Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

With a surprised expression, Daria looked from Myrine's face to the waiting almost expectant faces of the Stygians and Stygian Captains.

"I don't really have an opinion," she eventually said with a shake of her head, "I'm not close enough to this to get involved. It's YOUR men who are dying... It's YOUR Territory under attack- my words might come off as insensitive in that case."

"Nonsense," Myrine said while waving her off, "Evian said you two have been to the border- He said you've seen the dead- If you ask me, that gets you close enough to have an opinion."

Daria sighed,

"Alright. I'd advise you to pull your men back,"

"Thank you. Some common sense!" said the Stygian man feeling vindicated.

The Stygian woman sneered at Daria,

"Of course, an Arcanist will advocate for a pullback. Cowards, all of you! Congratulations Dolton, you have the same take as a Spell-spouter."

"Doreen, Don't test me!" the Stygian Man, apparently named Dolton said.

"And you'll do what?" Doreen asked, confrontational, "Your favorite move is to 'pull back' so I'm not worried."

"Arrrr!" with an angry yell that was followed by Pressure release from both, they stood to their feet as one and produced their weapons looking ready to battle it right out.

"Enough!" Lord Stygian yelled but he was not the only one who let out his Pressure for caution. Lady Myrind did as well and together, they canceled out the released Pressures from Dolton and Doreen and forced the two to sit their asses down,

"That's enough!" Lord Stygian said again, "I'm getting tired of your squabbles. You're being divisive and it's not helping. Now, Witch, tell us why you believe we should pull back."

Daria seemed unbothered about the 'insults' she had received from Doreen. She remained quite calm as she spoke,

"Because Evian has a plan."

That caused everyone in the room to get a look of surprise that almost immediately switched to uncertainty,

"Evian," said Dolton Stygian, "The little brat that started all this has a plan?"

"Would this plan perhaps be him getting us involved in yet another conflict- probably finish us off as was surely his plan in the first place?" Doreen asked with a snigger. She and Dolton quickly found a common ground they could agree on.

"Hey, that's not fair," Myrine said sharply and while that chastised the two, their opinions did not change.

Adrian frowned as his Mother was once again so quick to support his brother despite how clear it was that he was in the wrong.

Daria nodded in agreement to Myrine's words,

"Yeah, it's not really fair, Evian has been quite busy trying to fix things. Even if he does get sidetracked a few times."

"Sidetracked with what?" Adrian asked with the usual distaste.

"Not important," Myrine interjected almost immediately. The image of Evian's amorous activity still fresh in her mind.

"Anyway," Daria said, "He has a plan."

"And what's his plan?" Lord Stygian asked.

"He says he wants to trap the Larnak Territory from both sides. The Stygian Knights on one side and the Renan Knights on the other."

Silence in the hall...

Everyone just stared at Daria and then someone started laughing and the others caught it as the entire hall, except the select few of Lord Stygian, Lady Myrine, and Adrian, quickly joined in. The reason Adrian didn't laugh along was not because he wanted to be composed like his parents but he was not really aware of the context that caused the laughter.

"What- What is this?" Daria asked confused by the laughter.

Lord Stygian frowned at his laughing relatives as he addressed Daria seriously,

"The Renan Territory gets involved with no one," he said.

"Yeah, because Frida is a pompous-" Myrine started.

"My Lady," Lord Stygian said calmly calling her to decorum.

Marine took a deep breath and rephrased her words,

"The Renan Territory, ever since they came under the rule of Frida, they've developed an act high and mighty attitude."

Lord Stygian shrugged,

"They produced the Martial Temple's Golden Child. That probably gives them enough ground to act 'High and Mighty'."

"Which is exactly why the idea of Evian convincing them to get involved in our fight sounds laughable." Dolton Stygian said.

"It doesn't 'sound' laughable. It IS!" Doreen said before laughing out loud again.

"Hmm, not if he tricks them. Maybe draw the fight to their borders or attack them and blame the Larnaks? Is that Evian's plan?" Lord Stygian asked while stroking his jaw contemplatively.

Daria shook her head,

"That's not his plan," she said.

"Probably not," Lord Stygian nodded, "Frida is a perceptive person- always have been. She would be difficult to fool. Tell us Witch, what is his plan?"

Daria sighed,

"Well-" she started before getting interrupted by a sound at the other side of the hall.

*Bang!*

The doors into the hall burst open carrying along a chill and behind them was Evian who had his Spear in hand in a swinging motion.

All eyes turned to him in surprise with many letting out gasps while others drew their weapons.

"Sorry, Sorry," Evian told them all with a smile, "Just wanted to make a grand entrance."

"Evian," Lord Stygian said with a sigh, "You're here."

"Yes, I am," Evian replied as he started walking through the hall towards the head of the table. All eyes were on him, some whispering how it was possible that he seemed even more handsome than before while the others stared at his Spear.

The sheer workmanship of the weapon, its regal look with the green shaft and silver spirals, and just the hint of cold hazy grey smoke emerging mostly from its silver Spearheads,

"That is not your average weapon. It's a weapon fit for a Territorial Lord." Doreen said.

Dolton sneered at her,

"Acting like you know everything and you don't even recognize the Larnak Family Spear."

"*Snap* Correct," Evian said while pointing at the Stygian man right after snapping his fingers.

Doreen Stygian frowned,

"So this is what Herbert says you stole. Boy, you actually did it," she said with a mixture of awe at what she knew had to have been a difficult task as well as annoyance at what that act had caused.

In response, Evian simply shrugged. There was some semantics to the theft but he saw no reason to get into it at the moment.

"Wow," Dolton said while observing the Spear even closer, "I can still remember the few times Herbert brought that thing out just to showcase his Status. It was always meant to be a 'ceremonial' weapon."

Evian shook his head with a smile,

"What a shitty thing to do," he said before raising the Slear to its vertical length of over Seven feet, "This magnificent Weapon is meant to be wielded. Its Spearheads should tear through flesh not wallow in some vault. I'll treat it with the respect it deserves."

Doreen frowned,

"Why not just return it? Maybe end this feud?" she asked.

Evian shook his head,

"Can't do that. The wheels are in motion. Herbert's rule must be overthrown."

Adrain let out a chuckle of derision that pulled attention to himself,

"You speak with authority but you have none here."

"Oh, and who does?" Evian asked, resuming his walk towards the head table while keeping his eyes focused on Adrian's annoyed face.

"Father does. Obviously!" Adrian said.

Evian nodded,

"Obviously," he agreed, "And he agrees with me."

Adrian turned to Lord Stygian,

"Do you, Father?" he asked, "Do you agree to keep sending our men to their deaths because of squabbles this idiot started behind our backs?"

Lord Stygian paused, his eyes on the Spear in Evian's hand, a weapon that could possibly be a bargaining chip for peace and then he sighed,

"Evian," he said, "You're my son. Whoever harms you, harms me- Harms all of us. We have your back so you must have ours. We care about your well-being (Adrian snorted in disagreement) so you should care about ours.

If there is a chance for peace- to stop more deaths, we should explore it."

Evian shook his head resolutely,

"There's no need for peace," he said, "Not after I have bargained support from the Renan Lordess."

"Ah yes, Frida- Daria was just telling us about that," Lady Myrine said with a gesture at the Witch.

"Oh, you were?" Evian asked her and she shrugged,

"They wanted to know."

"She said you didn't use trickery," Lord Stygian said with his eyes narrowed.

"There was no need. It never even crossed my mind," Evian said, "I have been in the Larnak Estate, I can be there again. I have their weakness in my sights, I just need time to make things fall into place and no more Stygian Knights will have to lose their lives."

Murmurs began to rise in the hall so Evian pressed,

"Herbert didn't attack because he's a master planner picking at our weakness- He attacked because he wanted to make up for the loss he has suffered.

It was a rash move and it has now cost him a Captain-"

"He lost a Captain? When?"

"Today," Evian answered the unknown speaker, "Daria and I met the Captain and his Squad at the border and we engaged.

Anyway, I have no memory of starting any of this. I didn't join the Crew and the Resistance knowing what I now know but I am going to fix it as best I can."

A moment of murmured deliberation followed Evian's words before Lord Stygian let out a breath,

"We'll call back our Knights. Focus on defending the territory and lie in wait supporting you. Don't let the Family down."

Evian nodded sharply in response before he looked at Daria and held out his Spear-free hand. She took it and stood to her feet,

"If that will be all, we should leave," Evian said and Daria gave a departing curtsy,

"Good day to you all."

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