31 A Visit To The Duke

-Charm's POV-

I inhaled a deep breath as I stood in front of an enormous gate to where I'm currently standing. To my right is where Aurora is located, along with Lance who is also standing at the opposite end with Johanne on his side.

Baal and Trash are not here with us at the moment since I've told them to stay at the house for a while.

"I'm afraid things will get worse when they'll know who we truly are." I heard Aurora uttered.

"I hope not." I said, almost in a whisper.

Lance volunteered to speak with the guard watching over the gate, and seconds later I can now hear a loud metallic sound as the guards slowly opens this enormous barrier that stands between us and the duke's residence.

When the gate was opened wide for us to enter, we finally took several steps forward with some guards escorting us towards the palace. I bobbed my head upwards and took my time to marvel at this well-built structure in front of us.

The palace was high upon the hill overlooking the town, it's many pointed towers giving it the look of an eccentric crown. The walls were a white stone that glistened in the summer sun and the roof was grey slate. It was as big as twenty of the ordinary houses of the town and employed a good number of the townsfolk as servants.

As I roamed my eyes, I could see horse pastures and kitchen gardens for the royal family, and around that was a stone wall topped with iron spikes and guarded day and night.

I can feel my hand shaking because of too much anxiety that I'm feeling right now, and I bet Lance saw it too since I felt his warm hand grabbing for my shaking hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"All is well, Charm. I got your back." he smiled in which I returned with a nervous smile.

"I hope so Lance."

When we finally arrived at the entrance of the palace, the guard immediately brought us to the duke's room. I almost gaped at the sight of what's inside of it.

I've never seen a room with so much furniture and so many hues I'd never choose, nor a room I love so much.The walls are all burnt orange and reds. The furniture is rustic and dark, sprinkled liberally with vibrant cushions. There is a table in easy reach of every seat and the walls are more photographs than paint. Everyone is of a happy memory, a smiling child, a birthday, a new baby. There is lively Columbian music in the background and the scent of cilantro in the air.

"Presenting, Prince Lancelott of Citadel along with his company." I heard the guard say in his raspy voice.

"Let them in." answered by the man inside the room.

When the guard let us in, an old man who had a fringe of grey-white hair around his balding, mottled scalp and a wizened face greeted us with its crooked smile. Lance slightly bowed down his head in front of this man, and the rest of us followed.

"What brings my lord's son here at my place?" the duke asked Lance, while also roaming around its jet black eyes to scan us one by one.

"We are humbly presenting ourselves to you to make a peaceful request in your presence, sire." Lance responded formally, that made the duke quite amused.

"And what is that you wanted to ask?"

Instead of responding immediately, Lance paused for a moment and looked at me for a split second before proceeding.

"We are pleading for one of your prisoners, by the name of Lucas, to be freed from prison, sire."

As soon as the duke heard what Lance said just now, I noticed its forehead began to crease and his brows were knitted together.

"Why do you wish for that witch to be freed from the prison? He has done such dreadful things to my city! And for that, he deserves death!" the duke said in its wrath.

"But sir--" I immediately butted to which its eyes shifted on me. I took a step forward..

"-- I know he had done such an unpardonable thing to your people, but I tell you that he had already realized his mistakes that he had made. The fact is, he had helped us defeat the monster in that cave that same night."

"Even so, I can't just disregard those lives of other people that were lost because of his foolishness!"

"But sir he had already changed--"

"Silence!"

His last words echoed in the four corners of the room that made me almost jump out of my skin. No one dared to speak after that.

"My decision is final. He will be sentenced to death tomorrow morning." the duke spoke with so much authority that almost made my mouth gape.

"Please sir, just hear us out--"

"Or maybe you're one of them?" the duke cut me in. "Say… are you a witch too?"

My mouth began to dry as I swallowed the lump that starts to form at my throat after hearing those words from this old man. What happens if I tell him the truth? Will he capture us too?

"N--"

"Yes."

Before Lance could cover up our identity, I cut him in and speak out the truth. I saw Aurora's eyes widened because of what I just did.

"I am the chosen one appointed by the ancient supreme deities to revive their springs." I declared as I took a few more steps forward towards the duke.

"And I need Lucas to be a part of our journey."

Looking amused himself, I saw a smirk curved up at the corner of this old man's face as he stared at me for too long.

"So, you're that witch that the king is after?" the duke said, still smirking.

With a snap of his fingers, his troops automatically went to our direction and formed a circle around us with their swords clutched at their right hand.

Geez, so I really have to use force then huh?

"I bet the king would be so happy if I'll deliver your head to his presence." The duke smirked right in front of me.

Me and the rest of the gang immediately switched to our fighting stance as I raised my hand to summon my wand.

"Sire, you don't have to do this." Lance tried to plead but it seems that the duke has already made its decision.

"Stay out of this." the duke warned Lance to which the lad ignored and instead raised his sword as well.

"Capture them!"

With his command, his soldiers started attacking us with their swords in which we successfully dodged.

"Ventus Cauda!"

Upon casting the said spell, strong currents of wind emerged from my wand which sent the soldiers, who attempted to go near me, flying several meters away from me and out of this room.

Nonetheless, the remaining soldiers continue to swing their swords at us in which we easily dodged their upcoming attacks and counter attack it with a spell.

"Father, what are you doing with these people who saved me?!:

I noticed the duke tilted its head towards the door, only to be greeted by a little girl with reddish hair arranged into two cute little pigtails at both sides.

"Alison, my darling! What are you even doing here?" The duke looked frantic upon seeing his daughter here.

"I wanted to see you and this is what I'll be seeing?" The girl crossed both of her arms to her chest and frowned in front of his daddy. She looks exactly like a typical 10-year old kid but the way she talks is like that of an adult.

As this girl, who was called Alison by the duke, turned its head to look at us and when her eyes met mine, she immediately waved at me and beamed.

"Daddy, this is the lady who saved me from those monsters at the cave." Alison said while pointing her index finger at me.

The duke's face lit up all of a sudden and soon told all of his troops to stop and go out of the room. When they are nowhere to be found, that's the time that this old man stood up from the sofa and walked towards me.

"So you were the one who saved my daughter's life..." he smiled.

"How can we repay your generosity?"

At first I remained silent and took my time to catch my breath first. Man, I don't get the turn around of events here.One second, he wished to capture us. And now he's asking what rewards we would want to ask of him?

It didn't take that long before I could think of a reward I want to pick.

"Sire, with all due respect, we want our friend Lucas out of the prison." I said formally.

I heard the duke made a long, pronounced sigh before he spoke once more.

"Very well then. If it's your wish." he said. "Your wish is my command."

The whole gang rejoiced upon hearing those words from the duke. He ordered one soldier to release Lucas out of the prison and bring him here in this room before he marched its way out of here.

I can't help but to smile at this pretty young lady standing beside her dad and mouthed my gratitude towards her.

A few moments later, Lucas finally joined us here. He was a bit bewildered to see us all here gathered in this room before facing the duke.

"Sire, I'm asking for your sincere forgiveness once again, for all those people who suffered because of my rage." Lucas said to the duke and bowed its head. The old man nodded at him.

"Very well then. I think it is best that I should give you a second chance to live for the sake of my daughter." he said, which caused Lucas' head to look up once again.

"Speaking of which, I better warn you, as early as now, of an upcoming ambush that Citadel soldiers are planning against you." the duke spoke again, which caused confusion towards us.

"I've been a part of the said plan, and I do apologize for it. That's why I'm giving you a chance to escape before they get here before sunrise."

As I carefully observed the duke in front of us, I saw its eyes shifted hesitantly at someone behind me, then quickly withdrew his gaze and looked down.

Hmmm… I wonder what's that look for.

***

Later on, we finally arrived at Lucas' place and hurriedly packed our things. If what the duke said is true, then we only have a few remaining hours before sunset arrives.

While I'm still busy packing the things that we will be needing on our journey, I noticed Lucas' presence on my right. I heard him clear his throat first before proceeding to whatever he is about to say.

"Thanks for coming to my rescue earlier guys." he said, which stopped me from packing and turned to look at him.

"No problem. What are friends for, right?" I said.

"Well, that is why…" Lucas scratched the back of his neck before looking at me again. "... I decided to join with you guys on your mission."

My face automatically lit up upon hearing those words from him.

"Really?" I beamed which he simply nodded.

"Yeah. I would be happy to be of any assistance to you." he stated.

"Well then…" I stretched forth my right hand for him to shake in which he gladly took.

"Welcome to the team."

{PLEASE READ AUTHOR'S NOTE. THANKS.}