the monster of Kao Ren Lake (part 8)

One month late, in a stormy night, Emperor Lam chamber still lit, sitting at his desk and thinking while listening the sound of thunder and rain. On his desk is his dinner partially eaten, on the pass month he eat very little because of the disaster control effort while trying to think of a way to kill the monster with minimum risk of human life cost. Then a soft voice coming from the small wooden chest on his bed. It is Empress Aucelen voice coming from the magic mirror in the chest. Emperor Lam took the mirror and put it on a stand on his desk.

-Lam you look a little skinny, are you well? Have you eating properly? Empress Aucelen asked.

-oh, it… I just… overwork a little bit… it just…I having a hard time hunt down that damn monster…but do not worry I am fine. Why are you calling me? Emperor Lam answered.

-it is about those samples you sent me. Empress Aucelen said.

- you had analyzed them? How is the result? Does it marched my suspicion? Emperor Lam asked.

-well, good news, it is not? Empress Aucelen softly smile.

-phew… that a relief. Emperor Lam sigh.

-but one question still remain though. Where does that monster come from? Emperor Lam said

-well, after analyzed your samples I have found that this monster is actually a gold fish but the thing is those samples contained a significant amount of Quasium in them, even lingering trace of magic. Empress Aucelen said.

-you mean… someone… make a gold fish ingested Quasium, then use magic to make it mutated into this monstrosity? But why? How? Quasium is toxic to living things if ingested in raw form is it not? Emperor Lam said

-hum… not exactly… I am not sure about how it expose to Quasium, although that will explain how the monster possessed magic resistance ability. I mean the magic part, it is not like someone has used a spell on it but it has being exposed to a magical field, a very old magic field… maybe from the Emerald Forest….

Empress Aucelen pause for a minute, her eyes suddenly fill with sorrow and glistering when she mention that name “the Emerald Forest” the name only known by the Elvas, but to the rest of Varlaurea continent’s inhabitants it only known as “the Laughing Forest”. Her mind overflow with memory, memory of events that happened years ago, centuries ago and of those whom no longer walk the earth, but to her it feel like yesterday. Without a word Emperor Lam know exactly what going on in his wife mind, his heart ached for seeing his wife’s eyes fill with sorrow like this, he can saw a tear is about to escape her eyes. But before he can say anything Empress Aucelen take a deep breath and a warm smile bloom on her face.

-are you alright Aucelen? I know how that place mean for you. If… Emperor Lam whisper.

- I am fine, Lam. Thank you. Empress Aucelen smile

-now, back to our topic. Like I said the monster came to be what it is today is because it has been exposed to Quasium and the magic in the Emerald Forest. It does not have anything to do with your earlier suspicion. Empress Aucelen said

-hum… if that the case…. Emperor Lam sit back on his chair, his eyes gazing into nothingness, his left hand kept stroking his beard, his mind drowned in thought.

-Lam, please do not do anything reckless? Empress Aucelen said

- What? Reckless? Me? What are you talking about? Emperor Lam jolted, and snap back from his thought.

- 13 years I has spent with you, Lam. You think I do not know what are you thinking every time you stroking you beard continuously with you left hand like that. Empress Aucelen sigh.

-Lam, you are the emperor of Varlann, you cannot solving everything yourself by charging head on into danger like that. You have….

-I know, I know, I have responsibility and the empire need me. Emperor Lam interrupted his wife.

-and me too, Lam. I need you. I cannot live without you. Empress Aucelen said.

-I am sorry, I will try not to do anything stupid, I promise. Emperor Lam softly spoke.

Empress Aucelen sigh and look at her husband lovingly.

-well, do you have anything else on your mind, Lam?

-oh! The cultist leader, what should I do with him now? Do you need a sample of him? Emperor Lam asked

-about him? I think you should bring him back to the capital, I will diagnose him to make sure if he is just delusional… or worse, if it is the worst case scenario I will have my people to take care of him. Empress Aucelen said

-um… alright then, see you soon at the capital, goodbye Aucelen. Emperor Lam say goodbye with his wife then put the mirror back to the wooden chest, sitting on hit bed staring at the storm outside the window, scratching his horns he murmur “Sorry Aucelen!”