Chapter 142: Once Upon a Time
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Chapter 142: Once Upon a Time
Esme turned to her brother. "Galinthor, aran'shan enithrin'kai enithoron. Ilin'dor enithalon en'dorithor shan'althar."
The commander's face turned crimson. The man - or rather, the empyrean - appeared furious as he visibly struggled to breathe. Despite Priam's efforts, the situation showed no signs of de-escalating. It wasn't entirely surprising; Priam had more or less taken their princess hostage and stole his magic tree.
In response to Esme, the man grunted. A rather disrespectful response when addressing a princess.
[Identification]
[Aydan - Tier 0 - Viscount] - Empyrean Crown Prince. Seventh Strategist of the Empire.
The Crown Prince? Behind his mask, Priam narrowed his eyes. Who was truly in charge of this expedition then - Aydan or Esme? It was undoubtedly a matter of politics, and the truth might not be straightforward.
Anyway, it didn't matter. The System had chosen Esme as a rival for a reason. If Priam had to bet on one of the two, he already knew which one.
"Galinthor, solithrin'kai, malorin vethar'shaldor. El'altharion enithor'lin, shan'dorinthal en'dorithor," Aydan finally responded through gritted teeth.
[Empyrean language: decoding in progress.]
Priam smiled as he read the notification on his add-on.
Esme nodded before turning to Priam.
"My brother easily worries," she explained. "But I apologize; I haven't introduced myself yet. Esme Lthandorim, Princess of the Empire, and one of your nine rivals," she said. The ensuing bow was impeccable.
So, there are ten of us. Two more than on Seth's map. Either they had eluded the rays of the Necromoon, or they had no fixed camp.
There was, of course, one last hypothesis - they were dead.
"Certainly the prettiest of my rivals," he complimented her. "Priam Azura, Champion of Humanity."
He then executed a bow that must have been an affront to all royal etiquettes. Looking up, he noticed that Esme seemed unsure how to react to his compliment. Perhaps people didn't court each other in her world? Or was it his mask? After all, she had to suspect that Priam wasn't really serious.
Shrugging mentally, Priam refocused.
"Now that introductions are done, I would like some explanations."
"Explanations?" Esme asked, surprised.
"You used a divination skill on my friend less than a minute ago."
Was this one of his rival's powers? If so, it explained how she knew the exact number of existing rivals.
"Oh, I apologize for that, Lord Priam. I simply felt that a rival was approaching, and I wanted to verify their identity. Some can be hostile."
Priam briefly thought of Seth and Arnold.
"Why not use the skill on me?" he asked.
Esme gave him a smile. "Because I knew"
"Shan'dorinthal enithalon'kai?!"
Lvl Up: [Mask] lvl 5
WILL +3
CHAR +3
META(AUTH) +3
Priam frowned, turning to Aydan. The man had just identified him. Had he succeeded, or had [Mask] canceled his skill? Either way, Priam found the sensation unpleasant. His grip on Promesse tightened as he shot a dark look at the prince. Remembering that Aydan couldn't see his face, Priam projected his aura. With his high charisma, the impact was almost physical.
The prince recoiled, letting out a cry. Priam had tried to convey his anger, and Aydan had received it as a slight. Despite the insult, he kept quiet.
Lvl Up: [Intimidation] lvl 4
CHAR + 3
While Esme looked at her brother, Priam's gaze shifted to the slave. Muyri was staring at the prince, naked terror in her eyes. She fears him. Did he do this to her?
Looking at the scars on the poor woman, Priam's hearts raced. He wasn't a hero, but he wasn't one to stand by while a woman - or a man - was tortured in front of him without reacting. Especially if he had the power to change things.
Suddenly, his anger opened Priam's eyes. The almost human appearance of Aydan, Muyri, and Esme had thrown him off. Instinctively, he had treated them as humans, seeking explanations. It was a mistake; he was now in Elysium.
"Tell your brother not to interfere," he demanded from Esme with a stern tone.
"I"
"Tell him," he insisted.
Esme turned to her brother. "Galinthor aran'shan enithalon'kai ilin'dor."
The prince gritted his teeth, shooting Priam a complicated look. He must not be used to being commanded but was too scared to attack.
[Note: Galinthor has been pronounced twice in a sentence directly related to you. This word seems to be your designation in Empyrean.]
"What does Galinthor mean?" Priam asked.
"... The First," Esme answered after a pause. For someone with so much vivacity, the pause was very long. She had clearly hesitated to respond.
Priam analyzed her answer. First was the word Esme and her brother used to talk about him. This meant they knew he was the first to finish the Tutorial. Moreover, they had already talked about him. They know me, but I dont know them. The situation bothered Priam.
It confirmed that Kazuki hadn't been the first on whom Esme had used her skills. Among his levels of [Divination Resistance], how many came from the princess?
Above all, had she limited herself to spying, or had she manipulated his luck?
While contemplating the various ramifications, Priam remained silent. If Esme was an enemy, he had to act now.
As he thought, a part of his consciousness felt a sense of unease emerging. Right behind it followed fear. Priam blinked before realizing that these were not his feelings but those of the guards and Muyri. A moment later, he understood. Enveloped by his charismatic aura, those with too weak charisma couldn't hide their emotions. It was a powerful ability and reinforced Charisma's importance as an attribute.
Unfortunately, neither Esme nor Aydan were affected.
"What is your arrival position, Princess Esme?" Priam finally asked.
"Lord Priam, I sense your anger, but there is"
"If I were angry, Princess, you would be dead. Answer my question, please."
Priam's tone was as polite as it was cold. Esme might be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but his imagination now conjured the worst. Had Arnold been sent by Esme's misfortune? Had his father fallen because of her? Had all the unfortunate events in his life an empyrean origin?
Disgust engulfed Priam.
"I'm not planning to experiment on a huma on her!"
In the pursuit of power, one had to consider moral boundaries. Priam refused to torture strangers.
"I hope not," Esme replied. "Just look at her face or the way she looks at my brother to understand that her current life is a nightmare. With you, her life can only improve. Muyri isn't a fighter, but she'll be safe in your base."
"If you're so concerned about her safety, why don't you defend her?"
Esme lowered her eyes. "Because I can't disobey my brother," she murmured, her cheeks red. Out of shame or anger, only she could say.
Priam's gaze turned to Aydan. The man stared at him, a hand on his sword. He seemed as fearful as he was angry. Priam hesitated to eliminate him. He felt that's what Esme wanted, but if the man had truly inflicted those scars on the young slave, he deserved it.
Unless she's manipulating me right now? She might have orchestrated everything with Myuri to make me kill a man whose language I don't understand.
Esme raised her eyes. "Before you think of anything: yes, I want to kill my brother. But if you attack him now, I'll be forced to defend him and avenge him. So its not a scheme for you to kill him."
"How are you forced?"
"Magical compulsion," the princess spat. It was the first time Priam saw her features betraying rage. Priam understood her. Having to defend and obey one's worst enemy... A fate worse than death.
"Won't he mistreat you?" Leaving someone with a psychopath capable of lacerating faces didn't sit well with Priam.
Esme shook her head. "I'm not the only one with a compulsion."
"Well," Priam responded before turning to the slave. "Do you agree to come with me?"
Myuri looked at him with wide eyes. Priam knew she couldnt understand his words, but he wanted her to feel the kindness in his voice. Instinctively, he used his aura to send her the equivalent of a wave of comfort. The slave's shoulders relaxed.
"Galinthor, enithil'kiran, ilin'dor enitharinthal enithor'shaldor. Shan'alor enithalon aran'dorinthal, shan'alor enithalon ilin'dor enithorithalon," Esme said to Muyri in a gentle voice.
While the slave's eyes widened, Aydan began to roar. The teleportation of Promesse a few inches from his face instantly calmed him. Priam had saturated the surroundings with invisible mist for this moment. In the absence of proof and on Esme's words alone, he wouldn't kill Aydan.
But if the man thought he had a say in Muyri's decision, he was mistaken.
The slave had jumped when she heard her master roar before looking at him again. Crimson with rage and powerlessness, Aydan made a superhuman effort not to explode. Seeing his master so weak for the first time gave Myuri the courage to nod. The sign was universal, and Priam opened a portal to his world. The other side of the portal faced the black border of his world, so as not to give any hint about his Talent to the empyreans.
Encouraged by Esme, Muryi stepped into [Concepts Archipelago]. Priam closed the portal behind her before turning to Aydan and Esme. It was time to leave.
With a nod, Priam greeted the crown prince. Why burn a bridge when he had only received an opinion so far? If Esme had lied to him, she would pay for it. If not, Aydan would do well not to cross paths with Priams relatives.
He then turned to Esme.
"Princess, I'm looking forward to see you again," he smiled behind his mask.
"Lord Priam, likewise," Esme replied, executing a perfect curtsy. Her white and gold hair flew backward, and Priam's hearts pulsed.
I hope Disney is right for once. In movies, pretty princesses were always supposed to be kind.
The next moment, Priam vanished into the mist. The day was young, and they still had many locations to plunder.
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 399
Constitution 662
Agility 404
Vitality 538
Perception 584
MENTAL:
Vivacity 332 (+3)
Dexterity 429
Memory 134
Willpower 648
Charisma 427 (+9)
META:
Meta-affinity 336
Meta-focus 251
Meta-endurance 185
Meta-perception 119
Meta-chance 216
Meta-authority 15 (+3)
Potential: 567 (+5)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 1 hour 23 minutes 12 seconds.
[Tribulation]: Four Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 176 days 1 hour 56 minutes 25 seconds.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 142: Once Upon a Time
Esme turned to her brother. "Galinthor, aran'shan enithrin'kai enithoron. Ilin'dor enithalon en'dorithor shan'althar."
The commander's face turned crimson. The man - or rather, the empyrean - appeared furious as he visibly struggled to breathe. Despite Priam's efforts, the situation showed no signs of de-escalating. It wasn't entirely surprising; Priam had more or less taken their princess hostage and stole his magic tree.
In response to Esme, the man grunted. A rather disrespectful response when addressing a princess.
[Identification]
[Aydan - Tier 0 - Viscount] - Empyrean Crown Prince. Seventh Strategist of the Empire.
The Crown Prince? Behind his mask, Priam narrowed his eyes. Who was truly in charge of this expedition then - Aydan or Esme? It was undoubtedly a matter of politics, and the truth might not be straightforward.
Anyway, it didn't matter. The System had chosen Esme as a rival for a reason. If Priam had to bet on one of the two, he already knew which one.
"Galinthor, solithrin'kai, malorin vethar'shaldor. El'altharion enithor'lin, shan'dorinthal en'dorithor," Aydan finally responded through gritted teeth.
[Empyrean language: decoding in progress.]
Priam smiled as he read the notification on his add-on.
Esme nodded before turning to Priam.
"My brother easily worries," she explained. "But I apologize; I haven't introduced myself yet. Esme Lthandorim, Princess of the Empire, and one of your nine rivals," she said. The ensuing bow was impeccable.
So, there are ten of us. Two more than on Seth's map. Either they had eluded the rays of the Necromoon, or they had no fixed camp.
There was, of course, one last hypothesis - they were dead.
"Certainly the prettiest of my rivals," he complimented her. "Priam Azura, Champion of Humanity."
He then executed a bow that must have been an affront to all royal etiquettes. Looking up, he noticed that Esme seemed unsure how to react to his compliment. Perhaps people didn't court each other in her world? Or was it his mask? After all, she had to suspect that Priam wasn't really serious.
Shrugging mentally, Priam refocused.
"Now that introductions are done, I would like some explanations."
"Explanations?" Esme asked, surprised.
"You used a divination skill on my friend less than a minute ago."
Was this one of his rival's powers? If so, it explained how she knew the exact number of existing rivals.
"Oh, I apologize for that, Lord Priam. I simply felt that a rival was approaching, and I wanted to verify their identity. Some can be hostile."
Priam briefly thought of Seth and Arnold.
"Why not use the skill on me?" he asked.
Esme gave him a smile. "Because I knew"
"Shan'dorinthal enithalon'kai?!"
Lvl Up: [Mask] lvl 5
WILL +3
CHAR +3
META(AUTH) +3
Priam frowned, turning to Aydan. The man had just identified him. Had he succeeded, or had [Mask] canceled his skill? Either way, Priam found the sensation unpleasant. His grip on Promesse tightened as he shot a dark look at the prince. Remembering that Aydan couldn't see his face, Priam projected his aura. With his high charisma, the impact was almost physical.
The prince recoiled, letting out a cry. Priam had tried to convey his anger, and Aydan had received it as a slight. Despite the insult, he kept quiet.
Lvl Up: [Intimidation] lvl 4
CHAR + 3
While Esme looked at her brother, Priam's gaze shifted to the slave. Muyri was staring at the prince, naked terror in her eyes. She fears him. Did he do this to her?
Looking at the scars on the poor woman, Priam's hearts raced. He wasn't a hero, but he wasn't one to stand by while a woman - or a man - was tortured in front of him without reacting. Especially if he had the power to change things.
Suddenly, his anger opened Priam's eyes. The almost human appearance of Aydan, Muyri, and Esme had thrown him off. Instinctively, he had treated them as humans, seeking explanations. It was a mistake; he was now in Elysium.
"Tell your brother not to interfere," he demanded from Esme with a stern tone.
"I"
"Tell him," he insisted.
Esme turned to her brother. "Galinthor aran'shan enithalon'kai ilin'dor."
The prince gritted his teeth, shooting Priam a complicated look. He must not be used to being commanded but was too scared to attack.
[Note: Galinthor has been pronounced twice in a sentence directly related to you. This word seems to be your designation in Empyrean.]
"What does Galinthor mean?" Priam asked.
"... The First," Esme answered after a pause. For someone with so much vivacity, the pause was very long. She had clearly hesitated to respond.
Priam analyzed her answer. First was the word Esme and her brother used to talk about him. This meant they knew he was the first to finish the Tutorial. Moreover, they had already talked about him. They know me, but I dont know them. The situation bothered Priam.
It confirmed that Kazuki hadn't been the first on whom Esme had used her skills. Among his levels of [Divination Resistance], how many came from the princess?
Above all, had she limited herself to spying, or had she manipulated his luck?
While contemplating the various ramifications, Priam remained silent. If Esme was an enemy, he had to act now.
As he thought, a part of his consciousness felt a sense of unease emerging. Right behind it followed fear. Priam blinked before realizing that these were not his feelings but those of the guards and Muyri. A moment later, he understood. Enveloped by his charismatic aura, those with too weak charisma couldn't hide their emotions. It was a powerful ability and reinforced Charisma's importance as an attribute.
Unfortunately, neither Esme nor Aydan were affected.
"What is your arrival position, Princess Esme?" Priam finally asked.
"Lord Priam, I sense your anger, but there is"
"If I were angry, Princess, you would be dead. Answer my question, please."
Priam's tone was as polite as it was cold. Esme might be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but his imagination now conjured the worst. Had Arnold been sent by Esme's misfortune? Had his father fallen because of her? Had all the unfortunate events in his life an empyrean origin?
Disgust engulfed Priam.
"I'm not planning to experiment on a huma on her!"
In the pursuit of power, one had to consider moral boundaries. Priam refused to torture strangers.
"I hope not," Esme replied. "Just look at her face or the way she looks at my brother to understand that her current life is a nightmare. With you, her life can only improve. Muyri isn't a fighter, but she'll be safe in your base."
"If you're so concerned about her safety, why don't you defend her?"
Esme lowered her eyes. "Because I can't disobey my brother," she murmured, her cheeks red. Out of shame or anger, only she could say.
Priam's gaze turned to Aydan. The man stared at him, a hand on his sword. He seemed as fearful as he was angry. Priam hesitated to eliminate him. He felt that's what Esme wanted, but if the man had truly inflicted those scars on the young slave, he deserved it.
Unless she's manipulating me right now? She might have orchestrated everything with Myuri to make me kill a man whose language I don't understand.
Esme raised her eyes. "Before you think of anything: yes, I want to kill my brother. But if you attack him now, I'll be forced to defend him and avenge him. So its not a scheme for you to kill him."
"How are you forced?"
"Magical compulsion," the princess spat. It was the first time Priam saw her features betraying rage. Priam understood her. Having to defend and obey one's worst enemy... A fate worse than death.
"Won't he mistreat you?" Leaving someone with a psychopath capable of lacerating faces didn't sit well with Priam.
Esme shook her head. "I'm not the only one with a compulsion."
"Well," Priam responded before turning to the slave. "Do you agree to come with me?"
Myuri looked at him with wide eyes. Priam knew she couldnt understand his words, but he wanted her to feel the kindness in his voice. Instinctively, he used his aura to send her the equivalent of a wave of comfort. The slave's shoulders relaxed.
"Galinthor, enithil'kiran, ilin'dor enitharinthal enithor'shaldor. Shan'alor enithalon aran'dorinthal, shan'alor enithalon ilin'dor enithorithalon," Esme said to Muyri in a gentle voice.
While the slave's eyes widened, Aydan began to roar. The teleportation of Promesse a few inches from his face instantly calmed him. Priam had saturated the surroundings with invisible mist for this moment. In the absence of proof and on Esme's words alone, he wouldn't kill Aydan.
But if the man thought he had a say in Muyri's decision, he was mistaken.
The slave had jumped when she heard her master roar before looking at him again. Crimson with rage and powerlessness, Aydan made a superhuman effort not to explode. Seeing his master so weak for the first time gave Myuri the courage to nod. The sign was universal, and Priam opened a portal to his world. The other side of the portal faced the black border of his world, so as not to give any hint about his Talent to the empyreans.
Encouraged by Esme, Muryi stepped into [Concepts Archipelago]. Priam closed the portal behind her before turning to Aydan and Esme. It was time to leave.
With a nod, Priam greeted the crown prince. Why burn a bridge when he had only received an opinion so far? If Esme had lied to him, she would pay for it. If not, Aydan would do well not to cross paths with Priams relatives.
He then turned to Esme.
"Princess, I'm looking forward to see you again," he smiled behind his mask.
"Lord Priam, likewise," Esme replied, executing a perfect curtsy. Her white and gold hair flew backward, and Priam's hearts pulsed.
I hope Disney is right for once. In movies, pretty princesses were always supposed to be kind.
The next moment, Priam vanished into the mist. The day was young, and they still had many locations to plunder.
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 399
Constitution 662
Agility 404
Vitality 538
Perception 584
MENTAL:
Vivacity 332 (+3)
Dexterity 429
Memory 134
Willpower 648
Charisma 427 (+9)
META:
Meta-affinity 336
Meta-focus 251
Meta-endurance 185
Meta-perception 119
Meta-chance 216
Meta-authority 15 (+3)
Potential: 567 (+5)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 1 hour 23 minutes 12 seconds.
[Tribulation]: Four Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 176 days 1 hour 56 minutes 25 seconds.
Chapter 142: Once Upon a TimeEsme turned to her brother. "Galinthor, aran'shan enithrin'kai enithoron. Ilin'dor enithalon en'dorithor shan'althar."The commander's face turned crimson. The man - or rather, the empyrean - appeared furious as he visibly struggled to breathe. Despite Priam's efforts, the situation showed no signs of de-escalating. It wasn't entirely surprising; Priam had more or less taken their princess hostage and stole his magic tree.In response to Esme, the man grunted. A rather disrespectful response when addressing a princess.IdentificationAydan - Tier 0 - Viscount - Empyrean Crown Prince. Seventh Strategist of the Empire.The Crown Prince? Behind his mask, Priam narrowed his eyes. Who was truly in charge of this expedition then - Aydan or Esme? It was undoubtedly a matter of politics, and the truth might not be straightforward.Anyway, it didn't matter. The System had chosen Esme as a rival for a reason. If Priam had to bet on one of the two, he already knew which one."Galinthor, solithrin'kai, malorin vethar'shaldor. El'altharion enithor'lin, shan'dorinthal en'dorithor," Aydan finally responded through gritted teeth.Empyrean language: decoding in progress.Priam smiled as he read the notification on his add-on.Esme nodded before turning to Priam."My brother easily worries," she explained. "But I apologize; I haven't introduced myself yet. Esme Lthandorim, Princess of the Empire, and one of your nine rivals," she said. The ensuing bow was impeccable.So, there are ten of us. Two more than on Seth's map. Either they had eluded the rays of the Necromoon, or they had no fixed camp.There was, of course, one last hypothesis - they were dead."Certainly the prettiest of my rivals," he complimented her. "Priam Azura, Champion of Humanity."He then executed a bow that must have been an affront to all royal etiquettes. Looking up, he noticed that Esme seemed unsure how to react to his compliment. Perhaps people didn't court each other in her world? Or was it his mask? After all, she had to suspect that Priam wasn't really serious.Shrugging mentally, Priam refocused."Now that introductions are done, I would like some explanations.""Explanations?" Esme asked, surprised."You used a divination skill on my friend less than a minute ago."Was this one of his rival's powers? If so, it explained how she knew the exact number of existing rivals."Oh, I apologize for that, Lord Priam. I simply felt that a rival was approaching, and I wanted to verify their identity. Some can be hostile."Priam briefly thought of Seth and Arnold."Why not use the skill on me?" he asked.Esme gave him a smile. "Because I knew""Shan'dorinthal enithalon'kai?!"Lvl Up: Mask lvl 5WILL +3CHAR +3METAAUTH +3 Priam frowned, turning to Aydan. The man had just identified him. Had he succeeded, or had Mask canceled his skill? Either way, Priam found the sensation unpleasant. His grip on Promesse tightened as he shot a dark look at the prince. Remembering that Aydan couldn't see his face, Priam projected his aura. With his high charisma, the impact was almost physical.The prince recoiled, letting out a cry. Priam had tried to convey his anger, and Aydan had received it as a slight. Despite the insult, he kept quiet.Lvl Up: Intimidation lvl 4CHAR + 3While Esme looked at her brother, Priam's gaze shifted to the slave. Muyri was staring at the prince, naked terror in her eyes. She fears him. Did he do this to her?Looking at the scars on the poor woman, Priam's hearts raced. He wasn't a hero, but he wasn't one to stand by while a woman - or a man - was tortured in front of him without reacting. Especially if he had the power to change things.Suddenly, his anger opened Priam's eyes. The almost human appearance of Aydan, Muyri, and Esme had thrown him off. Instinctively, he had treated them as humans, seeking explanations. It was a mistake; he was now in Elysium."Tell your brother not to interfere," he demanded from Esme with a stern tone."I""Tell him," he insisted.Esme turned to her brother. "Galinthor aran'shan enithalon'kai ilin'dor."The prince gritted his teeth, shooting Priam a complicated look. He must not be used to being commanded but was too scared to attack.Note: Galinthor has been pronounced twice in a sentence directly related to you. This word seems to be your designation in Empyrean."What does Galinthor mean?" Priam asked."... The First," Esme answered after a pause. For someone with so much vivacity, the pause was very long. She had clearly hesitated to respond.Priam analyzed her answer. First was the word Esme and her brother used to talk about him. This meant they knew he was the first to finish the Tutorial. Moreover, they had already talked about him. They know me, but I dont know them. The situation bothered Priam.It confirmed that Kazuki hadn't been the first on whom Esme had used her skills. Among his levels of Divination Resistance, how many came from the princess?Above all, had she limited herself to spying, or had she manipulated his luck?While contemplating the various ramifications, Priam remained silent. If Esme was an enemy, he had to act now.As he thought, a part of his consciousness felt a sense of unease emerging. Right behind it followed fear. Priam blinked before realizing that these were not his feelings but those of the guards and Muyri. A moment later, he understood. Enveloped by his charismatic aura, those with too weak charisma couldn't hide their emotions. It was a powerful ability and reinforced Charisma's importance as an attribute.Unfortunately, neither Esme nor Aydan were affected."What is your arrival position, Princess Esme?" Priam finally asked."Lord Priam, I sense your anger, but there is""If I were angry, Princess, you would be dead. Answer my question, please."Priam's tone was as polite as it was cold. Esme might be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but his imagination now conjured the worst. Had Arnold been sent by Esme's misfortune? Had his father fallen because of her? Had all the unfortunate events in his life an empyrean origin?Disgust engulfed Priam."I'm not planning to experiment on a huma on her!"In the pursuit of power, one had to consider moral boundaries. Priam refused to torture strangers."I hope not," Esme replied. "Just look at her face or the way she looks at my brother to understand that her current life is a nightmare. With you, her life can only improve. Muyri isn't a fighter, but she'll be safe in your base.""If you're so concerned about her safety, why don't you defend her?"Esme lowered her eyes. "Because I can't disobey my brother," she murmured, her cheeks red. Out of shame or anger, only she could say.Priam's gaze turned to Aydan. The man stared at him, a hand on his sword. He seemed as fearful as he was angry. Priam hesitated to eliminate him. He felt that's what Esme wanted, but if the man had truly inflicted those scars on the young slave, he deserved it.Unless she's manipulating me right now? She might have orchestrated everything with Myuri to make me kill a man whose language I don't understand.Esme raised her eyes. "Before you think of anything: yes, I want to kill my brother. But if you attack him now, I'll be forced to defend him and avenge him. So its not a scheme for you to kill him.""How are you forced?""Magical compulsion," the princess spat. It was the first time Priam saw her features betraying rage. Priam understood her. Having to defend and obey one's worst enemy... A fate worse than death."Won't he mistreat you?" Leaving someone with a psychopath capable of lacerating faces didn't sit well with Priam.Esme shook her head. "I'm not the only one with a compulsion.""Well," Priam responded before turning to the slave. "Do you agree to come with me?"Myuri looked at him with wide eyes. Priam knew she couldnt understand his words, but he wanted her to feel the kindness in his voice. Instinctively, he used his aura to send her the equivalent of a wave of comfort. The slave's shoulders relaxed."Galinthor, enithil'kiran, ilin'dor enitharinthal enithor'shaldor. Shan'alor enithalon aran'dorinthal, shan'alor enithalon ilin'dor enithorithalon," Esme said to Muyri in a gentle voice.While the slave's eyes widened, Aydan began to roar. The teleportation of Promesse a few inches from his face instantly calmed him. Priam had saturated the surroundings with invisible mist for this moment. In the absence of proof and on Esme's words alone, he wouldn't kill Aydan.But if the man thought he had a say in Muyri's decision, he was mistaken.The slave had jumped when she heard her master roar before looking at him again. Crimson with rage and powerlessness, Aydan made a superhuman effort not to explode. Seeing his master so weak for the first time gave Myuri the courage to nod. The sign was universal, and Priam opened a portal to his world. The other side of the portal faced the black border of his world, so as not to give any hint about his Talent to the empyreans.Encouraged by Esme, Muryi stepped into Concepts Archipelago. Priam closed the portal behind her before turning to Aydan and Esme. It was time to leave.With a nod, Priam greeted the crown prince. Why burn a bridge when he had only received an opinion so far? If Esme had lied to him, she would pay for it. If not, Aydan would do well not to cross paths with Priams relatives.He then turned to Esme."Princess, I'm looking forward to see you again," he smiled behind his mask."Lord Priam, likewise," Esme replied, executing a perfect curtsy. Her white and gold hair flew backward, and Priam's hearts pulsed.I hope Disney is right for once. In movies, pretty princesses were always supposed to be kind.The next moment, Priam vanished into the mist. The day was young, and they still had many locations to plunder.Status: Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0PHYSICAL:Strength 399Constitution 662Agility 404 Vitality 538 Perception 584 MENTAL:Vivacity 332 +3Dexterity 429Memory 134 Willpower 648 Charisma 427 +9 META:Meta-affinity 336Meta-focus 251Meta-endurance 185 Meta-perception 119 Meta-chance 216 Meta-authority 15 +3 Potential: 567 +5Tier 0He Who Eludes Death charge: OFF. Reloaded in 1 hour 23 minutes 12 seconds.Tribulation: Four Tribulations pending.Future Tribulations delayed until:Time: 176 days 1 hour 56 minutes 25 seconds.
