32 The Girl In The Woods
-Charm's POV-
"Where are we heading next Baal?"
As soon as we were able to make it out of Belmont City safe and sound, I asked this question to the guardian animal over here. Thanks to Lance's, Johanne's and Lucas' horses, our travel became more convenient than before. If you're asking which horse I am in right now, I decided to be on Johanne's horse.
It is actually kinda a long story how I even ended up here in the first place. It's just that Lance and Lucas are arguing earlier as to which of their horses should I ride to which delayed our trip for a bit. So to end their argument, I chose to join Johanne instead.
In return, the talking tiger turned its head towards me with its usual stern face plastered all over his face.
"Citadel."
My eyes instantly went round upon hearing that from him. Wait, what the heck? Why there… of all places?
Baal seemed to notice my bewildered expression thus he decided to continue.
"We all know Deity Apollo used to reign Gilead Empire along with King Nicholas. That's why his temple was also built in the capital city."
Ahh.. yes. I should have known.
I heaved out a sigh. I guess there's no point in complaining here.
"But if Citadel is where captured witches are brought, is Deity Apollo's temple still existing in that place?" I asked curiously. You know. I'm afraid it was torn apart by mortals who are against deities like us.
"I've seen the temple with my own eyes. Good thing that me and Johanne are now joining your mission."
My eyes swiftly shifted to Lance who chose to chime in all of a sudden.
"It is located at the western part of Citadel. No one can actually enter the said temple because it is somehow surrounded by an invisible barrier, that I think prohibits mortals from entering it." Lance continued.
I let out a sigh of relief. It is good to know that the temple is still under the protection of Deity Apollo's power even though he is not present in this world anymore.
"This is why I haven't told you yet of Deity Apollo's temple located in Citadel, Charm." Baal chose to speak again. "I want you to be equipped with the other three elements first before going to the capital city and obtain the last blessing from the supreme leader."
Well, if I think about it now, Citadel is near to where I used to live, which is in Misty forest. It is more convenient to go after the temple that is nearest to our location, but Baal hasn't told me anything about it yet, not until now.
"They're mere mortals. Come to think of it, how come mortals have defeated deities in the past during the war? I mean, if you look at it closely, deities have the upper hand here since we possess powers that mortals do not have.Doesn't it bother you too?" Aurora decides to join the conversation.
I paused for a moment and tried to absorb Aurora's statement. She's right. It is indeed confusing how come deities were defeated during the war and were slaughtered by mortals one by one?
"I heard from my father that our ancestors have used a certain thing in which it can also grant powers to those who have it." Lance stated, then his brows furrowed. "I just can't remember what it is called."
Then he turned to face his friend Johanne. "Do you remember what it is?"
I saw the latter's forehead creased upon trying to recall the thing that Lance is pertaining to.
"Sorry, I can't recall either." he replied after a while.
After that, there was another round of awkward silence as we all chose to remain silent. I can see Lance still trying to recall what's that thing he brought up earlier.
As I glanced behind me for a split second, I've come to realize that Belmont City is now out of our sight. We chose to travel in the woods instead of taking the main road to avoid upcoming soldiers from Citadel that are planning an ambush against us.
Suddenly, both of my eyes narrowed upon sensing the presence of magic within the area. I bet Lucas and Aurora sensed it too since he halted his horse, and so did Lance and Johanne.
"What is going on around here?" asked Lance, who is looking confused as he looked at me.
"I can feel the presence of a strong magic within here… like it's coming from another persona." I answered.
We all decided to climb down from the horses and stood next to each other. I instantly roamed around the area with my keen eyes, searching for any signs of another deity lurking within here.
I became alert when I sensed something that was crawling its way towards us. We were then surprised to hear Aurora shriek all of a sudden. The moment I turned my head to see what happened to her, my eyes went round to see her hanging several inches above the ground with her foot being stuck under the grasp of what seems to be… vines?
Aurora used her freezing spell to freeze the vine that is coiling around her foot, then once it solidified, she broke it with all her might… thus freeing her foot from the vine but also falling to the ground with a light thud.
"Ow." she groaned.
After careful observation, I still can't see who is behind this sudden attack. Soon enough, several vines showed up once again, all looking like giant snakes as they crawled their way towards us.
"Aeris Slash!"
I tried to chant the spell multiple times to cut the vines and stop them from moving any further. However, unfortunately for me, these vines automatically regenerate the moment I try to cut them.
"Aaahh!"
We all turned towards Lance and Johanne's direction, only to be surprised to see them hanging with their heads almost touching the ground and their foot coiled around this thick vine.
I was about to help them when I also felt my right foot being coiled up with the same vine. Once it caught my right foot, it started to make its way around my body as well at a fast speed, which restrained me from moving further.
As I looked at my friends' situations, I can also see them all being caught up around the vines as well.
Damn it, if only I could see who's behind all of this sudden attack!
"Ehh, is my mind playing tricks on me or I can really see both mortals and deities joining in one team?
Speaking of which, we all heard that tiny voice spoke out of nowhere… that seemed to come from a little girl. My eyes narrowed in the direction where I thought I heard that voice.
Moments later, from a dark corner, a silhouette of a persona emerged all of a sudden. As it took several steps forward towards the light, we were all surprised to see a short girl, who's age is I think around nine to ten years old, has sapphire colored hair that reaches her shoulders, and has a pair of warm chestnut round eyes.
"Hello my prisoners. My name's Elena." A smirk formed at the corner of this girl's thin pinkish lips as she looks to each one of us.
I almost widened my eyes when I realized something as I looked at her…
We have found another deity, now standing right before our eyes!
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