Supreme Magus

Chapter 4504: Poison in the Family (Part 2)

’Mom is aware I might not be her true son, yet she doesn’t care.’ He clenched his teeth. ’Her behavior towards me hasn’t changed one bit after she learned I’m part Abomination. Her love is as unwavering as my spite.

’Even after Trion did everything I asked, even after my black chains confirmed that his change of heart is not a façade, I can barely bring myself to tolerate him. Mom is right. Trion’s days with us are numbered.

’He promised to stay until Meln is dead, but that means nothing. The moment his rage fades, or his attachment to our family falters, his connection with my black chains will break, and his soul will move on.

’Kami suggested that I help my Demons make new good memories if I want to keep them by my side, yet I keep treating Trion like dirt. Maybe it’s too late for us. Maybe we’ll never be close brothers, but we can be civil.

’He was scum to me, but he can be a good uncle for my children and a positive influence for Rena’s. The grudge between us can’t poison our little ones. Not anymore.’

Lith took a deep breath and did one of the hardest things in the world for him. He let go of his shared past with Trion.

He didn’t forgive or forget what his older brother had done or how he had treated their parents. Those things would never go away, but now they didn’t influence Lith’s behavior or how he treated Trion unless he made them relevant again.

’This is your second chance with me, big brother.’ Lith said via the black chains, and the surprise almost sent Trion spinning in midair. ’Be careful. There won’t be a third.’

***

Lith invited Baba Yaga over in the afternoon to practice tier four Dread Magic together. There was still a long way to go before mixing a normal and a Cursed Element, but the closer they got to success, the more Lith itched to apply Void Magic to Dread Magic.

"What is Solus doing, if you don’t mind me asking?" The Mother had to take a short break from her practice to let her charred arms regenerate.

"Practicing with her other forms." Lith replied as he failed to weave the earth and the Cinder element together.

His attempt to create a half-Dread version of Raging Sun resulted in a mass of burnt soil that exploded in his face with annoying consequences.

"She’s focusing on the Indech, moving on to experimenting on the other two when she gets sick of Swirling Wind."

"Establishing solid foundations is as important as it’s mind-numbing." Baba Yaga thought about her Dread Magic exercises and how boring their practice was. "What about Zoreth? It’s been a while since you gave me any news about her."

"I don’t know." Lith shrugged. "I haven’t heard from her in a while ei-"

A sudden pull at his consciousness drew him to his Council amulet. Before answering, he performed a head count with the Watchtower and checked everyone’s position.

"This is the first time you’ve ever called me, Lotho." Lith said as the hologram of the Plant Representative towered over him. "This must be important, or you’d have sent Raagu ahead."

"It’s very important." The Treant looked like a massive oak tree that had somehow developed thick legs and arms that could easily crush a bull like a fly. "This is a very delicate matter, and it requires the utmost discretion.

"I know we don’t like or trust each other much, Verhen, but I can’t afford anyone learning about this conversation. Are you alone?"

"Yes." Lith lied through his teeth, leaving the Mother where she was and Warping Solus by her side. "I’m in one of my secret labs. Now, tell me what this is about."

"I..." Lotho’s amber eyes looked around like a trapped animal searching for a way out. "Gods, this is so embarrassing that I don’t know how to say it."

Plant folks and Fae had barely any morality and could easily be classified as sociopaths according to human standards. Seeing an ancient Fae like Lotho so flustered was beyond unsettling.

’This guy would be able to tell me about how he ate his brother alive while inviting me to discuss business over dinner. Calling whatever this is, delicate, is an understatement.’ Lith thought.

"Are you in love with my sister, Tista?" He asked, trying to guess the source of Lotho’s distress.

"No!" The quick and disgusted reply brooked no further argument. "Yet with your stupid human reasoning you’ve gotten very close to the truth. This is about your family, but not in the way you think."

"Then you better speak clearly and quickly, or I’ll interpret your words as a threat and deal with you accordingly." Lith snarled.

"Great Mother Almighty, I’m sorry. I’m so out of my mind that I didn’t realize how weird I made it sound." Lotho’s apology sent a cold shiver down Lith’s spine.

Powerful creatures rarely apologized, and Fae never did.

"I’m not threatening you. I called you to ask for your help on behalf of a member of my clan. A female member of my clan." Lotho said, pausing for a long, awkward moment before adding. "A stupid, arrogant Fae who sided with Meln."

"What did you say?" Lith’s voice lowered to a whisper, but it was as cold as ice and as sharp as steel.

"I won’t even try to excuse her actions, but please, listen to me until the end." Lotho said, and Lith nodded for him to continue. "This Fae temporarily joined the Dead King’s side, but not as you might think.

"She didn’t take his blood, didn’t take part in any of his crazy plans, nor was she aware of any of them. She did what I assume many Fae have tried to do to you. Get inside your bed to receive the power of your bloodline straight from the source."

"She slept with him?" Lith was flabbergasted.

"Yes, her plan was quite ingenious." Lotho nodded. "She pretended to give a damn about him and got pregnant with his child. She knew that to become an Upyr, she would have needed regular injections of Meln’s blood and assumed that the baby’s blood would work just the same.

"She was right. As soon as she confirmed the pregnancy, she escaped the Dead King’s fortress at the first opportunity. She returned to her family offering her newfound powers and the might of a Divine Beast in exchange for their forgiveness."

"Are you talking about her or her baby?" Lith asked. "Also, did they take her back?"

"I’m talking about both." Lotho replied. "And of course, her clan took her back. She was now a powerful hybrid, and her son was supposed to grow into a Vurdalak. With all the bloodline abilities of his deranged father and none of his madness, the boy gave any member of the clan the chance to become a Divine Beast if they so desired.

"I know that you consider us Fae heartless monsters, but I doubt many clans would have turned down such an offer, no matter the woman’s race of origin."

"Sadly, I agree." Lith nodded. "Why didn’t you tell me about her sooner, and why are you talking in the past tense?"