Magus Reborn

154. Battleboard

"Count Arzan, what do you think a king should strive for?" Duke Blackwood's deep voice made Kai look up from the board in front of him, meeting his contemplating eyes. The Duke had his chin resting on his fingers. "To be loved? Or to be feared?"

The question echoed in the silent room, filling the quiet four corners. Slowly, Kai's focus shifted back to the board. The game laid out before them was battleboard, a tactical match where two kings waged war through their chosen pieces.

Pieces stood in formation across the polished surface, their carved forms lit up by the golden glow of a nearby chandelier. A diplomat, a knight, a noble, a Mage, pawns—all poised for victory or defeat.

The game had begun shortly after their introductions, with Duke Blackwood insisting it was the best way to "know a man's mind." Leopold, the Duke's son, sat silently on the sofa nearby, his youthful face set with focused intensity as he watched every move. Explore stories on empire

Fortunately, Kai wasn't a stranger to the game. Killian had played the game with him on days they had taken a break from the training. For all of Killian's singular focus on cultivation, battleboard was the one diversion he indulged in, and Kai had sharpened his skills in those games. Whether he could match the Duke, however, was another question entirely.

Kai leaned back, studying the board with a calm intensity that belied the weight of the conversation. "Both," he said after a moment, "A king needs both."

The Duke's lips twitched, caught somewhere between a smile and a smirk. "An easy answer," he replied, though there was a faint challenge in his voice.

Kai shook his head slightly, his focus remaining on the board as his fingers hovered over a knight. "It's not." He moved the piece decisively, eliminating one of the Duke's diplomats. The polished wood made a soft thud as it landed, emphasizing the finality of the move. "I have my reasons."

Duke Blackwood's brow arched, curiosity sparking in his dark eyes. "Do tell," he prompted, leaning forward slightly.

Kai rested his forearms on the edge of the table, his fingers lacing together as he spoke. His gaze shifted from the board to meet the Duke's. "Being loved and feared each has its own merits—and its own dangers. But a good king must possess both. He must be loved by his people, so they follow him willingly, trust him implicitly. But he must also be feared by his enemies—and by the wicked within his kingdom. Without love, his people might turn on him. Without fear, his enemies will see him as weak."

Duke Blackwood hummed thoughtfully, considering Kai's words as he moved a pawn forward on the board—a small piece, but every move in battleboard carried weight. "And if someone does rise against him? Can he not simply crush them, prove his strength that way?"

Kai tilted his head slightly, the shadow of a smile playing at his lips. "Yes, Your Grace. But that wasn't your question, was it?"

The Duke's lips twitched again, the lines on his face shifting as if suppressing a laugh. He leaned forward, placing his next piece—a noble—strategically on the board. "So, Count Arzan, tell me, do you think any of the prospective kings can achieve that balance? Both loved and feared?"

Kai's gaze flicked to the Duke briefly before returning to the board. He reached for one of his pieces, his knight, and moved it with a soft click on the polished wood. His answer was calm but carried a quiet finality. "No. I don't think so."

The amusement in Duke Blackwood's expression deepened, his smile widening as he leaned back in his chair. "You're decisive," he remarked, his tone carrying a hint of approval. "I heard you were in the capital recently. Met Prince Eldric. Then not long after, you crossed paths with the nobles backing Princes Thalric and Aldrin. None of them caught your interest?"

As he spoke, the Duke moved another pawn, positioning it directly in front of one of Kai's Mages. It was a bold move, subtle but with clear intent.

Kai adjusted his posture slightly, his fingers brushing idly over a bishop on his side of the board. "I haven't met the second and third princes yet," he admitted. "But from what I've learned, they're extremes."

"Extremes can be useful," he said, his tone contemplative. "But dangerous. Tell me, Count—what would you consider the middle ground?"

Kai's lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He moved another piece—a calculated step that left the Duke's noble vulnerable. "The middle ground is the most difficult to hold," he replied. "But it's where true power lies. A king who stands there is one who understands his people, commands their loyalty, and keeps his enemies at bay—not through brute strength or blind adoration, but through strategy. Balance is not found in extremes, Your Grace. It's forged in the fire of discipline and the clarity of purpose."

"Hmm. You might be right about that." The Duke cleared his throat and leaned forward, making his next move. "You said the other two princes were extremes? How so?"

In return, Kai placed his bishop strategically to defend his king, then spoke. "The third prince," he began, "is the type who thrives on fear. His supporters are warmongers—nobles with ambitions that stretch far beyond the borders of this kingdom. Greedy men, eager to carve out more land, more wealth, with little regard for the cost. With a prince like that on the throne, the kingdom would be walking a tightrope. One wrong step, and everything would collapse. A ruler who seeks war without caution is no ruler at all."

Duke Blackwood nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as he considered the words. "And the second prince?"

Kai exhaled, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the board. "Soft," he said simply. "From what I've heard, he leans toward progressive ideals. His retinue speaks of reform—laws aimed at fostering internal growth, promoting art, education, and trade. Admirable, on paper. But the world isn't safe. Wars don't wait for prosperity to take root. A ruler who ignores the dangers outside his borders is doomed to fail when those dangers come knocking."

The Duke hummed thoughtfully, moving one of his pieces—a Mage this time. "And the first prince?" he asked, his voice casual, though his eyes stayed on the board.

Kai paused, his expression tightening slightly. He froned as he studied the board, then finally spoke. "He's dumb," he said bluntly. "A puppet. Not worth considering."

To his surprise, the Duke broke into a grin, his eyes sparkling with approval. "Dumb, you say? Hahaha. I must admit, Count, I agree with you. Wholeheartedly, in fact."

Kai arched a brow, intrigued by the man's candid response and the belly laugh.

William leaned forward, his fingers now tracing the edge of the table. "I wanted to say as much in court when those princes approached me. But alas, I am a noble. I must talk carefully." He waved a hand theatrically, as though mocking himself. "I can't very well call a prince 'dumb' to his face, now, can I? No, no. I have to wrap it in flowers and ribbons to not break their fragile little hearts."

Kai allowed himself a faint smile. He knew the man was wise, but the respect he demanded was uncanny. And with every word that escaped his mouth, Kai seemed to increase the amount of respect he'd. "And what did you say?"

The Duke chuckled, his fingers curling under his chin as he studied the board. "Something about their potential being... untapped," he said with a sly grin. "A polite way of saying they're useless without someone to pull the strings."

Kai smirked at that, moving his queen into a threatening position. "Diplomacy at its finest," he said dryly.

The Duke moved his rook almost as quickly, his gaze never leaving the board.

"Did you ask that question to find out which prince I support?" Kai asked, breaking the silence. "I thought you already knew my allegiances."

The Duke smiled faintly, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "A noble's mind is ever fluid, Count. Allegiances can shift like the wind. Just because you're unaligned now doesn't mean you won't be in the future." "You've grown too much, after all," the Duke continued, gesturing vaguely as he leaned back in his chair. "From a baron to a count in record time. Introducing new technology, commanding strong forces, wielding significant magical strength—and with ducal blood running in your veins. You'll find yourself in the close circles of any prince. That doesn't tempt you? Doesn't it make you reconsider?"

Kai studied the board, then moved his Mage closer to the Duke's commander piece, the click of the wooden piece punctuating the air. "I actually did change my mind," he said finally.

The Duke's brows arched slightly. "Oh? Then what side have you chosen?"

"Before I answer, let me ask you a question."

The Duke tilted his head, intrigued. "And what would that be?"

"Why did you let Knight Darian and the guards come to Veralt to die? You knew they wouldn't survive. You had no idea about the mana cannons or the state of my forces—not enough to believe we could win. So why send them to their deaths?"

For a moment, Duke Blackwood simply stared at Kai, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, his lips curled into a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "They failed. And people paid the price."

Kai's eyes narrowed, but he didn't interrupt.

"Knight Darian is a good man," the Duke continued. "Competent. Loyal. I like him. But he made me a promise—a bold one. He swore he'd destroy a parasite that took something precious from me. And he failed." The Duke's gaze darkened, his voice growing quieter. The mountain of a man sighed deeply. "When he returned, he came to me asking for punishment. I told him he would die for his failure, and he didn't flinch. He said his resolve was strong enough to overcome anything. So I sent him to you."

Duke's Blackwood eyes locked onto Kai's, his tone grave. "And it seems his resolve wasn't misplaced after all."

Kai glanced briefly at Leopold, who sat stiffly on the sofa, his hands clasped together tightly as though holding himself steady. Then, as if connecting fragmented thoughts into a clear picture, Kai frowned. "The necromancer," he said softly.

Leopold's head tilted slightly, a somber nod confirming Kai's suspicion. The Duke exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair. His expression darkened, the lines on his face deepening as he spoke. "Yes. My nephew."

Kai's gaze flicked back to the Duke, who looked away momentarily, his eyes drifting to the far side of the room.

"My younger brother died years ago. I raised his son as if he were my own. He was… close to me." he paused, the memory weighing heavy in his voice. His gaze sharpened, and Kai recognized the simmering anger behind it. "And that monster stole him from me."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Kai said, his voice steady but sincere. "No one deserves to die like that."

The Duke grunted, his nod curt but genuine. "Thank you… You took him down. For that, I am thankful."

Leopold shifted slightly, his gaze flicking between the two men before settling on Kai. His expression carried unspoken gratitude, a reflection of the Duke's sentiments.

Kai held the Duke's gaze for a moment longer before letting his focus return to the board.

"Now," the Duke said, his voice quieter but no less firm, "tell me about this side you've chosen."

Kai inclined his head, giving the tension in the room a moment to dissipate. His focus returned to the board, where the game had reached an intricate balance—a stalemate of sorts. Every piece on the polished wood seemed to hover on the brink of danger, waiting for the first mistake to shift the tide.

"I'm sorry," Kai said. "But you'd be disappointed to know that the necromancer was just a pawn."

The Duke froze, his thoughts visibly halting midstream. His eyes widened in surprise, and even Leopold straightened in his seat, his brows furrowed deeply.

"What do you mean?" Leopold asked.

Kai looked at him, then back to the Duke, his expression unyielding. "The side I've chosen… is against necromancers, mana fiends, blood drinkers, weavers, and anything else tied to dead mana. But I fear what I'm fighting against has already rooted itself deep inside the royal court."

The Duke's jaw clenched, the anger in his eyes now tempered by a cautious intensity. He didn't interrupt, waiting for Kai to continue.

"Especially Queen Regina," Kai added.

That name was enough for the air to grow thick—almost suffocating. Even the sounds that came from outside the door seemed to fade. Kai looked at Leopold, his lips were pressed into a thin line and his hands gripped his knees in a white-knuckled grip.

Kai looked back at the Duke.

The latter leaned back slightly, exhaling a breath he'd been holding through his nose.

"Is that true?" he asked, almost hesitant. "Regina is bad news—I've never trusted her ambitions. But conspiring with dark forces? Dead mana? That's the lowest a human can stoop to."

Kai sighed. "I wish I were wrong. I didn't agree to meet you just for a game of battleboard. After the beast wave, I discovered something troubling—a dark mana parasite inside the body of the Vermorga that led the wave."

The Duke's eyebrows rose again.

"Before I could collect it, the parasite killed itself. But I'm certain it was controlling the Vermorga, inciting the beast wave against Veralt. And more than that, I believe it was brought by the necromancer. After all, I killed him in the Vasper Forest. A peculiar coincidence, don't you think?"

Duke Blackwood frowned, his fingers curling into a loose fist. "How does that lead to Regina?"

"She would have stood to gain the most if my city and I were razed to the ground."

"I don't know what you're saying," he replied, shaking his head. "You haven't even met her, have you?"

"No, I haven't," Kai admitted.

The Duke leaned forward to make the next move on the board. With their conversation growing deep and serious, one would think that they'd forgotten about the game, but he didn't seem to have any intention to leave it hanging.

The faint clack of the piece striking the wood reverberated in the room.

Kai continued, bringing his thoughts back to the conversation. "But I don't need to. The reasons she'd want me dead are clear enough. And the biggest one?" He paused, his lips curving into a faint, cryptic smile. "It's simple. The side I stand on isn't aligned with any prince—because I don't need them. I can make my own side"

The Duke's eyes narrowed as he studied Kai, searching for the meaning behind his words. Then, something shifted in his gaze, an understanding dawning as his pupils dilated with realization. His lips parted slightly, and he muttered under his breath, "The medallion given to Valkyrie… You plan to contest for the throne. To build your own side."

Kai said nothing, his smile deepening ever so slightly.

Leopold, who had been silent until now, went pale. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came. His eyes sought Kai's, questioning, almost pleading for confirmation. But Kai ignored him, his focus returning to the board.

Deciding to end the game, he slid his Mage forward, the unmistakable sound of wood against wood punctuating the moment. His Mage struck true, toppling the enemy king.

"I win," he said simply.

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription for both of them is on too.