Wreath of Lilies, Cauldron of Poison

Chapter 82

Conflict of Interest

The people of the Alliance were not unfamiliar with cannon. It was actually introduced to Grea by the Fifth Hero of Al-Khemiya. A war hungry man with the capability to do Alchemy with his bare hands as longs as he had the raw materials that would result in the creation of the items.

With it, he alchemized precious metals and gold. Which he then used to fund his war to expand the land. He also created many strange weapons, which were mostly ineffectual.

However, one of the successes was the creation of cannons. A weapon capable of firing iron balls by using black powder.

Sadly, his greed got the better of him and he ordered an attack against Azut-Baydar. There, he was driven back by the Sixth Hero of Azut-Baydar, who - legends said - cut the cannonballs in twain with a Giant Broadsword. The Al-Khemiyan Hero later died miserably from a poison arrow that pierced his stomach and soured his spleen. Only 2 years after his summoning.

After his death, Al-Khemiya Alchemists managed to re-create the black powder. It was a far inferior product compared to the ones alchemized by the Hero himself.

Though the recipe was protected to the utmost, somehow its knowledge was leaked to other members of the Alliances and they too made their own cannons.

Hundreds of years passed, and the cannons were eclipsed by the reemergence of Mages who came back with a vengeance after being deemed replaceable by the cannons.

A Mage at Intermediate level could create a Barrier capable of withstanding a cannonball. The same Mage could also fire magic at the enemy within a short moment of time while the same cannon must undergo the process of reloading and aiming which took more time. Thus, cementing the Mages position as irreplaceable forces in naval warfare, while cannons are relegated to opening barrages and support.

However, this cannon before them was nothing like the cannons they knew. It did not fire balls of iron, but magic. And the distance by which it could fire its magic was so unbelievable. It was like something created by the gods.

The Advisor grimaced at the aftermath of the show. The barrel was so hot that it warped the air around it, making the men incapable of drawing close. Some of the Wizards powering the machine had also fallen to the ground and were quickly removed by the Knights.

The hundreds of years old wall of the castle that had been grazed by the beam of light melted.

It did not explode or broke.

It melted.

A testament to the power and the heat emitted by the shaft of light fired by the cannon

So, this is the price that we must pay for this unbridled power.

“So, how is it ladies and gentlemen. Friends of the Alliance? The Demonbane Cannon. A weapon made of Mydirrite, the elusive metal even dwarves would drool upon its sight.”

Before anyone else had gathered their composure, one man stood up with righteous indignation.

“A sacrilege!!” the Red Prince was outraged. Beside his fame as a Prince, he was also a well-known master of the art of magic and his wife an Alchemist who had published many books on the craft. “By Olnadyn’s Hair!! Do you understand what you made?!” He turned towards the Wizards who were standing nearby. “Wizards of the Three Towers! How could you have a hand in creating this…this thing?! And more than that you would fire such an accursed thing here, in your own backyard, knowing the damage it would cause?!”

As someone who came from Al-Khemiya, a place where vegetations and water was scarce, Mana was seen as the blessing of Olnadyn, and should be treated as one. With respect and awe.

The Mages who were not in the know looked at each other awkwardly, unsure on how to answer.

It was then that elderly advisor of the Calendian King stepped forward, his cane clacking against the floor with strength and purpose.

“Sacrifices had to be made,” he said, with his hoarse voice.

“What do you think Mana is? It is not something so simple! Without Mana, plants won’t grow, the earth would sour, and even the blessings of the gods will lessen,” The wife of the Red Prince spoke to support her husband.

“The Mana will not run out. It will recover and regenerate,” the Advisor answered without a hint of emotion.

“Recover? Are you trying to lie to me, an Advanced Mage?! What you say recover is just the Mana trying to compensate for the loss by taking it from another place, like water flowing from the mountain to the sea! It will not simply take from Calendia, it will take from us too!” Prince Abbas fumed. “And regeneration? It will take a thousand years!”

“A fitting price for the objective we wish to fulfill,” the old man replied, unaffected by the younger man’s rage. “Or did you think that we are going to use this weapon to kill simple foot soldiers?”

“So, what is this objective of yours, pray tell?” the King of Vorzenny, who had been keeping his silence until now spoke. His brows scrunched up in deep thought.

Prince Mikael, who was basking in the feeling of invincibility created by the show of power stepped forward, but his retainer quickly pulled him back.

“…The death of the accursed pawn of Nakir-Sud-Mara,” King Gerard said grimly. “The death of the Demon King.”

This utterance elicited gasps from all the guests. It was a well-known fact that the Demon King can only be killed by the Hero. It was simply outrageous.

But with such a weapon…

The Advisor smiled. That must be what everyone is thinking right now.

While the discussion between the representatives of their respective countries were happening, Allenca Viandros felt lost and alone. They did not even spare her a glance, for she was young and inexperienced. This had gone beyond her capabilities.

Unconsciously, her eyes wandered to find the only person here who was unfettered by the chains of duty and with the arrogance to match Kings and Queens. Someone who could share her worries.

Cornelia Asterium Steelheart.

Back at the Audience Chamber, Connie had brought the ill-looking Illumca aside and rubbed her back while she drank water. She had drunk about 7 glasses within a very short time.

“I don’t get it, why are they making such a big fuss about that cannon?” she asked. “It’s incredibly strong. Heck, the most powerful weapon I have ever seen in this world! But this reaction seems a bit strong.”

“It’s not about the cannon’s power, Connie. It’s what it does…the mana…” Illumca clutched at her chest and squeezed out the words as if spitting them. “That thing…It sucked the Mana out of the air and burned them!”

“I…don’t understand. Why is that important? Even Chen is sending a fearful emotion to me.”

“That’s…right. That’s because Chen is a monster. And he is sensitive to Mana, just like Mages and Elves.”

She put down her glasses and took a deep breath. Her face was unnaturally upset.

“When one uses magic, converting mana into any elements, it simply changed them into another form. But that thing…that thing burned them,” Illumca explained while gasping for breath, hissing with disgust. “It used mana as fuel!”

“Alright, alright. I understand. It’s bad,” she said with a shrug. “but forget that. You look really bad. Take some Pills.”

“Ugh,” Illumca grimaced as she pushed her hand away. “I - I’m fine. I just need some fresh air.”

She half ran out of the chamber and out to the hallway and then she just ran. Anywhere. Just anywhere to be away from that horrid weapon.

On the way, she ran against Martell, who was nibbling on a bread that he got from the maidservant Brienne.

“Illumca? Wait!”

Not heeding the call, she continued running.

After her rebirth, Illumca had become more attuned to the Mana. Unlike her half-elf body, her new body was more powerful, and the magic she once used with hardship now needed nothing more than a single word. But that was also the reason why the burning of Mana hit her so hard.

The stale, burning ash-like smell that assaulted her olfactory senses and the suffocating feeling made her head spin. Nauseous and befuddled, she found herself in a small garden. There she puked the contents of her stomach again and again until all that came out was water.

She did not wish for Connie to see her like this.

Her savior had seen her at her worst. And she did not want her to see her like that again. Even now the smell of her old self lingered in her mind. And every time she smelled something bad, even if it was her own vomit, she was reminded of it. Pus and rot and dried excrements. Years of it.

“You don’t look so good,” Martell said, more of statement of fact than worry. “Weren’t you with Connie?”

“Martell?” she asked, finally conscious of his presence next to her.

“Come on, have a seat,” he put her arm around his neck and half-dragged her to a stone chair in the small garden.

She sat there and calmed her breathing, trying to get used to the lack of mana around her.

“What happened? I saw a bright light burning towards the sea from the window in the Palace Kitchen.”

“It’s the Kingdom’s new weapon. Urp..”

“Yeah. I’m gonna go and get you some water and something to wipe yourself with. You want me to get Connie?”

“No, don’t. I’ll be fine.”

“Alright. Stay here, I’ll be back soon.”