4 Lance's Comrades

Charm's POV

The moment we left the Misty Cave, that's when Lance decided to let go of my hand. I was kinda relieved after that to be honest.

Boy, it sure is awkward for some lad, that I didn't even know in the first place, to hold my hand like that for too long.

Not to mention the non-stop loud beating of my heart that is so uncomfortable for me to handle.

"Phew! We made it finally out of that cave safe and sound." he said, smiling to himself.

"Yeah right. So that's why, for the nth time, please... don't you ever dare to go inside that cave again! It's too dangerous for you." I warned him again, my brows furrowed together as I point one finger at him.

With a blink of an eye, his smile suddenly turned into a serious expression on his face... and an unspeakable sadness seemed to reflect on those hazel brown eyes of his.

"I can't." he sadly said.

"Huh? Why not? " My forehead creased as the corner of my eyes crinkled.

What is he even trying to do inside that cave that he is so willing to risk his life in there? I don't get him!

There was a moment of silence between us before I heard a long, pronounced sigh from him before he decided to continue.

"My mother is terribly ill and needs to be treated right away... before it's too late." he started.

I became silent and waited for him to continue.

"She's been unconscious for several months now. Great and well-known doctors from different villages and cities have tried to cure her, but there was none who succeeded. They also can't pinpoint what's her illness, or what's the cause. "

He paused for a moment, his eyes are now glued on the ground.

"Then, there was this particular doctor who came to us one day and tried to cure my mother. But just like the rest of those doctors, he was not able to cure her. However, he mentioned to me something about this magical stone that can be found in the heart of the Misty Cave. According to him, this stone can cure any illness, and it can even raise someone from the dead. "

"So after I heard that from him, I immediately did my research about this magical stone that he was pertaining to. Later on, I found out that it is called the "Soul Stone" or what is also known as the "Stone of Life."

"That is why I keep coming back to this place even though I am completely aware that it is dangerous. I wanted to find that Soul Stone and to save my mother from her illness. As long as I don't have it in my hands, I will keep going back here no matter what it takes."

I heard him let out another sigh on his last statement.

Without him looking, I reached for that brown pouch I have inside my sling bag.

"Looking for this?" I said as I held the pouch in my right hand that contains the Soul Stone.

I saw his eyes immediately sparkled the moment he saw what's on my hand.

"The Soul Stone!" he happily said.

But then I saw his eyes squint as he turned to look at me, with a hint of confusion and suspicion at the same time.

"How come you have this with you?"

"Well... let's just say I kicked three asses earlier using that sword of yours to get this." I lied. I wouldn't want him to know that I am a witch that mortals are afraid of.

"Wow! I didn't know you are that good at sword-fight! For someone who has a petite body as you have." he cheerfully commented, both palms were stuck together forming a clap sound on the process.

"Well, I ... uh , I'm not that good as you think I am." I said, barking a nervous laugh.

Oh geez, I wish he quits on asking too many questions because I'm running out of excuses to tell!

So what I did is I grabbed his right hand and placed the said pouch on top of his palm and closed it afterwards.

"There... you can have it. You'll be needing that more than I do." I said.

Oh well, there's my one and only chance of making a doll of my dreams. I guess I'll just have to look for more alternative ways in finally creating a doll that could talk and be my buddy.

As he received that pouch from me, the next thing I knew is that I am now under his tight embrace. I can feel again the loud beating of my heart and the burning feeling on my cheeks.

"Thank you so much Charm! I owe you my mother's life!" he thanked me wholeheartedly while I'm still stuck under his tight embrace.

*Badump... badump*

Oh no... there it goes again! I really don't have any idea what's this new feeling I am currently experiencing.

"Y-you're welcome." I whispered to him as my lips curved up into a shy smile.

.

.

"LANCE?! WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

Lance suddenly let go of me the moment we heard that perky, girl's voice behind us.

When we turned around, we were greeted by a not-so-tall-looking lady with a red-colored waist-length hair with her arms crossed on her chest, making her not-so-friendly-looking either.

Behind her is another lad with an ash grey-colored clean cut hair and an armored soldier who's quite tall than the rest of the people here and has a well-toned physique build under his armor.

"Calm down Velma! You're acting as if you're Lance's girlfriend when you're clearly not." I heard the ash grey-colored hair guy speak for the first time in his quirky tone.

Lance, who is still standing beside me, is now laughing at his remark.

"We're looking all over for you, sir." said by that guy in an armored suit in his deep voice.

I was quite amused and curious at the same time on how he addressed Lance here as "sir".

"So the reason why you keep on coming back here is to meet up with your secret girlfriend in the woods huh? How fascinating." The ash grey-colored guy teased Lance then shifted his head to look at their lady friend who is just beside him, frowning.

"No, you idiot." Lance answered sarcastically at his friend's remark. I heard that guy laughed at Lance's response..

O..kay? Is it my cue to flee from their presence now and just go home?

"Oh, by the way! Guys, I want you to meet my friend, Charm. She was the one who helped me found this!" he finally introduced me to his group of friends before showing to them the Soul Stone that I just gave to him earlier.

This color emerald stone sparkled the moment it was hit by a ray of sunlight.

His friends were shocked and amazed by what they just actually saw on his hand.

"Congrats Lance! You finally found what you've been looking for all this time!" said by that not-so-friendly-looking girl to Lance and gave him a quick hug.

"I'm so happy for you too bro! " his guy friend also said while giving Lance a quick tap on his shoulders.

"Thanks guys." Lance said to the both of them. Then he suddenly turned to look at me.

"Charm, these are my childhood friends, Velma and Johanne. And this armored soldier guy is my personal assistant, Alpha." he finally introduced his set of friends he got here while pointing to each one of them as he stated their names.

I saw Johanne waving at me but Velma, the not-so-friendly-looking girl, just rolled her eyes in my direction.

Ain't she the friendliest person I have ever met?

"Nice to meet you Charm. " I was greeted by Johanne while smiling at me.

I saw him extending his right hand for me to shake, which I just looked at for a few more seconds before I decided to take it and shook hands with him.

This awkward introduction part was then cut off by the manly voice of Lance's personal assistant, Alpha.

"We need to go back into the palace, sir. Your father may already be looking for you." Alpha said in a somewhat formal manner, just like how you talk to your boss.

But wait, did he just mention the palace? Is Lance one of those important persons in the capital city of Citadel that I should be aware of?

"Tsk, why should my father be looking for me? " I saw Lance's face become tense as he mentioned his father. But then it turned again to his usual energetic smile the moment he looked at me again.

"We better get going Charm. Again, thank you so much for your help. I hope that someday, I can replace your kindness." he said as he sincerely smiled at me.

"Forget it. I'm just happy to help you ,that's all." I said.

He gave me one last smile before he bid me goodbye and afterwards turned his back on me. He and his friends are now starting to walk away. I saw his friend Johanne look at me and waved me goodbye before turning his back also and continued to walk with the rest of the others.

As I watched them leave, I can't help but to wave back without them noticing.

***

I just found myself smiling from ear to ear as I walked back towards Deity Morrel's temple.

"Looks like you're happy right now."

Baal's deep voice literally sent goosebumps down my spine the moment I entered the temple. You know... the talking tiger who's also with me in this temple.

"Oh you wouldn't believe what happened Baal! I helped this certain lad, and I never thought that it feels so great when you've helped someone--" I suddenly stopped talking the moment I realized what I just said to the talking tiger.

My eyes mentally widened when I realized that I was just about to tell him that I have helped a mortal. Oh no, what if he finds out? Then I'm doomed! You are such a klutz, Charm!

"So this lad that you have helped, is he a mortal?" There! I knew he would ask! I chose to confirm it by slowly nodding my head at him.

"So here's what really happened... I gave him this Soul Stone that I got from the Misty Cave to help him cure his sick mother--"

And again, I was interrupted when I saw Baal's ferocious face twitched which made him look scarier! Okay, I'm really doomed. Please Baal, don't eat me alive!

"Did you know that only a deity can activate the powers of the Soul Stone? And you gave it to a MORTAL?!" Baal said in horror.

So again, Deity is a term used to call us who were blessed with magical powers, however mortals much more preferred to call us witches.

Both of my hands flew to cover my mouth upon hearing that from him. Oh no... I-I don't even know about that!

I can't remember reading that information on that Sorcery Book from the temple's library, or maybe I may have skipped that part since I was just skimming through the pages.

So what will I do now? Does this mean-

"You need to go after him if you really wish to help cure his mother." Baal was the one to confirm my thoughts for me.

Maybe he can really read minds and he's just keeping that as a secret from me? Then maybe he can read some nasty things that I am saying to him inside my head?

Well enough of worrying about Baal's secret mind-reading powers! He just confirmed it for me. I need to go after Lance for the Soul Stone to actually work.

But then I nervously swallowed at the thought of doing so.

If Lance is indeed an important person in the mortals' society, then that means he must be residing at the capital city of Gilead which is Citadel.

That city is also known as the place where captured deities, or witches, are brought... either to be sold or to be killed.