"Speak then, what do you want?" Ursula inquired in a rather impatient tone while keeping her hostile gaze focused on Aron.
Aron showed a small smile and began slowly walking towards the bed. "I want you to cooperate with me." He replied without hesitation but received a completely unmoved expression from Ursula.
"You humiliate both my family and I, cause the death of my most precious child and still have the nerve to request such a thing from me?" Ursula soon furrowed her brows as she felt like Aron was now just making a mockery of her.
However Aron was completely serious with his request. "It would serve beneficial to both of us, you and I more or less want the same thing." Aron came to a halt about two meters away from Ursula's bed and just looked at her with his hands crossed.
After hearing this, Ursula's curiosity was slightly peaked. "And what would that be?" She inquired just as Aron had hoped.
"War with the Aethel Kingdom." Aron revealed and actually managed to bring a slight look of surprise out of Ursula. "You must be joking." Ursula muttered in an inquisitive tone as if asking for confirmation.
Aron however remained silent and straight faced, clearly showing her he wasn't kidding.
"...Considering you're actually serious, what makes you think I'd have any interest in initiating a war? Do you forget that my main duty is to protect Ettenheim from such a disaster from occurring?" Ursula quickly composed herself after the initial shock and retorted back but without as much hostility, her curiosity was slowly but surely rising now.
Aron didn't observe such a subtle change but since she was still willing to listen to him he continued to speak. "In my short time within the Vonstein household I've learned quite a bit about you Ursula..."
"For one you have no interest in the empire's politics, your interest instead lies within the battlefield... so much so that you've already tried suggesting an invasion of Aethel when you were younger. It's a shame isn't it? To work so hard in becoming a great combatant only to never get the chance to fully showcase your ability, it doesn't have to be that way however because I'm offering you a chance right now." Aron spoke slowly and calmly as if every word was carefully selected to bear a reaction from Ursula.
The more Aron spoke the more agitated Ursula began to look. "That may have been me when I was younger but I've long since grown and come to accept my duties. Moreover I have to regain my family's honor in future by killing you so after today... know that you're the Vonstein's family's greatest enemy. I'm sure you can understand the need for vengeance well." Ursula's tone now became slightly cracky as she spoke while her fists were clenched tight, wether this was due to anger or restrain Aron didn't know.
N0 v el Next. CoM
Alas despite coming here it seemed like his hope of gaining the assistance of the Vonstein family to start the war would not come into fruition. He relaxed his stance and only sighed while shaking his head.
"No, I don't understand vengeance. It is a fleeting feeling of satisfaction that usually brings about more problems. Believe it or not I had never planned to kill Gregor, his position in your family meant if he did die by my hands I'd have to deal with the wrath and schemes of your entire family and for what? Some useless human who only framed me? It's absolutely nonsensical to bring about problems from an action that brings only a moment satisfaction."
"If I'm going to take vengeance, I'd do it in such a way that it works in my benefit." Aron's eyes grew colder and fiercer as a light flickering glow could be seen in them. Under his clothes many of his veins now became visible on his tense muscles as well.
As if sensing the danger Ursula jumped backwards from the bed and widened the distant between the two of them. "This conversation is over so leave now, if you push your luck any further I won't be afraid of the consequences killing you might bring." Ursula readied a sort of battle stance while keeping her glance fixated on Aron.
Her instincts were telling her something was greatly amiss with him at the moment. A lingering sense of danger she hadn't felt in quite the long time.
"Leave? I'm afraid I can't do that now that you've rejected my offer. Having the entire Vonstein family working against me will prove to be nothing but a huge burden so instead you should perish tonight along with that useless honor you cling to so dearly..."
"Parasis... Invoke." Aron spoke before a glyph like tattoo on his left hand glowed brightly before quickly fading entirely.
Ursula who was caught off guard quickly inspected herself first for any changes or harm on her body but saw nothing and then proceeded to turn her gaze to Aron before getting ready to attack. However something was amiss...
"My mana... I can't feel it. What did you do!?" A genuine sense of panic now arose within Ursula's heart at this discovery. Without mana she was no better than common soldier.
Aron showed a smirk upon seeing the panicked expression on Ursula's face. "I did mention I took measures during my time within the castle, what you're experiencing is one said measure, my suppressive runes. Right now you won't be able to manipulate the mana within the effective radius so you're completely helpless." Aron explained as he began to slowly approach her.
The scent of fear she gave off had become slightly more potent as she understood the dire situation she was currently in. "Guards! Guards!" She attempted to call out as she saw no other way she would leave the room alive.
Soon after she did so the door swung open and a ray of hope arose within her, however it faded just as quickly as the individual who walked in was someone completely unfamiliar to her.
This individual wore an attire that was very hard to see as it made her blend in with her surroundings quite well. The only slightly clear part was her veiled face.
"I've killed the guards while the family and guests are still within the main hall." This unfamiliar woman was Khalifa and she gave a deep bow as she delivered this piece of news to Aron. "Good, kill everyone except Victoria and ensure your disguise isn't seen through." He casually gave the order and Khalifa left soon after without responding.
Ursula watched this exchange in great disbelief, wasn't he alone? Who was this woman? Did whatever Aaron do affect the whole castle or maybe even the city as a whole?
Numerous questions raced through Ursula's mind but no clear answer could be reached, her greatest worry now was how she could possibly escape this predicament.
As Aron glanced in her direction the sense of danger she felt grew, soon her eyes quickly turned towards the room's open window which now looked to be her only option. However given the height of the room it would likely lead to either death or grave injuries without augmenting her body first, something she could unfortunately no longer do under the runes effects.
Before she could decide on what to do Aron had arrived in front of her at an alarming speed. She couldn't even react as he gripped her by the collar and threw her body to the other side of the room.
*bam!*
Her body collided viciously with the wall causing multiple injuries there and then. As she fell back to the ground with a loud thud blood began to leak from her now cracked skull, ear where the eardrum had popped and left hand which now had the femur bone sticking out.
"Ga-splurt!" The pain she now felt was so overwhelming that her vision grew blurry, she slowly began to lose consciousness there after.
"Is this all you could amount to? Seems I was wrong to assume you would be tricky to handle..." Aron trialed off before walking away from Ursula's now unconscious body.
He returned to the original position he had stood in before taking in a deep breath. "Bos...Invoke!" As he uttered these words a glyph on his right hand lit up brightly before fading like the one before, what followed was the sound of explosions in the far distance.
At this moment outside the castle numerous buildings began to suddenly have parts of them violently explode causing numerous fires to break out.
Aron however didn't move and only tensed his muscles as the sound drew closer and closer until....
*boom!*
Eventually the same happened to castle Vonstein as many parts of it suddenly exploded violently. One of this very explosions occurred above Ursula's quarters making part of the brick ceiling collapse right under them.
....
By the time the sound of explosions ceased the city of Vonstein was in a state of disarray. Hundreds of lives were lost and numerous others were gravely injured as a blazing inferno began to engulf the city.
Back at the Castle Vonstein main hall, out of the many individuals initially present many died from the blast or were killed easily by Khalifa who was exempted from the effects of the runes Aron placed to suppress mana due to an item she carried similar to the mechanism he had placed in his residence back in Galos although temporary.
At this time Khalifa was facing the only individual still alive... Victoria Vonstein who was badly injured.
'He said the effect would vanish after the blast so its best I retreat from here before she realizes this and recovers. I think this performance should suffice.' Khalifa who now had a subtle change on her face thought as she got ready to retreat. Unlike her usual appearance, the current Khalifa looked much more pale and had long pointy ears that really stood out.
Victoria Vonstein who was was currently on the other side of the hall could only watch with a burning rage as she struggled to breathe and support herself standing. 'I'm starting to feel it...mana' She thought as the hope she once lost now returned, unfortunately it was too late now as the perpetrator now fled the scene.
"Mark my words elf! I will find you and ensure you and your people suffer a fate worse than death!!!" Victoria roared out in almost beast like fashion, causing the entire castle to rumble from her words alone.
Back upstairs in the passageway right outside Ursula's quarters, a badly injured Aron could be seen limping away from the room. His right hand looked broken in numerous positions and blood flowed down from his head but even then he wore a sinister smile on his face.
'At times all it takes for a war to begin is a simple misunderstanding.'
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