Something Immortal

26: The House of Rosenkrantz Part One

The Dark Mansion of the Erinyes in the Sage Lake Crossing was only among the few places that could be visited. However, not anyone could enter the place unless they were someone important. There were around twenty or so rooms within the manor, and the moment they entered, they were greeted by the attendant waiting for their arrival.

It took a lot of convincing on Kali's part, but he managed to get Som to agree to come with him. Since he was now involved with the mission, Kali deemed it significant that Som should know the plan in a full circle. Som didn't mind this because he too, was trying to find more clues about his future in the story and if he would end up as a villain. However, he was also determined not to get too close to Kali because it was bad for his heart. The closer they were, the more questionable he became. Well, he was 100% sure that he was straight. For now.

"Ah, Kali, Som," The Dragon King Kyro seemed to be waiting for them too. He looked at Som first, then his brother, with a brief yet polite smile.

Som saw his brother, Sri, standing behind the Dragon King, waiting as well. He gestured for Som to come closer, and the younger one did. But not before sparing Kali a glance. But why should he care to ask for permission? And yet, when their eyes met, he had seen nothing there but gentleness making him feel even more conflicted.

"Oh, the diplomat he's with..." Som suddenly said this as he remembered that Magnus Fallen was still with the nightmare steed Tara. But he kept his mouth shut when the diplomat appeared together with Niran, going down the stairs of the mansion.

Before Som could even utter anything, the person he thought was Magnus Fallen suddenly transformed into that same person he saw speaking with Kali when he first followed him—if Som was not mistaken, this man was Elisedd Berg.

"How...?"

Niran explained imperturbably, "The real Magnus Fallen isn't in this place, Som. Everything you heard from the moment we were able to confirm that you were being followed was all part of the plan to lure them here. We intended to trap the assassins."

"So, where is the real Magnus Fallen then?"

Before anyone could further explain what was going on, Ilarion, the messenger of Niran, came in rushing, looking panic-stricken. "L-lord..."

They all exchanged uncomfortable glances and followed Niran as he hurriedly went to where he ordered the prisoners to be kept.

Under this Dark Mansion was a dungeon that looked as neat as the sacred temple painted in black. Som noticed similar runes marking the walls inscribed using the same gold-colored chalk. He had a notion, even without activating the rune magic, that these runes were another protective barrier to prevent prisoners from leaving the place.

The moment they arrived at one of the prison cells, Som saw his friends, Marko, Mica, and Saanvi, standing right by the door, staring dumbfounded in front of them. He gazed at what they were looking at and went momentarily still.

The assassins—they have all melted.

A thick, green liquid was trickling on the floor, and a foul odor radiated in the surrounding. It smells so bad like someone just poured high-end acid all over the place, and he started hacking. It was amazing how the others were able to hold on to their wits and block their nostrils somehow, specifically Kali, who just stood there with a deadpan face.

"They're well prepared," Saanvi suddenly spoke. "They are willing to kill themselves for the secret to die with them."

Seisyl Drest was also there, and he turned to the Shaman Niran. Come to think of it, and Som didn't even notice that he was with the group and Sigurd too. They looked equally concerned as the others, but Som thought that the reason behind this was that they found the death of the goblin assassins a waste since they could no longer interrogate them.