The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 15: Chapter 14 — Mount Ferravyr

By the dawn of light, the group continued their journey.

They cut through a vast stretch of undergrowth, then threaded through a dense forest of towering trees. After many hours of relentless movement, they gradually slowed as they neared the base of a vast mountain.

”We will now slow our speed.”

As Selis spoke, the group nodded and began to trudge behind her.

’Urg, she’s so scary...’

Tobias flinched, throwing a furtive glance at Selis. The Herald carried a dangerous air that made his skin crawl whenever she spoke. It was almost a blessing that she rarely did.

’But... he’s also scary.’

Tobias gulped as he looked toward his lord ahead of him. As insane as it sounded, the young lord frightened him even more than the Herald.

’He’s so weird.’

Like Selis, he hardly spoke or interacted with anyone in the escort. But if there was one thing Tobias had noticed, it was that the young lord was always watching.

Whether it was a warrior wandering off on his own or someone training in silence, Tobias often found Zephyrion quietly observing them.

’His eyes too...’

There was not a single time he met those still purple eyes and didn’t feel like shitting himself.

Tobias clenched his fists.

’But there’s no choice.’

He had to make a good impression. He had to prove he was useful before Zephyrion eventually realized the truth about him.

Noticing his lord’s gaze fixed on the eerie mountain in the distance, Tobias saw his chance. He instantly galloped his horse forward to move beside Zephyrion’s.

”Shall I tell you about the mountain, my lord?”

Zephyrion took his gaze away from the mountain and stared at him unblinkingly for a moment. Tobias was already starting to feel uncomfortable when he nodded.

”...Alright.”

”I un— Huh?”

Tobias blinked, shocked. He hadn’t actually thought that would work. Coming out of his surprise, he nodded eagerly.

”Ah— yes, my lord!”

He fixed his gaze on the mountain. Its vast slopes rose sharply toward the clouds until the peak vanished within them. Even from here, a faint, constant hum drifted through the air.

”That is Mount Ferravyr, my lord. It was created centuries ago by Ferravyr, the Metal Calamity.”

”He was once rumored to be close to House Calderalth, though that was long before his disappearance. No one really knows where he went.”

”Even so, many people in Ferran still consider him the guardian of the empire. Some even say his strength rivaled that of the Ten Thrones themselves.”

”The mountain he left behind is considered sacred to Calderalth, which is why we always treat it with respect whenever we pass near it.”

”They even tell Ferran children stories about it. They say that if you shout near the mountain, you might wake Ferravyr and bring calamity down on yourself.”

He glanced at Zephyrion to make sure he was listening and smiled cheerfully.

”The mountain itself is made entirely of metal. People say that faint hum in the air is because the metal is still connected to the WorldPulse somehow, which is why it hasn’t collapsed even after all these centuries. It’s remarkable, really...”

Tobias stared at the mountain longingly. The thought of a being of such power sent a wave of both fear and excitement in him.

Thud.

”Huh?”

Tobias frowned as Zephyrion’s horse came to an abrupt stop.

”Is something wrong, my lord?”

”....”

’What’s he staring at?’

His frown deepened. Zephyrion’s eyes had suddenly turned toward the depths of the forest.

”An attack.”

Tobias blinked.

Had he just said attack? The forest looked completely peaceful. There wasn’t the slightest threat in sight.

’Is he joking?’

Tobias killed the thought instantly. The short time he had spent with his lord made it clear that Zephyrion was not someone who joked.

Tobias instinctively turned toward Selis, but his eyes widened when he realized she was gone.

”Wher—”

He barely caught the movement. What reached him next was only the explosion of sound that struck his ears and sent his world into a muted blur.

The wind slammed against his back as he was hurled away, tumbling across the forest floor for hundreds of meters before crashing into something.

’What... what is this...’

Tobias forced his eyes open, shaking his head in an attempt to clear the ringing and disorientation.

Forcing through the pain, he looked up, and froze.

Selis stood in the center of a vast crater, her outstretched hand blocking a punch from a figure clad head to toe in dark attire.

A heavy, undulating shockwave blasted outward as they struggled for dominance, reducing the remaining trees around them into splinters.

Tobias wasn’t given a moment to process it. They vanished into blurs the next moment, colliding in a barrage of force that knocked them off their feet and sent them hurling away.

Tobias felt his heart hammering against his chest.

’Another Herald...’

They were fucked. They were absolutely fucking fucked!

His eyes suddenly widened.

’The lord!’

He hurriedly scanned the devastation, only to freeze when his gaze landed on Zephyrion several meters away.

Despite the devastating blast, there was not a single scratch on him.

The young lord was silently crouched, his narrowed gaze fixed ahead.

’What the hell is he...?’

”Ambush!”

”More enemies incoming!”

”Protect the young lord!”

As the warriors rushed to Zephyrion’s side, Tobias turned to see multiple dark-clad figures converging on them.

’Shit! There’re more of them?!’

As if one Herald wasn’t already bad enough!

”To the mountain! We need to escape to the mountain!”

Tobias sharply followed the voice and saw Noss, Denmar’s subordinate, waving urgently while pointing toward Metal Mountain.

”Hah...”

Tobias’ eyes widened in horror. However, the other warriors shot grim looks at one another before nodding.

”Young lord... let us escort you...”

Zephyrion stared at the mountain with an unreadable expression for a moment, then nodded.

Moments later, heart pounding violently in his chest, Tobias followed as they raced toward the mountain at full speed, diving into the yawning cave at its base.

’We’re so fucked...’