"Mix, mix, swirl, mix."~ Singed, The Mad Scientist (OH MY GOD IS THAT SINGED FROM ARCANE!!!)
So a couple of you guys think the Demacians are being stupid... well from their perspective they are just following protocol. The kingdom just had a rebellion nearly a year ago and it is fair for them to be on their toes. And Gregori is an unknown who has had ties to Noxus. It would be stupid for them to not consider him an enemy regardless of how the situation was.
And this all wouldn't have happened if the boy did not touch the Darkin.
Anyways enjoy the chapter and leave a comment.
(Also is Shadow Slave worth reading? I have been hearing great things about it but the chapter amount does scare me a bit....)
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"Daddy?"
Gregori raised his head weakly. His children had been brought to visit. The prison cell was not cozy. Not at all.
Considering that he had willingly surrendered he had expected a little bit of leniency in his case. But that wasn't the case. He had been imprisoned with barely any movement allowed.
Petriciteshackles held his hands behind his as he was forced into a kneeling position.
Awkward and uncomfortable. That was just the position alone. His hands and body were strained. His shoulders burned and his knees hurt against the hard and rough ground.
He watched as Annie reached for the bars.
"Don't." His voice echoed sharply.
Annie's hand stopped. The other kids used the opportunity to step closer to the bars.
"It is made of Petricite." He gave them a strained smile. "It will hurt you."
"Not me." Daisy reached for the bars and tried to pry them apart.
CREAAKKK
They shifted and strained under the pressure.
"Child you shouldn't do that." Eileen spoke as she stepped in from the side. She reached for Daisy and tried to get her off the bars. "It will make freeing your father more difficult."
Daisy refused to let go as she shook her head vehemently. Watching Daisy succeed just a little in moving the bars, Sydell and Faye moved to pull Eileen off of Daisy.
"Kids stop." Gregori spoke softly. "This is temporary. I will be out soon enough."
"But they cannot do this to you..." Daani whined, tears forming in his eyes. "They don't even know who you are..... It's not fair..."
Gregori smiled at him. "Its fine Daani. The world is not really fair is it?"
Daani shook his head through the tears.
"Now, you guys will remain safe with Eileen over there and in a few days they will do this whole song and dance and then let me go." Gregori soothed them.
"Really?" Annie asked skeptically.
"Really." Gregori nodded, though the motion looked awkward with his positioning.
Rell stepped forward, "We will wait till tomorrow." Her fists clenched. "If they don't free you...." Her threat hung in the air.
From the side, Eileen watched in curiosity. She was impressed. The kids were willing to break their father out of this place and one even threatening some sort of retaliation. Though that girl seemed really feisty, she perpetually had a frown on her face as if the world had wronged her. Rell, her name was. Interesting girl.
The other girl, Daisy. Even she was impressive. Bending Petricitebars? That was something even the strongest men in Demacia couldn't do and she was just a child. A monstrous one. Seeing that the Petricitedid not hurt her it was obvious she did that with pure strength and without an ounce of magic.
CLINK
CLINK
CLANK
As Gregori adjusted himself, his chains shook against itself and the walls. The chains on his legs were tense, allowing for little movement.
Hearing the sound, Eileen shifted her attention to the man of the hour. The prisoner who had been placed in the most secure Demacian prison. The man who had become a monster. That was what the guards had begun to call him. Monster.
She refused to believe something as crazy as that. A monster? Who could do that? She wasn't the only one who thought that way.... the other nobles including her brother were running a campaign to keep the man in prison. Even going as far as to try and deny the man a court.
The fact that Gregori had surrendered both himself and the weapons worried them a little. Why would he do that? Why would he give up something that made him strong? Even she thought him to be stupid in that decision. Giving up his greatest object of negotiation, he just doomed himself to this prison however long that might be. The nobles were still trying to force the king to keep him in here.
What was worse was the blatant interest they were showing his weapons. Despite Gregori repeatedly telling them that the weapons were cursed..... they wanted to wield it. They refused to take heed of his warnings. The Mageseekers were trying their hardest to stake their claim on the weapons some even going as far as to say that they would replicate his strength based on the rumors.
"Such powers must belong only to Demacia!" They claimed. "Not to some lowly creature like that messenger."
Eileen found that line of thinking incredibly hypocritical. All of this anti-magic propaganda only for you to end you rely on a magically cursed weapon?
"Your weapons are in high demand." She told the prisoner.
Gregori chuckled. "Of course they are. These fools won't learn unless they get hurt. You know what the curse on the weapons are Eileen?"
She leaned closer in anticipation.
"The curse is to become a monster. There is a term for the monster but you all do not need to know that. The lesser known it is.... the better." He sighed. "Anyway just the slightest of touches will kill you and the weapon will take over. Though kill would be an underestimation.... your body would be dead for sure but your mind, if it hasn't broken on contact, it would stay alive. Alive for you to watch as you rampaged across Demacia until the true guardians arrive to put you out of your misery. And even they would struggle."
Eileen stood in shock as she heard his words. "Like.... like a parasite....?"
Gregori raised his eyebrows, impressed at how quick she had made the connection. "Exactly so. The weapons need a host to exercise their will over. But unlike normal parasites they do not need a host to survive. The weapons and immortal. Unbreakable."
Eileen gripped the bars. "Then how do you wield the weapons?"
"A deal." Gregori answered. "The weapon and I have a deal. A true parasitic relationship. I help the weapon in finding and sealing away the other weapons and it grants me the power to do so."
"Seems unfair to you." She stated.
Gregori nodded. "It is even worse when you realize that there is a price to using it. One I am paying every moment."
Her grip on the bars tightened. "Won't the weapon choose a new host to make a deal with?"
"It is not that easy. We are compatible." Gregori spoke. "And as much as I hate to admit it but we both have a good friendship. And knowing that fellow, he'd rather kill everyone just to get me out just because I am a better host."
"He likes us." Briar cut in.
Eileen turned to her. "What?"
"Uncle Caalyx likes us." Briar repeated.
Gregori laughed a full bellied laugh at that. "I suppose he does doesn't he?"
"Uncle?" Eileen asked.
"The weapon." Gregori answered. "He is like an honorary uncle to them."
Eileen's mind raced to process all of this information. Leaning against the bars, she whispered, "Every time we talk you seem to be dropping information that significantly changes everything." She sounded defeated.
"You have some more to wait for Eileen." Gregori replied.
She sighed. "But why would you give up the weapons and surrender yourself?"
"I cannot be kept here for long don't worry." Gregori answered confidently. "I know for sure that I will be free to go."
"They are debating leaving you in here." She spoke.
Gregori shook his head. "I surrendered on a promise with the king. An agreement. If they break the agreement.... it harms the king more than everything. And I do not see the king stepping down."
"You think you know everything?" Eileen asked, seemingly frustrated at how calm he seemed.
"Yes." Gregori spoke nonchalantly. "You all are dreadfully predictable. Every action you take. Every decision you make. All like an open book."
She grit her teeth at those words.
"Take my children away Eileen. Keep them safe. The protection of the messenger still applies to them." He turned to his children. "Don't worry kids. I will be out soon and we will continue on our journey okay?"
They nodded reluctantly but he could see the want in their eyes to be near him.
Eileen began to lead them away.
"And Eileen." He called as he hung his head back down. "If even the smallest hair on their head is harmed..... I promise you Demacia will cease to exist."
Without turning back, Eileen asked, "Is that a threat?"
"It is a fact."