Disciple of Madness

The evening of the previous day...

At the royal palace at Pulse, Evenstar Kingdom.

The castle zoomed into view as a raven flew past it. It's eyes tracked every single human movement, each window and door, looking for an entry point. Finding one, it swiftly flew into an open window which was a little dirty from all the dust that came with the storm an hour back.

Inside the castle resided people of different status; some serving the royal family, some guarding the palace--the face of the kingdom, the others earned their living through simple chores like gardening, laundry, washing clothes, cooking or cleaning the massive palace.

Amid these hocus of daily chores, a man looking around forty was pacing in his room. His movements were hurried and uneven from all the overthinking and the anticipation of something fruitful to him.

He was chewing on his fingers, his eyes unfocused as he silently contemplated on the future. At times, he would scratch the small stubble that had formed on his chin from his negligence.

He was waiting.

As he almost reached the verge of ripping his lips off, the ornate filled door to his room clicked open with a slight creak.

A bulky man stood at the doorway, one hand holding the door. Lowering his head in respect, the man informed.

"Your Highness, the Chief Operative of the Intelligence Department seeks your audience."

The prince's shoes stopped their tapping as he turned towards the man with a sigh of relief. Adjusting his collar, he nodded to the man to lead the way.

They came out in a wide hallway. Blue fabricated carpets draped the marble floors, banners bearing the Evenstar insignia were unfurled on the walls as they absorbed the echoes of the footsteps in the empty space.

They crossed many other paths, the chandeliers overhead lighting their way.

"He is waiting inside the room, Your Highness." The man who happened to be a Royal Guard said politely as he stopped back.

Prince Malcolm glanced back at the man before he entered the room.

Upon his entry to the room, a man lounging on a plush sofa rose up.

His loose fitting robes touched the ground as he bowed modestly. "Greetings, Your Highness."

Prince Malcolm took the opposite sofa as he getsured the man to sit down. After they both settled, Malcolm asked in slight trepidation.

"So Penny, I hope you have brought me good news."

Penny, the man sitting across the prince held out his arm as a raven flew smoothly on his elbow.

"I wouldn't even think of disappointing you, Your Highness." He continued as he patted down the feathers of his raven. " I have an interesting...news for you. One that might be quite helpful to you."

Penny looked the prince in his eyes as he said the last part. Malcolm in response craned his neck backwards and whispered, "And that's what you said me yesterday and the day before that."

"But this time, I have got the real deal instead of just empty promises." Penny held out a tiny scroll, rolled and tied with a linen string. The prince accepted it graciously, although internally he was panicking a lot.

What would be the information? Could it take him out of his desperation?

With these thoughts, he unrolled the wooden rod as a sharp writing came into display. His eyes started reading the words on them. At first, his face scrunched up in confusion as he glanced at Penny.

But as he continued reading, the confusion vanished and a solemn expression crossed his features.

With slightly trembling hands, he returned back the scroll.

"Is it true?" He asked.

Penny nodded confidently. "I am the Chief Operative, Your Highness. Never in my carrier have I made a mistake and not even now. The Node is forming as the scroll stated. Maybe in midnight itself, it shall be done."

He trailed off, his voice implying the unspoken understanding that the prince needs to claim it for himself.

The prince sighed. A breath of relief. A wealth of duty.

"Alright. Let me talk to father. But, thank you for the information you have gathered. You have just significantly aided our kingdom."

"That's my job,Your Highness. I get paid for it but I am still grateful of being able to able you." Penny stood up with a chuckle as he adjusted the eyepatch on his right eye.

The eye that can no longer see.

He exited the room and with purposeful movements traversed through the hallways to his room.

"Good evening to you, good sir."

"Hope the weather is with your birds."

"S-sir, thank you for the last time. My child is in good health for you."

"Good evening, Mr. Penny."

On his way, just like every other day people greeted him. Some simply wished him a good evening, some hoped for a better weather knowing his birds were out collecting information essential for the kingdom. A few others thanked him for the secrets,the information he gave them for free, ones that saved their loved ones...or themselves.

He was the Chief Operative of the Intelligence Department, and right now someone who even the King couldn't dispose of, atleast not without a rebellion from his well-wishers.

The door to his dark room opened as he stepped inside. Closing it behind him, he said to the empty space.

"Master, I am finally learning your ways. You formed a cult of hundreds of thousands of people. I have formed a cult of servants and common people residing in a high end palace."

He approached the window, touched by the last rays of the drowning sun.

From his pockets he took out the scroll. The one he gave to Prince Malcolm.

It read:

I hope this finds you in good health, Y. How many days has it been since we last met? I am sure you are doing well being all rich and all.

You see the mountains of the rising sun are being grumpy. Maybe something of great power is stirring in it. Given what I see, it might be formed by midnight.

A short scroll but something that made the prince's heartbeat accelerate. However what the prince didn't know was that there was another scroll sent with it.

It read:

Y time to end your break. Assistance required. The Temple of Truth at the capital might grant you your wish.

Penny burned down both the scrolls in his hand. Then he took out another scroll from his pocket and looked at it, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Just another mission...before I go to Woodrock City."