Rayleigh...
Her name kept echoing in my mind. It must've carried significant weight in Luden's life.
We took a fancy-looking carriage from the school grounds to the castle gates. They made sure to minimize my exposure to the public. Our escort warned Rayleigh that allowing a Banshee to set foot on university grounds was highly irresponsible.
As she's a noble herself... and has a reputation to uphold...
But her reasoning explained that it was her way to show the masses that I mean no harm—though at the same time, it could've cost me my life.
How reckless...
We stood before the throne room's gates, our feet resting on a crimson carpet.
The doors had an imposing design—intricate patterns carved into rich red wood. Inside the vast hall, rows of golden pillars lined the royal space.
Expensive vases, numerous paintings by famous artists, indoor plants, and prominent lion statues made of gold.
Fitting for a king...
Yet during the ride, I saw signs of unexpected technology—steam trains and vintage cars.
...it felt like London...
...Huh...
...London? Why do I know that?
But that was the first word that came to mind, when I tried to describe it...
Sigh—
...Best to let it go for now...
The castle was nothing extraordinary, it had a lot of yellow banners hanging from various gates: holding the symbol of lions, it is called Leon kingdom, after all.
An interesting fact: nobles are more respected when using living beings as a means of transport.
It makes sense...
...I guess?...
But... I can't quite keep my nerves calm. I'm still surrounded by these three-robed figures, they're called inquisitors.
They could kill me at any time...
The grip on my wand was tight, but Rayleigh encouraged me to loosen it, as it could be mistaken for signs of aggression.
I don't blame them—it's fine to be extra cautious against the nonhuman.
But as weak as I am right now, I'm unarmed.
---
Rayleigh and I stand next to each other, both mentally preparing for the upcoming ordeal with the king...
"I'll do my best, Lud. And thank you," she said.
"Thank me? For what?"
"For trusting me—and coming here, even knowing the risks."
"Be honest… was I stubborn when you asked me to come?" It's never too late to dig for a little more information.
"…Yes, Lud. You were stubborn," she admitted, giving me a cautious glance. She seemed unsure why I was asking in the first place.
"I'm sorry if I was difficult," I said.
"…What?" She was in disbelief, genuinely caught off guard by my apologetic nature.
I shouldn't have said anything...
I'm terrible at pretending to be someone I'm not...
---
Then the inquisitors opened the royal doors. Beyond them, the King awaited.
His expression was... intimidating...
The aged King had blonde hair with an impeccable beard, and he wore his opulent golden crown.
With his massive frame, he leaned slightly forward on the throne, His elbows rested on his knees, hands hanging loosely between them, looking at me dead in the eye...
Deep breaths—
Stay calm—
His majesty wore a fully dark golden armor, and I don't understand—what was the point of wearing such armor, was he anticipating a battle?
"Your Highness, I have brought the banshee and Lady Rayleigh before you," one of the inquisitors said before positioning beside his majesty on the throne.
---
There weren't many people here—just us and his majesty.
---
» [WARNING]: Be cautious, there may be multiple entities surrounding the throne room.
I could hear it...
Faint voices beyond the throne room walls.
System who are these people?
» [SYSTEM]: Player, it's most likely other nobles that are curious about your existence, or worse—more inquisitors.
I see, but shouldn't the king make sure that this conversation happens in private?
» Negative, Nobles want to dictate and lay judgment on the king's future decisions regarding you, be careful... player....
I see. They're that afraid of me.
We walked closer. I tried my best to be formal. Rayleigh looked like she was used to this, her walk was sophisticated and elegant.
This is it.
A banshee standing before the King himself.
And...
» [WARNING]: The King is testing you.
I felt... pressure.
I bow down, on my knees, instinctively.
Rayleigh followed—
"Your Highness, this is Luden V. Augustine—the Banshee who saved my life during the Karthalem invasion seven years ago," Rayleigh announced.
Seven years? She's known Luden for that long?
But…
What is this overwhelming power?
» [WARNING]: The King's mere presence exerts crushing pressure on low-level beings he deems enemies…
It's suffocating…
An invisible weight bore down on me like a collapsing mountain.
Rayleigh noticed my situation—she gave me a knowing look, the look telling me to endure...
---
"Rayleigh, how long has it been since I last saw you? You were just a kid in my memory, and now, you've grown to resemble your mother," the King said. "But it breaks my heart to see you associating with this... demon."
His majesty's voice was commanding, carried by a deep masculine voice, fitting for a leader.
But the King despised me, calling me a demon. How was I supposed to get out of this situation?
"Out of respect for Leonard, your father: I listened to your plea." he continued. "I stayed my hand. I gave this banshee a private audience."
"You say he'll be a great asset to the kingdom. That he could help us conquer the Tower."
The king narrowed his eyes, judging me for the being I am...
His tolerance of me was limited...
"But now that he's standing in front of me, all I see is a weak—and pathetic, pale ghost."
"—Waiting to be exorcised."
---
System...
If you don't help me now… I'm going to die here...
» [SYSTEM]: … Player, hold. Now is not the time to speak. Wait for the right opportunity...
Tch...
Fine. I'll figure something out myself...
---
"Your Highness, with all due respect—Luden is more than capable if you give him a chance. He hasn't harmed a single human upon entering our kingdom, nor has he devoured a single soul in the seven years I've known him."
"A Banshee that hasn't consumed a single soul in seven years? Hard to believe. But go on, Rayleigh—" The King… must have had some respect for her. He let her continue speaking.
"Yes, Your Highness—"
"Having a banshee on our side might give us a critical edge against the Vaxians. Luden can attack sanity directly. He could become a valuable asset in the race to the peak of the Tower," Rayleigh spoke with a measured, cautious tone...
Witnessing her like this...
So much effort… just how much did she care about the original Luden?
Vaxians—that word made my head throb. It felt familiar, like something I'd heard before.
Seven years… That's a long time. And clearly, there's a lot I still don't understand.
» [WARNING]: Potential trigger for a corrupted memory detected. Player, proceed with caution when listening—
What are you even talking about...?
» 180/180 ↓ — 176/180 ↓
My Sanity dropped?!!
How?!!
» [SYSTEM]: Player, direct your focus to the King—
Tch...
This is way too much...
---
The King leaned back in his throne before speaking, as though taking a moment to fully grasp Rayleigh's explanation.
Giving her a fair chance...
"Rayleigh, what you said has its merits. But you're ignoring one glaring problem…"
"What are the chances that he's a spy? From the Karthalem? And you're proposing that we train him? The chances of betrayal can't be dismissed, not knowing the nature of the banshee race."
"And if we train him and he becomes too powerful, the destruction he could unleash would be catastrophic if he ever turned on us. We all know how devastating the Banshee Queen was to our kind—we cannot allow history to repeat itself."
"Have you thought about that, Rayleigh?" The King's words were blunt, but grounded in reason.
Rayleigh lowered her gaze upon the mention of the banshee queen, it is clear that she does not argue against that.
On the other hand, I felt fear—upon hearing it.
» 176/180 ↓ — 166/180 ↓
The words—Banshee Queen… Why do they stir such a strong reaction in me?
It's connected to Luden...
My hands, still pressed against the ground as I struggled beneath the King's overwhelming presence, ached to cover my ears. But I couldn't move.
---
"You put too much faith in this banshee, Rayleigh. Not everyone here can share that trust, knowing the damage his kind has caused us."
Rayleigh… she wasn't saying anything. Was she nervous, deep down?
But just moments ago, she seemed calm and composed…
"What would the other families think? The elves? The beastmen? What will they say when they learn we've let a banshee into our kingdom?"
Rayleigh's heart was heavy.
She searched every corner of her mind—for the right reasoning, the right words, the right sentence, to prevent my execution.
"Your Highness, I understand the risk of allowing a banshee into human society and the damage the banshee queen has caused..."
She stood up, her right hand on her heart, this was her oath...
"And... if he ever shows any sign of betrayal, I vow that it will be my responsibility to kill him. And as punishment, if that day ever comes... I'll gladly accept execution without hesitation."
So much conviction in her voice. She's adamant about protecting me.
That she'd go so far as to put her own life on the line…
"You'd go that far for this Banshee, Rayleigh?" The King sounded torn between astonishment and disbelief at her words.
But what would happen if she ever discovered that the Luden she knew… had been replaced by me?
---
"I admire your words, Rayleigh, but conviction alone isn't enough to justify such a gamble," the King said.
"And why should I let that Banshee walk free?"
One of the inquisitors leaned in and whispered something into the King's ear.
A message from the nobles beyond the throne room walls... He looked conflicted—he wanted to hear more from Rayleigh, but he knew the nobles outside were listening. And some of them were already displeased with how he was handling this.
"Ahem— This banshee is to be executed, here and now."
"Please, Your Highness! He won't do any harm! Please, just give him a chance!" I saw Rayleigh's pleading as one of the inquisitors escorted her out of the throne room.
» [SYSTEM]: Player, take action—
» Player?
» ...?
---
"Rayleigh, you have a bright future ahead of you, do not ruin it for this banshee—" the king said. And Rayleigh could only obey as she too knows to not drag her family name into the mud.
That would be far too selfish on her part...
"This banshee, all this time he's been here, has remained silent, letting the maiden speak for him."
Shut up—
"The news of you walking free on Orlan University sickened me, upon any other circumstances we would've eliminated you there."
The king stood up, exclaiming:
"You have the nerve and courage to stand before me, and yet you haven't spoken a single word?!"
---
» [WARNING]: PLAYER TAKE ACTION—
I'm not Luden, even with my fragmented memories, I never once played a cycle as any race other than human. I'm sure of that.
What can I possibly say to a king who already wants me dead?
?!!!
The inquisitors closed in around me, their ornate golden knives pointed at my neck.
I could feel it—those blades were imbued with holy damage…
My weakness... But I couldn't care, I despise the color of gold...
That color makes me puke...
---
"Banshee—" the king, spoke softly.
"If word spreads that I let a banshee stand in this hall without striking him down... I'll be branded a heretic—"
"Your next words will dictate your fate."
I could just die here and rerun. The system will give me the chance to finally make a new character, right?
Or better yet... at least start as a human...
But Rayleigh… I saw her crying as she neared the throne room's doors.
She looked at me with her eyes filled with guilt and sorrow.
Even though she was willing to go this far for me… she wasn't willing to stand against her own race.
I don't blame her.
She must be thinking this is her fault—that she got me killed.
That she never should've brought me here in the first place.
---
» [SYSTEM]: Alert—Memory collision detected...
She shouldn't have sworn to help me climb the Tower… to tie my fate to hers in pursuit of her own goals.
To conquer Babel...
...And to grant me the power to let the living meet the dead once more...
---
» [SYSTEM]: Initiating...
» [NOTICE]: A flashback of images, like an old news TV, between the flickers were countless corpses, mostly men. A woman's manic static laughter echoed.
"Run, Luden~ Run~" That voice—it was hers. The same woman who laughed.
I saw myself sprinting down the hallway of a melancholic mansion…
But these…
These aren't my memories.
» [SYSTEM]: You are witnessing the memories of the original Luden.
» His body and soul are crying out...
» Begging you to save Rayleigh…
Chapter End.