The Legend of Marvin

At that name, Drednar, who had remained silent until then, let out a low growl. His imposing silhouette straightened in the shadows, his bestial gaze shining with a menacing glow.

Velkra, on the other hand, burst into laughter.

— Henry Marvin? That senile old fool? Is he the one making you tremble, Gahlran?

Gahlran shot her a deadly glare and stepped forward menacingly.

— Do not underestimate him, you fool. Henry Marvin is not just an old man. He is one of the five legendary mages and has already defeated Barbatos once. His knowledge and power surpass anything you can imagine. If we don't eliminate him before we act, he could jeopardize our plans.

Velkra's smile faded slightly, though a glimmer of amusement still shone in her eyes.

— Alright, alright… Let's say he is still dangerous. How do you plan to deal with him? He won't fall so easily.

Jorak approached the table and placed a hand on it, his tone grave.

— We will isolate him. He still holds too much influence in the capital. If we attack him directly, it could raise suspicions and slow our rise. But if he were to be discredited… if he became a threat in the eyes of Valdrith itself… then all we would need to do is strike at the right moment.

Drednar grunted in approval.

— Manipulating the enemy before devouring them… I like that tactic.

Jorak nodded.

— We have already infiltrated Valdrith. We just need to wait for the right moment. Richard Marvin will provide us with the perfect opportunity.

They exchanged knowing glances. The fall of Valdrith was already underway, and with it, the destruction of the last bastion against Barbatos' return.

In a deep, authoritative voice, Gahlran asked:

— How many men do we have at our disposal?

Jorak, arms crossed, tilted his head slightly before answering in a measured tone:

— About 1,500, spread across our different bases.

Gahlran crossed his arms, his somber expression revealing deep thought.

— 1,500 men… That's too few to attack a capital. But if our goal is only to eliminate Henry Marvin and his grandson, we can act with precision instead of charging blindly.

He turned to Jorak, his piercing gaze sharp.

— Do you already have agents infiltrated in the capital?

Jorak slowly nodded, a sinister smile on his lips.

— Yes, several. Some are hidden among the royal guard, others work as merchants or simple citizens. Our spies provide us with valuable information on Marvin's movements and those of his entourage.

Velkra, who had been silently listening, leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

— Then why not strike immediately? We know where he is, we have men in place. A clean, discreet assassination, and the matter is settled.

Gahlran shook his head.

— Too risky. If Henry Marvin falls suddenly, it will raise suspicions. We must weaken him before eliminating him. And most importantly, we must retrieve his part of the Circle of Cirkon.

Drednar, who had remained silent until then, let out a deep growl.

— This fragment… Is it really that important?

Jorak shot him a severe look.

— Of course. The Circle of Cirkon is an artifact divided into five parts. When complete, it grants immeasurable power to its wielder. Currently, Henry Marvin holds one of the fragments. If it were to fall into our hands, it would bring us even closer to our ultimate goal: the resurrection of our master, Barbatos.

Drednar let out a guttural chuckle, his fangs gleaming under the dim torchlight.

— Then, how do you plan to proceed?

Jorak placed a hand on the stone table, his smile shifting into a more serious expression.

— First, we will sow chaos in the capital. Targeted attacks, sabotage, orchestrated murders… We will ensure that the population loses trust in Henry Marvin. We must turn him into an enemy of the kingdom.

Velkra grinned, amused.

— Oh, I love that kind of maneuver. Destroying someone from within… It's even more satisfying than a simple fight.

Gahlran nodded and added:

— And if Richard Marvin becomes a threat, we must eliminate him as well. He carries the Marvin legacy. If he fully awakens his forge magic, he could be a major problem in the future.

Jorak nodded.

— That's why we must act quickly. We will test their strength and see how far they can go. If they are weaker than expected, we will strike immediately.

Drednar slammed his fist against the wall, his impatience palpable.

— Very well. Give me the orders, and I will make the blood flow.

Jorak smiled and raised a hand.

— Patience, my friend. The time is approaching… and when the moment comes, Valdrith will tremble beneath our feet.

Gahlran placed his hands on the stone table, his dark gaze piercing through each of the gathered Apostles.

— There is another element to consider. The king of Valdrith, Andres Bernauld.

Velkra arched an eyebrow.

— What does he have to do with this?

Jorak replied with a sly smile.

— Andres Bernauld has blind trust in Henry Marvin. He sees him as a loyal advisor and protector of his kingdom. But what if that trust were to break?

Velkra crossed her arms, a smirk forming at the corner of her lips.

— Oh, I see where you're going with this… If we make him doubt Marvin, we can isolate him.

Gahlran nodded.

— Exactly. If the king turns his back on Henry Marvin, he will lose all influence and protection. That will make it much easier for us to eliminate him.

Drednar, listening silently, growled in a rough voice.

— And how do you plan to sow discord between them? Andres Bernauld may be a king, but he's no fool. He won't be easily manipulated.

Jorak chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.

— We will exploit his fears.

He paused before continuing.

— We will organize a series of attacks in the capital of Valdrith, but we will make it look like they were the work of summoned creatures. More precisely, creatures resembling those that Elisabeth Dreks can summon.

Velkra burst into laughter.

— Oh, that's brilliant! We will make it seem like it's Emperor Dreks' daughter spreading chaos. And since she is under Henry Marvin's protection, it will make him a suspect.

Gahlran added gravely:

— If we make the king believe that Henry Marvin is protecting a threat to the kingdom, he will soon see him as a traitor.

Jorak nodded.

— And we will ensure that Richard Marvin is involved as well. A few well-placed rumors, false witnesses, and attacks orchestrated at the right moment. Once the king has lost faith in Henry Marvin, we will strike.

Drednar grinned, revealing his sharp fangs.

— So, when does the game begin?

Jorak raised his hands triumphantly.

— Right now. Soon, Valdrith will sink into doubt and paranoia. King Andres Bernauld will begin to distrust his most loyal ally… and when the time comes, we will finish what remains of him.

A heavy silence settled in the room. Then, one by one, the Apostles began to smile.

The plan was in motion, and soon, the shadow of Barbatos would spread over Valdrith…