53 The Fall

The tranquil skies didn't reflect the swirling tinge beating on Celina's chest, her head stooped low as she was accompanied by Skylar heading to the barracks. Right now Herana was with Celina, she caressed her back, looking at her sullen eyes, Herana was worried.

"Celina are you okay?"

Celina gave a hesitant nod. "I'm fine, I think."

Skylar snuck a glance at her. He shook his head with a sigh, expressing his dismay. "Celina, I'm worried about your mental health, I think you should stop worrying about him."

Celina just swallowed it, she continued to tail them as they went inside the barracks, it was located on the base of a wall. Its entrance was slightly dim, and soldiers often come and go.

As they were walking, from nowhere Pelvin merged with the group, "umm, Miss mage I--"

Celina glared at her, her eyes glimmered in rage. "Pelvin I told you didn't I? Why are you still here?" She smacked her lips, on the brink of snapping.

Pelvin's mouth opened in surprise, he was taken aback, he ended up sighing. "Pardon me." He turned around and broke off from the group.

Skylar faced Herana, he placed his arm on her shoulder. "Your highness, this is the time where you shall speak, so please you need to be brave."

Herana toughened up, gave a nod and gulped hard. "I'm ready."

They then entered the barracks, Celina sat on the corner and never lifted a word, while Skylar and Herana approached Samantha.

Samantha was on her chair, wiping the surface of her helmet with a piece of cloth, when Skylar stepped forward to speak, Samantha held out her hand. "Skylar, you should move back, this is a conversation between her highness and me."

Skylar accepted it with a nod, he briefly turned to Herana. "You can do it your highness." He then went away.

Herana winced a bit and tried to reach out for Skylar's sleeve but she knew she had to do this. The idea of an army under her command was a frightening thought, since they were also humans who had thoughts. What if they disliked her? What if they willl die and it was her fault? Those thoughts clung inside her head. When she focused her head on her front, there she saw Samantha's intimidating face.

She slowly went close and took a deep breath. "Ummm."

Samantha narrowed her eyes and leaned closer. "Now I want to hear it from you."

Herana clenched her fist, she then sighed. "I want an army." She spoke with a gulp.

Samamtha sighed as though worn out, she loosened up. "That was the only thing I wanted to hear from you." She then gestured and a burly crusader warrior came close.

"This is a captain of mine, he'll be at your command. " Samantha said.

The crusader captain unsheathed his sword, planted it on the ground and crouched in reverence infront of Herana. "I will be at your command your highness."

Herana's legs trembled, when she was about to turn away an arm held her back, stopping her movement. She noticed it was Skylar, he gave her a reassuring smile. "You did well your highness."

Her eyes were filled with glee, she lurched forward and hugged him tight, Skylar got startled but he chuckled and learned to embrace it.

Celina's face didn't change one bit after seeing it, she sprang up and whirled. "Sky, I will be on the inn."

She got startled when her foot felt frigidly cold, she cringed and quickly tried to tug her foot from the ice crawling to her leg, and she was stuck. Skylar went close to her side. "Celina, I can't let you go."

Celina gasped in annoyance. "What do you mean? Do you mean you don't trust me?"

Skylar shook his head, he removed the ice wrapping on her foot with a gesture of an arm, letting her free. "What I'm saying is, cool off for moment, while you're still upset I can't let you go, I don't wana judge your habits but please refrain from drinking."

Celina strayed her eyes as her lips were silent. She crossed her arms, "then what am I supposed to do?"

Skylar grabbed her arm and steered her close to Herana. "Stay with us for now."

Celina then snorted in displeasure, and looked away. "You don't have to use your magic on me you know."

As Samantha sat on a wooden stool a soldier hurriedly came forward, "Priestess, important news."

Samantha sensed the urgency on his tone thus she sprang up. "Speak."

With a low nod, his lips parted. "We now know Zemur's hiding location."

Samantha's face became ferocious, she quickly turned serious, she sheathed her blade and walked past Skylar. "Are you sure about this Samantha?" Skylar said.

Samantha gave a confident grin, she spoke none and continued to leave by the door, she ignored Celina when she passed by her. Most of the crusaders have left the place and they were left with the few Samantha had left them.

***

In the eternal darkness of the abyssal room, Argonis the devil laughed haughtily, his voice echoed across the nothingness of the area. Bluish mist often flow by the vicinity, and somewhere Blue stood with a raging expression, his face crumpled heavily, he sneered as he stomped his foot. "That bastard ice mage!" He cursed.

An oozing cold, silvery mist permeate faintly around Blue, he eyed it with an odd expression. "Devil, what's the meaning of this?"

It was as if the coldness of the ice were reeking into the abyssal room.

Argonis came into form, his figure was still obscure, however, right now he wore a white modern jacket, his head was covered with a winter hat, from afar he seem like a shadow wearing an attire. "Blue calm down, I'll fix this, but I can't assure you it will be sudden."

Blue harrumphed, he sat on the clear floor and crossed his arms. "Whatever just get on with it."

Argonis cackled. He snapped his fingers and a chess board emerged infront of them. "I'm already working on it, in the meantime let's play some chess."

"Play by yourself."

"Come on Blue, you rarely visit me, without you doing anything I'm bored as hell. Do you have any idea how long an eternity is?"

Blue grunted. "Tell me about it."

"You're like a child, what you experienced was only about few thousand years, it's miniscule compared to what I had to endure. Imagine living billions of years inside a rock, that was true hell." Argonis said.

***

Beads of sweat came forming on Pelvin's forehead, he was deeply worried about what was to come, with Celina shooing him away he was left with no choice but to leave. He already had enough money to leave the city, maybe perhaps Celina was too much for him. He sighed and was heading to the front gate, but his foot halted he recalled some of their journeys. He wasn't heartless as to abandon her completely.

He faced a certain direction and with a gulp, he head straight towards it.

From the shadows, to his side, Grim emerged. "Pelvin, do not interfere, I have already given you enough chance."

Despite his grating voice, Pelvin continued walking and ignored him.

***

With no purpose left on the city, inside the barracks, Skylar faced Celina one more time, he looked her in the eye, which Celina refused to stare back. "Celina, stop acting like a child."

"Leave me alone for now." She said.

Skylar sighed. "Anyway, I think we're gonna leave for now and return to RedWaters."

Celina gave a weak nod. "I understand."

In a sudden, from the door a city guard scampered towards Skylar, he kneeled down infront of him, it took Celina's attention. "Sir Skylar, Lord Helrick wishes to aid you some military forces."

Skylar was a bit surprised. "Is that true?"

"Yes sir, but before you leave he would invite you to a lunch, would you accept?" The guard said.

Skylar flickered a smile across his face, Herana besides him brightened a bit after hearing the good news. With the crusaders army on their side and the addition of Helrick's city guards, it will definitely add a lot to their numbers. The exact figure given to them was around three hundred soldiers, the rest were still resting.

As they made their way to the mansion, Skylar and Herana was flanked with two crusader soldiers, the captain of their division army was with them. Celina was found at the back, her head bent low and her spirit have fallen greatly, she was no longer the lively girl they once knew.

Herana went to her. "Celina, what's wrong?"

Celina took a big huff. "Nothing." Her voice fading.

Herana shook her head. "You're obviously not fine."

Skylar cleared his throat and took their attention. "Celina, if you're worried that none would accompany you on your journey, don't worry I will give you an escort."

"Sorry for my behaviour earlier, I have calmed down now, but no need for that Sky. I can take care of myself."

Skylar smiled warmly. "That's good to know."

When they were guided inside the mansion, Lord Helrick and his wife sat on the edge of the long table, it seems an abundant meal was already prepared, the food released a fresh mist as though they were recently cooked. Celina swallowed her salive as the fresh smell were aluring her senses.

Skylar approached to the Lord with Herana, while Celina and the captain were somewhat distant. Since they were invited to consume the meal Celina shamelessly went on eating first.

Then a city guard urgently went towards Helrick. "My lord we found a naked guard unconscious near the mansion, his armor was stolen."

Lord Helrick was alarmed he sprang up from his seat. "An intruder?"

The guard nodded. "So it seems, we're currently looking for him."

Helrick gestured his arm for them to leave, his voice were assertive and demanding. "Search every nook and cranny, and strengthen our security."

"Yes sir."

Skylar but his lip and stroke his chin. "That seems kinda bad if someone has managed to intrude."

Helrick chuckled, he shook his head. "Only an idiot would storm this mansion, right now this place is full of guards."

"But back to business, I want to know how much you're willing to give."

Helrick's face hardened effusing his frank approach. "A quarter just as you have first requested."

Skylar felt light after that news, he wanted to smile but he maintained himself since he was still speaking to the Lord with a serious atmosphere.

Helrick then stood up, he motioned to Sethan who approached them. "Anyway this is the best mage of my city."

Skylar chuckled as he already recognized who it was. "Yes, Lord Sethan we already know each other."

"I never thought we would meet again on the Lord's mansion." Sethan guffawed as well, Sethan slowly went closer and patted his back.

Skylar smiled in response, but then suddenly he felt odd. There were runes crawling on the skin of his arm, Skylar's eyes widened. "What the--?"

"This is your end Third Pillar." Sethan whispered coldly, Skylar's chest felt stiff and betrayed, Sethan pushed him away, he got shoved backwards and he was knocked on the head by one of the guard, he collapsed on the ground helplessly.

Herana screamed after seeing Skylar. The captain of the crusader unsheathed his blade and left his seat, the other crusaders suddenly went on a full alert.

"Shoot everyone but leave the princess and Celina alone." Helrick said

From the corners, the city guards rose up their crossbows and shot the crusaders. One by one they fell.

Celina's eyes hollowed out when she noticed the floor was stained with blood, around them only Herana and her were left standing, it happened to quickly that she had a hard time swallowing what just occured. "What just happened?"