"She used an artifact to disguise herself as me and got herself kidnapped?"
Lucas's head throbbed hearing Luna's descriptions.
"How can she make such a foolish decision? Entering into enemy territory like this is foolishness and rash. I know she is capable enough and might have many life-saving artifacts but what if her ailment acts up?"
"That's what I am worried about?"Luna spoke with a sigh.
"She did this because we have no other option. The black mages had locked down the entire area. Once you enter, the communication will be cut off."
Lucas pulled out his smartphone under Luna's scrutinising gaze and checked the signal.
There was a signal on his smartphone.
"As you see, we are locked. They might have already made a move but waited until you all came. Moreover, if she fought here, all our lives might be in jeopardy. Most of the black mages left, leaving a handful of them to deal with us."
Lucas naturally understood the reason behind it. If Saintess was missing before they came, the news might spread around.
So, they waited till they settled down and decided to act. And this might have become successful if Frederick wasn't there and if Lucas didn't have the Holy Water of high purity.
On the other hand, even if Julian can take on all of them, she can't go all out while protecting others and there might be reinforcement from their sides so she decided to divert their attention away from this place.
"Haa! Still, I don't think this is a good choice."
"Do you know where she is?"Lucas asked with a solemn expression.
Luna nodded her head and said"According to me, the Black Mage would use the area near The Holy Guardian Tree in Medea forest. That area might have been tainted by them."
"Hahaha! So, you are telling me to go and die there."Lucas chortled.
"No, the remaining paladins would accompany you and carve a path for you. You just have to use this cross to purify Eunox, The Holy Tree that formed the barrier. It will also help you and lead you to the place, they are preparing for the ritual."
"You want me to specifically do this task."
"You are right!'
"Why? This is absurd. Why do I have to sacrifice my life stupidly?"Lucas freaked out seeing the way the conversation led to.
"Because only you can. You have the correct pieces so you just need to join them at the correct time."
The more Luna explained, the more clueless he became.
At this point, he can only assume that Luna might have seen something that's going to happen later.
Still, this feels shit. Lucas had a premonition that Luna might have seen something about him and may blackmail him if he didn't agree.
"Okay, but before that I wanted to speak about another thing."
"Will I get anything in return?"
"Yes, believe me. You might regret it later if you don't go."
Seeing that foxy smile, Lucas wanted to hit his head.
Seers and Sages really had a knack to piss someone.
.......
Lucas after finishing the conversation decided to take a look at Frederick.
Entering a room, where everyone sat with an exhausted expression, Lucas saw Frederick's pale expression as he lay on the bed.
Rose sat near him staring at him worriedly.
The atmosphere of the room was quite heavy and solemn. After the attack, everyone decided to stick with one another.
"How is he?"
"His condition is stable now. He pushed himself a bit and suffered an internal injury due to the forceful breakthrough. His body is almost squeezed out of all the mana. With proper rest and the blessing, he will be alright."The Priest who examined his condition replied.
Lucas frowned hearing about Frederick's condition. It meant, if Frederick didn't get the blessing, he would suffer a grave injury that might last long enough.
Taking God's elemental blessing wasn't as easy as it sounds. First, your body should be compatible with that element and then you need to strengthen your vessel and make your body resistant to the element so that you can bear the influx of a large amount of power when you call forth the power of the blessing.
Looking at Frederick, Lucas felt that the situation had gone from bad to worse. He hoped for Frederick to accompany him which would also serve as an assurance, alas.
Lucas just sighed heavily.
"Is the Saintess alright?"Charles asked.
"Yeah, she is fine."
"What about Her Highness!"
Lucas's expression froze a bit upon hearing this.
Luna asked her to keep quiet about this for now and talk about it when everyone calms down.
If they knew that all of them are locked by the enforced barrier, a situation of panic and chaos may occur.
"I don't know. She is busy out there somewhere."
"Take care, everyone, I will see you later."Lucas greeted them and was about to leave when Ezekiel shouted.
"Hey, where are you going? Didn't you hear the order? We are asked to stay put here."
Lucas stared Ezekiel unfazed by his ugly expression.
"I have some things to do.''
"Who the hell are you? You are busier than us nobles."
"Hey, Ezekiel, why do you always ask such stupid questions repeatedly? I am the President's Secretary so unlike you I have some work to do. I can't laze around here."Lucas answered nonchalantly and walked out without giving a damn about what Ezekiel thinks.
He wasn't in the mood to argue with a shithead.
"Hey, Lucas!"
Lucas turned back with a frustrated expression wondering what happened now.
"Tell me the truth, something bad has happened, hasn't it?"Charles asked, staring deep into Lucas's eye.
Lucas raised his brows and answered, "You can say so."
Hearing such a dry tone, Charles took up a moment to clear his head.
"I don't know what happened nor I will pry further, however, if you need any help you can just ask."
Lucas contemplated for a moment. If it was Frederick or Parth, Lucas would have agreed at the moment but he wasn't sure about Charles.
'Let's not put his life at risk. I have a protective amulet but I don't know about him.'
That was the main reason he agreed otherwise he wouldn't agree with Luna no matter what.
"Okay, I will call you if required."
Charles sighed seeing Lucas's tough attitude and flicked his figure.
"What's this?"Lucas exclaimed in surprise, catching a mini object.
"Return it to me later."Charles left hurriedly leaving Lucas in bewilderment.
Lucas, taking a look at the object, screamed.
"Holy shit!"
"It's Charles Vestige Armour."
......
The deeper one went into the forest, the more desolate the scenery became. There was no lack of shrubs, bushes and thorns through the path except their condition was a bit strange.
The atmosphere was quite humid and the trees seemed to be eerie and dark. Prickly brambles and grass grew from within the cracks of the rocks. Withered trees started to manifest themselves in the distant darkness and the terrain started to turn ominous giving a dreary sensation of the ghostly forest.
The cold wind could be heard blowing through the branches emitting ghastly whispers of warning.
It was really weird for awakenings like them to feel cold and shiver.
CRACKLE!
The small sound drew everyone's attention. The man without panicking squatted down to see the source of the sound. On dusting the dried leaves and twigs under his foot, he found a cracked skull that seemed to be human.
When the scene was reflected in everyone's eyes, they swallowed their saliva in fear.
'I knew it. I shouldn't have agreed to this suicidal mission.'Lucas sighed looking around.
Accompanying him were two guards, two paladins and a priest who seems to have similar feelings as Lucas.
There was a look of resignation on the Priest and he seemed to be screaming inwardly.
'Why are you pulling me into his shit? Out of everyone, why me?'
He was the youngest one among the remaining Priests and was pushed here.
'I shouldn't have believed in the Saintess. I thought a whole squad of Paladin would accompany us but she sent only two.'
Lucas clutched the holy cross over his neck more tightly. It was Luna's locket that would avert evil spirits and ghouls away from him.
Dragging his limping limbs, Lucas and the guards followed the Paladin's lead.
"Are we there?"Henry asked cautiously.
"Almost!"The paladin named Tom answered, looking at the man.
"We can't reach there without a map, you idiot. The barrier is transparent and covered with an illusion of magic. We need to use divinity to get there otherwise we will just be going round and round."Priest Lein shouted with frustration.
"Huh! Was there something like this?"Tom exclaimed in shock.
"Damn! Who the hell stationed you here? You don't even know such a simple thing."
Lucas, Henry and Owis just stared at them bantering through the way.
"I don't think we can get there like this. Oh my God, if we don't rescue Her Highness, I have to offer my head as a gift to the monarch...sob..."Owis started to shed tears.
"Do you think your life is worth anything in front of Her Highness?"Henry condemned him.
Lucas's lips twitched witnessing the weirdest party members around him that were selected personally by Luna.
'What am I doing here?'Lucas looked up at the dark starless night with a depressed expression.
As he was lamenting, the cross over his neck started to glow.
"Huh!"
"It's glowing."
"No, it's telling something."
The cross rose and pointed forward with a slight pull.
Lucas gazed in the direction it was pointing.
For a test,he turned towards the opposite direction but the cross turned and rotated towards the original place.
"It's just like a compass," Lucas murmured.
"Let's go quickly. We need to hurry lest something happens to Her Highness."Henry spoke while wondering what lied ahead of them.
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