Chapter 422
Diana didn't answer. Instead, she just stared quietly at Ian.
"Yes." Lucia, glancing at her, quickly responded. "As far as I know."
"I figured as much." Ian nodded, clicking his tongue softly.
Of course. If only a handful of beastfolk had sided with the demons, there wouldn't have been such widespread resentment toward all of them. Though I'm sure the fairies had a hand in stirring things up.
There were plenty of traitors and defectors among humans and fairies, even some among dwarves and orcs, if he recalled correctly. For an entire race to be branded a corrupted one, something like the birth of an archdemon had to be involved.
"It made a name for itself during the war era—a berserker who worshipped an imprisoned native god of the Void." As Ian mulled over his thoughts, Lucia carefully continued.
Around her mask, a faint shimmer of magic flickered like a breath. "That's about all I know. Most of the detailed documents about the archdemons are managed and stored by the Great Church."
"Kruxica," Diana muttered under her breath. "Beastfolks were allowed to join the Empire on the condition that they abandoned that ancient spirit."
Lucia froze for a moment, then turned around, startled.
"At the start of the war, when the Empire suffered defeat after defeat, it volunteered to lead its beastfolk warriors to the front lines. And not long after, it betrayed the Empire." Diana's voice sank lower, heavier.
Diana's voice was eerily calm as she spoke. From behind her wooden mask, she clicked her tongue. "They planned it from the start. They couldn't forgive the Empire and the Order for exiling their god into the void. But ironically, the beastfolk race had converted long before it was even born."