The Iron Maiden

Part 19

Since his territory was small. The number of knights that he had was quickly depleted from the Invasion. Ordinarily, that would immediately mean a surrender but the Black knight's pride didn't allow him to experience defeat

So the women, the children, the elderly, every living being that he could find in his domain was sent off to the battlefield. Everything, until his territory, became devoided of life itself.

Up until the end, he fought to protect the baron wasteland that he had

"This card could mean a variety of things, But the general gist of it is that you are quite the egotistical fellow. You follow only on what your heart desires, without stopping or caring for those around you. You see weakness as a bad thing, and you force yourself to be the best at everything...Be careful...That attitude could very well lead to your downfall..."

"...That's..."

The lady couldn't have said it better, was what Lia had thought

And true to what she had said, Raidens pride did lead to his downfall in the novel

Seeing Raidens Expression, The old lady assured him

"Oh but don't worry. The Arcana is only a tool to find out the bad side of our fate. It's only the first side of the coin"

Saying this she moves that card to the side and said

"Now for the second part, Your hand please"

After Lia heard this, She Initiated herself into combat mode and signaled for the surrounding knights to prepare to engage.

Raiden noticed for a moment the animosity that was in the air but quickly ignored it, he had correctly guessed that it belonged to their knights

The old lady on the other hand had her cloak cover her entire face, so one couldn't really see her expression

Raiden slowly placed his hands into the old lady's fragile and shaking hand. A moment of silence followed before the old lady looked directly into his eyes and said

"Ohoho...That's Amusing..."

"What is?"

"....Your fate...My visions are telling me that It won't be long till you find the true solution to that problem that has been brewing inside your heart..."

"...By problem, you mean?"

"Your weakness..."

Raiden's eyes widened as he tightly clenched his fist

Lia could already guess the thoughts that were coursing in his mind. Figuring that her master didn't need to hear anymore, she was about to encourage her master to leave, but before she could do so he showed a sad smile and said

"...I see...Thank you, Granny"

He sounded sarcastic, but a part of Lia believed that his thanks were genuine

"No problem...And don't take what this old lady says too seriously, you hear me? This is just an old hobby that I like to do after all"

The old lady let out a smile as both of them chuckled. It was quite strange, For Lia, the sight of her master just smiling casually like this at a total stranger was enough to send alarms at her head

"Kill her..."

Before Lia could process what the old lady had said, her body had already moved

She nimbly dodged the sword that was about to cleave her head and quickly moved backward

'What?!... This is...'

Her mind was in a disarray. The sudden action of her master swinging at her caught her off guard for an instant. But once she finally realized the situation, she quickly Inhaled as much air as she possibly could and shouted