Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

"And you believe he\'s been eliminated?" Richard finally asked after the elven woman came to full alertness.

"I believe he\'d have to be one hell of a monster to survive that. Kind of hard to get proof when he was likely vaporized. Hell, even Mia was completely erased by the explosion and he wasn\'t much further away from the origin point than she was." Shiyani said with a shrug.

Richard absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair. Instead of being combed and smoothed like a noble typically does, it was a bit of a shaggy mess. His facial hair was also unkempt. The stress and pressures of the battlefield distracted him from focusing on basic hygiene.

In truth, Richard probably would have let himself go a little even if he wasn\'t distracted. It made the men under his command feel a little at ease knowing that their commanding officers were experiencing the hardships of war like them.

"Fine. Your payment then." Richard tossed a sack filled with coins across the desk. "The agreed upon amount. Ten thousand platinum coins."

"Thank you kindly."

"Pleasure doing business with you, Shiyani." Richard said with a sigh.

"If that\'s what you want to call it."

The woman\'s disdain for him was palpable. According to his brother, Andre, Shiyani did not get along well with members of nobility, even though they were her primary clientele.

"Now, I have another…"

Shiyani held up a hand, cutting him off before he could finish his sentence. "Nope. That\'s it. Contract is complete and my partnership with the Petra household is done. Besides, I have another job for a more valuable client."

Her words caught his attention. Who was it that was more valuable a client than his own family? Of the highest-ranking family\'s, House Petra was among the strongest and wealthiest in Arcadios, the Union even. Very few people in the world commanded more wealth than the Petra\'s.

The reason for their vast wealth was that they were, by nature, a very frugal household. Their focus on martial training and military education took up most of the time of the members of the family. They seldom had time to spend on worldly desires.

"Fine." Richard decided to let it go. As a professional, there was no way that he could convince Shiyani to reveal the identity of her clients. Besides, even if he did, she would probably make him forget.

She was a risk, but most of the world\'s powers deemed the woman to be a \'necessary evil\' for it to turn. Though she was a Runner by definition, no one made an effort to hunt her down or kill her. Though, it could not be ruled out that the people who met her had their memories and feelings altered by her to think that way…

"You are truly terrifying." He mumbled. His statement elicited a small grin from the woman who then stood, bowed, and exited the room.

"Well. As the commander of Watcher\'s Rest, I suppose Lucius was under my command. So, I suppose it is on me to write a letter to his family." He muttered to himself.

In the letter he detailed the death of Lucius. The story was modified slightly so as to make it more palatable to the public should the letter get out. As such, he left out any information relating to his misdeeds, the specifics of his mission, and the actual cause of his death.

In the letter to Rubellia, he said:

~Miss Rubellia,

I regret to inform you of the loss of Lucius. While on special assignment behind enemy lines in Alorek, he lost his life in a major battle that also claimed the life of one of his comrades.

Lucius is survived by two additional members of his team and many lives were saved as a result of his sacrifice.

The boy was a powerful warrior and contributed to many of our army\'s victories while on his special assignment. Due to confidentiality, I cannot divulge the specifics of his duties, but I assure you he completed them to the best of his abilities.

I understand that you are saddened by your son\'s death. Were Wayne still alive, he would have been impressed by the boy\'s growth. No longer was he small, weak child, but a strong and resolute warrior.

As a special favor to you, for so loyally serving my house, from my own funds I will instruct my estate to bequeath to you the former residence you and your family once shared. You shall also receive a monthly allowance till the end of your days that will allow you to live a life unburdened by the pressures of servitude any longer.

Yours,

Richard von Petra~

Reading over the letter, he sighed to himself. The allowance and returning of the cottage he had given to Wayne was less of a repayment for Lucius\' service and more of a way to pay back the spirit of his deceased Guard Captain.

Lucius was simply a Marked One and it was already a step beyond the norm to even write a letter, much less bequeath a death benefit. No, this was his pathetic way to finish repaying Wayne since he had broken his promise to let the boy serve as his daughter\'s protector.

"I suppose she should receive one as well. After all, I hear she has isolated herself from other noble houses because of the boy. Maybe when she finds out the future she wanted is no longer possible, she will give up and move on."

With that in mind, he set about writing another letter to his daughter. It was much shorter and to the point. It also included an order to find herself a partner within nobility. With Lucius gone, he doubted that she would have the energy to defy him further. After all, there was no longer a point to do so.

When he finished his letters, Richard stepped out of his office. Waiting for him was Commander Laris who was already in a bowing position.

"General, I heard that the task was done?" the old commander questioned.

"You heard correctly. You and the remainder of your men may rest easy. Spread the word to those who care." He ordered.

"Sir."

When Laris disappeared to bring the news to his subordinates and likely his son, Richard turned around and ordered another soldier who was stationed as the guard to his office.

"Send these letters out. The one for Rubellia is to be sent to my estate. The other is for my daughter and shall be sent to the Royal Academy in the capital of Arcadios."