Chapter 139: Apos’s Parents
Abyss cleared his throat. “Ahem… Greetings, everyone…”
But before he could explain his purpose, one of the wraiths, for reasons unknown, suddenly knelt before him.
The other wraiths, seeing this, followed suit without hesitation. Before Abyss could even greet them, they were all prostrated on the ground, as if in the presence of a powerful overlord.
“…What’s going on?” Abyss asked, confused.
“They have an instinctive respect for you. Even I feel it,” Rebecca whispered. “These are just ordinary townspeople. They probably see you as some kind of ruler of the dead.”
“Please, rise. There’s no need for such formalities,” Abyss said, addressing the wraiths. “I’m not your lord. I’m just a passing necromancer.”
The wraiths hesitated for a moment, then one of them stood up. The others, emboldened by his action, slowly rose as well, but they still avoided eye contact.
Abyss counted thirteen wraiths, a mix of ages and genders. Some resembled Apos, likely relatives.
“Please listen carefully. I’m here in Silverwind Harbor Town to investigate a man named Apos Kohler. If you know him, please raise your hand.”
Half of them raised their hands.
“Those who don’t know him may return to their rest. I apologize for the disturbance. And those who do know him, are you all members of the Kohler family?” Abyss said, releasing the unfamiliar wraiths, then turned to those who had raised their hands.
One of the wraiths hesitated, then stammered, “Kind sir, that woman and I are Apos’s parents… The others are relatives. What has he done? Has he caused trouble? We’re dead now, so we can’t discipline him…”
“I have some questions for you. Please, step forward,” Abyss said, gesturing for Apos’s parents to approach him.
His search had ended quickly. He had found the parents who had taken Apos to the palace all those years ago.
“Sir, please ask away. We’ll answer any question we can, and we’ll do whatever you ask,” Apos’s father said, bowing repeatedly, his eagerness to please evident in his every movement, his eyes darting around nervously. He didn’t seem particularly old, likely in his forties when he died.
Beside him stood his wife, her head bowed, her silence suggesting fear. She looked much older than her husband, her face wrinkled, although her hair hadn’t turned gray. She resembled Apos, but her hair was messy, her clothes tattered and dirty. A wraith’s appearance reflected their state at the time of death. It seemed she hadn’t died peacefully.
“Hmm… May I ask how you died?” Abyss asked, intrigued by this seemingly unpleasant couple.
“I died first,” Apos’s father said. “I gambled away a lot of money, couldn’t repay my debts, and poisoned myself.”
“I… I died later. I don’t know how. I was drinking… and then I felt tired. I closed my eyes, and that was it,” Apos’s mother said, her voice hesitant, her fear of Abyss evident.
“I see,” Abyss said, nodding. So the father was a gambler, and the mother was a drunkard. It was hard to imagine that Apos, raised by such parents, had received a proper upbringing.
Rebecca, never one for subtlety, addressed them directly. “Your son, Apos, has done something terrible… He’s a follower of an Outer God, and he’s helping this Outer God’s servant usurp the throne.”
The two wraiths were stunned.
“What… You’re saying our son is a follower of an Outer God and a traitor?” Apos’s father exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. “Our useless son, who couldn’t even become a palace servant, is capable of such things?”
“Exactly!” Apos’s mother chimed in. “Miss, are you sure you haven’t mistaken him for someone else?”
“Since you mentioned sending your son to the palace, let me ask you two questions. First, where did Apos receive his education? His knowledge and his manners suggest a good upbringing. Second, why did you send him to the palace? What happened?”
Abyss had a hunch. Apos’s current state, his allegiance to the Lord of Nightmares, must be connected to his parents.
“We didn’t send him to school. He learned those useless things from borrowed books. We weren’t wealthy, but our neighbors were. They had a daughter, and our son often read with her. He’s self-taught,” Apos’s father said dismissively. “What good is education? We didn’t bother stopping him.”
“He wanted to be a scholar, but I objected,” Apos’s mother said. “Scholars don’t make money. He should have gotten a job at the tavern instead of wasting his time on those books.”
Rebecca almost laughed. She had become the continent’s most renowned alchemist, her wealth vast, thanks to her dedication to learning, her knowledge surpassing that of most scholars. If she hadn’t intentionally limited the scale of her business, she might have become the wealthiest person on the continent, surpassing even the emperors of the Eastern and Western Empires.
“And what about the palace?” Abyss asked.
“Ask her. It was her idea,” Apos’s father said, pointing at his wife. “I wasn’t involved. I just accompanied them to the capital, hoping for a bit of luck.”
Apos’s mother glared at her husband, then, unable to avoid the question, turned to Abyss. “I needed money for alcohol. Apos was always reading with that neighbor’s girl, never earning any money. So I drugged his drink and took him to the local doctor… and had him castrated… The King offered a reward to the parents of any boy who became a eunuch. It was enough to buy me a lot of drinks…”
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