The Crimson Magister Chapter 55: V2-C36: Snake in the Shadows

Read chapter 55 of The Crimson Magister by Okram on NovelPedia.

V2-C36: Snake in the Shadows Azure followed Lira inside the council room. It was a rather large circular marble room with a large table where the entire council could meet and discuss important decisions. The Elven Council consisted of the Spymaster, Chairman, Steward, Marshal, and Great Cleric, who was in charge of all divine communions. Each of them was powerful, and their words held great weight. However, as Azure and Lira entered the council room, she noticed the lack of those important people. Each chair was empty, and the magical lights were extinguished. “Lady Lira, what are we doing in the council room?” Lira sighed, “Many questions you have? Don’t you, Great Champion, Azure Hallowshield?” Azure’s ears perked up. In an instant, her stance shifted, and her hands trembled; she had to be ready to fight this woman despite her being the Spymaster of her beloved kingdom. Lira approached the Spymaster’s seat, a chair made of solid oak and with dark cushioning with a webbed pattern to symbolize the darkness of shadows the spies had to navigate the webs of lies. On it was a golden embroidery of a snake. She tapped the table twice before taking a seat. She leaned forward and placed her hands on the table. “Azure Hallowshield, I have an important duty for you.” Lira seemed to scan Azure from top to bottom; she knew the girl was uneasy around her, yet she had a distinct lack of care in her demeanor. “Duty?” “Yes, something you are a … prime candidate for.” Lira chuckled as her face darkened. “A prime candidate?” Azure’s eyes widened as she felt something extremely wrong behind Lira’s gaze. Lira placed her palms on the table and pushed herself up, “Why such unease? I am one of the people you are supposed to trust with your life, you know?” “I would be a lousy champion if I trusted anyone with my whole life.” Azure chuckled, despite doing that very thing with Aqua. Lira’s grin widened as she continued speaking, which made Azure tremble in unease. Something is wrong. Lira was far too calm and spoke about something that worried her greatly. “What can I do for you, my Lady?” “It’s not what you can do to me, but what you can do to someone.” Lira’s smile faded as she kept her distance from Azure. Despite being a powerful mage, someone like Azure would have cut her down before she could blink. She raised her brow as she attempted to step closer to Lira, yet she kept walking away from her. Does she expect a fight? It was natural to be worried, but not with someone who was supposed to be her ally. “Tell me.” Azure quit trying to close the distance and took the seat of the Grand Cleric. A sweet smell invaded her senses. “You will become a puppet of the Great Inquisitor and get rid of Soleah for me; she is far too smart for her own good. And after that, you will be a good girl and kill yourself.” Her face twisted into a mad grin. “Huh?! What are you saying?!” Azure frowned as she attempted to jump out of the seat, yet she found herself unable to move. “You elves are so easy to guide and manipulate. Truly, the race without a wit of their own.” Some kind of gas filled the room, and Azure felt her mind get foggy. “Azure Hallowshield, you, as the Champion, symbolize the power of this wretched kingdom. I had tried so hard to get rid of you, yet you get defended by the royals.” She sighed as she approached Azure, who could only watch. “In a way, you have Soleah to blame for this; if she had just ordered your execution, she would have lived, and this would have ended with your life.” Lira shook her head. No. No. You won’t win over me! She gritted her teeth as she fought against the strange paralytic effect of the smoke. “You… snake !” Lira laughed, the smoke apparently not affecting her. “But of course I am. After all, I am the one who sits in the seat of the Snake.” Azure stumbled out of the seat as she pushed herself to the absolute maximum; no matter what, she could not let Lira get away with this. “Stop resisting, puppet. Just let the poison wor