"He's concerned about your progress and told me to watch you closely. He's also worried that your allegiance might waiver if you grow into your fullest potential," Karak gurgled, but Athar could only shake his head in disbelief. "After over two decades, that bastard still doubts my allegiance? Even after everything I've had to go through?" he seethed.
"His concern is real enough, it would seem," Karak snickered just before being thrown to the ground. "Take me to him," Athar glared at the creature. "He's busy right now. He's preparing to make his move under the Great One's command," Karak spat, a few broken teeth clattering on the ground in front of him, coated in black blood.
Athar squatted before the daemon, causing it to scurry backward in fear. "Do I look like I'm the mood to give a shit, daemon? Take me to him, now. Otherwise, I'll headbutt you again and again until your teeth are coming out of your asshole," he said coldly. Karak glared at him for a moment, but eventually relented. "Fine, I'll take you to him, but don't expect a warm welcome," the daemon sighed as he returned to his feet.
Karak led him down the halls to find the Masked One in the room where he first encountered the addia and the ochelon. "My lord," Athar called out, trying to hide most of his anger. The Masked One was standing in front of yet another ochelon's cage, much smaller than the royal ochelon whose soul he had absorbed before. He appeared to be talking to it, in its language of grunts and snorts.
"I know why you're here, Athar, and I hope you will understand why I think the way I do," he said without turning around, following the sound of Athar's footsteps as he approached.
"After all these years, you still doubt my allegiance to you? How could you? I've given you everything I had to give. My service, time, life. All of it! Even though you know I hate how you've treated me, I still haven't betrayed you, and I won't, either!" Athar shouted.
"Not yet," the Masked One said curtly, his eyes flaring mildly. "What the hell do you mean by that, my lord?" he seethed. The mage stopped what he was doing, waving the creatures before him off to the side as he turned around. "I have taken you in, fed and clothed you, given you a home, and yet you still don't understand how much I've had to sacrifice for you to be here. Do you even know why I sent Karak to watch you?" he stepped forward, his eyes shining brightly with violet mana as a dark aura enveloped him.
Athar stepped away, his eyes widening in fear of whatever came next.
"Do you have any idea what trouble it's been to rid the knowledge of your existence from the world, or what I've had to do to get to this point?" the mage snarled. "N-No, my lord," Athar stammered. "Of course, because I only tell you what you need to know, but I guess now is as good a time as any to put you in your fucking place, Athar Wishert," the mage's dark aura flared.
Wishert? Like Truls Wishert of Coltend? No, it's impossible, Athar considered, as a sinking feeling writhed in his stomach.
"Oh, no, no, no. It's not only possible, but a fact. Your bloodline, your heritage, is that of kings. I've done everything in my power to prevent you from being discovered and, consequently, killed. You, however, chose to be an ungrateful little shit and dare to question my putting Karak to watch you closely while you grew into your newfound abilities," the Masked One continued walking forward.
"But why? What's the big deal if I'm a bastard?" Athar asked, summoning what little courage he had. "I didn't fully understand it myself until just before I found you, but your bloodline, your trueheritage, is dangerous. Far more dangerous than anything I would challenge on my own," the mage averted his gaze, lowering his tone.
"I might now know a much fuller extent of your past, but there are still things even I cannot tell you for now. For that reason, you had to be placed under a careful eye. One that was, apparently, not careful enough," he continued, glaring at Karak while Athar's features were riddled with confusion.
"There is no use in fighting back now, Athar. There is still much for you to learn and do, but I do not have the time to argue with an insolent child who needs careful observation," he continued.
He's right, I won't fight back, but I need to stand my ground if I'm going to learn more about my past, he thought, conjuring a small barrier of mana to scramble his thoughts while mustering his courage to speak.
"I cannot and will not do anything against you, my lord. I might hate how you treated me for all those years, but you have given me knowledge and opened my eyes to mana. I can't betray you for that debt, even if I wanted to," his tone firm and as confident as he could manage under the aura's pressure.
The Masked One tilted his head in curiosity and regarded him curiously. "Do you swear to that?" he asked calmly, prompting Athar to swallow dryly. "I-I do, my lord. The only thing I will ask for is the power to uphold that vow," he dropped to a knee. The mage reduced the aura of violet mana and held out a hand toward him.
"I'm glad you were able to recognize that I'm not putting you under observation out of hatred, but trying to protect you, instead," he said, helping Athar to his feet. Athar's eyes opened widely in surprise to hear the words coming from his cold-hearted master. "What do you mean protect me? From what, exactly, my lord?" he raised an eyebrow.
"The very thing I found hidden within your core," the Masked One said with a darkened tone.