CHAPTER IV: ASSASSINATION OF PRINCE LARG!

[The scene changes to a small fort on the field near Bethla. Hokuten lie collapsed on the ground. A female knight kneels, doubled over with illness.]

ZALBAG'S VOICE: What happened here!?

[Zalbag enters the scene. He looks around, spies the female knight and kneels beside her.]

ZALBAG: Are you ok!? Pull yourself together!!

[She coughs and convulses.]

HOKUTEN KNIGHT: I, I'm fine... just my head...hurts.

[She collapses into unconsciousness.]

ZALBAG: Hey, get a grip!

[Dycedarg approaches behind him.]

DYCEDARG: Mosfungus poison has been spread in the air...

[He sinks to his knees, obviously also affected by the poison. Zalbag rushes over to him.]

ZALBAG: Brother!

[Dycedarg clutches his head.]

DYCEDARG: Don't worry, I'm alright... Where's is His Excellency?

[He stands and turns to Zalbag.]

ZALBAG: We don't know.

LARG'S VOICE: ...Here, Zalbag... Dycedarg...

[The scene shifts to where Duke Larg leans in partial collapse against the boundary wall of the fort. He coughs as Zalbg rushes over to him. Dycedarg slowly follows.]

ZALBAG: Your Excellency!!

[He turns to shout.]

ZALBAG: Call the Chemist!!

[Dycedarg approaches and leans over Larg.]

DYCEDARG: ...How do you feel?

LARG: My head hurts... I feel sick... But...I'll be alright. I'll feel better in a while.

DYCEDARG: That's a problem.

LARG: What?

[Dycedarg produces a small dagger and stabs Larg in the chest.]

LARG: Urrgh!! Wha...What is this!?

ZALBAG: Brother!!

[Dycedarg drives the dagger in harder. Larg convulses.]

DYCEDARG: Quiet, Zalbag!

[Larg looks up at him.]

LARG: You...betraying me...? You killed Balbanes... not only to inherit the Beoulve estate... But, to kill...me...

[Larg vomits blood as he expires. Dycedarg pulls back and breathes raggedly.]

ZALBAG: Brother...No... Did you... 'poison'?

DYCEDARG: Ugh...Ugh... ...Not me. It was done by the allies who want Beoulve to take center stage...

ZALBAG: Why have they...

DYCEDARG: Duke Larg died in battle,but [sic] we'll carry on his will...

ZALBAG: But, the plot...

[Dycedarg turns to him.]

DYCEDARG: Just put a dagger into one of their hands... He's the assassin sent by the Nanten. Alright...?

[Dycedarg collapses to the ground in a faint.]

ZALBAG: Brother!!