Chapter 31: Next Step
The candles flickered along the stone corridor as Ethan advanced with calm, almost silent steps. Behind him, a few loyal members of the cult of Aurelia followed, dark cloaks completely hiding their identities, though the goddess’s symbol was still engraved on them. Ahead, gathered in the council chamber, stood nobles and representatives of the local churches, faces etched with fear and barely contained anger.
"You all know why you’re here," Ethan said, without raising his voice. The words cut sharper than any blade.
One of the older nobles rose, hands trembling, voice caught between courage and despair. "We... we do not accept this! The cult of Aurelia cannot replace our faith! You have no right..."
The rest of the sentence died in his throat as Ethan raised a hand. A golden aura flashed for an instant; then the man fell, his throat pierced by an invisible thread of shaped mana. His body hit the floor, and the silence that followed seemed to stretch into eternity.
"Does anyone else wish to object?" Ethan asked, his expression empty, something that would have reminded him of the princess if he’d looked into a mirror. His golden eyes reflected the torchlight.
Little did they know that even the dead now would serve him.
Some stepped back, others simply bowed their heads. But not all.
There were those whose very existence was a threat to Ethan’s control over the kingdom, whether controlled or not. Five names were crossed off the kingdom’s influence lists. Ethan didn’t hesitate: he ordered public executions in the central square. To be precise, the king ordered it. To everyone else, Ethan was nothing more than a messenger.
He made sure to be present, using Nexus like a cloak to cover himself, his gaze impassive as the blades fell.