I left the Ronics to the trio. My work there was mostly done. A day or two at most, then the full war would start.
There were already small fights breaking out between the Del Reys and the Bloodreavers. This visit had only added fuel. Now it would become official.
I flew back to Horus and headed straight for the cave.
Silver was lying outside, one wing half-open, looking bored out of his mind.
"What are you doing here?" I asked as I landed.
"Nothing," he replied. "I sensed Knight nearby and came to see what he was messing with."
I nodded. "Alright."
I walked past him and entered the cave.
Romothese sat in one corner, tied with layers of shadow tentacles. His body was covered in blood, bruises, and cuts from Knight’s early attempts to loosen his tongue. His eyes were open but unfocused, he looked exhausted and terrified at the same time.
Knight stepped out from the darker shadows, his tail flicking behind him.
"You’re here," he said.
"So," I asked, "did you get anything useful?"
Knight nodded slowly. "Yes. The whole story from the beginning. How everything started."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "That’s good. Let’s go outside and talk."
I flashed out of the cave, reappearing near the rocks outside. Knight emerged beside me a second later, leaving Romothese secured inside.
The interrogation had gone well. Now it was time to hear the truth.
I lifted my hand and the earth rumbled softly, and three stone chairs rose from the soil in a neat line. A round table formed between them, smooth and perfectly shaped.
I sat down first. Knight took the seat on my left. Silver hopped forward, stretched his wings once, and settled into the last chair, looking far too comfortable.
I reached into my storage and pulled out a bottle of alcohol and three glasses. I poured one for each of us.
Silver leaned forward and sniffed his glass. "Finally," he muttered. "You never give me drinks. This is a historic day."
I smirked. "It’s story time. Drinks make it better."
Knight nodded once. "Then let’s begin."
He set his glass down and folded his hands.
"It all starts with Lana."
Silver groaned. "Of course it does."
Knight continued as if he hadn’t heard him.
"When Lana awakened, she didn’t just gain good talent. She gained a rare one. A green-grade talent."
I leaned back. "A green talent?"
"Yes," Knight said. "Its name...Fortune Parasite."
I took a sip. "And what does the talent do?"
"This talent allowed her to sense the fortune, the good destiny of people around her. The stronger the fortune, the brighter it appeared to her."
Knight paused.
"And the longer she stayed near them, the more she could drain it for herself."
Silver’s eyes widened. "She sucks luck out of people? That’s actually terrifying."
"It gets worse," Knight said.
He leaned forward slightly.
"One day, she crossed paths with Primus. And in her eyes, he shone like a sun. The greatest fortune she had ever seen in Armus."
I nodded slowly. "Figures. Of course he had insane fortune. He met me."
Knight continued.
"That’s when Lana, her father, and Romothese made their first plan. They decided to use Primus. But as Lana kept collecting small fortunes from people around her, her talent grew stronger. Her skills improved. Her mind expanded. Greed followed."
Silver snorted. "Naturally."
Knight didn’t pause.
"With that greed, they became curious. They wanted to see the best talents in Dragos. So they traveled there. And that was a mistake."
He tapped the table.
"In Dragos, Lana was noticed by a Transcendent demon. Someone powerful. Someone who instantly recognized the green talent inside her."
"He sensed it," Knight said. "Transcendents can detect these things. He confronted her and her father. They couldn’t hide it."
"What did he want?" I asked.
"He offered them something big," Knight replied. "A chance to establish their family inside Dragos. To rise above their current status."
Silver lifted his glass. "Always a catch."
Knight nodded.
"The catch was simple: Lana had to secure control over Armus. Completely. Entirely."
I felt my eyebrow rise. "So he wanted Armus through her."
"Yes. And she agreed."
He continued without emotion.
"When they returned, the first thing they did was finalize their plan regarding Primus. Lana would marry him. Manipulate him. Take his fortune piece by piece."
Silver rubbed his chin. "And she did."
"Oh, she did," Knight said. "She drained almost seventy percent of Primus’s good fortune. And with every bit she stole, her own comprehension grew. Her talent strengthened. Her insights deepened."
I clicked my tongue and took another sip of the drink.
"So that’s why she kept growing so fast."
Knight nodded. "Exactly."
He picked up his glass, took a small sip, and continued.
"After a few years, the Transcendent visited Armus. He checked Lana and found she had progressed far beyond what he expected. He ordered her to return to Dragos immediately for advanced training."
"And she listened," I said quietly.
"She did," Knight confirmed. "But she had a problem. Primus still held a massive amount of fortune. And the Transcendent had told her clearly, no attachments."
Silver’s feathers bristled. "Let me guess. She ordered the kill."
Knight nodded. "Both Primus and her daughter Lara."
I stared ahead, thinking.
Knight continued.
"Once the deaths were in motion, Lana left for Dragos. And from there, the next stage began. With the Transcendent’s guidance, they crafted new plans to take over Armus step by step."
"And the Phantom attack was part of that."
"Yes," Knight said. "Part of their move to weaken both the Bloodreavers and the Ronics. And to make Del Reys seem like victims. Then only Del Reys will be left and will legitimately receive control over Armus."
I exhaled slowly.
"So... this is the whole truth."
Knight leaned back.
"That is everything Romothese confessed. Lana’s talent. Her greed. The manipulation. The marriage. The orders. The killings. The Transcendent’s involvement. And the Del Reys’ growing ambition."
I nodded.
"It’s all lining up perfectly."
"Ohh! one more thing." Knight said. "She is married to that transcendent demon now."