediately added, "Aside from making me defeat Korlan Blackhand, you can ask for anything else."

Baine was choked up, not knowing what to say. Dacous could tell he was a very pure Druchi—a Druchi who knew only combat and slaughter.

Dacous stood up solemnly, straightened his noble robes, and said, "I know of a place that should be able to restore your arm. You should take this revenge yourself!"

Baine was stunned. After a moment of hesitation, he stood up and said, "I have no offspring. Wealth and land have no value to me. Where is this place?"

Dacous gave a mysterious smile. "Don't be in a hurry; there's no use in rushing. I am likely the only one who knows of that place. When the opportunity comes, I will take you there. I do what I say! Now, is it time for the sparring session?"

With that, he walked out of the drawing room.

In theory, Druchi can use all eight winds of magic, but unfortunately, no one teaches them. Five thousand years ago, there was a powerful male mage of the Life school. But unfortunately, Marequis read a prophecy of destruction, which stated he would die at the hands of a male mage. Since then, the most pathetic and untrustworthy creatures in Druchi society were born: male sorcerers. Marequis used Void Sorcery to curse them, and since then, their souls have wandered between the mortal realm and the Chaos Realm. Slaanesh, the God of Love and Art, has gained increasing control over their souls. As this control tightens, dark runes flash with the light of life upon their flesh, and evil flames slowly pass through their skin, torturing them.

Afterward, Marequis put a bounty on the heads of the new generation of male sorcerers. Once discovered, they are to be bound in red-hot steel chains and brought before him, where he will let the male sorcerer experience the "beauty" of this world.

(End of Chapter)