The Crimson Champion

Chapter 10: An Old Rival

Yuri leaves his quarters and he walks towards the dungeons, unaware he's being followed. Lorelei hides in the shadows while she follows, wanting to know why Yuri goes to the dungeons so much lately.

Yuri goes down into them and he approaches the darkest corner. Lorelei hides nearby, watching Yuri as he activates a hidden mechanism and she whispers to herself. "What is this...?"

Lorelei quietly follows Yuri as he goes deep underground, and she watches as he chants something in an ancient language in front of a strange door. When he's done, the door disappears.

Lorelei watches as Yuri kneels in front of the altar and prays. She wants to hear what he's saying, but she stays where she is so she isn't noticed.

Soon, a portal opens and a strange purple-skinned man that looks similar to Lonril walks out of it. Lorelei knows that the man must be Rothzal, the assassin who attacked Shana.

She wants to go over and stab him in the face, but she reluctantly stays where she is. The man smirks at Yuri and mockingly bows to him.

"Hello, "My lord". Yuri glares at Rothzal as he stands up. "Why the hell are YOU here? I wished to speak with your mother." Rothzal rolls his eyes. "She sent me to deliver a message to you."

To Lorelei's shock, Grelnar silently walks out of the portal. Yuri looks confused. "Why is Grelnar with you?"

Rothzal smiles evilly. "That damned brat Brutus Crescent broke the enchantment Mother placed on him. I got bored of "playing" with them, so I left and took Grelnar with me back to Mother and she..."fixed" him."

Lorelei looks at Grelnar's eyes and she notices they're nothing but purple orbs. "Who is Rothzal's mother and what the hell did the two of them do to Grelnar...?"

Yuri silently stares at Rothzal. "Is there a chance that he will regain his senses?" Rothzal shakes his head. "No. Only if the spell is released, or if he is inflicted with a fatal wound."

Yuri nods. "Good to know. I already have a mission in mind for him." Rothzal wordlessly walks back into the portal and it closes behind him.

Lorelei quickly leaves the passage and hides in a corner of the dungeons. As Yuri leaves the secret shrine with Grelnar silently following, he shuts the entranceway and they re-enter the dungeons, but then Yuri pauses. "You can come out now, traitor."

Lorelei furiously goes up to him and glares. "What the hell are you doing?! You can't do this to Grelnar!" Yuri smirks. "I can do whatever the hell I want. I am the future ruler of this world, after all. Come to the throne room with me. I have a mission for you too."

Lorelei angrily follows Yuri and Grelnar to the throne room, where Lonril is already waiting. Yuri sits on the throne, while Lorelei and Grelnar stand by Lonril.

"I wish to speak to the three of you about something. The town of Lazarus has evaded my attempts to capture it for too long. Lorelei and Grelnar, you are to immediately head to Lazarus and take control over it."

Lorelei opens her mouth to say something, but she changes her mind and silently leaves, Grelnar silently following her. She gets some supplies together and she thinks of riding Seraph, but she knows Grelnar is most likely too heavy for the two of them to ride on her back, and she doesn't want Grelnar to walk by himself, so she decides to walk there with him.

Meanwhile, back in the throne room, Lonril waits. "Is there something you have for me to do?" Yuri grins. "Yeah. You are good at staying hidden, correct?" Lonril nods. "Yes. My shadows can cloak me."

Yuri stands up and goes over to Lonril. "Good. I want you to use that ability to go after the two of them, and report back to me everything that traitor dragoon does."