168: Different monsters (part 3)

Different monsters (part 3)

Adela took a step forward, feeling Egon's unnecessary and unappreciated tension.1

"Egon, our purpose here is to explore and determine the appropriate placement of the industrial zone," Adela argued, her voice firm. "What is the meaning of this?"

Egon scoffed dismissively, clearly disagreeing with her.

"The idea of having an industrial zone in this forest is completely out of the question, and he knows it," Egon said, glaring at Aldric, whose smile remained unaffected.

Adela's heart sank as she realized that this confrontation was likely connected to the shapeshifters.

Egon raised his hand, pointing his finger in Aldric's direction. "I know what you're after, and you can forget about it."

"If you're referring to the mana mines, then you're mistaken... Andreas is an ancient ally of my people."

Taking a step back, Adela hesitated before speaking. "What mana mines? There are no mana mines in Lanark. It's..." She wanted to say that it was a myth, but then again, so were the mythical vampires, one of whom happened to be Larissa's mate.

Egon's gaze, sharp and filled with sympathy, swept over Adela's flabbergasted expression.

"...Even if you don't tell her, I came with the intention of revealing this to Kaiser," Aldric said.

Egon's gaze hardened as he locked his eyes onto the young King. "You just said Andreas is an ally. If you even entertain the idea of uncovering the maze surrounding the mines, you will be igniting a war with him."

"Egon!" Adela's voice echoed through the woods, her shame spreading throughout her. "...Please, explain it to me," she pleaded, her voice barely audible to her own ears. She shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. It couldn't be true.

"Adelaide, I can explain," Egon spoke softly.

She looked up at him, her green eyes filled with a sense of betrayal. "So, there really are mana mines in Lanark? Mines that could solve all of our financial problems?..." She swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart pounding. "And if you've been withholding this information from me all along, then..."

Then you never truly loved me.

That was the conclusion she couldn't escape.

She needed to steel herself against her own emotions.

Glaring up at Egon, her eyes filled with a mix of hurt and anger, she unleashed her words laced with bitterness. "All the debt between us, Egon... surely a mine overflowing with mana stones would conveniently settle it, wouldn't it? Is that why you withheld this information from me? Were you content seeing me suffer under the weight of my indebtedness to you? Is that the extent of your sadistic pleasure?" She spat out the final two words.

Egon, taken aback by her tone and piercing words, seemed poised to respond, but before he could utter a single word, Aldric interjected, interrupting the brewing confrontation.

"It's not like that. There's a deep history you're missing."

"Egon," Adela dismissed the young King's words, determined to get an answer from her mate. "Are there mana mines in Lanark or not?"

"They exist," Aldric answered on Egon's behalf again. "But then... It sounds like you'd rather they didn't."

Adela placed a hand over her mouth, feeling the urge to scream at the top of her lungs. Her world was unraveling once again, someone else was controlling the narrative, showing her that everything she believed to be true was a lie.

She shook her head, taking two steps back, and then another step as Egon moved closer to her.

"Don't come any closer!" she shouted, teetering on the edge of losing her sanity. She wanted to learn more, yet dreaded it at the same time. Her ears rang loudly in her mind.

Gasping, she felt a splash of water hit her face.

"Hey!" Egon shouted in response. Next thing Adela knew, he was lifted into the air, positioned beside the tallest pine tree nearby.

Adela was about to protest when a stream of profanities reached her ears, originating from Egon's mouth. It reassured her that he was safe where he was.

"You need to gather yourself and learn everything," Aldric scolded. "The mana mines are devoid of mana; they serve as a tomb for Andreas's first mate."

"First mate..." Adela repeated, silently acknowledging the significance of the oracle's involvement. She was grateful that Larissa was far away from this turmoil.

"And if you want to know the location of the stones," Aldric continued, "I assume they are in Destan. The responsibility for them falls to the Emorian King."

Adela chewed on her lip, her head drooping and her shoulders slumping. "Uncle... Uncle is sitting on a treasure, yet he pushed my father into debt... Moreso with each passing day..."

Aldric approached her, pulling his sleeve forward slightly and using it to wipe her face gently.

"Put me down. Damn it!" Egon's voice echoed from above.

Aldric ignored him. "The war Kaiser waged against his own Kings was the longest one he ever launched... He didn't want the stones, Adela. He wanted to manage his finances while pretending there were no mines in his lands."

She shook her head, certain of one fact she knew better than anyone else. "Father would never betray the Monarch." She looked up. "Please, release Egon."

Once again, Aldric disregarded her plea. "...Who do you think those rebels truly served, Adela?"

She was about to provide the obvious answer when Aldric's gaze hardened. "Don't just repeat things; think for yourself."

He was asking for the impossible right now!

It was impossible. Her father would never... 

"All of this is ridiculous!" She said, remembering having the same thought long ago. "To suggest that my father would cause an epidemic in his own lands..."

"Soldiers can be infiltrated, spies can be placed anywhere. Trust me on that," Aldric stated with conviction.

It was the first time Adela saw the young King frown as he looked above. "He can't be this strong," he murmured, but it was too late. Egon had already begun to fall, his fist aimed directly at the young King's face.

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