79 Kill If You Must

EARLIER

Heaving a sigh of ultimate relief, Atrius was all smiles when he finally perfected his apotropaic candles. Jacomus could hardly believe that through Atrius' perseverance, he was able to create a prolific task only experienced priests can do. Realizing Atrius' once joined priesthood for a brief moment before, Jac thought Atrius was indeed a great scholar during those times that he was still able to prove it today.

After some laborious hours of candle-making, Atrius took the book of spells and decided to go to the ground floor, to the walls outside Brandenburg. Jacomus took the defective candles with him, and Atrius kept the apotropaic ones in his satchel. As they go along, they read everyone's gestures and cited anyone who's acting suspiscious related to the disappearance of their dear friend, Haelan. Atrius found out that there are specific holding rooms that Brandenburg has which are protected by containment spells made by Lord Callaghan. With certainty that Haelan could be in one of those rooms, they fervently spied on the lords as he carefully watch their every move.

For the past few days that he have known Haelan, he knew she is a good-natured and altruistic person who have proven how great and loyal of a warrior she is towards the Kingdom, royals and the chivalry. Strangely, she's a devoted friend to Freya and the people of Tobias Inn, to the extent that she'd risk her precious life even if they have no blood relations or deeper bounds. And to top it all, she saved the prince's life when she could just let him die in the hands of a mystic healer. And for that, he couldn't understand why she would be of interest to be seized just because of the unrelenting riff between the Kingdom of Nether and their kind. Despite Haelan is a healer soul traveler, it doesn't change the fact that she have indeed showed, beyond any doubt, that she is not an enemy of the Kingdom.

"Are you sure Haelan was kidnapped? I mean, he's supposed to go to the palace anyway. Maybe he's already there just like what Lord Callaghan said", Jacomus said as he follow Atrius saunter casually out of the library. Since Lord Callaghan went to his chambers for his nap, and Lord Harlan wandered around the castle, they decided to proceed to their mission to put up the wall protections.

"Haelan wouldn't leave his belongings, especially his… trinket", Atrius answered referring to Haelan's crest as he convince Jacomus. Then he tugged Haelan's chanery keeping her precious belongings inside. As they walk briskly through the corridors, Jacomus caught a glimpse of Yereah and a couple of high priests and scholars over the mezzanine. They stopped by, and watched her team of holiness commence the ritual in the great hall. The priests started to light up their vessels and scatter apotropaic vapors.

"You're in luck, Yereah have arrived to put up the wall protections", Jacomus said as if Atrius' efforts were all put to waste knowing Yereah is coming after all. Yereah, assisted by another high priest, lighted the candles and started to mumble the spells.

As much as Atrius is surprised to see Yereah arrive early than he expected, he is more than flabbergasted to see her there. While they watch, Atrius noticed Yereah and the priests seemed to be struggling with the ritual. "Something's wrong.", Atrius said as he squinted at the candles being lighted. Jacomus popped his head out, as he can't figure out what seems to be the problem. "The candles… they are melting, and smokeless", Atrius noticed. As he could remember correctly, apotropaic candles should be tearless and yet, smokeful… just like what he created. "Jac Let's go", baffled with his perceptions, they hurriedly went down and purposely interrupted the sacred ritual which he found ineffective due to the seemingly defective candles. Atrius sprinted quickly, while Jacomus was ultimately hesitant to follow his comrade.

"What the hell Atrius? This is so wrong!!", Jacomus gasped in nervousness while Atrius continue to approach Yereah with eagerness. "You're in this alone!", he stopped by the arched opening as he cringe in axiety. "Psst!! Atrius!", Jacomus widened his eyes and tightened his lips as he feel his heart race in edginess. Despite Jac's several attempts to persuade his pursuant friend, no words stopped Atrius.

"My apologies for the interruption, High Priestess", Atrius said as he bow at the sight of Yereah. "Permission to come closer", he asked.

Yereah paused and didn't even mind to look. "Permission denied", Yereah exhaled sharply. "Can't you see, we are in the middle of a very important ritual, Knight", she said. Mortified, Jacomus stood by the arch opening as he watch his friend get scolded by Yereah.

"I would like to deliver the candles for your ritual", Atrius closed the gap and handed some of the candles he made to replace the ones that's being used by the priests for the ritual. "I believe these are the ones that's best to use for the rites", he insisted.

Yereah looked at the candles Atrius is insisting to hand over. She nodded on one of the priests to take it as she flick her hand to have it lighted for testing. Her eyes flickered seeing what Atrius is saying is true. His candles may not be smooth and perfect, but they are tearless and effuses better smoke. "Grammercy, now leave us", she said as she turn around. The priests carried on as they lighted the candles Atrius delivered this time.

Judging Yereah's reaction, Atrius thought that she isn't aware of the flawed candles. And so, Yereah most likely isn't invloved with the failed apotropaic protections of the walls. "She's innocent", Atrius realized.

Jacomus and Atrius left as the priests continued their ritual. "Where are we going now? Yereah's doing her job", Jacomus said.

Atrius heavily sighed and looked ahead. It will take a while for Yereah and the priests to finish the ritual, he thought. Waiting is more like an agony, that in every second that counts comes with the fear that it might be too late to save Haelan.

Reading the furrows on Atrius' face, his sharp glances, and imposed silence, it took awhile for Jacomus to figure out what they should do next. "Looks like we have no other choice but to comb Brandenburg. We have nothing to do anyway, it's not like Lord Callaghan would kick us out anytime", Jacomus figured as he force a smile.

"You're getting used to this", Atrius said as he tap Jac's shoulder heavily three times.

"But if Haelan is already in the palace, you owe me big time", Jacomus replied with a sheepish smile.

They roamed the halls as they search for Haelan, including the deepest dungeons and the academy's hidden lairs. As they sneak in the rarely visited deeper grounds of Brandenburg, Jacomus noticed a familiar silhouette of a man in one of the cellars. Wondering why he was confined there all along, he draw closer to greet an old friend when the pair of warriors were disrupted by familiar voices in one of the spare rooms. Atrius and Jacomus snuck in and carefully hid in the shadows. Holding their breaths, they saw General Rowan and Lord Callaghan talking in the dark by themselves.

"Where's the traveler now?", General Rowan said.

"Imprisoned… in the underground cellar", Lord Callaghan said as he stood before the general closely. "He killed the darkling you sent to give Harlan a warning.", he said.

"Then, get rid of that Haelan. He's starting to become a nuisance", General Rowan replied with an intense frown on his face.

"You know what, General? My plan has always been the best. Disabling the apotropaic protections will not only materialize your plans of infiltrating the palace with your pet darklings but… it lures the most unexpected and valuable visitors.", Lord Callaghan's eyes sparkled devilishly as he place his hands together.

General Rowan scoffed as he place his arms across his chest. "You're right. He might be Celestial, but he's still weak", he said knowing healers cannot put blood in their hands.

"He's more special than that, you know. ", Lord Callaghan laughed with sarcasm. "He holds the power of the Witch's arm cuff, aren't you looking for the Iaso Stone attached to it?", he asked.

"He have the cuff??", General Rowan asked.

"No, but more like… the power of the stone is embedded in the palm of his hands… A dangerous power to be in the possession of a Celestial Healer Soul traveler. Turns back precious time, both wasted and even valuable seconds", Lord Callaghan said. "And there's another thing…", he pulled out a dragon hilt with an emblem of swords and vine of thorns and handed to the general.

"What's this rubbish?", General Rowan asked as he look at the broken sword with irritation.

"That boy is more special than you think", Callaghan scoffed at Rowan's ignorance as he shook his head to the sides.

Rowan's eyes flickered with astonishment. "Are you trying to tell me… ", Rowan took the hilt and smirked as he thought of his most savage ideas.

"I can't be wrong. ", Callaghan said.

"Hmm.. then he have all the right reasons to be dead.", Rowan took the hilt with him. "Proceed with the plan. Find a way to get the power of the armcuff. Kill him if you must. I'll clean up after", he said without hesitations. "I don't want my efforts to put to waste… my darklings will attack the palace and do the dirty work to kill the royals. No one should step on my way to become the next King of Nether", he added as he smirked fiendishly.

"I don't like the sound of that", Atrius said as he slowly back up.