CHAPTER 110 Physical Torture Would Have Been Preferable

Keith

With his basic shield already active, Keith wasted no time manipulating mana to cast a higher-level spell. "By the Undaunted Scales That Guard the Wary Wyrm, [Dragon Shield]."

[You have attempted to use the High Draconic Spell: Dragon Shield. You have succeeded. Mana Cost: 450 Mana. Durability: 1000HP.]

Only after he was suitably wrapped in two bubbles of protective power did Keith turn his attention to his new surroundings.

He was alone in a dungeon cell, inside a bright-pink bubble that pulsed ominously. Gods only knew which dungeon cell; that bright light must have been a teleportation trap. Simple enough to deal with. He activated [Mind Map].

A map formed in his mind's eye. His constructs were usually bright lights upon it to tell him where they were. Several years ago, he'd sent out a small army of tiny constructs to march as far as possible in order to fill up his [Mind Map]. As a result, he had most of the major roads and cities unlocked, though some of North Sumbria and a small portion of the Dark Enchanted Forest were still grayed out.

That was the downside of ruling a country with constantly shifting sentient geography that liked to keep some of its secrets.

This time, however, the entire map was grayed out. He didn't have a map at all.

Hmm, a pocket dimension seemed likely. He would need to confirm it through a series of tests, the first of which would be to see if he could use abilities that influenced outside the sphere, since his abilities were still functioning inside it.

[You have attempted to use the Perk: Remote Access on Automaton:Delilah. You have failed.]

He opened his notifications tab to see if he was under an effect. Nothing showed in the pop-up window.

"Ah, that idiot did something right for a change," a voice drew Keith out of his contemplation.

Marquess Dorset was standing just outside his dungeon cell.

Anger, frustration, and a touch of fear burned in Keith's chest. "Where is she?"

"The princess, my wife, is on her way home," the marquess said, frowning. "She is no longer your concern. I know you thought to have Drendil by marrying that drab excuse of a—"

There was a commotion as King Simon and Queen Thalia entered the dungeon, complaining vehemently. They came into view being led by a servant in Servalt colors. Keith watched and waited; intelligence would come first, and lighting the marquess on fire would have to come second.

"Dorset! You wretch, what is the meaning of this? We were enjoying a celebratory wine!" King Simon demanded.

Queen Thalia screeched at their escort, "This is not the proper way to escort a queen! Don't you know anything? Look what you've done to my dress pleats!"

The servant ignored them. "Everything is going as planned."

"And the knight commander?"

The servant smiled. "He's with the rest of the team bringing your new toys. The poor bloke hasn't suspected a thing."

Assuming they were talking about Havork, Keith seriously doubted that. If Henrietta was to be believed, the man always suspected something. It was his job.

"Excellent." The marquess laughed.

"What is your plan, Dorset?" King Simon seethed. As much as the man was a cruel and incompetent leader, he was not fully the fool. "If you don't return quickly, everyone is going to assume you kidnapped Henrietta. You were the last one seen with her."

"But will they?" The marquess snorted. "While I'm waiting patiently in my room, the king and queen of Drendil, their knight commander, and the princess are all missing."

"You …" King Simon's face contorted with rage. He took one step toward Dorset, only to be met with force as the marquess shoved the king backward into the open cell behind him. His servant pushed the queen in, and the marquess slammed the door shut in their faces. They howled in outrage.

Dorset's face contorted into a sinister grin as his Rogue servant presented him with everything of value the royal couple had been wearing, as well as a few other recognizable pieces. "Excellent." The marquess inspected each—including a small button. Keith sucked in a deep breath at the sight.

"I am telling you this now, Dorset." Keith glared daggers, and his mana fluctuated dangerously. "If you hurt even a single hair on Henrietta's head, you won't have any bones left to [Raise]."

Chadwick pocketed the valuables. "Oh, Monfort. You have other things to worry about. With the Dark Lord missing too, who won't suspect you of foul play? I will have the throne, courtesy of the Drendil regalia and the princess, and the pleasure of watching you die. You all just sit tight and wait for me to come back."

The marquess pulled a scroll from inside his vest and dropped it to the floor.

Dorset opened an incredibly rare high-class magical [Portal: Gate] that could cross kingdoms. He stepped on top, and the light engulfed him, leaving behind the servant to watch them.

He was a level eighty-three Arcane Sage; there weren't many magical things that could contain him for long. Now, if only he weren't being tortured from the moment Dorset left, things might have gone easier.

It wasn't physical torture, sadly.

In fact, physical torture would have been preferable to what he was actually suffering: being trapped in a cell beside his soon-to-be in-laws and their incessant whining.

Keith got to experimenting.

It was hard, but he let the vitriol and anger go in one ear and out the other. The servant watched on, but he had long ago plugged his ears.

Keith tried activating a few other perks. [Identify], he got nothing. [Ventriloquism], he couldn't connect at all to his constructs. He moved to [Sense Motive] and [Sense Enemy], and that gave him further clues.

He couldn't [Sense Enemy] the servant right in front of him.

With a bit of mana manipulation, Keith attempted to examine the pink bubble. The second his power touched the barrier, that part of his mana disappeared. Actually, worse than that, the mana just ceased to be.

He hissed. Keith didn't think it was purely Void based, as that would have made it impossible to see through … but whatever title, skill, perk or spell this was … it was laced with Void.

The mastermind behind this was very thorough. Keith didn't think Marquess Dorset was high enough in level, or ostentatious enough to construct something as profound or pink as this Void pocket dimension.

He was struck by a horrible thought. Their Royal Highness? No, surely not.

Keith tried to keep his spells going while he tested his perks and analyzed the bubble—and blocked out his neighbors. And as he worked, he did his best to ignore the small distracting feeling that he'd forgotten something …

What happened to Gerda?