42 The Sky Gods Crusaders

On a specific street, Zemur's men held Celina down, she kept flailing but was buckled down, her face pressed unto the stony surface. She stared at Blue who was somewhat distant.

Blue's body released a puff of smoke with a hissing noise, he guessed it was the poison being dissolved from his body. He could move his eyebrows and some muscles on his face, yet his limbs were still frozen.

"It's taking too long." Blue said.

Zemur walked away as he stared at Blue with a stoic face. Not so powerful are we?" He said haughtily.

Zemur tossed the poisoned dagger to his men, which they readily caught, they then drove the blade close to her skin.

Celina eyed the blade. "No." She cried.

When the blade was close to her skin, in a sudden, a layer of ice came crawling across the road, when it touched the men it it turned them into ice sculptures. While Celina was left untouched by the ice, her eyelids fluttered as she struggled to make sense of the situation. She quickly stood back up and then smiled after identifying whose ability it was.

Unfortunately, Blue got caught inside a thick shell of ice, however, it was nothing to fret about since when he regains his strength he could easily break through the ice layer.

When the layer of ice was coming to Zemur's foot, he leaped and dodged it, thus avoiding from becoming a statue. He landed and then slid on the icy surface, he sunk his blade on the ice to avoid sliding further. Zemur seemed unhappy as he tried to locate where the ice originated. Looking around him, the entire streets within his sight were wrapped in thick ice.

All of his men were frozen, only him and Celina were left on the road that weren't statues. From one of the alleyways, Skylar emerged. With his cold eyes he glared towards Zemur. "Zemur, I suggest you tell your men to retreat, if they don't want to die as a statue that is." He said teasingly but with a hint of threat.

Zemur harrumphed, he rose his long sword up.

Seeing he had the will to fight, Skylar chuckled. "Zemur you have no chance against me."

"Skylar!" Celina said with glee.

Skylar chuckled. "Hey Celina, it seems you're doing fine."

In a sudden, men who wore plated armor embroided with white leather marched on the distance. They rose white banners up with an insignia of a winged sword on it, some rode on armored horses while some walked, their plated boots slapped the road clattering in a grand march.

Celina could recognize who they were, they were the crusaders of the Sky Gods Church, they were an army of the church that vanquished heretics and demons.

The one who led this army was someone familiar to her eyes, she wore a gleaming cuirass with a white leather sleeve underneath it, her long braided green hair sways every steps she makes. It took her about several minutes to recall who she was, but she was Samantha, she was one of Celina's friends when she used to visit the light city. It was the first time they met ever since that day, it was about four years ago as far as she can remember.

While on the scene, Skylar smirked at Zemur, noticing he was now underhanded. "Surrender yourself Zemur."

Zemur glared back to Skylar. "Make me."

Skylar nodded, he crouched and touched ground with his arm. "As you wish." He grinned.

"Ice wall!" Skylar casted.

Zemur gripped his blade tight, abruptly layers of ice rose around him, after the walls stopped growing, he was now trapped inside the ice walls, caging him on all four sides, as though inside an open box. The only opening left was above him, though he wouldn't be able to leap over it with the ice wall's height.

In a flash, using his Zen technique, the walls were sliced horizontally like butter, they crumbled to pieces like a cardboards then shattered, afterwards cold mists plumed the air.

Zemur then emerged from the mist who sprinted away from the scene.

With another cast of Skylar, another wall soared up infront of Zemur, blocking his path to the alleyway. Zemur quickly sliced it down, causing it keel over, giving him a path, he then entered the alley and vanished from sight.

Skylar smacked his lips. "What a persistent bastard."

The crusader warriors have finally arrived close, most of them trailed Zemur and entered the alleyway, while some stayed close to Celina.

Celina looked over and noticed that the invaders were hurrily leaving the city. They got trampled like ragdolls when they crossed paths against the crusaders, they got cleaved and fell from their horses.

Samantha was approaching to her. As she tread on the road, she was flanked by armored men who held crusader banners.

Celina scampered to Samantha with her arms spread out as though about to hug her. Yet Samantha held out her hand stopping Celina from her tracks. "Celina, I'm sorry but you can't hug me now, I'm in the middle of my work." Samantha gave a weak smile.

Celina retreated her arms to her waist, she chuckled. "Sorry about that, it has been a long time, just when was the last time we met again? And right now you seem someone important." Her eyes roved around Samantha's body.

"That's because I'm a White Winged Priestess now, but more importantly I'm happy that you're well and fine." Samantha said.

The White Winged Priestess as far she knew were one of the figures that could led a crusaders army. It baffled her how Samantha was able to reach such an important position, it was not impossible to be one but it was unlikely since only few were chosen by the Pope.

"Well, you too." Celina replied.

Skylar stepped in on the conversation, Celina faced him. "It's nice to see you Skylar."

Skylar's eyes were somewhat merciless but warm. As a character, Skylar was more composed and had more restraint on his temper, his thoughts were also harder to peer through.

Skylar lifted a smile. "So where are Herdis, and that red boy idiot?" He said.

Celina's face fell sullen. "I have a bad news to tell you." She told them about the event regarding the cave encounter.

Skylar sighed in dismay. "The great hero has now passed away, huh?"

Samantha scowled at the news. "Sir Herdis?" She said in disappointment.

"As for Radmun's team they are going to recover the legendary sword, they are heading south." Celina added.

Skylar crossed his arms, eyeing her curiously. "Why are you here though?"

Celina sighed, her eyes strayed and shy. "Well..." She told her story about Gamiz.

Skylar gave a sigh another time. "So you're telling me that your magic was sealed, and that Gamiz is a loyalist, well, this is quite a headache." He said.

Celina's face fell slightly. "I'm sorry Sky."

Skylar's face was riddled with disappointment, he then rested his arm on her shoulder. "Well, what's done is done, we have to focus more on what is ahead of us? Anyway, we have to talk later, I have something more important to do." He then turned to Samantha who was right beside her.

"I have something important to talk with you, I hope we can speak in private." Skylar said to Samantha with a serious voice.

Samantha nodded, they then stepped away and continued strutting. Celina was left alone with some of the crusader warriors, standing alone she felt like she forgot something. She gasped. "Blue." She shook her head, surveying the crystalized streets. Then after she found him, she quickly attended and crouched to his side

Inspecting Blue, he was underneath the thick shell, then a sudden crack emerged, the crack was magnified, running across the entire ice statue until it shattered and Blue broke free from it.

Blue grunted, he slammed his fist on the ground. "That bastard poisoned me, damn it." He glanced at Celina.

"Blue, are you okay?" She said worriedly.

Blue grunted. "I'm the last person you should worry about."

"Anyway Blue, I was happy when you said you believed in me." She said as her cheeks rested on her arms.

Blue got irked as he eyed the ice shards on his body. "More importantly woman, who the hell froze me?"

Celina rose her eyebrows. "You didn't see him? It was from Skylar, the guy with the grey robe."

"I was inside the Abyssal Room when it happened." After hearing the person was probably capable, Blue held a creepy smirk, his fangs were displayed, giving a mischievous hint. "And is this guy strong?" .

Celina's shrunk her face, she was suspicious. "Forget it Blue, he's strong but not worth your time. Skylar is an ice mage, if flames, swords, punches, and energy blasts have no effect on you, I doubt ice can." She spat.

Blue scowled, he smacked his lips. "Whatever, let's just go, I think you have already delivered that letter."

Celina gasped heartily, she scratched her head, chuckling. "I forgot."

Blue erected up, he yelled in frustration. "Then go and give it to him!"

Celina winced, startled from his roaring voice, she sprang up and sprinted to Skylar's direction. "Okay!"

Blue sighed, he facepalmed, then followed her trails.

***

Few hours later, in a run down fortress somewhere distant from Raxin was Zemur who stood on a stony porch. He eyed the direction where Raxin was found, while below him where his men, some were injured and some even mangled, while most were somewhat fine.

The town surrounding the fortress was reduced to a pile of brick rubbles, the place used to be a stronghold. However, right now it was detoriated and only the fortress remained erected, most of the fortress' wall had irregular holes and charred marks, indicating a heavy battle just went by. Zemur and his men just stumbled upon the place, thus they occupied it in the meantime.

While on the porch found above the fortress, Zemur's eyes glimmered in determination, he sunk his eyes on the ground below to see his men, they were exhausted and tired. "Men! Listen carefully!"

His deep voice boosted their strength, as though their weariness were just wiped away. They tilted their heads and opened their ears, as they listened their vigor returned.

"We won't and can't give up, because there is still hope." He hollored.

One of his men cleared his throat. "But Lord Zemur, we can't stand a chance against Skylar and the crusaders."

Zemur laughed haughtily. "Of course we can't, if we fight head on that is." He grinned steady.

"So what you plan to do?"

"Simple, just listen to what I have to say." Zemur said.

***

Upon a certain roof, Blue sprawled on its surface, he gazed into the depths of the dark skies, the glimmering stars above him sweeped the entirety of his peripheral vision. It was a relaxing sight, the heart wrenching depression he felt slowly fades when the entire scenery was calm. Only the breeze of the night often whisper on his ear, truly a peaceful ambience. No annoying voice of the woman, he then reached upon the sky and clenched his fist. "Just a little longer." He gritted his teeth as pain squashes his heart.

Below him was a luxurious apartment. It's walls were furnished with smooth stone bricks, it soared up to four floors in height. The apartment was surrounded by the crusader soldiers, standing firm and tall against any threats of the night.

Inside a certain room of the apartment. The walls were painted in pale yellow, somewhat pleasing and warm to the eye. On one of the corner was a wide bed with a thick mattress, and Herana and Celina sat upon it, listening intently.

Skylar and Samantha were on a table, facing each other, they conversed with serious eyes who had no trace of jest.

Samantha steepled his arm upon the table, she sighed as though worn out. "So you're saying you want a portion of my army?"

Skylar nodded. "Yes Priestess, as the Princess demands."

"Can you tell me again why you need a military force?" Samantha said.

"Princess Herana and Prince Herazin have a conflict on Redwaters, it won't be resolved unless Princess Herana can muster a strong military might." Skylar said.

Samantha pivoted her buttocks on the seat and turned to Herana. "Princess, I'd like to hear your view on this matter."

Herana's lips were barred, her eyes darted to and fro as sweat started to appear on her cheeks. "Ummm, I want to..." She became restless.

Celina patted her back. "Come on your highness, you can do it."

"Uhh, I can't..." Herana closed her eyes timidly, like a child she scampered and hugged Skylar's chest.

Samantha sighed, she stood up. "Pardon me Skylar, but I can't take your word for it. I need to hear the words coming straight from the Princess' mouth. But if you need me, I'll be at the barracks." She said, then trailed off through the door.

"I'm sorry Skylar, I need some preparation before I need to make a big decision." Herana said softly.

Skylar facepalmed, he sighed. "It's okay we still have time."