I created my own system

"Um... Apollo why dont you send me to the north. I still worry about the shelf"

In that moment I saw his expression change

Then the cold feeling expand suddenly, I flick my finger and a magic orb appeared absorbing every bit of that freezing power.

"What is going on, Apollo?"

I approached him and was immediately attack but that mysterious potential force.

I held Apollo in my arms, and tried to remove the thing that is causing him pain, but then.

Apollo

He

His body began dissolving

"What!"

The spell clonis, was suddenly being cancel

All sorts of thought came to me but I immediately dismissed it.

Nothing will happen to him there shouldn't be

I closed my eye and trace his mana signature, and to my horor one by one Apollo is completely being erased. The him scattered in the continent are all dying.

This means one thing

He is in danger

My body move on its on

Is it my instinct?

It doesn't matter, I moved and found myself looking at my friend. Dangling in the air as he tried to repair the shelf.

"Apollo!"

I called but, no matter how loud my voice he could not hear.

"Hang in there"

I was panicking

I dont know what is happening but I need to make sure you are safe.

End of the flashback

.

.

.

Back to the current situation the cold winter sun filtered through the stained-glass windows of the palace's war chamber, casting different fractured rays of light,on the polished obsidian floor. The throne room on the other hand was filled with dread, it was very quiet yet the tension was loud enough to kil someone. King Lorenzo stood stiffly before the messenger, his gloved hands gripping the back of his throne with such force the hard metal began to crack.

The scroll trembled in the courier's hand. His mind is already set that he might died today. Seeing the king like that there is no way he will live.

"Repeat it," Lorenzo said, his voice low and deadly. Though that was enough to fill the room with his presence.

The messenger swallowed hard. "T-The Imperial Court has announced that the Emperor dispatched the Archmage Order to investigate the Broodmother found in the two forest . surrounding the tower, and some other places of the empire"

A long silence followed.

"And the noth? Any news there?"

The messenger was silent but knowing his king he answered.

"Nothing came sure, there was no news there"

As soon as those words came out a pressure fall down into him. He gasp and rolled on the floor begging his master not to kill.

Sigh

The king clicked his tongue before retracting his aura.

"Do you mean that the only news you have is how the palace will conduct further investigation about the broodmothers?"

The half dying man could only nod, further angrier his king.

Emilia, standing beside her father in a deep violet cloak, felt her stomach twist.

"They weren't supposed to look there..." she whispered.

Lorenzo slowly sat back, his aura slowly retract, eyes unreadable, jaw clenched and his anger control but still there. His fingers tapped once, twice on the steel armrest. Then he looked at his daughter.

"They were supposed to drown in the chaos of the Ice Shelf's collapse. That was the design," he said, his tone cold with controlled fury. "Not this, they weren't supposed to look at this"

"Father I talked to him, and made sure he didn't leave the battlefield," Emilia muttered. "Our spies also said that Apollo ot injured at the last horde that came. Perhaps what happened now is the work of the emperor. All the dukes must be cautious and knowing how powerful the northern Duke, he must have been involved"

She turned away from the throne, pacing. "Are there any news about the north? Are you sure that there wasn't anything?"

Lorenzo exhaled heavily, fingers pressing to his temples.

"Damn him, that Augustus but as long as Apollo doesn't speak about our involvement they would be able to find any connection with us. We are safe but just in case prepare the armada. We must be ready in case the archduke catch wind of us"

A pause. Then he remembered the archduke when he came once into te kingdom. His gaze at that time was so annoying that Lorenzo almost smack him. Despite that those green emerald eyes tells him that he is reading his every expression making him an open book that is easily predicted.

"We migh get compromised," he finally said. "So double check everything and erase every record. Burn the research halls beneath the capital. Kill the scientists. Collapse the caverns, I want all those involved death."

"We won't outrun a truth the Empire is now chasing," Emilia replied grimly. "Especially if the archduke is lighting the path for them piece by piece."

"That is why arent going to let them find anything on us, they find nothing!"

Her voice cracked with something halfway between fear and fury.

"Father..." she almost spat the word, "...what if we ask Eros for help?"

Lorenzo stood, then he slowly approach the large war map his ancestors had build in the throne room, it was a hidden piece of it that only the king and his successor must know.

"Your finacee?"

"Yes, he might help us"

"How? My dear he one of the hounds! We aren't sure if Apollo hadn't told his family about it!"

"He won't father, the lions had injure thier cubs way too much that it won't spare them a glance. That boy won't speak to anyone unless the emperor himself ask him"

"How about the mages, those people from the tower will do everything to find the answers they are looking for"

"Then how about we give it to them?"

"What do you plan to do?"

"If our enemies are looking for evidence then we will give it to them"

She met Lorenzo's eyes. And a smile crept its way to the king's face.

"My dear daughter, tell me your plan"

.

.

.

Meanwhile, high above the cold peaks of the northern mountain, a frozen lake can be seen. At its side is a old hut where three people are currently residing. It was already morning there and yet the sun could not reach its surface and so the lake remain cold as ever.

"You almost died"

Alicia began to scold him and Apollo could only chuckle as he wake up completely resting at Alicia's lap.

"Sorry"

"I already told you repeatedly, don't barge into danger alone. Even if you are strong"

The boy was still drowsy, tired at the commotion he made but he unknowingly made the two people with him uneasy.

"I want you to rest for now, and as for your plan with your brother's fiance just tell what I need to do and I will help out"

Apollo just smiled though he still look excessively kind.

"Don't worry there is nothing for you to do, because everything as been lay out"

"What do you mean?" Content sourced from MV4LEMPYR – My Virtual Library Empire.

The boy weakly smiled as he snuggle to the warmth he is feeling.

Since he doesn't want to answer, Alicia began contemplating what it means.

"Wait could it be?"

Apollo's plan wasn't to confront the enemy head on. It was to lead them into exposing themselves. To make the Empire's greatest authorities chase truth. It was the truth that Apollo quietly staged for them to uncover.

One clue at a time.

Alicia narrowed her eyes and look at the sleeping guy on her lap, he was calm and look harmless, opposite to the plans he had devise.

"You're not just baiting your enemies," she said under her breath. "You're baiting the four ducal household. You want them to lead the hunt…"

She then remembered the girl Apollo just met, knowing full well what will happen to her nad to her family.

"Eros will unknowingly follow the path Apollo had set, not knowing he might be part of the hunt where the prey is the person he swore to protect."

A cruel smiled then appeared on Apollo's face and knowing him, Alicia knows the person he is aiming.

"Emilia."

.

.

.

Away from the other right into the east a person began running in full speed towards a certain room. His loud footsteps were soon followed by a loud sounds of knowck.

"Young master! Please open the door?"

Eros felt confused at the sudden panic and as he opened the door his aid, Liam Tenor gave him a scroll.

"Please read this young master!"

He said and with a bit of confusion Eros took the scroll. Reading its content made him aghast.

"This news...how can something like this happen!"

Eros immediately took his formal attire and immediately rush out. Seeing this his aid Liam run after him, he was both surprised and worried for his master.

"Where are off to young master!"

The young an just glance at him before responding, "I am off to father!"