Prime Originator

Zorbek didn't chase after Lilith but waited for the palace guard's arrival. They had all be startled by the sudden call, but within moments, they had all appeared in front of their captain.

Although they didn't understand what was going on and had questioning looks, they asked, "What are your orders, Captain!?"

"The beast girl plotted to assassinate the prince with the sword she stole from me. Luckily, I discovered in time and managed to stop her, but she managed to escape! Quickly go capture her! Dead or alive!" Zorbek commanded.

'What!'

The palace guards were easily roused in anger. Just when they were beginning to trust that beastkin, the person attempted to kill their prince!? That was the same as trying to kill all of them!

Half the palace guards immediately complied and gave chase after Lilith, who had already escaped with the steel sword. She didn't have a weapon and since Zorbek was so gracious as to bestow her one, she wasn't going to toss it back. She needed a weapon to defend herself.

Meanwhile, the other half didn't move immediately. Suspicion and doubts hung over their faces.

How did the beast girl even manage to steal the sword from their captain? What would she gain from killing their prince? No matter how they thought about it, she doesn't stand to gain anything from doing so.

However, the shelved the thoughts to the back of their minds. The more important thing to worry about was the condition of their prince.

"Where is his Highness?" They asked.

"The prince has been swallowed by this building after receiving a stab. His condition is currently unknown. I will stay here and find a way to get his Highness out. The rest of you should quickly give chase. Don't let the person escape." Zorbek said sternly.

The palace guards frowned but complied. Orders were orders.

"Yes, Captain."

"Wait."

Zorbek suddenly said.

"Yes, Captain?"

The palace guards paused their steps.

Zorbek pointed at them and said, "I don't have a weapon. One of you, pass me yours."

One of the palace guards volunteered and offered his sword to Zorbek, before they all left. Few had offered to stay, but Zorbek rejected.

With only Zorbek left behind in front of the sealed entrance of the inheritance building, he reverted back to a cold person and began studying the entrance.

'The brat seemed to have placed his hand here before he disappeared…' Zorbek mused as he glanced at a specific runic plate.

Gripping the new sword, Zorbek placed his hand on the runic plate and pushed!

However, nothing happened. The runic plate had already lost its glow and was devoid of power. The entire inheritance building had reverted to its previous lifeless state like nothing had ever happened.

Zorbek's expression turned ugly and pushed several more times. His efforts were futile.

"Shit!"

He cursed and hacked the building anger with all his strength, but no damage was caused to building whatsoever. Not even a white scratch. In fact, it seemed like it was the sword that got chipped instead.

…

Lilith was distressed while she was fleeing the scene. There was nowhere to run. She obviously couldn't leave the elder tree's protection and fight her way through the ants by herself nor could she stay. She would have to confront the palace guards.

Although she didn't fear a one on one with any of the palace guards, if they all come at her, she still wouldn't stand. In the end, her best bet was the treants as she made her way to Elder Evergreen's dwelling.

No one could communicate with the treants in the ancient tongue other than Leon. She could only do her best to convey her message across with hand gestures.

Elder Evergreen was awoken and baffled when the girl barged into his home and started making a bunch of gestures. It didn't take long before his home became livelier as the palace guards arrived and started spewing a bunch of words.

He didn't understand what they were talking about, but it seemed like they wanted to harm the girl and it became apparent to him that the girl sought him for protection.

Since that was the case, he would not allow any harm to befall her before he fully understood the situation and the best way to understand the situation was to seek the boy.

The old treant stood in front of Lilith and shielded her, while the palace guards back off slightly as they were intimidated by Elder Evergreen's pressure.

Elder Evergreen might have had his Transcendental powers sealed; it was not lost. His body was more powerful than any other treants and a slap from him would end them.

When he took a step forward, the palace guards took a step back in fear. They glanced at each other with dismay.

What should they do?

When the prince met up with them, the prince didn't say much but he did mention establishing an alliance with the treants. If that was the case, they shouldn't attack their allies, but they also couldn't let the girl go after harming their prince. They were stuck in a dilemma.

In the end, they could only follow the old treant from a distance as Elder Evergreen brought Lilith with him back to the back of the village to seek the boy.

Seeing everyone returning with the beast girl still in one piece, Zorbek's expression turned dark at once.

"Why haven't you killed the beast that harmed his Highness!?"

"The beast girl is protected by the old Treant, Captain!"

The palace guards answered when the captain barked at him.

'These useless guards!'

Zorbek secretly gnashed teeth. He drew his sword and charged at Lilith.

Elder Evergreen frowned at this and swatted the person flying with a pa!

Zorbek's body drew an arc through the air before landing with a thud some 30-odd yards. Zorbek got back up with a cooled head and glanced at the large dent on his armor, before glancing back at the old Treant warily while cold sweat began to form.

Lilith looked on with smugness before a light bulb lit up in her head. Clearly, the person was anxious to silence witnesses. She should take this time to expose the culprit since the palace guards weren't attacking her and had time to think when their heads are cooled.

"You all shouldn't be pointing your swords at me. The one who harmed your prince is him!" Lilith pointed.

"Nonsense! Do you think my men will believe you? What reason do I, a human subject under the Crawford sovereignty have to harm a Crawford royalty, that you, a beast don't?"

Her claim was immediately refuted furiously by Zorbek. The palace guards quickly joined and jeered at her.

"Like we will believe you when the captain's sword is in your hand!"

"Yeah! The captain told us you stole his sword to kill our prince!"

"Do you think you can commit such treachery and push the blame on our captain that we've known for years?

"Do you seriously treat us like idiots!?"

Although Lilith was aggrieved, she did not lose her temper. Anger would not help her. She had to remain calm.

"Does it even make sense that I am able to steal your captain's sword from right under his nose when it is strapped to his side at all times? Had it never crossed your minds that your captain passed the sword to me so he can frame me after I witnessed his transgression against your prince?" Lilith questioned them calmly.

The palace guard who refuted with whether she was treating them like idiots immediately kept mum. His face burned, while the rest kept silent and ruminated over her words. Although they didn't believe, her words did make sense and voiced a few doubts they had.

Sensing that his men were being swayed by Lilith's words, Zorbek angrily barked, "What the hell are you all doing!? Don't let her words sway you! Have you forgotten who I am? I am your captain for god's sake!"

The palace guards glanced back and forth between the two sides helplessly. This was a problematic situation. If only their prince was present to clarify who the culprit that attacked him was.

Elder Evergreen picked a spot and sat down in a casual yet domineering way. He didn't say anything, and neither would they understand, but his meaning was clear through his body language. He was going to sit there and wait for their prince to come out.

Elder Evergreen had faintly guessed that the boy already went inside the inheritance building when he couldn't find the boy at the site.

"Pardon our insubordination, Captain, but we are unable to listen to any of your commands from this point onwards until his Highness's situation is made known and the real culprit is determined." A palace guard said.

Zorbek almost exploded on the spot as his already ugly expression went from bad to worse. As he thought, assassins and spies only have one chance. Once they fail, it was hard to avoid death.

However, he didn't plan on waiting for death. He didn't doubt that the prince would survive his sword strike he missed the heart and the prince was known for his miraculous medicines. Once the prince exits the buildings, it would be the end of him. He had to escape.

Zorbek forced himself to remain calm and said, "That's fine. You will all know once his Highness comes out. However, we all can't be waiting here. We still have a job to do. Who will follow me in opening up the path to the surface?"

The palace guards thought for a moment and agreed. They didn't want to push their captain too far.

Shortly after, three-quarters of the palace guards immediately followed Zorbek to continue their job, while the rest stayed to watch the beast girl and wait for the prince's return. Lilith didn't add anything and just watch them leave. The fewer people present, the less pressure on her.

Among the 15 palace guards that followed Zorbek, not every one of them followed him because they believe in him, but because his words rang true. They had a job to do. However, there were some that followed in order to monitor Zorbek. If their captain was truly the culprit and was finding an opportunity to escape.

They would never let him get away for harming their prince even if he was their captain! They would rather abandon brotherly sentiments than face the queen's wrath, not to mention that their captain might not give a shit about their so-called brotherly sentiments at all if he truly was the culprit!

If so, why would they spare him!? Oh, you tried to screw us over, but we will let you go because we've known you for years? Fuck that!