Chapter 211 - The Orb

"Is that the same inn that we stayed before?"

"Yes! I think Zekiah and Ruvin were also staying there for now."

"Why there?"

"There must be some reason, but it was not stated in the message that Zander sent."

"Hmm, let's stay there then."

* * * * *

"My Lord, the orb is truly amazing. Not only did the power of our dark magic increased, but the strength of the men practicing dark magic has also improved immensely."

The Dark Magic Lord remained silent. He was not certain what triggered the awakening of the orb, although all it did is release some kind of power that enhanced the ability of dark magic users. The Dark Magic Lord was confused because he was yet to retrieve Jorick from the Ninth Prince. Why did the orb suddenly awaken? 

'Something must have triggered its awakening. It is not yet releasing its full power and yet we already feel that our strength is growing day by day. What will happen when we have Jorick?'

The Dark Magic Lord a.k.a. Marquis Edmond Quivel recalled the conversation that he had with King Odhran.

"Why do you want to get the orb? I told you before that no one will be able to awaken it again, except Joram or his child. That orb will not be able to unleash its power ever again."

"What do you mean, Your Majesty? How come you seem so sure that Prince Joram or his child will never ever get to see that orb?"

"They won't because I made sure that they wouldn't be able to step foot in Prazia again."

"Did you send men to assassinate them?"

"No, someone else did that for me. I can tell you the location of the orb, but you won't be able to activate it. Whatever your purpose is, I no longer care. Just help the Left Minister of Tissuria in what he wanted to do."

'Was the King the one who ordered the Left Minister of Tissuria to eliminate Prince Joram and his family?'

When Marquis Edmond disappeared for a few days, he was attending to his old master. The old master had known that his days were numbered. After so many years of trying, they still failed to discover the road to immortality. His old master was the one who actually discovered the dark magic. The old master was a citizen of Prazia, and he knew how to use magic. Marquis Edmond had no idea how the old master discovered it, but he was the number one disciple of the old master.

There were two reasons that drew Marquis Edmond's attention to dark magic – immortality and discovery of other continents. The old master was the one who told him about the existence of other continents and promised him that they could gain immortality through dark magic. Discovering more continents meant more opportunities, and who would want to pass on a chance of gaining an immortal life? 

He could remember how the old master tried to explain everything to him in great difficulty. His health was deteriorating, but he still tried to make the Marquis understand though he was already coughing heavily.

"Edmond, listen well to the things that I'm about to tell you. I don't have much time, and I've always treated you as my own flesh and blood. The one who can help us achieve our goal is Joram's eldest son."

"Joram? The Third Prince of Prazia?"

"Yes. The same man who chose to leave Prazia to stop the war among our people."

"But, Master no one knows where he is. When we tried to rescue them that day in Herzegova, it was too late. The whole Kingdom was set on fire. They could be among those people who boarded the ship to survive or they could have been swallowed by the fire."

The old master shook his head. "No, I was able to rescue Joram's eldest son Jorick. I entrusted him to the Ninth Prince of Tissuria after I wiped out his memory and made him grow slower than usual. It was the only way that I could protect him. "

"Why is it him?"

"He holds the power to break the barrier that separates Maecaea from the other continents. Someone created the barrier to imprison us, and only Jorick could break it. I have only analyzed everything clearly recently, but my health suffered because of it. King Odhran was not supposed to ascend the throne at that time. Even though he was the Crown Prince, the Third Prince Joram was the rightful heir."

"How come?"

"The next King of Prazia must be able to activate the Orb of Magic, which used to be in the temple, to prove the legitimacy of his reign. The orb will emit a golden light once it recognized the next ruler of Prazia. King Odhran does not possess magic and could never activate the orb. Technically, King Odhran's reign should be considered null and void. I hope that Prince Joram is still alive and well, but we cannot find him. Our best option is his son Jorick. We need to activate the orb and use it to break the barrier. I think King Odhran is keeping the orb somewhere. You need to get it from him."

"That orb is that powerful? Why did King Odhran become the Crown Prince in the first place?"

"I am only fifty percent sure that it will be able to break the barrier, but that is a good enough chance. King Odhran became the Crown Prince because he was the legitimate son of the former Queen and King of Prazia. The Queen must've known that her son had no magic and was afraid that the King might transfer the title of Crown Prince to Prince Joram, who already showed great potential at a very young age. King Odhran was not tested for his ability to do magic. I don't know how the Queen did it, but she once proved that the King could practice magic."

"Master, how did you know that the King had no magic?"

"I just know. The orb did not have any reaction when he touched it before. I could not voice it out because I was not supposed to be there in the temple when he touched it before. I kept mum about it because my family would be put in danger when I said something." 

"How will I contact the Ninth Prince?"

"I already sent a message to the Ninth Prince, and you will meet him in my stead. I set the meeting in three days at Luna Inn. I have perfected the teleportation array, and you can use it when you go there."

"I'm confused, Master. If King Odhran had no magic, how did he defeat Prince Joram?"

"It was the Left Minister of Tissuria who helped him create chaos in the kingdom and make Prince Joram choose to leave Prazia. They always had a good relationship, and I witnessed it myself. Maintain your good relationship with King Odhran and the Left Minister so they won't suspect a thing. Don't let the Left Minister see your face."

"Master, I already met my grandson…"

The old master bit his lip and asked, "Is he the First Prince of Tissuria?"

Marquis Edmond nodded his head, "Yes." 

The old master suddenly fell silent. Everything seemed to be getting more complicated with the turn of events.

"Do you want him to rule over Tissuria or Venetia?"

"I offered him Venetia, but he seemed to be keen on taking over Tissuria."

"Convince him to settle for Venetia for now. When the time is right, he can get to rule the whole of Maecaea after he takes it from the Left Minister. Who does the Left Minister plan to put in the throne of Tissuria, the Ninth Prince?"

"I think he is planning to give it to Vaughn with a condition that the Queen should be his granddaughter."

The old master frowned at what he learned. "Why not his grandson, the Ninth Prince?"

"I am not too sure, but I think that Left Minister favors his granddaughter over his grandson. I heard a rumor before that Princess Odette had set her mind into marrying Prince Vaughn."

"That would be i.n.c.e.s.t! Why would the Left Minister agree and even approved the decision of his granddaughter?"

"I think Princess Odette is not really King Tarendino's daughter."

The old master was shocked at what Marquis Edmond had told him. A thought suddenly occurred in his mind.

"Could it be that Princess Odette is King Odhran's daughter?"

Marquis Edmond was surprised, but he felt that the reason why the Left Minister was close to King Odhran might have been because of Princess Odette. They heard a rumor once that the then Crown Prince Odhran was especially close to King Tarendino's concubine named Jayda. She happened to be the Left Minister's daughter.

The Marquis sighed and set aside the things that could hinder his work. They already got the orb, and he should focus on solving the mystery of its awakening. The presence of someone in that room must have triggered it, but who among his companions did it? 

He was certain that it was not him. He had seen the orb before when he was still a curious young man. At the time, the orb was still in the temple where everyone could see. It had no reaction when he touched it. 

The Marquis tried to recall the ones who were with him when they retrieved the orb. He was in deep thought when Azer entered the room.

"What are you thinking, my Lord?"

Azer put down the refreshments that he prepared for the Marquis, who looked at him with curiosity.

'Could it be Azer?'

"Gather everyone who went with us when we retrieved the orb."

"My Lord?" Azer was surprised at the instruction that the Marquis had given.

He had no clue regarding the intention of the marquis for doing so.

'Is he going to bestow something to us?'

"Gather the men who were with us earlier and take them to the room where we put the orb."

"Yes, Master."