(Andraus)<br/><br/>Oscar did not like this- Not one bit. He was not a well-educated man, he was a soldier, but even he knew that things were progressing in a way that threatened the entire kingdom. Oscar then did the one thing he never considered doing- He went for outside help. He walked through the ball, trying to find Lord Mor-Hauser. Stepping forward, Oscar would speak up. "<b>My Lord?"</b><br/><br/>Anthony would look up from the table he was at, before seeing Oscar, narrowing his eyes. "<b>Yes?"</b><br/><br/>Oscar would look around, and was grateful to see that the Witch wasn't present, before speaking up. "<b>I need you speak to you in private...." </b>He said, before walking off. Anthony followed behind him, and they soon arrived to one of the guest rooms, where Oscar sit down as Anthony cast a silence spell on the room, preventing anyone from listening in. "<b>You are newcomer, therefor not a threat....I'm coming to you directly to ask you for your help."</b><br/><br/>Anthony would stare. Inside, though, he was laughing- Really, THIS was funny! The very people who put him to death were asking for his help! It was hilarious. "<b>-and what, pray tell, would be the issue?" </b>Anthony said. He was honestly interested in hearing what excuse Oscar had.<br/><br/><b>"I fear.....I fear dark magic is being used to manipulate my Queen. I fear that someone will try regicide soon." </b>Oscar said. He was scared, and his face said it, He was facing a woman that CLEARLY outmatched him.<br/><br/>Anthony lost the interior joking manner, before all his attention was on this man, as he sat down next to him. "<b>Tell me everything you know- Spare no details." </b>He said. Oscar would proceed to give details over the last year- The subtle manipulations of the Queen via the Dark Mage, the rapid decay of their once great kingdom, the Dark Mages ascent to Archmage of the Court, and various other incidents that called to attention. Anthony used this to draw every possible parallel that he could, but it still left him with more questions than answers. All the same, he was better informed then he was an hour ago.<br/><br/>Once done, Anthony would look over. "<b>If what you say is true, how is it that I know you are not controlled yourself, and you're just trying to set me up to die?" </b>Anthony asked, cautiously.<br/><br/><b>I don't know, My best guess is that my willpower is stronger than my Queen's. "</b>He said, which made sense- Mind control only worked if your willpower was greater than your enemies. Oscar was a Knight, so his will was strong, it'd be annoyingly difficult to break him.<br/><br/>Anthony would sigh, before standing, looking towards Oscar. "<b>I make no promises.....but I will do what I can to ensure your Queen is safe." </b>He said, before rubbing his chin. "<b>In the meantime, minimize the amount of time the Dark Mage spends with the Queen, and always keep her at arms length- Don't let her too close to her or place her hand on her." </b>He said. Oscar bowed his head in gratitude, before darting out the door.<br/><br/>Anthony would then let out a chuckle.<br/><br/>Standing, Anthony would find himself standing in front of the mirror, before lightly pressing on it, revealing a secret cabinet.<b>"A Dark Mage, trained by one of my gods, for the destruction of this Kingdom......naughty naughty, Azurnine.....did you forget what the Church branded me for?" </b>Anthony said, as black fire began dancing around his fingers, a dark aura surrounding him. "<b>I specialized in Black Magic, I was taught it by the best.....You will soon realize how deeply <i>outclassed </i>you really are...."</b>He said.<br/><br/>He would press his hands to his chest, as he began muttering a prayer. "<b>Lady Neema, Goddess of Light, Guidance, and Protection, Grant me this boon- May my hands be steady, my feet swift, my path lit, and my heart protected.....and should I fail in my duty....grant me forgiveness..."</b>Anthony said. He would then reach into something, before reaching in the cabinet and grabbing a<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2Fd1%2Fe1%2F97%2Fd1e197a240cf8befa9e1c46bfba37f1b--shadow-creatures-dark-creatures.jpg&amp;hash=f82383c9476c5465ecba9deb117a362c" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/e1/97/d1e197a240cf8befa9e1c46bfba37f1b--shadow-creatures-dark-creatures.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Statuette of Maddox</a>. Though Maddox was his enemy, he was still a god- His boon was powerful, and it was from him he originally learned the greater arts of Dark Magic....Anthony was unsure how he'd respond to being prayed to by him, but Anthony was nothing if not a risk taker. He needed power to fight against Azurnine, and though Maddox was trying to destroy his kingdom, Anthony could not deny it- Maddox was VERY powerful.<br/><br/>Anthony would take the ceremonial dagger, before dragging it across his palm, letting drops of blood fill the statuette's hand. "<b>Lord Maddox, God of Change, Destruction, and Power.....I ask you now to aid me- I stand before the remnants of a dying kingdom, with the shattered pieces of a broken empire....grant me the power to destroy my enemies, to change the very foundation of this world, and to build it in the image that I see fit, that would best befit your glory. "</b>Anthony said.<br/><br/>The prayers were his former tribal ones, because before this, Anthony strongly held to his gods. He did not forsake them, even under torture, and though Maddox was working with his enemy, he was a being Anthony had to show respect too- It was by his power that he originally toppled the Empire and slew his father. He needed that power again, if he is going to be a match for Azurnine, and if he is going to prove himself worthy of his Goddess- He was a Dark Mage, dammit! It was time to show Azurnine who REALLY was the master of the Arcane!