Corvus held up his hand, silencing the returned party just before they got their chance to ask their burning questions, Erik was left with his mouth hanging open in the middle of forming his sentence.

The cloaked Lord titled his head to the side, almost like he was listening to something whispering in his ear, before letting out an annoyed grumble and turning his attention back to the gathered members of his group.

"Not here. We need somewhere with less ears. I'll send someone for the rescued civilians, the rest of you come with me. Oh, and you too."

He pointed to Ophelia, which garnered a few odd looks from the group, but he simply ignored them as he turned on his heels and headed inside. The Dragon was the first to follow, almost seeming like a loyal partner, if not for the annoyed expression on her face. But that simply spawned even more fantasies, mainly revolving around the word 'Tsundere.'

As they strode through the corridors of the castle, Erik couldn't help but raise the question that was on all of their minds.

"Sir... I get why we might move to somewhere private, but why are we bringing this woman along? No offence to you, of course."

He gave a half-hearted smile towards Ophelia, before turning back towards his Lord, hanging on the silence before his answer.

"Because she will be important when it comes to information on the Lightbringer."

"Lightbringer... The one the beast's called the Human God. But... How do you know about him sir, and what has he got to do with anything?"

"How I know, Well that will be answered in due time. As for your other question, it seems we are not the only ones making movements. Lightbringer has already sent some of his people to us, to spread fear and dissent.

It's not entirely impossible that he has not implanted spies within our city."

"Spies..."

Erik's voice trailed off before he not so subtly glanced over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes in Seth's direction. A look that Seth would have to be blind not to notice, and he wasn't stupid enough to not understand the reason for it.

He had more than a few incidents on their latest trip that went against his usual role of harmless butler to their Lord.

Eventually, he led them into the throne room, named primarily as such because of the Throne that was inside of it, funnily enough.

It was a large chamber that was currently empty, and which they often used for meetings such as this. Aside from the namesake throne, there was also a long table and a collection of chairs around its edge, more than double the amount than they currently had in attendance.

Corvus sat in the large, slightly garish throne that was at the head of the table, as the rest of the members of the ground spilled into the chairs on either side of the table. The seat to his right seemed to be unanimously reserved for Astra, as everyone avoided it without a word exchanged between them, while the dragon plopped herself into the chair to his left. Although he was sure she would have preferred the throne for herself.

The only one left standing was Seth's real body, which activated a runic circle beside the door, which took the form of a starry constellation. Once he confirmed what he was looking for, Seth approached the table and, instead of sitting, stood behind Corvus' throne with his arms behind his back like a good servant.

Once they were all settled, Corvus leaned back in his ornate chair and gestured towards the seated members.

"Now, You must have your questions. The room is secure, so feel free to ask. It is time for me to be utterly transparent with you."

They exchanged looks, having a silent conversation with each other over which questions to ask and in which order. As Corvus leaned back, steepling his fingers, it was the cunning Fox who took the initiative.

"You said we had been infiltrated, what made you say that?"

"I'm sure you'll hear about it soon enough, but while you were arriving we had an incident. By one of the gates, a man stumbled through, injured and screaming like a madman. He was later identified as one of a larger hunting group, a hunting group that were massacred on camera for many to see.

We are still gathering information on the perpetrator, but we know for certain that allowing a survivor to get away was intentional. This survivor screamed and shouted of the Lightbringer, spreading fear throughout the city, as well as spreading Lightbringer's name.

I can only assume this is the first of many moves. This has planted the seed, and if he truly wants to be seen as a god, then he will undoubtedly send some more to water those seeds until they bloom into a new belief. Does that sound about right to you?"

He directed the final question to Ophelia, who perked up in surprise that she was being addressed before nodding quickly.

"Yes, that's how he operates. People who are afraid are more eager to find something to cling to. He conquered places in the north in the same way. First he spreads fear, then he sends in his prophets to spread his message.

Love for those that follow, and death for the sinners who rebel. Then when they are ripe, he descends himself and carries out the words of his message. Many have tried to stand up to him, but all fell before him."

Grim expressions painted the faces of those who listened, all except for one. Erik was clenching his fists tight, looking more angry than grim from the news. Everything he was hearing was simply exasserbating the feelings churning within him.

When the conversation lulled, he leapt at the chance to speak before he could be interupted again.

"Sir, you may not know this but your assistant seems to know this 'Lightbringer'. Not only that, but he implied that they were in possession of the objects we were in search of. A convenient revelation he made on a so-called hunch, right after we encountered this woman.

You speak of spies, well how do we not know that these two aren't the spies trying to lead us into a war with this 'Lightbringer' character?"

Corvus nodded softly, contemplating his words and the accusations that were made before letting out a deep, heart felt sigh. He glanced at the draconic woman, who was sitting with a twisted smile. The type that didn't reach her eyes and instead seemed like she was imagining Erik being tortured or killed in all sorts of heinous and yet creative ways.

Her 'Happy Place' to stop her from actually killing the aquamarine knight.

"I really have failed you, haven't I...."

"W-what?"

The anger faded from Erik's face, replaced by confusion and a small hint of worry about his Lord's words. But before he could ask for clarification, Corvus continued.

"I don't blame you for these accusations, I suppose from your perspective it might seem that way. You aren't doing it out of spite or malice, simply doing what you think is right. I respect it, I truly do.

But the fact you have been led down this path is my own fault, for keeping things from you.

Let me explain. This woman here, although she might not look like it, is the dragon that appeared when we were conquering this castle.

The Hemogoblins found her in a dormant state and kept her in that same state, undoubtedly to act as a sacrifice for their Heart-Eater king. But she is also the one who gave us this mission, a mission to find the owner of that gate."

Erik's face paled, turning an even lighter shade of blue, as he froze up completely. Beads of sweat dripping down his forehead as he turned his eyes, which were trembling in their sockets, towards the draconic woman sitting across from him.

She smiled back at him, something that sent a shiver down his spine and made him feel like a mouse in front of a lion.

Corvus stood up from his chair, letting out another sigh as he continued.

"As for the other part, well, I think it will be easier if I do it this way. After all, I think it is overdue. So allow me to introduce myself, properly..."

Corvus reached up, grabbing the hem of his hood. The hood that, although it had changed in style as he grew stronger, he had always worn up. As far as they knew, no one knew his real face.

But while many of them held their breath in anticipation, Cynthia and Astra exchanged a nervous look between each other.

Without pomp or ceremony, he pulled the hood down, the swirling shadows that filled the space underneath automatically retreating to reveal the blank, plastic face of an average store mannequin.

Their eager and attention rapt faces turned to those of utter confusion, but the confusing turn of event's wasn't over just yet.

A hand was placed on Corvus' shoulder, before his armour and cloak began to dissolve into Ink. They flowed upwards, moving off of their Lord's body - and in turn revealing more of a standard store mannequin - as they flowed over the pale hand that had been placed on the shoulder.

The ink flowed over the individual, covering their body, before taking shape as the dark armour of Corvus once more.

Sitting back down on the throne, with the mannequin standing behind, Seth smiled warmly and nervously at his party members.

"My name is Sephtis Quinn. You know me better as Seth, but you also know me as Lord Corvus. It is nice to finally, properly, meet you."