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Kai’s eyes widened, his mind flashing with a brief, vivid vision of the eggs cracking open all at once, tiny spiders spilling out like a wave of nightmares, crawling over their feet, their bodies, suffocating them in a sea of legs and venom. His heart raced, but he shook his head, dispelling the image. He exhaled slowly, eyes focusing back on the unhatched eggs.

"This... this is madness," Feroy muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He straightened and shot Kai a hard glance. "Lord Arzan, we should kill them. Burn them before they hatch."

Klan nodded fervently. "I agree, my lord. This many? It’s dangerous. We can’t risk it."

Kai remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the eggs. He could feel their mana, dormant but potent, mystical energy waiting to be awakened. His companions stared at him in disbelief as he finally spoke. "No," Kai said quietly but firmly. "We can’t destroy them."

The others blinked, shock flashing across their faces. Even Rhea looked as if Kai asked them to strip on the spot— unreasonable, and downright crazy.

Feroy took a step forward, eyes wide. "What? Are you serious? You want these things alive?"

Kai crossed his arms, unbothered by their reactions. "Yes, I knew there was a chance we’d find these. It was one of the reasons I came here. I suspected the brood mother had laid eggs before it was corrupted."

Rhea furrowed her brow. "But... how could you know they’re not corrupted?"

Kai stepped closer to the eggs, studying them carefully. "Spider eggs take about two years to hatch. Judging by their condition, these were laid before the brood mother was infected. There’s no sign of dark mana in them. They’re pure."

Feroy grimaced. "Even so, Lord Arzan, this is reckless. If they hatch and—"

"They won’t," Kai interrupted. "Not yet. And even when they do, I have a way to tame them."

Feroy’s mouth opened, then closed as he struggled to find words. Finally, he shook his head. "Tame them? Spiders? For what?"

A slow smile tugged at Kai’s lips. "Their webs."

Rhea blinked. "Webs?"

Kai nodded. "Spider silk is one of the most durable and versatile materials we can get our hands on. It’s softer than regular silk but far stronger. We can establish an entirely new industry in Veralt using this. Think of it— garments, armour, ropes— anything made from this silk will be leagues ahead of what’s currently available in Lancephil."

The others exchanged glances, unsure whether to be impressed or horrified.

Klan crossed his arms. "And you plan to tame them how, exactly?"

Kai turned to face the eggs fully now, feeling a flicker of excitement. "Many beasts can be tamed, especially while they’re still in their eggs. It’s all about establishing a bond before they hatch. With spiders, it’s a process of mana exchange. Normally, the brood mother feeds them its mana so they can grow and hatch properly. I’ll be doing something similar and make sure they grow fast enough for me to be able to use their silk."

Klan’s eyes widened in realisation. "That’s why you need the dungeon core..."

"Partially," Kai admitted, rubbing his chin. "But it’s more than that. I want every beast in Vasper Forest to grow stronger, under our control. Not enough to create a threat like the beast wave, but enough that we can harvest them for materials. The creatures here— spiders, arsenic bears, even the hounds— are valuable. We can manage them, hunt them when necessary, and use their resources without overexploiting the forest."

Feroy, still cautious, raised an eyebrow. "So... you want to farm these beasts for resources, Lord Arzan?"

Kai smiled faintly. "Exactly. We’ll monitor their growth, ensuring none of them become too dangerous while benefiting from their rare materials. It’s about balance. Not all creatures in the forest are a threat— some are simply valuable."

The group fell silent as they processed his words. Rhea finally spoke, her voice softer. "So you’re proposing... controlled growth? Like cultivating them?"

Kai nodded. "With the dungeon core powering the forest, we’ll have the perfect environment. In six months, we’ll have spider silk better than anyone else in Lancephil. This forest is a treasure trove if handled correctly."

Klan glanced at the eggs again, his face conflicted but intrigued. "So, they’re not a threat... but an opportunity."

"Exactly," Kai said. "And with time, Veralt won’t just be known for surviving a beast wave— it’ll be the centre of industry and prosperity. Or at least I hope that’s what will happen."

As the weight of his plan sank in, the tension in the air shifted from fear to cautious optimism.

A low, menacing growl cut through the cave, immediately drawing everyone’s attention. The questions and responses about the eggs were momentarily forgotten as they stiffened.

Kai’s eyes snapped to the source of the sound. There, standing a bit far, was a massive duskhound, its fur black as midnight and rippling with power. Its fangs gleamed in the dim light, and its violet eyes glowed with a predatory intensity that made the air feel thick with tension. Muscles tensed beneath its sleek coat, every fibre of its being coiled, ready to strike.

Behind it, three more duskhounds emerged from the shadows, their snarls quieter but no less threatening. They fanned out, forming a pack with the leader at the forefront.

Kai could feel the weight of its presence, the raw mana it exuded. His mind quickly processed its information— Duskhound leader, a grade 3 beast.

"Looks like those hounds from earlier," Kai muttered, his gaze locked on the leader, "were just clearing the path for this one."

The creature lowered its head, growling deeper as it prepared to charge. Feroy instantly stepped forward, his spear half-drawn, muscles tensing for battle. "I’ll intercept it, Lord Arzan," he said through gritted teeth.

Kai raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "No, Feroy. Let me handle it."

Feroy hesitated, glancing at the beast and then back at Kai. "Are you sure? I can definitely handle it. The beast wave allowed me to grow and my abilities can certainly stand against a Grade 3 beast."

"I know," Kai replied, his eyes narrowing. "But I want to test out a few new spells I have been practising."

Kai stepped forward, feeling the heat rise in his chest, mana stirring at his core with a slight pang of tug that he chose to ignore. A surge of power flowed through him as flames began to coil around his hands, crackling with fierce energy. The duskhound leader growled louder, its gaze locking onto him with lethal intent. It bared its teeth, the other hounds following its lead, their dark forms brimming with aggression.

The air between Kai and the leader of the pack seemed to thrum with tension as his flames flared brighter, casting flickering shadows on the cave walls.

"You want a fight?" Kai muttered, the fire swirling and expanding in his palms. "You’ve got one."

***

The sharp crack of a slap echoed through the lavish bedroom as Regina’s hand connected with her son’s face.

Eldric staggered back, his body slamming into the window with a dull thud. Glass rattled, and for a brief moment, his wide eyes reflected a mix of shock and anger. His jaw clenched so hard that it could have broken a tooth or two. But before he looked like he could fully process the strike, Queen Regina grabbed the front of his tunic and yanked him forward, her face a mask of cold fury.

"Do you even realize the magnitude of the fuck-up you’ve caused?" she hissed, her voice low and dangerous, each word dripping with venom.

Eldric blinked, stunned, wanting to touch the skin where her palm had struck. "I—I followed your plan," he stammered, trying to recover his composure.

Regina’s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening as she shoved him back, hitting the glass windows once again. "My plan," she growled, "wasn’t to antagonise someone capable of holding back an entire beast wave. Especially someone like that."

He grimaced, rubbing his jaw where she had struck him. "I didn’t antagonise him. I just wanted a bit of profit. You know the nobles beneath me aren’t the wealthiest. They needed some advantage—"

Her eyes flared with anger. "You don’t need to concern yourself with that!" she snapped, cutting him off. "And you didn’t follow my plan at all. My plan was for Arzan to die because I expected him to. But now, thanks to your foolishness, he’s proven to be much stronger than anyone anticipated. If you even had the slightest inkling of his strength, you should have informed me."

"I didn’t know," Eldric muttered defensively, wiping his lip. "I only found out during the duel. By then, he’d already fled the capital."

Regina slapped him again, her hand striking harder this time, sending his head whipping to the side. "You should have adjusted immediately!" she snarled, towering over him. "Made contingency plans. Adapted. A good king would do that. But you? You did nothing. A fool."

Her breath came in sharp, controlled bursts as she stared at him, eyes flashing with disdain. Slowly, she straightened, her hand lowering as she let out a sigh. "Tell me, Eldric... how strong is he?"

Eldric hesitated, his voice faltering as he searched for words. "I… don’t know for sure," he admitted finally, glancing down. "He defeated Reyk, so he’s likely at least at the adept level."

Regina’s frown deepened. "And the plans for the Heat stones? The mana cannons I keep hearing rumours about— how did he acquire those?"

"I don’t know," Eldric repeated, the admission laced with frustration. Eldric looked like a child once again, without a proper direction, or proper answers.

Regina’s lips curled into a bitter sneer. "Of course you don’t." She turned her back on him, walking toward her ornate dressing table before she stopped and glanced over her shoulder. "Get out of my sight. Go lick your wounds somewhere else. For the next week, you will receive daily lectures on diplomacy and tact. And I don’t want to see your face until you’ve learned something."

Eldric stiffened, glaring at her retreating figure as he slowly turned to leave. His fists were clenched at his sides, and he hesitated at the door, his gaze hardening as he looked back at her, lips parting to say something—anything—to defend himself.

But Regina didn’t turn around. She didn’t need to. Her voice, cold and lethal, rang out before he could speak. "If you dare show me those eyes again, Eldric, I will pluck them out so you can feel a fraction of the pain I’m enduring right now," she said smoothly. "And then I will sew them back in, just so I can take them out again. You won’t like it."

The prince’s face flushed with shame as he muttered a quiet, "Sorry," before bowing and leaving the room. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Queen Regina alone. Silence settled over the chamber, but it did little to calm the storm raging within her.

She stood still for a moment, taking deep, controlled breaths as her heart pounded against her ribcage. The seething anger from her confrontation with Eldric still clawed at her mind, but it was more than just frustration. It was the weight of her crumbling plans, the nagging, ever-present ache of a game gone awry.

With trembling hands, she reached into the drawer of her elegant vanity and pulled out a small vial and syringe. Her eyes flickered, a slight grimace crossing her face as she readied the needle. The sharp prick of the injection brought an almost immediate wave of relief, and she leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly as the familiar warmth spread through her body. Her mental agony dulled and numbed, and for a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to feel... better.

But only for a moment.

Her thoughts quickly returned to Arzan Kellius. He was a problem— the problem. She had calculated everything so carefully, but his survival had thrown her plans into chaos. She needed to get ahead of this before things spiralled further out of control.

Regina snapped her fingers, her voice sharp. "Selwin, come in!"

A young attendant quickly entered, bowing low. "Your Majesty," she greeted, his head still bowed.

"What’s the report from Veridia?" Regina asked, her tone clipped.

"It has not yet arrived, Your Majesty."

Regina’s eyes narrowed. "The assassin didn’t do much work, I see."

Selwin hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. "The reports we’ve received indicate that the assassin is still there, gathering information. They haven’t found an opportunity to eliminate Co— Baron Arzan. And with the count ceremony drawing nobles from all over the kingdom to Veralt, it would be nearly impossible now."

Regina’s frown deepened, and she stood abruptly, pacing back and forth, the hem of her dress brushing against the floor. "My plans... all disrupted by this one variable. It was supposed to go exactly as I envisioned. He should’ve been dead months ago." Her voice grew cold, simmering with contempt. "But that damned witch-blooded Valkyrie’s kin… still filthy, still difficult to kill."

She stopped pacing, her gaze distant as thoughts swirled in her mind. Her lips tightened into a thin line. "Veridia… I don’t even trust her anymore. They’ve had countless chances to finish him, and she failed at every turn. Useless."

Selwin shifted slightly but remained silent, clearly aware of the queen’s volatile temper.

Regina’s hand traced along the edge of the table, eyes flickering with a dark gleam as an idea formed. "It seems," she murmured, "that I will have to change tactics. Play a nice game to finish off Arzan myself."

Selwin looked up at her, cautious but curious. "What are you going to do, Your Majesty?" he asked, knowing that Regina enjoyed the dance of strategy and inquiry.

Regina smiled— a slow, dangerous smile that promised nothing good.

"What am I going to do?" she repeated, her voice a silky purr. "I’ve heard Duke Lucian is fuming these days. He lost the chance I created for him to shine, and the mercenaries he hired… Well, that was a fortune down the drain. Servants at his castle have been disappearing too— no doubt because they’ve crossed him during one of his tantrums." She chuckled lightly, an unsettling sound in the quiet room. "It’s always amusing, using him as a pawn."

The queen tapped her fingers against the table, her mind already racing ahead. "He’s already eager to finish off his brother. We just need to give him the perfect nudge. I can’t trust the tower anymore, not after all that’s happened. So I’ll send some people of my own. Our kingdom hasn’t seen a good fief war in two decades. It’s about time for some excitement, wouldn’t you say? Even the gossip has been dull."

Selwin looked visibly shocked, eyes wide. "But, Your Majesty, a fief war requires justification. Lord Arzan is seen as a hero after holding back the beast wave. He’s becoming a rising noble, and many are drawn to his reputation. Even the commoners admire him for standing his ground."

Regina nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as if savouring the complexity of the situation.

"I’m well aware of that. His reputation will make this tricky, but reputations in this world are fragile, and easily tainted. It doesn’t take much to stain them with a few well-placed rumours or incidents. A single dark spot can give someone like Lucian all the justification he needs to march in and ’slay’ his brother."

She paused and thought for a moment, her voice growing colder. "If Lucian fails— and he very well might— then my people will be there to finish the job. They’re currently occupied in Vanderfall, but they’ll return soon."

Selwin swallowed nervously but nodded. "I will send the letters immediately, Your Majesty."

Regina waved a hand dismissively, her gaze drifting toward the large window. "Go. Ensure everything is in motion."

As Selwin quickly departed, Regina remained seated, her eyes lifting toward the moon hanging in the sky. Its pale light bathed her in a cold glow, matching the icy determination settling within her.

She didn’t just want Arzan dead— she wanted to see him crumble first, to fall from grace so spectacularly that even those who admired him would turn away in disgust. And then, when the timing was perfect, she would strike.