Arcane Journey

Chapter 315 The High King's Plan
This is a prison cell made of forbidden magic stones. Living here is equivalent to being in the death zone. The only difference is that it is more comfortable.

The little prince Brenners of the City of Shadows thought with satisfaction: If his father wanted to kill him, he would never be so troublesome, and even provided him with a comfortable prison.

The High King will not kill him, Braines kept telling himself in his heart: I am his child, his own flesh and blood, his heir, his youngest son.

He can still recall that when he made a mistake when he was a child, he fell under his father's lap, admitted his mistake, and begged for forgiveness. When he saw the tears rolling down his face, he would definitely forgive him.

But that was just in the past, and now he will never do this, after all, he has done nothing wrong, even if he did, he will not be so humble.

"Olot." On the way back to Sultanza City from the Shadow Sea, he pleaded with his captors, "I never thought of betraying my father, you have to trust me."

Olot was his father's personal bodyguard. In Sultanza, he was known as the 'Shadow Star'. He had a hooked nose, high cheekbones, and a strong jaw.

He was always clean-shaven, and his thick hair hung down to his collar like a glacier of silver, split in two by a strand of black hair as black as midnight.

But the lines of his mouth were sharp, his tongue even sharper, and he didn't answer, just sat there sharpening his sword, silhouetted by the setting sun, his eyes seemed to be black, but Breners had been close Look, they're purple...dark purple.

A pair of dark and angry eyes.

"Don't you know me yet?" Breners kept explaining, "You have known me since you were a child, and you have always protected me, just like protecting my mother... Dozens of centuries ago, you followed her from far away Imaskar came to the territory of Netheril to serve as her bodyguard, now I need you, I need your help, I must leave..."

After returning to the city of Sultansa from the Underdark, he made full preparations and planned to go to Guangze together with Brian, the lord of Mokou Town.

It's a deal between him and Brian because they're kindred spirits and they're both working together in one direction.

"I'm sorry, little prince." Olot's face was as stiff as a stone. "The Supreme King ordered, and Olot obeyed."

Breenners thought he would be taken to the glass palace atop his father's tower, with its gazebos, heat waves, scents of flowers, heavy monotonous buzzing of bees, and thorn roses...

However, Olot took him to the icy Forbidden Tower. Any spellcaster imprisoned here will be as weak as a mortal, and the speed of time here is also hopeless.

"Little Prince." Sultanza's old housekeeper said, "Please forgive a blind old man who can't climb the tower with you. My old bones that are about to rot cannot control the different speed of time. You are ready, please wait patiently for the High King to improve before giving new instructions."

"Are you saying that father is in a bad mood?" Breners couldn't help but wonder, "Miss Lost's plan is almost completed, and it is only one step away from success. Why is he in a bad mood?"

This is also what he is most worried about. He must leave Floating Void City as soon as possible, find Brian, and assist him in destroying the plan of the lost lady.

"He expected you to ask that question," said the old steward. "The High King's answer is: patience."

The Forbidden Tower is a dilapidated high tower located on a huge reef in the floating city. As a gloomy prison, the final fate of the key criminals is almost always killed by the rapid passage of time.

Brenas climbed the stairs, walking higher and higher, without the assistance of divine and arcane spells, his breathing gradually became short of breath.

The tower of the forbidden magic is 60 meters high, and the cell where he was held was close to the top.

He looked at every door he passed, trying to guess whether it was the abyssal demon, the batzu devil, or the yugoloth demon that was imprisoned in it.

When his cell was closed heavily, Breners began to instinctively explore the new residence. The room was spacious and airy, with plenty of decorations. The floor was covered with expensive carpets, and there were fine wines to drink and books for recreation.

In a corner stood a Netherese chess table, its pieces carved from ivory and onyx, but even if he wanted to play there was no match for him.

Through the window, you can see the magnificent landscape outside the tower.

It was sunset at this moment, and the western sky was like a golden-purple tapestry, the clouds bloomed with bright red brilliance, and the day was approaching, and the Ennook Desert itself changed from gold to orange, and then to purple.

In a trance, he seemed to see a ruin in the desert. This ruin also shone brightly. The fallen pillars glowed a faint red, and bloody shadows spread between the cracks in the stone floor.

This seemed to be his former homeland. Finally, Breners couldn't hide the sadness in his heart, and tears filled his eyes.

Suddenly, he was crying, curled up in a corner, his whole body twitching.

He recalled the truth recorded in the corridors of history in Iolum, and recalled how in the vision, his elder brother Rivaran swung the heavy sword and chopped at her mother's flesh and bones.

Rivalan why did you lie to me, why did you do this, why did you kill your mother?
Memory is actually a strange thing. There is always a corner in everyone's memory.

Because it is too beautiful to share, too humble to show, too far away to express, too obscure to talk to, too unbearable to bear.

Such delicate and complex state of mind, intense and forbearing emotions, humble and arrogant attitude, nights of insomnia due to longing, in the shuttle of time, there are only some understatements that are repeated back and forth in the bottom of my heart, overwhelming.

Breners thought that 2000 years would be enough for him to forget everything, but he didn't know that the longer the time brewed for some of the memories he had deliberately forgotten, the more terrifying it would erupt.

And he undoubtedly couldn't bear the power of this grief.

He cried himself to sleep that night... from beginning to end.

Even in his dream, he couldn't calm down. He dreamed of his mother's caress and smile, and dreamed that she was humming a song to himself... But Rui Valan's sword kept cutting her flesh and bones.

Breners comforted himself that this was just a nightmare, and everything would pass by the morning, but when the morning came, he was still in the cell, and his father still hadn't summoned him.

His father must have known the truth of this matter long ago. Breners kept recalling, adding dye to the anger in his heart. Anger was stronger than tears, stronger than sadness, and stronger than sadness.

In the anger that could not be released, Breners lasted until the third day, but his father still did not send anyone to summon him.

He could only circle the room, one circle, two circles, three circles, then three circles, three circles, and he sat down at the Netheril chess table, moving a chess piece aimlessly, curled up in front of him. He read in the window seat until the words were blurred and he realized he was crying again.

On the fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth day, and until the seventh day, he finally realized from the mind dazzled by anger that this was the punishment his father gave him.

Although it was a simple and silent punishment, for him right now, it was very effective and hit the nail on the head.

It was all too much the way of Telamant Tanshul.

Breners couldn't help laughing out loud. What he thought was ingenious and profound, actually showed weakness.

He began to maintain a clear and rational mind, and decided to enjoy the quiet atmosphere, use this time to heal wounds, strengthen his will, and prepare for the inevitable revenge.

Yes, he wants revenge!
He wants to go to Sacross in person to confront Rui Valan. He knows that Rui Valan's intention to kill his mother is definitely secretly instructed by the lost lady Shar. He wants to destroy Shar's plan and never let it succeed.

It was clearly not doing any good to think endlessly of his dead mother, and he forced himself to think of his eleven older brothers, especially Ruivaran.

But after just two weeks, his patience was worn to paper thin.

"I'm going to see my father now!" he said to Olot in his most commanding voice. "You must take me to him!"

He didn't take him there.

"I already know I was wrong. You tell my father that I'm ready to see him." He said again in a submissive tone, but Olot turned away as if he didn't hear.

The days passed until Breners couldn't count how long he had been imprisoned, and in desperation he lay more and more in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, not wanting to get up.

He slept and woke up, woke up and slept like a disabled person, making it difficult to see that this is a strong man whose strength has reached the middle legendary level, and a file scholar with extraordinary enthusiasm for archeology and history research.

I don't know how long it took, and finally one day, a rough hand shook his shoulder, waking him up, "Little Prince."

A voice he had remembered from childhood said, "Get up and dress, the High King wants to see you."

Looking at the stone-faced Olot, Breners smiled sleepily. At this moment, he looked like a poor little animal, as weak as a kitten.

"How long has it been outside?" he asked.

The time flow rate of the Forbidden Tower is different from that of the material world. He has forgotten how long he was imprisoned, so he wants to know how long the outside world has passed.

"One day and one night." Olot replied.

Thankfully, he still managed to catch up. Hearing the hoarse and deep voice and the thick Imasca accent, Brenners secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He promised the lord of Mokou Town that he would go to the swamp with him, and one day was enough for him to catch up with him.

By the time he came to the glass palace of his father's tower, dusk had fallen.

High King Telamant Tanshur sat behind a Netherese chess table, tossing and turning an onyx pawn in his palm.

He wears the ancient and traditional black armor that symbolizes the dominion of the Netheril Empire, and it is matched with a dragonwing cloak, fixed-style gauntlets, and dark purple robes.

But Brenners clearly felt that his face was pale and swollen, and his body exuded a sense of death, which made him realize how long his father hadn't used the life extension spell to maintain his life.

Seeing him like this, Breners was very sad... But for some reason, he couldn't say it, he could only shout, "Father."

"Sit down." The High King stretched out his hand, and Braines sat opposite the chess table.

"I ordered them to put a Netheril chess table in your chamber," he said softly. "You should have seen it."

"Who do you want me to play with?" Breners asked.

"For yourself, in many cases, before playing a game, it's best to study it first. How much do you know about this game, Breners?"

"Sufficient to have the qualifications to participate." Breners mustered up the courage to answer.

"Participation... doesn't mean you can win, and I only play games that I can win." The High King looked at Braines' face for a long time, and then said softly, "Why? Tell me, Braines. Tell me why?"

"For the revival of Netheril." Branas finished, his voice raised a little, "but you look so tired, so weak. You are the High King of Sultanza, you should choose to take the initiative , instead of hiding here and letting your weakness shame us."

"Do you think I do not know?" said the High King, "every time I close my eyes I see what Netheril once was."

"There is no doubt that it is telling you to open your eyes."

"What if you open your eyes?" The Supreme King shook his head, "What should come, will always come."

"At least it's better than sitting here waiting to die." Breners said, "Since you came back here from the Shadow Plane, what you have done has been disappointing me."

The Shadow Empire obviously has a huge group of spellcasters, legendary powerhouses, and the floating city, but up to now, they have only stayed in the sky above the Shadow Sea, making no achievements.

He didn't want to be so rude to him, but the words came out of his mouth.

"Yes, I am too gentle, too weak, too cautious, and even too merciful to my enemies," said the High King softly, "but it seems to me that you need a little of this kindness now, and you should beg my pardon, and Do not irritate me further."

"You are noble, my father," said Breners. "I have stood by your side unswervingly. What have I done wrong, or have I betrayed you?"

"You shouldn't have met Iolum privately without hiding from me, and you shouldn't have cooperated with the lord of Mokou Town." The High King whispered softly, without any emotion.

He reached out and disrupted all the pieces on the chessboard, and the agates collided with each other, making a crisp sound, "You unintentionally destroyed all my plans and deployments."

"Why do you know that?" Breners showed a surprised expression, and he could feel that what his father said was true.

"You shouldn't have met Iolum, the strongest man in Netheril." The High King sighed, and carefully rearranged the pieces, "He could have been our ally, helping us together Complete the revival plan...and fight against the lost lady, but before my plan was implemented, you found him in advance and brought the lord of Mokou Town over, which gave him a chance to completely cut himself off In connection with Netheril, we have lost one of our greatest allies."

"That's why you stopped me from going to Guangze with Brian?" Breners' reason took over the impulse in his mind again, "Is that so?"

"Since Iolum has severed the connection with Netheril." He continued, "There is no doubt that he must have transferred this connection to Brian, we can cooperate with him, after all he Standing behind is the whole kingdom of Cormyr, and the mages of Halruah."

"At first, I thought so too." The Supreme King said flatly, "But his fate is a double-edged sword, it is not only a fire of hope to save the world, but also a sword of disaster that may destroy the world. As long as things are related to him, the final result will always deviate from the original track."

He carefully placed the chess pieces on the chessboard, "The prophecy of "The Chronicle of Darkness" has been influenced by him, completely changing the trajectory of the operation, he awakened the divinity of the dark girl, so that the Lost Lady had to appear on the stage early, Rui Valan has also been implicated because of this, and needs to take a magic ship to go to Bra star, do you know the lord of Evil Lake Fortress in the barren universe?"

"You sure don't know." He said to himself, "He's going to Blar, but the Chaos Storm will take him to Mireport, and then crash into the meteorite in Badpool Fortress. See, it's like It is a well-written script, because Chaos Storm brought a gift to this lord, Desolate Universe is really a guy with ulterior motives."

There is no ulterior motive in the barren universe, Brenners thought, as far as he knows, the lord of Bad Pool Fortress never openly robs, but cunningly 'salvages' the crashed magic ship.

The lord will build lighthouses on the meteorites floating around the fortress to warn of black holes, meteorite groups and barren planets, but when the chaos storm blows, they will secretly release false signals to seduce the careless captain.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"What does it mean?" The Supreme King chuckled, "It means that what the gods fear is likely to come early."

"This is just a chain reaction of coincidence." Breners looked unconvinced, like a child, "it doesn't prove anything."

"It's understandable that you can't prove anything."

The Supreme King looked regretfully at the crack that had appeared on the agate chess piece due to the collision just now. He rubbed it carefully, trying to repair the crack with magic, "Then we will wait and see, how about it?"

"What do you mean?" Breners asked puzzled.

"The magic net has been torn." The Supreme King put the repaired agate piece on the general's position, and said slowly: "You said that the young mage lord asked you to accompany him to Guangze, then let's make a bet , if he can really turn the situation around in Guangze, it means that he has started to upgrade from a pawn to a chess player, and I will not only let you go free, but also carefully consider whether to choose to cooperate with him."

"What if not?" Breners asked.

"Otherwise, it will be just as you see on the surface." The Supreme King looked at the chess pieces he had rearranged, nodded slightly, sighed again, and said slowly: "Maybe I will really...let you Disappointed."

"I can make this bet with you." Breners was silent for a long time, then raised his head and said, "But I also have one condition."

"What conditions." The High King asked casually.

"I want to know everything, about everything behind the demise of the empire." Breners said firmly, "including the manipulators behind the scenes."

"Although this involves the secrets of the gods." The Supreme King straightened the chess piece placed in the center, and nodded with satisfaction, "But if the long-maintained balance is broken, what's the point of keeping these secrets? "

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(End of this chapter)