Valerian, The Legendary

104 Slip Away.

Valerian sighed when he looked at the two snakes and said, ‘If I take you out, the people under your spell, will skin you alive. So, first of all, let go of everyone.’

The snakes were smart enough to realize this without him telling them anything. After a nod, the eyes of the snake flashed and it said, ‘I have done it, sire.’

Valerian nodded and then said, ‘I will take you to the city gates, and then you are free. Try not to trouble the people here again. Also, don’t get caught next time.’

The snakes nodded, and they followed Valerian out of the room. Outside, the battle had come to stop, the three people controlled by the dreaming serpent, Quies, Snare, and Vertex seemed to have woken up. They were leaning against the body of the blood guards, but they were awake.

Valerian asked with some concern, “What happened?”

The second prince said, “Aftereffects of waking up from the charm. Humans have it harder than beasts.”

Valerian nodded in understanding, after all, the human brain was constantly struggling and the accumulated stress was way higher than imagined. That said, Snare asked, “Are these the culprits?”

His sharp eyes made the dream serpents shiver, and the rattle began to shiver. This was an instinctive defense mechanism, and they would react to any threat. Valerian said, “Calm down, they were forced. Do not blame them in vain. If they wanted to they could have made you kill yourself. Magical beasts are decisive and they do not waste time like humans.”

His tone was intimidating as if fighting the grandmaster. Vertex saw this and then he nodded, “Valerian is correct. Things are solved, stop making a fuss over it.”

.....

Valerian said, “Your Highness, I will take them out of the city.”, he stated his desire.

Although Snare was rather irked that this child did not even ask for permission in this matter, but he still could not do anything, after all, this impudent kid was the one who rescued their sorry asses. Valerian did not say anything more and took the two snakes out with him. Every blood guard was paying attention to the movements.

They were ready to attack, if the rattle moved, they will strike. Valerian was not slow, on the way he greeted Vulcan, gave him a brief, and then led the snakes out of the city. These two magical beasts were the hot potato in his hands, every soldier was paying attention to him, and they were ready to attack the beasts if not for him.

...

The city gate was eight meters high and was controlled by the soldiers on duty. After the beasts had left, the people in charge had decided to gather the loot from outside. The beast corpses were a precious material. Valerian looked at the person, who stood with his chest puffed and head high and walked over with the two snakes.

He said, “Can you release the fox?”

The tone was plain and calm. It irked the man, he raised his eyebrow and asked, “Who are you? Why should I let go of this fox?”

Yes, this man had captured Silk and put her in a cage behind him. Valerian looked at his attitude and asked, “I am Valerian Verus, and this fox is my beast companion.”

The man did not pay attention to the name used by Valerian, but directly flared up, he thought that the attitude of this child was not in line with his age. He pointed his finger at Valerian and said, “This fox, your companion? Fine, what is the proof?”

Valerian cast him an impatient gaze and asked, “What is your name?”

The man snorted and retorted, “Why? Do you want to challenge me? My name is Ensoma. You can go complain to anyone, kid. I would like to see, who has the guts to make a move against me.”

His expression was haughty and his chin was raised to the sky as if some deformity. Valerian shook his head and said, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Then he turned to the two snakes and led them out of the city gate. Ensoma cast a glare at his back and gestured for a person behind him, and whispered something in his ear. The person nodded and followed the silver-haired boy.

Valerian was aware that someone was following him, and his eyes turned cold in a second. He hated unnecessary trouble, but more than that he hated the troublemakers. He let out a hiss, ‘If the humans try to attack you, you can control them and make them go seek a fight with a stronger beast and die.’

The snakes understood and nodded. Valerian watched the clearing around the city to be empty except for a few mangled beast corpses laying here and there. The snakes thanked him and they swiftly vanished inside the tree line. The dream serpent was able to attack and defend itself because of the illusory skills it was blessed with otherwise, it was simply a weakling among the beasts. It had no speed and no venom.

Valerian did not have to wait for long before a few vague screams sounded in the woods. The threat was solved and then he walked back to the city. He found that the person who captured the charming fox was missing and so was the cage. He was irked. It was time to use the perks of the prince.

No longer did he care about morality. He walked and asked for the way to the Duke’s residence, and the soldier told him quickly. On the way, he found that a lot of citizens have come out and were inquiring about the situation. They have all finally woken up from the illusion and were not as calm as before.

However, to their fortune, the beast tide was dealt with and so was the enemy inside the city. The city was still not bustling as it usually would. Thinking about the impact of the beast tide, he realized that not only lives on the battlefield but even those who do not have anything to do with it, get affected.

Lost in his thoughts, the boy reached the duke’s residence. This place was much more simple than he thought it would be, a big wide garden with a two-floor building in the center. It did not look very big, but just enough for a small group of people.

The guards at the entrance asked, “Anything?”

They did not know Valerian, and the boy did not mind it either, he asked, “Can you inform, His grace, that Valerian is here?”

The guards found his attitude to be humble, and polite. Valerian’s personality was like a mirror. He would reflect upon you what you emit onto him. There were six guards, one of them volunteered and rushed in quickly. They have dealt with high-ranking people a lot and could tell that this kid was not normal.

...

Vertex was sitting in a chair across from Duke Vulcan, who was looking at the various reports from all over the city. He said, “Ver, it seems like some assailants were able to slip through the defense line.”

He passed on a paper to the pale-looking second prince. He was exhausted, but this was necessary and Vulcan would never discourage someone who wanted to move past their limits. Vertex looked at the report and nodded. Then he said, “Indeed. What is the solution?”

Vulcan was about to open his mouth and speak when the door of the study was knocked, and a muffled voice sounded, “Your Grace, a child named Valerian has come seeking audience with you.”

The duke stood up from the chair and said loudly, “What audience? That kid is my nephew, escort him in with respect, if not for him, we all would have been laying in some corner, dead.”

The guard outside was surprised and he replied, “Yes, your grace.”

Followed by loud and chaotic footsteps. Vertex sighed and said, “I have to say, this kid is surely not as simple as he may look.”

Vulcan shook his head, “He is not simple, but strong, and the best part is, that his application of strength is all-natural. As if inherited from the womb.”

The second prince nodded. It did not take long before the door was knocked again. Vulcan said, “Come in.”

The door was pushed one, and Valerian walked inside a small study. This place was filled with maps and scrolls instead of books. A small table with three chairs around it. The room was lit up with Solaris stones embedded in the corners. Low-key luxury thought Valerian.

He walked up to the second prince and asked, “How are you feeling now?”

Vertex nodded and said, “I am feeling better, it is just weakness, it will go away soon.”

Valerian sighed and raised his hand, and said, “Curatio Lucis.”

The second prince was enchanted by a healing spell. Vulcan was shocked, he was aware of Valerian being able to cast spells of earth and wind attribute, but light, this was the third element. However, before he could say anything, the door was knocked, “Your Grace, Commander Ensoma is here to meet you.”

Valerian raised his eyebrow and said, “Oh, so he is sending himself at the door.”

Vulcan shivered from the cold radiated by this child. He said, “Have him sit in the attending hall. I will be there soon.”

Then he asked, “Valerian, what’s the matter?”

“You will find out soon, Your Grace.”, said Valerian. He was not going to let the enemy slip away.