Lucy had quickly dressed up when she heard the blaring alarm. Her body, still sensitive from Viper's passionate touches, quivered from time to time. Whenever her skirt narrowly brushes past or the cold wind sweeps through her little flower from under her skirt.
The young master had left her and ran away, grabbing his heart and saying something like "My harem!" She doesn't understand what that was but honestly, she doesn't want to know at all. After all, everything related to him must be vulgar and sensual.
Her cheeks reddened, but she was worried about their conversation before the alarm. The way she rejected him and him promising her he won't touch her. Her heart pounded on her chest. 'Let's first end this and think about the future.'
She burst through the main office room. Seated on the table were all the important people of this city. All the eyes settled on her when she burst through making her eyes wide. Then she took a deep breath.
"Where were you?" Demanded an old man in a suit. "The city is under attack and the Curator was absent throughout an important meeting. How do you think this looks?"
Lucy frowned. "I am sorry, sir. I was just taking care of some private matters. Is this really the right time to discuss it? The city is under attack and have you found out by whom, yet?"
"No," his voice lowered. "Not yet. We are trying."
She adjusted her glasses and walked uptightly across the table and seated beside Viper who was grinning at her like a idiot. She wanted to punch her but she held on. "So, what did I miss? What is our plan to face this enemy?"
"As I was saying," the old man began. "We have lost most of the defenses in the Eastern District. The knights and soldiers stationed there are dead or transformed into abominations. As of now, we can only hope for the best."
"How long until we can prepare for a counterattack?" Viper asked.
"We don't know," the old man replied. "It depends on how fast the enemy is advancing and how many of them are out there. The more we wait, the more time they will have to destroy the city."
"Transformed into abomination...? What does that mean?" Lucy scrunched her face.
"That my dear," this time it was the Grandmaster. He looked thin. "Is as what he said. We are under attack by a Necromancer and he's reanimating every dead Judicial and kings knights whenever they are slayed."
Lucy covered her mouth in surprise and her face flared with anger. "A necromancer...? On this holy land? Who would dare and where are they now?"
"Our best guess is Midnight Consortium," said a middle-aged woman. "Or who else?" She shrugged. "They have tried to pull this stunt back in the Island, throwing us into chaos and making the people miserable and sowing seeds of doubts in their minds..."
"Why...?" Lucy's voice was a whisper, her hands clenched under the table.
"Why not, Darling?" The woman continued. "By doing this, they have infiltrated this holy land which was said to be the most secure city in the entire world. By doing this, they have announced to the world that we- the Grandmaster- is not indeed an invincible force. But instead, a powerless old man who is easily defeated by a bunch of scum. If you ask me, they are testing us. Testing our patience. TESTING OUR STRENGTH!" Her eyes were full of rage.
"That's enough, Elaine," the old man stopped her. "We don't need to add fuel to the fire. You know very well that the Grandmaster has done everything he could to keep this city safe."
"But that's not enough," the woman's spit flew through her gritted teeth. "By tomorrow, the whole world will know about our failure. They will know, a holy land like ours was defiled by dark forces. How will we explain that to the people? What will the other kingdoms say?"
"I understand your frustration, Elaine," the old man said in a calm voice. "But we cannot react to the situation with impulsiveness. We must think of a plan first before we strike back."
"Think all you want," she stood up. "But I am going to kill every single one of those scum. And whoever leads them...I will tear his heart out of his chest and eat it alive." She left the room without looking back.
Lucy glanced at the silent and solemn Grandmaster. He almost looks fragile now. Lucy's heart wrenched seeing him, the almighty godfather of everyone here looks nothing but an eighty-year-old man. "What should we do, Grandmaster?" All the eyes turned towards the old man.
He took a deep breath. "This is a land my master before me built. A land that was supposed to be the symbol of the golden age that came by. A land that kept the Four Major Kingdoms in check and the land of opportunity and advancement. For more than a few centuries ours was and is the most powerful city in the world and I still stand with it." He looked at each and every one of them. They all were listening to him intensively.
"They may have defiled the holiness of this land but they still haven't crushed our spirits. Not yet." He stood up and walked towards the balcony. "The battle has just started. I do not doubt in my mind that we will emerge victorious, but not if we remain here and wait for them to come to us. We are the Grand Magic Judiciary and we will show them what happens when they mess with us!"
Everyone stood up and cheered and clapped. Lucy didn't clap or cheer but instead, her eyes narrowed as she watched the Grandmaster standing alone on the balcony. 'What is this grandmaster thinking?
"Lucy!" He called her.
"Yes, Grandmaster," she stood up.
"Contact the church of Sun. We need to purify this place. The reports say the undead cannot touch the cathedral which means they will crumble under the light of the holiness. That nun may be a pain in the ass but she's our best hope."
She saluted him. "Understood, it would be done."
He nodded to her. "Viper, go and save the royals and their noble fractions. I don't want any more of the new war they are eager to wage on each other. You know where to find them right?"
Viper nodded. "Yes, Grandmaster."
"I leave this city in your hands."
"I will not let you down," Viper smiled. "I will bring back the glory days of this city."
"I know you will," he nodded and turned towards Lucy. "Now, please follow me."
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om