Chapter 599
Rattan maintained his facade of the weary hero until he reached the privacy of what was once Kaelen’s personal chamber. A deep, shuddering breath escaped him as the weight of the performance lifted. He was so consumed by relief that he failed to notice the room was no longer the ransacked ruin he remembered.
Deep in exhaustion, Rattan fell into a profound sleep. It was then that the Phantom seized the opportunity, subtly weaving more of Kaelen’s memories and mannerisms into Rattan’s mind, perfecting his mimicry.
A week later, Rattan awoke, and the first things he did were a series of unconscious movements. His body moved on its own, checking the seals and wards he now instinctively knew protected his home. Kaelen had been no mage, but his understanding of magic far surpassed most. Drawing on these new memories, Rattan began to inspect his chambers, then the entire mansion. He meticulously checked every magic circle, ensuring each was intact and untouched.
A fleeting memory surfaced, a vision of a figure who might have done such a thing: his brother, the Emperor. A chilling question formed in Kaelen’s mind, "Was he missing me, or was he just mourning me?"
He walked into the throne room, the central node for all the magic circles protecting the estate. As he sat on the throne, a subtle thrum of power washed over him. With a quick, instinctive connection, Kaelen’s mind linked with the entire mansion, feeling its pulse and confirming his control over its defenses.
As Rattan sat upon the throne, his eyes glazed over with a deep, unsettling memory. It wasn’t long ago he had knelt below this very seat in servitude, and now, he was its master. The irony wasn’t lost on him. The only thing missing was a loyal retinue; Kaelen’s men had followed their king to war, and none had returned.
Rattan didn’t mind the solitude. He knew it wouldn’t last. Soon, this place would be bustling with people bringing him gifts. Nobles from every land would kneel before him, offering their finest treasures to appease the empire’s new hero.
He was looking forward to it. He knew his role, and he intended to play it to perfection. His purpose was to sow the seeds of chaos and desperation throughout the empire, and all he had to do was act as the old Kaelen once did.
The first step was clear. It was time to call a meeting or perhaps, a party with all the ogre generals of the empire. He had a tasty cake to hand over to them, and he was eager to see how they’d react to his little gift.
From his throne, Kaelen’s mind, now Rattan’s, set the machinations in motion. Invitations were dispatched to all his targets with a speed only the arcane could grant. He had to set up the party himself, as his mansion remained eerily silent, devoid of the maids and servants he needed. He was no longer the old Rattan, however.
His Cube, now an arifact, emerged from within his robes and merged with the throne. Kaelen’s memories of his resources and crafting rooms surfaced, providing the means to build his own servants. He handed the task of creating humanoid magical puppets to the Cube, then settled back into the throne to meticulously plan his next moves.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the palace, the Emperor and Vellok were also planning, but Kaelen was no longer the sole topic of their discussion. They had decided that while they could not act directly against Kaelen, their best move was to ignore him. This was why no new staff had been assigned to his home. He was a hero and a king, but only in name. The current Kaelen was a one-man show, his power limited to the fame he had earned. They believed that without a network of support, he would be powerless.
The immediate and more pressing concern for the Emperor and Vellok was the demon lord Zarvok. He remained a ghost, yet his army advanced with terrifying efficiency. Their most urgent problem was deciphering his ultimate goal. It might have been a coincidence, but Zarvok’s forces were steadily pushing toward a location of critical importance to the empire.