Chapter 40, Protect the World

"How is she?" I asked Danny as we watched a young lady with beautiful green hair dressed in gown sleeping in a bed of roses.

"She'll be fine." He said and I smiled.

"Sorry we can't stay any longer. We have to head to Camellia Castle." I told him.

"Then do you want to take a Root to get there?" He offered and I thanked him.

"Root?" Zhen asked.

"The Roots of Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil is the one that connects all of the worlds, her roots are spread across the worlds and can be used to travel great distances with ease." Danny explained. "Well then, I'll send you off. I'll-"

"Don't worry about it. Take care of Yggdrasil first." I told him and he nodded. "After our mission we'll come back here to visit."

"Okay. Take care." He smiled.

We head out and I have everyone hold hands and I prepare the Roots so that we can travel to Camellia Castle. Firstly I need to synchronize with the Vi that flows within it first. Then, once I am, I match my Vi with the others.

"Everyone ready?" I asked them.

"Yeah." Will said.

"Alright then." I said and began chanting. "Oh Ancient Tree, your roots spread out and binds all, by the power I bare, I emplore you..."

A green glow began to imminate from the ground and wind began to blow gently. Vines begin to grow from the ground and we can see the Roots of Yggdrasil pulsing in the earth.

"Grant us your power and carry us within your embrace." I chanted. "To place of choice!"

The next second we are engulfed by a whirlwind of leaves and the next thing we know is that we're infront of a tall tower, the tower stoof in the top of a mountain, it was old and damged and covered in moss and vines. So this is Camellia Castle.

"Beware those who enter this castle, only the one who loves can reach the top. Let the crimson light be your guide." Angie read the sign on the side. Beside the writings was a torch. "Let's go then. I'll carry the torch."

"Okay then." I answered.

"We better hurry, we only have a few more hours of daylight." She said. "Well then, let's-"

"Angie! Stop!!!" I stopped her and pulled her back.

"What?" She asked.

"Snare trap." I answered and pointed to the string on the ground. "Everyone, be on your guard, we don't know what else is in there."

"Okay." They answered.

We preceded to climb the tower and around the fifth floor there were slimes. Green, blue, red, all sorts of slimes.

"Perfect timing to practice my aim." Alexis said and pulled back the string of his arrow. "Whirlwind Arrow!"

The moment the arrow is fired it flies straight at the slimes and carries them in a whirlwind killing them all at once.

"Let's go." I said and they nodded.

We rose to the next floor and on the fifth floor there were giant bees. Will and Theo easily got rid of them but somehow something was bothering me.

We went higher and arrived at the tenth floor where there were traps of all kind. Holes in the wall and floor that are certain to send us down if we don't know what we're doing.

We carefully walk over the floor and managed to make it to the staircase that lead up. We continued higher till we arrived at the fifteenth floor where many fire lizards were. The others fought them but I made sure Alistar didn't raise a hand.

We rose higher and finally arrived at the peak. Thank goodness we got here without any mishap.

At the top, a pedestal stood, we could see the entire sea and we easily saw the sun setting on the horizon as a crimson hue engulfed the skies.

"So, where is it?" Lucas asked and suddenly they grew bright red. "Hey? What's happening?!"

They suddenly disappeared leaving me and Alistar all by ourselves. I contact the others via the coms and Will tells me their back at the bottom. Just as I suspected.

"You guys stay there, we'll rejoin you after we get the third piece." I told them.

"Okay, be careful." He said.

"Alistar, which one do you like the most?" I asked him as we gazed down on the gems in the pedestal.

"Even if you ask me... none of them was as beautiful as the sun set earlier." He said and turend his head to gaze at the last bits of the setting sun. "So beautiful."

I watch the setting sun with him and hold his hand and as the last bits of the crimson skin fade into the evening light, we turn to each other and smile.

That's when I notice something is in our hands. I look to find a bright red ruby, burning with the crimson hue of camellias and the setting sun.

"The third piece!" I exclaimed.

"But how?" He asked.

"Ah! Let the crimson light be your guide!" I exclaimed. "It was on the sign. It didn't mean the torch it meant the rays of the setting sun!"

"Let's head back now." Alistar said and I smiled.

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"This is an alert to all Braves, Chimera Nest Number 53A has begun to move. All Braves prepare for deployment." The voice of the student council president boomed over the speakers. "I repeat, all Braves prepare for deployment. This is not a drill."

"So, it finally time." I said and May nodded.

We stopped eating and got ready. We peepared ourselves for battle.

"Captain, we're ready to be deployed." Yuuki said and I nodded.

"Everyone listen up, we are to be cautious. No matter what don't go overboard." I told them. "Value your life and your comrades life. Don't be reckless and wait for instructions."

"Yes." They all answered.

We began our departure to the south, to where the Capricorn now begins to awaken. No matter what, we're destroying that Chimera. We'll protect the world they'll return to with our own hands.