321 - The Visit of the Demonic Herald
Sebastian Blake:
We were running through the darkness. The number of orcs was decreasing, but we still encountered a few. From the screams I had heard since the incident began, I knew many people had died. But I had done my part. Keeping the royal family safe was my priority, all while moving them away from the other students. I didn't question the reason, the purpose, or the objective. I followed everything I was told. I knew that every step they took had a plan, a strategy—something I wouldn't even begin to understand.
The sound of our boots splashing through the mud echoed as we ran. In the darkness, the path ahead was illuminated by floating fireballs and, most notably, two glowing orbs of light magic cast by the Saint and the fox girl leading the way.
A heavy rain had gathered in one area, a massive storm cloud hovering over part of the dungeon. I hadn't even known it could rain in here. I was aware that this place mimicked day and night, but rain? That was new.
"He's there! Nathan must be there!" Chloe Evenhart shouted, urging us toward the storm.
That moon panther cub suddenly grew restless and bolted from our hiding place. It had been the perfect cover—we were concealed inside a massive rock formation hidden in the darkness. Inside, we had fire for light and wind magic to ensure a steady supply of oxygen.
Beside me were the twin girls. They were strange, spending most of their time in silence.
"Why didn't he stay with us? I was supposed to keep you all safe!" the Saint, Tiffania, muttered, though she had been complaining to herself for a while now.
"What if the professor comes back and doesn't find us?" Melina asked.
"Our goal is to reach the elevator anyway. She just went ahead to make sure the path was clear," Duncan responded.
Water and ice golems shaped like skeletons ran ahead of us, weaving between the trees.
As we reached the stormy area, an unsettling sensation filled the air. Amid the rain, where visibility was poor, we noticed destruction everywhere—shattered trees, scorched earth, deep scars in the landscape.
The elevator tower was nearby, but we kept running.
Suddenly, the group in front stopped.
The soldiers halted, raising their weapons and summoning fireballs.
"Identify yourself!" one of them demanded.
"It's him, you idiots!" the Saint yelled, pushing forward.
I stepped closer and saw him.
Nathan Evenhart stood there, holding the moon panther cub in his arms. The creature was bleeding from a wound on its body.
I couldn't clearly see his face, but he was just staring at the injured animal in his arms.
"Please…" his voice barely carried over the rain. "Please heal her. I'm begging you…" That was all he said before falling into silence.
"What happened, Nathan?" the fox girl asked.
The Saint approached him, and he showed her the wounded animal.
"Please, Tiffania. Save her!" he pleaded.
"Let me see, quickly!" she said, urgency in her tone.
"We can't stay here long. My mana is nearly depleted," Nathan added. "I've been running for minutes in this storm, but we need to hide. There's something dangerous in this place."
"What kind of danger?" Duncan asked.
Nathan remained silent, his eyes fixed on the unconscious feline.
"He meant me!" a voice rang out above us.
At that moment, my stomach dropped.
The skeletal golems exploded, disintegrating.
Above us, floating in the air, was a figure dressed in black robes, wearing a black mask that resembled a skull.
But what truly terrified me were the eyes—glowing, brilliant red.
No… it can't be! Lady Sindra's superior!
I froze, my entire body trembling with fear.
It was him! The being that had been communicating with us through the black stone. Somehow, he had come here.
The elven archers drew their arrows and stepped in front of Syvis and Tiffania. The human soldiers positioned themselves protectively before the royal family. Spells flared to life in their hands, ready to be cast.
But I didn't move.
I didn't even breathe.
I just stood there, motionless, staring at the being floating above us.
"Stop!" Nathan Evenhart's voice rang out through the rain. "It's useless… there's no way to defeat this thing."
The dark figure descended, landing in front of us.
He was taller than any human. He took a few slow steps toward us.
"Please… let them go," Nathan Evenhart pleaded.
"I'm just passing through…" the being said mockingly. "I left you a little gift in that cave," he added, his gaze locking onto Nathan before he walked right through our group, turning his back on us without a care.
No one dared to move.
No one could.
Just looking at him was enough to feel the vast difference in power. His mana was almost tangible.
"Oh… looks like I hurt your little 'kitten,'" he mused. "I would have loved to fight a superior being at its true peak. But it might still be useful. Maybe if I take its head, the Great Lord would be pleased," he said as he stepped closer.
"And yours as well, Nathan Evenhart…"
Chloe Evenhart moved in front of the boy. The fox girl and the Saint, Tiffania, joined her, standing as a barrier between Nathan and the monster.
The Demonic Herald took another step forward, and I knew—beneath that mask, he was smiling at the sight of their defiance.
"You all amuse me…" he said. "Now, give me the animal!"
"STOP!"
A voice rang out through the entire area, reverberating in the wind, echoing from the ground, the ceiling, even from my left, my right, above, below.
A commanding, menacing voice that made every muscle in my body lock up even more.
"Leave him alone!" the voice boomed again.
A man stepped out from the trees.
He wore a strange outfit—something that resembled a suit, covered by a long brown coat. And oddly enough, despite the rain pouring all around us, he didn't seem to be getting wet.
"Another superior being… that's rather unusual," the Herald muttered.
"Leave, you filthy creature," the man said, his tone filled with disdain. "Your impure race has interfered enough in this place. Your lord ordered you to return, didn't he? It seems what you've done has reached the limits of the agreement."
I was stunned.
Lady Sindra would never tolerate someone speaking to her like that. That woman would kill anyone who dared.
The Herald—who was even superior to her—should have obliterated this entire place for such insolence.
But instead, he seemed to respect the man.
"I was just playing around," the Herald said. "I would never take something so filthy with me. I simply wanted to watch the boy suffer."
He laughed.
"But you're right… my lord has ordered us to return. No more deaths, no further interference."
He turned, walking toward the trees with slow, deliberate steps—almost as if to taunt us.
Then, he paused beside the mysterious man.
"We didn't kill anyone of great importance or influence, just to be clear. We followed the restrictions of what was permitted… for now."
With that, he continued walking into the forest.
And then, he was gone.
Even his suffocating presence vanished.
"Hello, Nathan," the strange man said, stepping closer.
We exchanged uncertain glances, unsure how to react.
But in that moment, when all of us had been staring death in the face—he had appeared to save us.
The man walked toward the boy, who was kneeling, cradling the injured feline.
"Let me see her. Now."
Nathan carefully lifted the panther cub and handed it to the man.
"Siegfried… can you save her?" Nathan Evenhart asked.
Nathan Evenhart:
A deep pain burned inside me as I looked at Cylla in that state.
She was unconscious, her breathing irregular, her heartbeat rapid and unstable. Even in unconsciousness, her face was twisted in an expression of pain.
My mind had no time to process how the situation had reached this point—not when I saw Siegfried appear and make that demon leave.
"Hello, Nathan," he said, walking past everyone and approaching me. "Let me see her. Now."
I carefully picked up Cylla, making sure not to worsen her pain, and placed her in his arms.
"Siegfried… can you save her?" I asked.
Everyone stared at me, confusion evident on their faces. I could see them searching for answers in their expressions.
Siegfried glanced behind him briefly before turning his gaze back to Cylla, still limp in his arms.
And then—the world changed.
Everything was suddenly bathed in a turquoise blue hue.
Time had stopped.
But it wasn't me who had done it.
It was Siegfried.
"This way is better," he said before placing his hand over Cylla's wound. "I'm removing the pain."
His hand began to glow as he touched her.
"This was a wound inflicted by the Aspect of Death—it has damaged her soul. The Aspect of Death's sword is far more powerful than that enchanted relic of yours. Soul wounds are dangerous, and depending on the severity, they can be fatal. If Sisika were at full power, this would be easily reversed, but in her current state, she is still too weak."
"Don't worry. Her soul will regenerate slowly. But if a human like you had suffered this kind of wound, it would have killed you instantly. Let her rest for a few days," he said, handing her back to me.
"What I did was bring her physical relief while her soul heals on its own."
I took Cylla into my arms again.
She was still breathing heavily, but… the expression of pain on her face was gone.
"Is there nothing else we can do?" I asked.
"No. Just let her rest. She will be very weak for the next few days, but soon she will recover."
He glanced at the frozen people around us before turning his eyes back to me.
"Soon, I will give you your answers," he said. "But I need to return as quickly as possible. I must personally report everything that happened here to my lord."
He stood up.
Before I could say anything, time resumed its flow.
And he was gone.