Witchbound Villain: Infinite Loop

Let's list what Burn and Morgan decided to do in this loop.

Enlightenment and transformation, check. Okay, this was basically what Burn wanted to do the moment he returned, after his intimate business with Morgan, of course.

Then, he wanted to meet with Finn and secure his family. This was the absolute priority now, even though the others might have the same weight as this one.

Because, yes, the elven community's problem was important. Yes, the Junior Fleet Admiral problem was important. And yes, Inkia’s political problem was important.

But, this would be the base of everything, all at once.

"I received your letter concurrently with the unfortunate report of the attempt on your life by the assassin of Inkia. Additionally, news of your decision to postpone the impending war due to your wife's condition reached me," Finn articulated, mindful of the decorum befitting his address to Emperor Burn.

“But today,” he paused, “you seem fine. Your lady seems pleasantly healthy too."

Well, after what he witnessed this morning, as Burn absorbed 8% of the heat energy of a dying sun—

“That’s not what I announced. I said I want to postpone the war because my wife is unwell and needs my undivided care,” Burn said, opening his mouth as Morgan stuffed him with grilled lamb wrapped in fresh lettuce.

“Mm, that’s good,” he put more meat inside the lettuce and helped himself. He sighed in contentment now that his taste buds had perfected themselves with his design. He turned to Morgan, asking, “It tastes different. What did you put in it before?”

“Just a drop of honey,” Morgan answered, as she was about to feed him more.

“Master, I wanna try too!” Yvain stood from Burn’s other side and wedged himself between them. Morgan laughed and fed him a bite. Yvain hadn’t even finished chewing when he said, “I wamt ome mowe!”

Finn massaged his temples. "Even though that wasn't your explicit announcement, the world has interpreted it in one of two ways…”

“The speculation is rife—either you were the one injured in the assassination attempt and are now making excuses for your recovery, or Her Majesty was stabbed in your place. Both scenarios, Your Majesty, are deeply troubling," Finn remarked with a sigh, feeling a sense of relief at the unfolding events of the day.

Of course, who would have thought that the man who announced to postpone the war after getting stabbed was just here, eating lamb meat after a chug of sun for breakfast, picnic style?

“Let them speculate. My or my wife’s condition is not the real reason why I decided to postpone it,” Burn said.

Galahad’s expression changed after he said it, clearly concerned. They did offer their Force essence in the Holy Grail Ceremony this loop too. Apparently, the shock of Burn’s complaint for pain AND his love confession was even more spectacular than the previous loop.

After all, people started to change at the end of their lives, right?

Who would’ve imagined that the Absolute Emperor would suddenly fall for a woman mid-stab? Well, of course not suddenly. Just the decision for a love confession in that situation was enough to give the Round Table the idea of impending doom.

After all, what he did today by transforming his body to an insane level of Force mastery could be seen as him attempting to sustain his life despite his crumbling soul.

Well, look at him go. He was just trying his hardest to keep himself ticking along, soul be damned. His soul might be in tatters, but hey, at least his body's reaching peak performance.

“At least, now they wouldn’t force you to go to war and take your family as hostages, right?” Burn asked as he rediscovered sweetness, saltiness, and sourness once more through his taste buds.

“How did you know that it’s going to happen?” Finn asked.

“You came here. Which means you considered the possibility,” Burn said.

No, Finn didn’t even consider this possibility if Burn didn’t send him the letter. He was still very much loyal to Inkia and wouldn’t betray them now, but no matter how much he shrugged it off, his letter gave him sleepless nights.

After all, it was Emperor Burn himself who told him.

"Well, it’s not completely guaranteed that your family will be taken as hostages, forced to become slaves if you fail to stop me in the war. But if I continue with my march, and if their assassination attempts after the first stabbing can't scratch me, they will possibly turn and pressure you," Burn said.

"You, knowing that you’ll certainly die against me, will in turn lobby as many houses as possible to lend you part of their military might, which I will destroy completely too,” Burn said, popping a grape into his mouth. “Just a guess, but I know you’re clever enough for that.”

Finn hadn’t come to that conclusion, but it did sound like something he would do. “Because I want to weaken Inkia enough for you to be able to finish them quicker.”

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the once desolate plain transformed into a temporary oasis for everyone present. The stubborn grass bowed its heads in surrender to the warmth, and a gentle breeze swept through, carrying whispers of forgotten dreams and fleeting hope.

And perhaps, dying loyalties and patriotism.

Finn's family and companions, a motley crew of warriors and advisors, gathered around a makeshift table atop a blanket laden with humble food.

His wife, a woman of grace and determination, presided over the scene with a regal air even in the simplicity of their picnic. Their two small children, oblivious to the political intrigue unfolding, chased each other around with laughter that echoed across the plain.

While Finn, their stalwart household head with a mind as sharp as his sword, found himself in the midst of an unexpected tête-à-tête with the emperor of their enemy empire, there wasn’t much to say.

“Why can’t we sit with Daddy, Mommy?” one of his children asked innocently.

“We can’t, darling. They’re having important discussions.”

“But there’s a boy there too!”

“He’s not a boy. He’s a king,” it was understandable for Finn’s wife to be guarded against even Yvain after seeing him using his Vision to shield them from Burn’s explosive experiment this morning.

Not to mention… even though the boy looked innocent enough, eating his way through the discussion, and with the woman beside the emperor helping to serve them food in such a natural way that it looked like a normal picnic on the outside, they were still part of the discussion itself.

Their eyes followed Burn’s every action, whether it was subtle or blatant, hyper aware of the situation around them. At first glance, people might see them as just a normal noble family, father, mother and son, but experienced eyes would know—that they were dangerous.

One word from Burn, and the two would be ready to throw hands.

Overall, the air between them crackled with tension, veiled threats hidden beneath polite smiles and courteous nods. Finn's closest aides and servants exchanged knowing glances but held their tongues, understanding the delicate dance of diplomacy, or possibly, rebellion, unfolding before them.

Even the birds above, having abandoned their mocking calls, watched with curious eyes from a safe distance, as if sensing the shift in the winds of fate.

But suddenly, the boy sprang to his feet. He looked angry, but more sad and afraid. "Why?! A-are you getting rid of me?!"

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I enjoyed writing the next 20 chapters. Finally we're back to the more action/politic/scheming part of the story.

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