CHAPTER 25 : ICE VS THUNDER (1)

I follow the head priest inside the castle and we navigate through a bunch of different hallways. Sarah is walking at my level without paying much attention. She sometimes knocks her feet on the corners of the walls.

"You should be more careful."

"What does it matter to you?" Sigh…I don't even know why I said that myself. It is your life, so it is your problem.

"Yeah, you are right." We continue advancing and when we reach a big door sealed with chains, the head priest turns to look at us.

"Beyond this door is the sigil we used in this city. Sigils are very valuable treasures for us and not everyone can have access to them. Therefore, I must ask you that you never revealed what you will see inside, never."

"What are those sigils, anyway?"

"I am sorry, miss hero. I can't answer your questions unless you swear upon the name of our God."

"Huh…" Sarah seems skeptical and to tell the truth, so I am. Swearing upon the name of that guy who I am starting to greatly doubt isn't a good idea. "I am not sure I want to do that."

"Then I cannot let you in. What about you, Hero Will?"

"I won't as well. I don't really need to enter this place anyway. But now, that we are here, I would like you to answer my question." I think I have another way of opening this door. The only problem will be how to bring the commander here.

"The answer to your question is obvious. The god law and balance is misericordes and ever forgiving." That's not an answer…well, it is an answer in its own way, I guess.

"I see. Let's go to that guy with the purification skill." I look at Sarah and she turns around, as angry as ever.

I don't know what this sudden change of behavior is, but it is starting to irritate me.

We walk through the long and weird hallway and I try to remember the way to go. It would be bad if I bring him here and I can't find where I am supposed to go.

Once we arrive at the room where the heroes were all assembled with us earlier, we enter with the head priest at the front and I get to see all of them, even David, shuddering in fear as she enters.

"You again! What more do you want?! Taking my pride as the king isn't enough?!"

Even the lame-ass king is here as well? Weird; I was sure he would have gone with some knights to find us.

"My king, we seek-"

"Don't call me your king! You have lost that right after following those traitors!! I should have you-"

"Stephen Gallard Viltraxx!!" Out of nowhere, the head priest screams a name with such intensity the air vibrates a little. Was that the king's name? It must have been since he went completely silent. "Let me remind you that the church is working with you because of the demon's problem. We are not working for you or under you. His Holiness told you he wouldn't hesitate to have your kingdom suppressed should you lose your way once again. I hope you haven't forgotten it."

Yup, that was his name. And she also said again, which means that this is not the first time this guy tries to enjoy himself without control.

"I…I-" Stephen turns blue as the head priest now turns to other heroes.

I wonder why they all decide to sit down like refugees in here. Even Ian and the others that are still wearing their armors are doing the same.

"Heroes, I seek one among you who can use the skill 'purification'. In the upcoming battle, we will certainly need it to defeat our enemies."

No one stands up as she says that, though. They all look at the ground as if she is a teacher that is about to interrogate a student.

"We aren't going to ask you to fight so just show yourself." Don't waste my time. The head priest looks at me like I am lying but sorry for you, I am not. I am already reluctant on doing this because I don't want to receive help so I should at least do whatever I want to be done myself.

"And what proof do we have that we won't end up like you? Not everyone here is a suicidal crazy fool!"

"Is that him?" As soon as someone finally lifts his head, I ask Sarah to identify whether it is him or not.

"Hm…I" It seems it is him.

"Good."

I walk among the others and reach the guy then I hold his arm and stick our bracelet together. It is extremely weird that it survived the ice from earlier but if it is a gift from their god, it should at least be able to do so, right?

"W-what the hell?!"

Our bracelets shine for a second then return to normal. The guy and all the people around get surprised. While they start whispering, a window pops up before my eyes but I close it. I already know what it is going to say.

"Let's go." I turn around and leave. Nobody will ask anything so I won't explain anything. But it wouldn't be good if I involve them in my problems, at least not if they want to. I stop at the door and look at them before leaving. David especially looks at me with hatred and anger. "Oh, by the way, if you guys want to live, you should leave this place as quickly as possible"

"Fuck you!! Who are you to tell us what to do?!!!" David screams like a mad man while I leave, his voice resounds deeply, even in the hallway. Well, I did what I had to do. Whatever happens, won't involve me anymore from now on.

***

Before I can reach the entrance of the castle, the head priest grabs my hand and stops me.

"Wait, sir hero. I need to speak to you."

"What is it?"

"How did you know? I don't believe I told any heroes about skill transfer yet."

"So you do know about it, then. Why haven't you told them."

"I believe you know the conditions for skill transfer. It would of no use to tell them about it if their skills aren't of the same level."

"His skill has a higher level than mine though." I thought that was the condition.

"Yes, you need to have either of those conditions. But in the case the skill you wish to copy is higher, it is necessary that your class is higher. Else, it won't work. Wait…like I said, how come you know of all this?"

"Does it matter now?"

"It does. Everything about you is becoming more and more cloudy. Our God seems to see in a very bad way."

"And so?"

"You do not care?" I see Sarah coming with red eyes. Why is she about to cry?

"What is there to care about? Whatever your god wishes to do, I will take it head-on."

I remove her hand and leave, soon joined by Sarah who tries her best to hold her tears.

"If you wish to cry, you should do so. Because once we leave, there won't be any time to do so."

"S-shut up, dammit! Why do you always act as if you care?"

"I simply don't want you to die while you are helping me. Though, I did tell you to stop."

"I am not helping you. I am fighting for those people."

"Is that so?"

"You thought I would care for an insensitive guy like you? Dream on!"

"Right." She smiles and her eyes gradually turn white. I guess whatever she was told is leaving her mind. That's good. You shouldn't go to a battle with your heart full of emotions.

If I knew that, that bear who killed my parents would probably not have wounded me as much.

***

"Hyaa!!"

"Help us!!"

As soon as we get to the entrance of the castle, we find people running everywhere in disarray. Looking at the sky, the weird dome that was covering it has disappeared with the night sky. And of course, monsters are coming through.

"Giii!! Giii!!"

"Haooo!!!"

The knights have already a visible line of defense, with Emilia in the middle, to protect the people.

"I will go to help them."

"Okay, good luck." To my surprise, Sarah is the one who first takes action and runs forward.

I go to Telestal and stand before him.

"Before we start all this, you must transmit your aura like you promised."

"What? Are you serious? In this situation?"

"Yeah. Now is the best time. We are not sure either of us will survive all this. Though we should normally if my plan works."

"You are a suicidal little guy, you know that?"

"Yeah, yeah." Says the guy who lost his arm.

Telestal stands up and extends his hand to me. As it touches my chest, he releases my aura and without my consent, my aura is released as well. It then starts blending into his own and I can feel my chest getting tighter. I feel like I am receiving something that I cannot contain. This…this feels a lot like when he infused my body with magic. Though in his case, it was way more uncomfortable and I end up with my magic cancer.

"I am impressed. This is the first time I see someone who doesn't scream during the process."

"Well, it is not exactly my first time."

"I see."

Right when the feeling is starting to disappear, a pillar of ice emerges from a corner of the town. He is here, at last.