Chapter 24- Exit
The wind blows but unlike before it's now calm but the coldness is obvious. Alicia changes the towel in Elise's head then checks her temperature. She's not burning, unlike this morning. The breeze is cold because of the coming winter season next month. She's afraid that it would be too cold for a sick person but thanks to Rj, Elise is fine.
Twilight comes. The sky changes its color to pink and orange. Rio prepared for their food. They camp at the highest peak of the mountain, covered by the tallest trees but still near the river. It's safe to have water near the area.
Nero and Rj checked the surroundings. They cast a barrier and an alarm for wild animals and invaders. Nero meticulously cast strong magic so that they were safe.
"We can have dinner after they come back." Rio said to Alicia.
"Yeah, but where is sir Carson?" She asked. He's been out of sight since this morning.
"I heard that he's on a mission." Rio casually answered.
"Hmm." Alicia almost forgot her mission because she was preoccupied with Elise's condition. She's guilty of not helping but her priority is for Elise to get better.
***
"I already prepared everything for Your Highness." Carson said after joining Nero.
They arrived at the last place and now Rj was the one who made a barrier. Nero checks it first then they decide to come back.
"Let's go back." Nero said on his serious face.
***
It's a cold evening. The breeze is freezing and thanks to Rio's hot meal, they manage to end the night. Nero did not sleep the same as Carson and Rj. They aren't tired despite being busy all day.
Alicia watches Elise, her complexion is fine and she's not pale anymore. All she has to do is to wait for Elise to gain her consciousness. Her anxiety has never left her since this morning. She prayed for her fast recovery.
The morning comes, and the breeze is still cold. The mountain has a refreshing surrounding but not today. The falling leaves added to the chillness of the atmosphere.
Alicia yawns and then glimpses at Elise. She flinched when she saw her opening her eyes. She hurriedly checks her temperature and sighs in relief when Elise is fine.
The first thing Elise noticed when she woke up was the frosty wind. Her body is fine and she's not sick anymore. She looks at Alicia who is in tears while staring at her. She was surprised.
"Elise, Thank God you're fine!" she said then held her hand.
"Please don't cry." Elise told her then smiled.
--
They gathered at the camp after eating Rio's meal. Nero told them his plan about investigating the whole mountain since it was his real mission coming here.
Elise paused for a moment. Bwi is still sleeping in his realm, same with Rin. She's not sure if it was the right time to go to that cave.
The book Elise read stated that there's a group of people collecting slaves and camping here in Yaven Mountain. She originally wanted to tell this to Alicia after leaving the mountain because of how dangerous it was. But they already encountered the dark magician and according to them, He was dead.
Normal mostly commoner people are being the victim of slavery. Elise bit her lips and tried to talk with Alicia about the camp of the slave trader. She is aware that they are near here but Elise also checks the surroundings. There were knights from the empire gathering near their camp. Elise knows that it's only a matter of time until Nero will discover the slave trader that the nobles are doing.
Elise recollects the story, They are near to climax. After Alicia was bestowed as a formal Saint of the Empire. Duke Molten treason will be revealed and the traitors in the Kingdom will surely be arrested. Elise wonders what will happen to her once the story comes to an end.
Time passed and some knights came to Nero and Carson. They report some mercenaries acting suspiciously and desperate to go inside the border. Elise knows that it will be time for them to depart.
"Hi, What are you thinking?." Rj asked Elise after he sees her frowning. He is worried that Elise was still sick.
"That we will be departing soon." Elise answered then look at Nero who's giving an order to the knights.
Nero receives a report of mercenaries acting suspiciously. He knows that time that they already found the hole and all they have to do is to go there and get them. He felt someone's stare and shifted his gaze only to see Elise with Grimald. For a moment, Nero's intuition convinces him that Elise knows what they are looking for and she is just waiting for someone to confirm it.
"We will be departing now. Hold the two suspicious mercenaries and torture them if they don't speak." Carson orders the knights.
---
They went to the south border of Yaven mountain. Unlike the rivers, the whole place is different. There's a lot of tall trees surrounding the cave. Elise halted then shallow hard. She is weak with caves and dungeons. She feels her hands tremble and the wind breeze adds to the cold occupying her entire body. Elise shivers, she knows what will happen and she's trying her best not to waiver.
Alicia is standing near the cave and studying the whole area. She felt magic inside and an aura of people. She knows that Nero already felt it too. Her eyes change to yellow and continue to let her guard up. Upon checking the possible danger, Alicia remembers something...
Nero is frowning and thinking of the plan, he talks with Carson and Rj. There are only ten knights with them and Nero thinks that it would be overkill if all of them will go inside. He checks the commoner girl, and she starts to look pale again. Nero decided that only five people will go inside and the rest will stay outside to secure the area. He called for Alicia.
"Carson, Rj, and two guards will come with me inside. I want you to guard the exit, Alicia." Nero retorted. He nodded After making sure that Alicia agreed to his order.
"I also can't go inside Nero. I hope you understand." She said determine. Alicia's eyes are starting to be gold. Nero sharply gets her words and just nodded his head. He stares at Rio who's talking with Rj as he hears them talking about the plan.
Finally, the group of Nero departs. They went inside the dark cave and slowly they vanished from their sight. Alicia automatically went for Elise and stood guarding her. Rio uses magic as a barrier for possible attackers. Elise then suggests a plan for Rio.
"There will be two men that are using invisibility to escape. I want you, Sir Rio, to deal with them." Elise said and smirked after remembering the story in the book.
"Do you think Nero and Carson and well, Rj wouldn't know?" Rio sarcastically said to Elise. He's trying to be funny and his remarks made Elise and Alicia raise their brows.
"Of course they are like that so just follow my advice." Elise said not minding Rio's remarks.
"Right. Their personality is just like that." Alicia agreed and nodded her head enthusiastically.
"What?" Rio frowns and doesn't understand the two girls.
"Sir Rio needs more humor eh?" Elise teases and giggles.
Rio follows Elise's advice and puts magic at the exit of the cave because technically she is his boss. After all, the request is still ongoing. They have not left the Yaven Mountain yet and his mission is to protect their contractors. Rj also reminds him that Elise's safety is their priority.
After half an hour, two men are running quickly trying to escape. Blue bubbles appeared before they even exited the cave. Rj grinned after confirming Rio's power that caught the two slave traders.
Carson is impressed while Nero ignores it. They got a total of 7 slave traders and 20 slaves including children. Carson orders the knights to bring things that will help the slaves.
Alicia's golden eyes shine brightly. She and Rio went to the slaves to heal them. Nero is talking to Rj and Carson while Elise is silent.
The face of the slaves is pitiful. There's a lot of wounds in their skin and their eyes are out of light. The children are trembling in fear while some of the teenagers have no emotions on their faces. Elise felt the pain as she watched them terrorized and weak. She holds herself not to shed tears for these poor souls. Her emotions are full and her legs give up. Elise feels the exhausting life she's living.
She realizes that her new life is never easy and she is always confronted by the saddest reality. She is already part of this world and she's been struggling to stay alive while figuring out why an outsider like her keeps encountering and suffers in this world. She thought that in her next life at least she won't be experiencing hardships but Elise is wrong, She feels that God is punishing her for the sin she wasn't aware of.
"Hey, Commoner girl, are you in pain?" Nero casually asked Elise.
Elise was taken aback by Nero's distance invading her personal space. She is thinking deeply that she didn't notice him until he's near. Elise met his eyes and looked at his handsome face. Her mood rises after seeing a beautiful person.
"I'm fine. I just realized how scary the world is. The victims are mostly children." Elise seriously answered and a frown escaped from her face.
"There are always greedy people everywhere. You can't find a world without evil deeds. That's why I'm trying to eliminate them as much as possible, for people in the empire to live in peace." Nero said and stared into Elise's brown eyes.
"I'm assured now that the head of the empire loves his people." Elise said not thinking of her words disrespecting the royalty.
"I will protect my people." Nero clearly stated. He understands Elise's remarks and honestly, he is pissed hearing naive comments from her.
"That's why I'm sincerely thankful." Elise mumbled. There's an awkward silence between them. No one speaks until Carson talks with Nero.
The knights from the palace helped the slaves and made sure to transport them to the capital. Alicia and Rio are both exhausted after healing the commoners. They eat foods the knight's cook. By that time, they depart leaving the Yaven Mountain for good.
Nero still left knights in guarding the border of Yaven Mountain. He still doesn't know the mastermind of slavery and he didn't want to have a problem later on. He cast a spell for intruders then they decided to go back.
Elise is anxious after recollecting her memories in the book. She's not confident in giving Carson information but she's convinced that he cannot be back in the palace after his mission. Elise looks at Carson and never lets him leave her sight. She wanted to talk it out with Alicia but she's resting and only she can give a warning to Carson. After fighting with herself, Elise goes to Carson and touches the hem of his polo.
"I need to talk to you." Elise in her puppy face stares at Carson lion's eyes. He frowns and his senses sharpen.
"Yes, My lady." Carson responded in a polite formal manner.
"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not. I know you will make a good decision." Elise retorted. Her eyes change in light brown making them more prominent combining her pale skin, Elise is glowing.
"Do not trust the knights in the palace." Elise told him.
For Carson, His knights are his colleagues. He trusted them and that's the reason why he died in the book. The knights that Carson colleagues are traitors will soon plan for treason. Elise shallows the invisible lump and she almost waiver when she sees the veins in Carson's neck reminding her that he is pissed. He breathes heavily and his sharp eyes are pointing directly to Elise.
"You're crossing the line, My lady." He whispered and sarcastically grinned at her.
"You know what I'm talking about, Sir Carson. I wish you well." Elise's last words and turn away to go back with Alicia.
Carson was left feeling empty. Nero then showed up and looked at him. That time Carson knows his duty. He looks at the girl walking away slowly as if she didn't just drop a bomb and killed him directly.
"We will depart in 1300." Rj shouted.
End of Chapter 24...