Rebecca found herself in a decrepit, sleazy old town thousands of miles away from her kingdom.
With every step she took, her annoyance grew as she navigated the squalid streets, keenly aware of the dirty gazes that followed her.
The reason for her journey was no less agitating: a middleman had arranged a meeting with a mysterious individual who claimed to possess the cure for her son's ailment.
So how could she not come even if the condition was for her to come alone? She can't let go of the slightest chance that could help her see Oberon open his eyes.
Still, being in disguise wasn't helping with the unwanted attention from the surrounding bastards. She was proud of her own body and didn't want to disguise herself more than just putting on a hood with a face veil. The only drawback was she had to kill those who were foolish enough to get close to her, making her waste her time and energy.
The chosen meeting place was an ancient pub, its timbers rotting and the air thick with the smell of stale ale and unwashed bodies. As she pushed open the creaky door, she couldn't help but wince at the thought of being in such a repulsive location.
When was the last time she ever had to place her foot in such a filth?
A fat pigman blocked her path, his beady eyes roaming lasciviously over her voluptuous form.
A woman with such a huge, juicy rack and shapely curves coming here? She surely must be a legendary grade whore!
His little brother already got heated up thinking about suffocating his face with her juicy breasts.
A wicked grin spread across his porcine face as he drawled sarcastically, "Well now, what do we have here? You here for pleasure or business, sweet cheeks?" He just had to make sure if someone powerful had booked this whore first before touching her.
Rebecca's anger flared at the pigman's vile gaze, but she managed to restrain herself. With ice in her voice, she warned him, "Look at me again like that, and I'll feed your wretched flesh to the rabid dogs."
Before the pigman could respond, the bartender's voice cut through the tension, "Oi, step aside and let the lady through!" he barked, giving Rebecca a nod.
With a haughty harrumph, Rebecca stepped past the pigman, whose face flushed with a mixture of shock and fear. She, however, made a mental note to kill him on her way out.
Just from her words he felt his spine rattle, and that could only mean this wasn't an ordinary whore!
The bartender flashed an apologetic smile and gestured towards a dimly lit staircase, "Please, head down the stairs. The person you're waiting for is already there."
Despite the dingy surroundings, Rebecca decided to go through with it anyway, knowing that she had to do whatever it took to help her son.
As she descended the creaky steps, the true weight of her desperation became palpable, leading her deeper into the shadowy world that lay beneath the pub.
Rebecca's eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room as she stepped down the stairs, her heart pounding with anticipation. She reached the door at the bottom, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly pushed it open.
The door creaked, revealing a shadowy chamber, illuminated only by flickering candlelight. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, searching for her contact, and she spotted a short, bald man sitting at a wooden table, hunched over a worn book.
His yellow skin, round ears, and large gray eyes immediately revealed his identity as a Spherion, or infamously called as a Mindslayer by the people.
Rebecca couldn't help but feel suspicious, as she hadn't expected to meet with one of these notorious manipulators. They were physically weak, but they more than compensated for it with their terrifying mental powers.
They were also considered enemies of her kingdom and if spotted, would be killed on sight.
Aware of her presence, the Spherion closed the book with a soft thud, rose from his seat, and turned to face her.
His friendly smile seemed almost out of place on his mischievous visage, as he greeted her warmly.
"Ah, Lady Rebecca, I've been expecting you," he said, his voice smooth and unnervingly calm, "My name is Orbos. I apologize for the clandestine nature of our meeting, but you know how it is with my kind. I assure you, my intentions are purely to aid you in your quest."
Rebecca narrowed her eyes at the Spherion, her guard up, but she knew she needed his help for her son.
Swallowing her pride and her apprehension, she replied, "Very well, Orbos. Let's get down to business. What information do you have for me?"
Orbos chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with intrigue as he gestured for her to take a seat across from him, "Please, have a seat, my lady. I believe I have just the thing you seek, but first, allow me to share some of my knowledge with you."
Rebecca's eyes widened in shock as she realized that Orbos had known her identity all along. She couldn't help but ask, "How did you know who I am? I took every precaution to remain anonymous."
Orbos looked at her with an air of amused confidence. "My dear lady, it's my business to know things. As someone of my... stature, it is vital that I research those I intend to meet, even if they wish to remain anonymous. I can't afford to put myself in unnecessary danger, after all. So please do forgive me for my rudeness."
He took a step forward to sit down near the table in front of him, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone, "Besides, even if I hadn't done my homework, it wouldn't have been too difficult to figure out. The news of your son's mysterious coma is hardly a secret, and as far as I know, there are no other cases quite like his. It's not a huge leap to connect the dots."
Rebecca clenched her jaw, cursing inwardly at her own oversight. Still, she knew that she needed Orbos's assistance, so she forced herself to remain calm and focused.
She removed her hood and sat down opposite to him, "Very well," she said through gritted teeth, "Since you know so much, tell me how you can help my son."
Orbos nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Very well, I can rewrite the last few minutes of your son's memories, erasing the nightmare that triggered his coma. Once that memory is gone, his mind should recover rapidly within a matter of days."
Rebecca's eyes flashed with anger, and she snapped, "I won't allow someone like you to tamper with my son's mind!"
The horror stories she had heard about the Mindslayers swirled in her thoughts, each one more chilling than the last.
Allowing Orbos to manipulate Oberon's memories might cure him, but the potential risks were far too great, which could include Orbos turning Oberon against her or worse, learning their secrets.
Orbos let out a sigh, his large eyes downcast, "If you cannot trust me, then I'm afraid I have no other solution to offer."
Frustrated and feeling manipulated, Rebecca slammed her hand down on the table, the sound echoing through the dimly lit room, "You wasted my time by making me travel all this way!" she spat out, her voice tinged with bitterness, "You knew how I would respond, and yet you insisted on this meeting. Do you take me for a fool?"
Orbos raised his hands in a placating gesture, urging Rebecca to calm down, "Please, listen to me. I did anticipate your reaction, and don't feel disappointed yet. You see, the real reason I invited you here was not to offer a cure for your son." He paused before adding, "I have something far more valuable to propose."
Rebecca's anger momentarily subsided, replaced by a flicker of curiosity. Her gaze locked onto Orbos, warily waiting to hear what he had in store.
"We can help you get rid of the one who put your son on that bed in the first place. Isn't that something you really want?" Orbos asked with a certain glint in his eyes.
Rebecca's eyes shook as the thought of seeing Asher choking to death was something she had dreamed of for most nights. But due to circumstances, there was nothing she could do to him. Her hands were tied. If only he was gone, all her problems would be solved.
And now that someone like Orbos was offering such a tempting proposal, she couldn't help but ask skeptically, "What do you want in return?"
Orbos lips moved as he conveyed a sentence to her, making Rebecca's eyes widen.
"Are you mad? You want me to get myself executed? Find someone else who is foolish to die for your schemes. Don't tell me you were the one who tried to get Asher assassinated the day he woke up?" Rebecca asked with squinted eyes.
Orbos leaned back in his chair, his large eyes watching Rebecca intently, "You should consider all your options before making a decision," he said, his tone calm and persuasive, "Your Bloodburn Kingdom is in a precarious position, especially after the loss of the Bloodburn King. He was a very powerful and formidable ruler, and his daughter, though undeniably strong, lacks his experience and wisdom due to her young age. She's struggling to bear the weight of your kingdom."
Orbos paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "As for her consort, Asher, his potential knows no bounds. As he grows more powerful, you may find yourself powerless to stop him from tearing apart everything you hold dear. The status he holds and the immortal bloodline he possess will undoubtedly help him make waves in this world, in ways even I can't predict. You will never be able to deal with him. Not on your own. You know that too even if you don't want to admit it. So are you certain you want to walk away without hearing all that details of what I have to offer?"
The atmosphere in the dimly lit room grew heavy, Orbos' words hanging in the air like a dense fog.
His piercing gaze remained locked on Rebecca, awaiting her response, as the gravity of the situation bore down upon her.
Rebecca's fingers clenched into fists as she considered Orbos' words, their truth weighing heavily upon her. Her heart was conflicted, but she knew deep down that dismissing his offer without hearing it would be unwise. With great reluctance, she settled back into her seat, her eyes filled with apprehension.
"Hmph," she grumbled, trying to mask her inner turmoil. "I'll hear what you have to say. But remember, I'm only listening. It doesn't mean I agree or will follow your plan."
"Of course. You can walk out any time you want," Orbso said as his gray eyes gleamed.
