A Story of Evil

Chapter 18: The Wager

Jubilee's words were shocking enough for everyone. In fact, it was probably the most shocking thing they would have heard in the meeting had Jubilee not stepped up.

"Win? HAHAHAHA! Oh Jubilee that must be your most tasteless joke yet!"

"Oh I'm not joking Nova."

Everyone else began speaking up at that point. They were proud kings and queens of their domains. With most of them getting into position because they won the culling at one point in their lives.

They were highly respected and, possessed great prowess when it came to battle. Yet, a king who never participated in the Culling himself, one who only inherited the throne from his drunkard father, was talking of a pipe dream.

"Jubilee you do realize that, proclaiming something liken that with your status means that, you'll also defeat all of our titans." Reckon said, sounding like he was running short on temper.

"Of course, I won't win unless the last person standing is a Void right?'

"Jubilee you can't be serious right now." Aqua said, genuinely worried for the powerless and the weakest of them all.

"Oh I'm dead serious." Nova was the first to finally snap, unsheathing his sword and, in a fluid motion went for the head of king jubilee. Yet his blade never reached and, was simply blocked by Jubilee's own steel.

"Careful now, you can't use your powers in Sanctuary."

"STOP AT ONCE!" It was the first time anyone heard king Reckon scream as he did. The old man was known to be calm yet, at that moment, his fuse also blew.

"We will have order in this sacred ground! So sit down or I will cut your legs and make sure you never stand up again." Jubilee sighed, pulling back his sword and Nova did the same. It took a few more minutes to ease the tension that formed and, this was the only time that Jubilee was allowed to speak once again.

"I won't be taking back my words. I will win and, in fact, I will tell you exactly who among my Titans will win." The monarchs were all interested at that point. Never have they heard Jubilee speak so confidently about winning as he did at that moment.

"It is a brilliant kid from the slums. An orphan who has never seen both his mother and father. A twelve-year-old skinny boy - Solomon."

"And what makes you think he'll win exactly?" Aqua continued.

"Because he's Solomon."

"Are you drunk man? How does that explain anything?" Nova said.

"If you don't believe me, why don't you make place a bet against me?"

"A bet?"

King Jubilee had them all where he wanted. Even Nova was still confused with the sudden turn of events and was simply following based on the flow created by Jubilee.

"The domain that kills of the boy will get the Void Domain."

"Wait hold on "

"That's fine with me!" Before Reckon could even say anything, Nova's voice filled the room. And with him taking the initiative the others simply followed.

"So all we need to do is kill that boy not win?"

"Yes. Exactly that. All you need to do is to kill the boy and the [Void Domain] will be yours."

"But you said it's wager, right? What do you want from us then?" Queen Aqua asked.

"It's simple, if I am the one who wins and, make no mistake I will, then for the duration of the months until the next culling, you all your domains must be under my rule."

"Nonsense! There is a limit to how much insolence I could permit out of that mouth of yours Jubilee!" Reckon said, with some other monarchs looking just as pissed.

"Look at you. When I said that you can own my domain you had no problems agreeing but, now that I added this some of you are chickening out? What's the matter can't you kill a single powerless Void?"

It was checkmate. Jubilee and his words have successfully woven through the conversation. He had everything under control and, the monarchs were simply responding based on the roles he needed them to play.

"Well then your eminence, why don't we raise a vote for it?" Jubilee taunted Reckon who looked like he was about to sink the whole of the Void Domain at that instance.

But it wouldn't be fair if he didn't give the king a chance. Every ruler in that room had a chance to gamble things like this and, Jubilee was no exception.

"All in favor of the wager Jubilee made, place your weapon on the table."

"Oh I'm gonna enjoy this." Nova was the first, placing his heirloom sword on the table, with red markings immediately lightning up. Runes inscribed around the table also lit up.

"Trust me, you won't be enjoying it for much long." Jubilee followed, creating the same effect with the shade of black.

One by one the Monarchs placed their weapon on the table and this was just as important as any part of the meeting. If all weapons were placed on the table, then the agreement would be made and nobody could break the vow. If they did, their domain's protections will shatter; leaving it susceptible to monster attacks.

"Aqua?" Jubilee suggested, looking at the queen who seemed to be hesitating.

"This is stupid Jubilee. Even for you."

"Just put the weapon down." Jubilee said, with a confident smile on his face. Encouraging the queen to do as he suggested.

"It's your funeral." Aqua placed her bow on the table and with that, the whole table lit up. A magic circle formed in the middle, with a prism like display. The magic circle began rotating and, after making the symbols round to all the monarchs, it finally vanished.

"With this we have come to the agreement based on Jubilee's terms. Are there any crazy monarchs that want to say propose something else?" Reckon asked, with everybody else simply shaking their heads and sighing.

"Good. Let's proceed."