Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: Dark Elf Arc

Chapter 86

Ever since the dark elves had taken over to become the overseers of Arcadia, Callisto found that more and more, he was becoming nothing but a figurehead. He read through papers, signed documents, and worked day in and day out to do his best to please these new overlords.

This did not please him.

Callisto had always held the great ambition of becoming the ruler of this nation. It had nothing to do with the nobles and wanting to bring power back into their hands. He just wanted to rule over people. However, now that these dark elves had suddenly shown up, his role had been relegated to mere figurehead. It was like he had been demoted.

"I let myself be tricked," he grumbled. "Damn that Cleopatra."

He had no idea how Cleopatra knew these dark elves, but she had been the one who invited them into Arcadia. She said they would be a great help in getting rid of the remaining sorceresses. Callisto had trusted her. He only realized after the dark elves arrived, overpowered the Peacekeepers and his Knights, and stole the controls for the Knights from him that he had been duped.

As these dark thoughts swirled around in his head, the doors opened and two people walked in.

The more noticeable between the two was the large man with flaming red hair. He towered over most people like a goliath, making Callisto wonder if maybe he didn't have giant blood in him. His thick chest and shoulders were hidden behind a gleaming breastplate and shoulder pauldrons made of mythril. Forearms the size of Callisto's head swung back and forth as the man walked.

Walking beside him was the much smaller and far slighter Cleopatra, the blonde-haired sorceress who controlled Elysium but didn't look a day over 12 years-old. As he stared into her blue eyes, Callisto felt his anger bubble to the surface. However, the woman he was glaring at didn't seem to notice or even care about his feelings. She walked over to the desk and stood before it.

"What can I do for you, My Lady?" asked Callisto with forced politeness.

"Elincia and Caspian have left Fas Sheras. They journeyed with an army of ten thousand elves, ransacking both Imperium Vae and Silvaguarde," Cleopatra began without preamble. "They are currently journeying south-east. We are not sure where they are headed, but we believe they want to reunite with Erica, Commander Feral, and Sub-Commander Stratello."

Callisto wanted to pinch the bridge of his nose as he realized what this meant: More paperwork for him.

"You want me to send out Knights to intercept them, right?" he asked.

"The Knights have already been mobilized," Cleopatra corrected, shaking her head. "I am merely informing you of what happened so you are not left out of the loop."

Callisto wanted to grit his teeth. Ever since the dark elves claimed the control module for his Knights, they had been using them as they pleased without regards to him. Most of the time he wouldn't even know what they were being used for. Cleopatra was the only one who told him anything, but at the same time, he almost wished she wouldn't. It felt like she was rubbing salt on his wounds.

"Thank you for letting me know," he said with a fixed smile. "I appreciate it."

"Gya ha ha ha! You look like you just shit a brick!" Alexander laughed merrily, causing the smile Callisto wore to become even more strained. He felt like it would snap at any moment if he didn't get these two out of here.

"Is there anything else you would like to speak to me about?" asked Callisto.

Cleopatra nodded once. "I will be leaving in a few days alongside the Knights. Since Elincia's powers have proven to be great, Lord Oraferrum has asked that I accompany them to dispose of her and the elves."

Lord Oraferrum was the mysterious ruler of the dark elves, someone whom Callisto had never met before, and someone he honestly hoped to never meet. He didn't know why, but the name alone sent chills down his spine.

"So I see." As he looked at Cleopatra, he became curious about something. "Why do you follow the dark elves?"

"Why do I... follow them?" Cleopatra's eyes flickered.

"Yes. What is your reason for doing as the dark elves say?" asked Callisto.

Cleopatra scrunched up her face. "It's because... the dark elves are... they are the ones who promised to help me take revenge on Sylvia if I do as they say. They said I can only get my revenge if I listen to them."

As he watched Cleopatra leave the room with the man beside her, Callisto pondered the enigma she represented. Something was definitely wrong with her. He hadn't noticed it before because he had been so focused on his own ambitions, but now that his desire to rule had been overturned by a bad hand, he could see that something about the sorceress was off.

It was like she was nothing more than a puppet.

***

This is a short chapter since it's just an interlude. I wanted to show you all what was happening with Cleopatra and Callisto, who haven't gotten much screen time.

Despite how small this chapter is, I hope you all enjoyed it. Please let me know what you think!