PORTAL BEAST SLAYER

"This would have been a very good offer, if I was guilty. But I'm not. I didn't steal the sword. I retrieved it before it could be sold off to the Valderran Royals. In a way, I should be getting awarded a medal, don't you think?" Alrik smirked.

This was another unexpected response from him and it was clear they didn't know how to respond to it. They didn't expect this level of push back from Alrik, and he was doing it while looking so calm, and pretending like he didn't understand the tension in the room.

Faran chuckled. "Okay, Alrik. I'll humour you. Congratulations on serving Velmorra well, even if you claim not to be a soldier. And we will discuss amongst ourselves what reward will be granted to you for the retrieval. As you know, the sword is a national treasure and a symbol of prestige that needs to be returned to its place. Displaying the sword is to give hope to the soldiers and citizens alike. To remind us of past battles, and keep persevering. To show that no matter what, we will prevail and…"

"Lovely speech. And I agree with you. It is a national treasure. But it still belongs to the Zerdon family, and I may not be associated with them for now, but by blood, I do have the right to keep the sword. From what I know, the sword was not gifted, but loaned to the national treasury, and it wasn't even properly secured or it wouldn't have been lost in the first place." Alrik interrupted with his smirk still on his face.

"What is your point?"

"My point is, I have committed no crime, and therefore, I do not appreciate being summoned to face a jury under the false context of a meeting. And I am not handing over the sword, not just because I don't want to. But because at this point, I cannot. Even if I leave the sword with you, she will return to me." He replied.

"Return to you? What nonsense is that? A sword has no legs."

Alrik didn't bother explaining. He knew that at least some of them were aware of the true story behind the sword, not the tweaked history that was told for generations to cover up who knows what. In order to find out who among them to start investigating first, it was better to catch them off guard. So he took a step away from Gaya and Bruno after turning briefly to give them a signal, and drew Zee from the sheath.

The soldiers standing guard by the door, and the corners of the room immediately raised their guns and pointed it at Alrik. His sword was a weapon after all, and it was a threat to the rulers seated in front of him. Alrik had no intention of fighting any of them. His signal to his two was to make sure they joined him in observing everyone present. He couldn't look at them all at once and that first impression of the sword was vital.

Alrik focused the flow of mana around his eyes like Zee taught him. Only he could see the wisps of magic. This time he didn't want to turn his eyes normal. He let the golden eyes of his bond show, and there were several gasps around the room as Zee also began to glow that same golden shade.

"Impossible!" "What!" "How did you…"

Few of them made exclamations like this, while few others didn't speak but had surprise clearly written on their faces. The few that Alrik was interested in were the few that were not surprised or shaken in any way. They either knew the true history of the sword, or they were among the few who were a part of the problem. Either way, that last set were the ones he would start investigating first.

"Seeing as most of you are surprised, I guess you didn't call me in here with the foolish hope of harnessing the sword's power." Alrik spoke.

"The powers of the sword are a myth! Stories told just to keep hope alive. There's no way…"

"And yet, you just saw it with your own eyes. The stories we've been told are not as accurate as you think. And I see a few faces that already seem to know that. I have a feeling some of you already know the true history of this sword and what it's capable of. And my guess is that those are the ones truly pulling the string of your council, of the whole damn nation probably. I'm curious about why though? Why lie for so long? A conspiracy among legacy families like mine?"

He asked and looked around, pausing to let his words settle in.

"You must be mistaken, Alrik. While you may argue that your little light show is genuine, like he said. Magic or powers do not exist, and never have." The high commander spoke.

He was one of the few who had not been surprised when Alrik drew the sword.

"Yet, every few days, soldiers die on the battlefield battling beasts that pour in through a portal to a world unknown to us. Saying magic does not exist after seeing those beasts with your two eyes is the most blatant lie I've ever heard. So again, I wonder why? Why go through so much effort to conceal things like these, especially when it's so obviously false? Do you have an answer for me, high commander?" Alrik asked, and the High commander's second in command sent Alrik a death glare.

Alrik just smiled like he hadn't just turned the whole meeting upside down.

"You may no longer be a soldier, but you are still a citizen, under the command of…"

Alrik sighed. "Instead of starting an argument to tell you again that the sword will not be yours, I'll show you instead. Go ahead. Take the sword if you can."

Alrik dropped Zee on the table, between a camp commander caller Gerald, and a council advisor.

"Are we truly going to do this song and dance again?" Zee said.

"No one listens apparently."

"So should I burn someone's arm off?"

"Don't go overboard. I may not want to suck up to them, but I'd rather leave here without any open hostility. Better to be allowed to leave than having to escape, and putting the others in danger."

The camp commander was the first to reach for the sword, and as soon as he touched it, he yelled and jumped out of his seat. He screamed and held onto his hand, and his palm sizzled.

Alrik just crossed his arms and watched.

"It burned me! The freaking sword burned me!" He screamed, and the guard by the door rushed to get a glass of water, and a towel to help cool off the man's palm.

"That sword is not leaving here today, so grab it with something. I don't care what stupid tricks are being played here." The high commander's second in command, Kahlo yelled.

A guard stepped forward with a towel, and tried to grab Zee, but the sword turned to stone, too heavy to be lifted.

"Still think it's a trick?" Alrik asked with an arched brow.

A second guard stepped up to help the first one lift the stone sword, but as soon as they laid hands on Zee, they both froze, and fell back, like they were struck by lightning.

Kahlo stood from his seat, and stomped over to the part of the table where the sword was, but before he could even touch it, he withdrew his hand and stumbled back with a look of fear on his face. That only happened for a split second before he regained his composure, and his expression became deadpan. Alrik frowned as he saw that. He hadn't even touched the sword. Why recoil like that? And why be afraid.

"Enough!" Alrik snapped, and lifted his hand.

In an instant, Zee phased from the table into his hand, and was back to being a regular sword.

"I've shown you enough. Believe or don't. It's up to you. But I won't waste more time here. I called to give vital information that would help in the battle with the beasts. I'm sure you've all seen videos of me circulating. Beasts should not have been able to portal right in the city, but it happened. If I hadn't been there, it would have been a disaster. And it will happen more often until we figure out a way to stop it. To do so, we also need to know the cause."

"No one has been able to figure out the reason the portals exist for several years. What makes you think you can find out?"

Alrik sighed. "I will find out because I have to. None of you have seen the danger that I have. And some of you have the information I need. It would be helpful if you could volunteer the information, but I doubt that will happen. You must have concealed it because you surely have some fault. Before then, my advice is to make plans for city wide patrols. Everyone is in danger."