The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation-Chapter 27 - 26 — Deliberate

"Where have you been?"

Zephyrion stilled his thoughts, giving a small nod.

"After the ambush, I wandered the forest for some time until a powerful man found me. He took me somewhere... a place with people of all ages. Like some kind of home."

"A Pyrian?"

"No—"

An overwhelming weight crashed down on him, forcing him to his knees.

Zephyrion’s fists clenched tightly. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t move an inch. It was as though the air itself had solidified around him, pressing him into the ground.

Kastor’s gaze bore into him, like a beast that had already sunk its fangs into its prey.

"You lie to me?"

The pressure deepened.

"...My apologies. I misspoke."

Zephyrion’s fingers dug into his palms.

’It’s necessary.’

"A Pyrian?"

The weight eased slightly.

Zephyrion drew in a quiet breath and forced himself back to his feet.

"...Yes. I believe he was a Pyrian." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Where did he take you?"

"I don’t know. I was blindfolded."

"Blindfolded... and what did you do there?"

"I was clothed, fed, and given a place to sleep. The others had their own roles I wasn’t privy to. I was assigned tasks."

"...What kind of tasks?"

"I mined... and did other things."

One of those tasks had involved retrieving elemental crystals from the depths of a mountain. That part, at least, wasn’t a lie.

"So he kidnapped you? A Calderalth?"

Kastor’s eyes gleamed coldly. The air around him trembled as the pressure surged again.

Zephyrion gritted his teeth, feeling his legs quivered beneath him as he fought to remain upright.

"What is his name?"

For a brief moment, a figure surfaced in Zephyrion’s mind... snow-white hair, an unreadable presence.

His eyes grew colder.

"...Frost."

"Frost..."

Kastor repeated the name slowly. The air thickened further under his gaze, pressing in from all sides like an invisible cage.

Soon, when Zephyrion’s legs were just about to give in, the weight vanished. He lifted his head, drawing in a controlled breath, to find Kastor staring at him with a silent frown.

’Here it comes.’

The main question that would determine whether or not everything he had said could be believed.

"Why are you just returning?"

Seven long years had gone by, and yet he was just returning. It wouldn’t make any sense that such a man would have simply allowed him to leave, especially after keeping him for so long.

Zephyrion remained silent for several seconds, then his eyes slowly hardened. He knew he needed to feign anger for his next step, however, there was no need to force it. This was real.

"He bound me with a relic. I couldn’t leave because of it. I only managed to break it during one of my tasks... that’s how I escaped."

The relic had indeed held him back, stopping him from making progress on his seal. It was the reason he had remained with the order... and breaking it had been what allowed him to leave.

Nothing he said was false.

Only... arranged.

"...And the mute?"

Zephyrion’s eyes flickered for the briefest moment before he lowered his gaze slightly.

"She was there. One of us. When the relic broke... we escaped together."

"...."

Kastor remained silent for several seconds. Though Zephyrion could barely feel the weight of his aura anymore, he could still see the faint trembling of the air around him.

’What’s he thinking?’

It was difficult to tell, considering the man’s face was utterly expressionless. Zephyrion exhaled through his nose.

He hated it.

This feeling of standing before something he couldn’t grasp, couldn’t predict. Like trying to move forward blind.

’Hm?’

His eyes narrowed faintly. The pressure, what remained of it, suddenly disappeared completely.

Though still expressionless, Kastor’s aura was now somewhat... softer.

"It took you seven years... but you returned. Good."

’Does that mean he believes me?’

He bowed without any change in expression.

"Yes, father."

An awkward silence passed between the both of them. Kastor continued staring at him with that same unreadable expression.

’Now what?’

He wasn’t sure what to say next. Zephyrion had always been close with his mother, rarely interacting with his father. The both of them simply didn’t go well together.

Zephyrion found talking with most people a waste of his time, while Kastor hardly ever spoke unless needed.

They were the worst duo anyone could have in a room alone. In fact, most of their interactions in the past had been due to Senerith forcing them together.

After a moment, Kastor gave a slight nod.

"You will join the house training in two days."

He paused for a moment.

"The mute as well."

"...Yes, father."

"You may leave."

With a deep bow, Zephyrion turned and left the hall.

The hall remained silent for several moments until Kastor suddenly called out.

"Garaxe."

A broad man, clad in gleaming whitish armor, stepped out from the shadows and bowed instantly.

He was Grand Marshal Garaxe, the head of the Knight Line of House Calderalth.

"Lord Calderalth."

"Drop it. What did you find?"

"You know I can’t do that. You’re the head of house, brother."

Garaxe cleared his throat lightly as Kastor’s gaze sharpened on him.

"...Denmar’s subordinate was behind the attack on Zephyrion."

"And Denmar?"

"He denies involvement. Says it was negligence on his part for choosing the man. To show sincerity... he sent the subordinate’s family heads. And some Relics."

"...Of course he did."

A deep scowl settled on Kastor’s face as he stared into the distance, his fingers slowly curling.

After a moment, his fists tightened.

"How long?"

"A few years at m—"

"Hasten it. Can you do that?"

At Kastor’s steady gaze, Garaxe nodded and bowed his head deeply.

"...Yes, head of house."

"And also..."

Kastor’s eyes narrowed slightly, staring at where Zephyrion had stood moments ago.

"Look into everything he said."