(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
-------------------------------------------------
The corridor didn't erupt into battle when Patolli ordered to attack.
It stalled. On the edge of it.
Patolli's mana still burned—Bright. Violent.
But now—Unsteady. Seeing his own men were now looking at him like he was an outsider.
"You can question me later,"
He spat, voice laced with venom.
"Right now—kill them."
His eyes burned with centuries of hatred.
"Then we finish what was started 500 years ago."
The words landed as he spoke he had completely abandoned his characteristics of Litch he had portrayed all these years.
Those words were Heavy. Familiar hate. And Painful desperation of all these years hatred he had been living with.
For a moment—It worked.
Rhya, Fana, even the sealed Vetto—Paused hearing those words.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Because hatred on humans—That part was real for all of them.
Their kin. Their massacre of their tribe. Their extinction of their tribe.
They remembered everything that happened that day. The humans they believed had betrayed them their leader Litch had believed the human representative who spoke with him.
But what awaited them was betrayal.
Even if the memories were fragmented—The feeling wasn't. As the hatred in their heart stirred once again.
They almost moved. Almost accepted the plea of Patoli.
Almost chose battle the humans before them since they were here to kill the Clover king who seems to be meddling in their plans and spoiling it.
He is the main reason behind the low magic stones in their hands.
Then—Laughter once again echoed.
Ben who had transformed to Ghostfreak.
Fully manifested between them.
Not looming as before slippery and avoiding. Not attacking them using the chaos between them.
Just—There like he was always standing there.
Like a truth that refused to stay buried.
"BEFORE YOU DECIDE…"
His voice echoed. Low. Unsettling.
"…ASK YOURSELVES SOMETHING."
A dramatic pause so they would feel the weight behind his words.
Long enough to sink in.
"WHAT IF…"
The single eye glowed brighter as it looked at them moving through the gap on Ghost freaks body as he eyed them.
"…YOU WERE MANIPULATED TOO?"
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Not in confusion. Not in rejection.
But—A hit. Straight to the core.
Because that possibility—Had never been considered.
Which made them feel unsettling that there is a possibility of someone manipulating from the start.
Patolli snapped hearing those words which seems to make his companion reconsider their decision.
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!"
His voice cracked the air in frustration.
"He's trying to break you! Trying to break us... So we would fight each other and kill each other. While humans would remain safe."
But this time—They didn't immediately follow.
Rhya stepped forward slightly.
Eyes locked on Ghostfreak.
"…What do you mean… manipulated?"
The question hung there. Fragile. Dangerous.
Because they can't just believe that they were being manipulated from the start.
Their every move is being manipulated for the sake of someone who wants to achieve something using them as a pawns for his success.
Ghostfreak chuckled softly hearing that question.
-Chuckle!
Not mocking. Not loud. But knowing as if he knew they would ask him this question.
"THAT…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…DEPENDS."
A slow drift forward.
"…ARE YOU READY TO HEAR IT? LET'S SIT AND TALK..."
A choice was laid before them.
Simple. But heavy.
They need to make choice whether to trust and hear what the clover king wanted to say or follow Patolli who was screamming at them not to believe them.
Behind them—Patolli's voice rose again.
"THIS IS A TRICK! You're letting him divide us!"
But the damage was already done when they came to know about who he really was.
Now they can't look at him with the same trust which a few minutes before they had and showed.
Rhya glanced at Fana.
Fana met his gaze back as if sensing his gaze.
A silent exchange were being done between them through their eyes.
They were already dead once.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Reborn for revenge.
Living only for that purpose.
So what was there left to lose?
Finally—Rhya spoke breaking the silence.
"…We'll hear it."
Patolli's eyes widened slightly seeing his team mates were not listening to his words.
"Rhya—"
He was cut off.
Rhya didn't even look back.
"…Come with us."
A pause. Then colder than before—
"You've already lost our trust."
Fana didn't move toward Patolli either.
She stayed where she was.
But her silence—Spoke enough that she was supporting Rhya's claim.
Even Vetto, trapped within seals—Didn't argue.
"...."
"...."
"...."
They weren't abandoning him. Not yet.
He was still their kin who too wants the better of their kin.
But for the first time—He wasn't their unquestioned leader.
The balance had shifted.
Ghostfreak hovered between them. with dark crown on his head.
Still. Watching. The exchange which was going on.
Because this—This wasn't victory.
Not yet. He need to convince these elves that they were being manipulated and like them humans were too manipulated by a devil.
This was the moment—Where truth had been invited in.
And once that door opened and the truth is revealed—Nothing would remain the same.
The corridor slowly exhaled.
Not with relief—But with restraint.
The clash that should have erupted… didn't.
Instead—All eyes shifted to one figure.
Ben. Still in his Ghostfreak form.
Silent. Watching. As he was convincing the enemies who had come to kill him.
To sit and talk.
The Magic Knight captains exchanged glances.
Curiosity. Suspicion of how he came to know about it. Interest.
Even Julius Novachrono—whose love for knowledge rivaled his strength—was no longer smiling.
He had noticed it.
"...."
Ben wasn't bluffing.
This wasn't strategy alone. This was something deeper. Which seems to hold more than 500 years of manipulation.
Something which needs to be… uncovered.
Julius stepped forward.
"…We shouldn't do this here."
His tone was calm—but firm as he spoke while his eyes moved through the members of the eye of the midnight sun who stiffened feeling his gaze on them.
"...."
"...."
"...."
"A battlefield is the worst place for truth."
No one argued hearing his suggestion. Not the captains.
Not even the elves they were feeling the pressure from the wizard king which made them stiffened and look at Julius coldly.
They hate it this human were more powerful than them. If they decided to fight the humans again he would be the most formidable opponent they had ever faced and need to defeat him.
Moments later—They moved. Everyone Together.
An uneasy procession as the members of the eye of the midnight sun were in deep thought trying to think where did they get manipulated and who was the one who was manipulating them.
Enemies walking side by side through the palace.
Not in peace—But in pause of the conflict they were having against each other.
Royal Meeting Chamber...
The chamber doors closed behind them with a heavy thud.
-THUD.
Long tables. High walls.
Ancient insignias of the clover kingdom carved into stone.
This was a place where decisions shaped kingdoms.
And now—It would hold something far older blood accounts which needed to be settled well.
The captains took positions along one side.
Alert. Ready. But restrained.
They would make the move when the enemies tries any thing funny.
Across from them—Patolli, Rhya, Fana.
Even the sealed Vetto remained present.
Divided. But listening.
At the center—Ghostfreak hovered.
The one who forced this moment into existence.
Wizard King Julius spoke first. Measured. Thoughtful.
"According to Clover Kingdom records…"
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"The elves summoned a devil. A forbidden magic ritual. One that nearly destroyed the clover kingdom."
He paused.
"…And the First Wizard King stopped it."
Silence followed.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Heavy. Historical.
That was the truth which was recorded. As written by those officials at that time.
Which was believed till now.
Patolli's jaw tightened. Hatred flickered again hearing the accusation which were directed at them.
"...."
Because to him—That story was incomplete.
Distorted. One sided which was made by the humans to fool the world.
Ghostfreak didn't interrupt. Didn't argue.
Just listened to what the wizard king Julius as said.
"...."
Because this—This was the turning point.
Not a fight of magic. Not a clash of strength.
But a collision between—History. And truth.
And somewhere between those two—Lies were waiting to be exposed.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review on this Fanfic.
Guys My New Fic name is: Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable
Check it out... I hope you will like it
Don't forget to send your power stones!!!