Avoid The Lead! [[COMPLETED]]

44. A Father, A Son

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The Grand Banquet Hall had fallen silent.

A dark army had invaded the hall, and a wave of frightened gasps filled the air as they took off their cloaks.

"Goblins!" Someone exclaimed.

More than half of the invaders were goblins, and as goblins were fast, possessed immense physical strength, and were partly immune to magic, they would wreak havoc in a hall full of poisoned mages!

Vitav strode into the hall, flanked by four dark mages, and their auras pulsed with malevolence. From their aura, Taze could tell these four were no joke, and their powers might even surpass a Grand Mage.

Dark Grand Mages were simply called Dark Grands, and the mere presence of this four had made the floating light orbs disappear.

The hall was now cast into semi-darkness, with only the wall lanterns lighting the space.

Vitav himself looked paler than usual, with artistic dark lining around his eyes. His fair blond hair was slicked down to his shoulders, and he was dressed in an elegant all-black dress suit, topped by a black and silver fur coat.

His lips were almost red against his pale skin, and they bent into a smile as his eyes sought out Taze.

"Hello Brother." Vitav greeted, his blue eyes gleaming with unholy power. "Nice... banquet you've got going here. How could you leave out your only brother?"

Taze managed a smirk of his own. "I DID in fact send an invitation. It must have been lost in the mail. Pity." He subconsciously stepped in front of Celia.

Vitav's brows drew into an annoyed scowl. "Glib." He cocked his head. "I'd like to continue our delightful catch-up, but I lack the time to spat." His voice dripped with venom as he turned to his father, the King.

"The Sceptre of Alaus... Hand it over."

The council Members exchanged surprised looks.

"Oh? How did you know about the Sceptre of Alaus?" Grand Mage Patiel asked.

"Only the council members and those present at that meeting should know about it." Grand Mage Pariel finished.

"Surprised?" Vitav smirked. "You're not worth telling." He unleashed his own aura, and an unbelievable force spread across the hall, chilling even a few mages. "Hand over the sceptre, if you want to live."

'How powerful is Vitav?!' Taze wondered.

They had heard whispers of his power, but nothing concrete, so the Grand Mages quickly stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Prince Vitav, don't make yourself even more of an enemy!" Grand Mage Sidian said. "Th- There's no such thing as the Sceptre of Alaus! Surrender, and your father, the King, might have mercy!"

Vitav scoffed. "Why bother lying? Isn't the Sceptre lying beneath this Palace? Pun intended."

He spread his hands in a wide gesture.

"Look around you. Those poisoned are the pillars of Luxia, and this poison can only be cured by me. So tell me father..." He turned to King Vien. "Would you watch them all die? Just to cling to the sceptre's power?"

Taze's eyes swept round the hall, confirming that the poisoned were indeed prominent figures.

Every official he could see lay unconscious or wheezing, and the poisoned Mages he could identify were Magic Council members, or Battalion Leaders of the Combat Mages.

This included Lord Scarlett, who was doing his best to remain upright, even though his skin had taken on a greyish tinge.

The deaths of these people would shake Luxia, leaving them vulnerable to enemies.