CHAPTER 13: Battle against shadows (first part)

I walk out the room and saw the bright light of the sun gazing down up us.

[Time limit warning on third task. You only have 7 days to finish the task.]

HUH?! I had been inside that place for 2 weeks?! It only felt like 3 hours. The days I have wasted for the task, I can feel myself wanting to cry my eyes out. My precious days of living, are gone.

"Hiraya stop looking at the sky already" I heard Ashir voice from a distance, signaling me to come to them.

I walk towards to them and there were two guards standing with them "the king would like to congratulate the future guards of the kingdom" one of them said "we are here to escort you all to the throne room ordered by the king himself" the other said.

We were escorted to the throne room by the two guards staying vigilant of the surroundings as we're making our way to the main building.

It's almost time for that huh, as we entered the throne room, we're greeted by a lot of people that hold a high classes of titles. They were clapping and cheering like people inside a concert.

Zagreus father on the other hand look at me with displeasement in his eyes, frowning with resentment of me. Hahaha, he must really think that I'm going to die in there huh.

Jokes on you old man, I'm stronger than you think I am. I gave him a bright smile on my face, teasing him a little bit.

He gave out a deep sigh and told everyone to be quite and the whole room that was filled with great cheers, silence is the only thing that can be heard in it. Kaiser spoke in a kingly tone "come forward new aspiring guards of this kingdom" all of did as we're commanded and stood firmly at the center of the room.

"I congratulate you all for surviving and the battle room at have determined your courage and strength in facing different monstrous events and powerful enemies that you must face in the beginning of your faith as guards of this kingdom" he aid to us.

He went on and on about his whole speech of courage and strength of being a guard to us and how the protection of the king rest upon our shoulders, I just yawned and rolled my eyes as he goes on and on about his speech.

As he was at the end of his speech, a blood curdling screams occur outside. all of them had their guards up and some nobles in the room gave a worried look on their faces.

A guard that is covered in blood came in bursting out the door "YOUR HIGHNESS WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!" he yelled out as soon as he said that. The weather had change in the kingdom it became gloomy and the sun was covered with big dark clouds, making it no where to be seen in the sky.

He look terrified like he had saw a monster appear in front of him.

As soon as he finished his sentence a dark cloud like figure covered him and went away and as soon as the cloud like figure went away the guard had all ready drop dead on the floor.

Everyone were in shock of what they have just witnessed, one of the guard came closer to the other guard that had just drop dead on the floor and examine the body.

Zagreus walk up the guard and look at him. Then another scream had occur outside the room, Zagreus run out the room and we soon followed him to the where the scream came from.

We saw a maid laying on the floor looking up to the wall, she looked terrified as she stared at the dead corpse of another maid that had her whole body twisted making some of her bones visible, that was tied up and the wall was covered with symbols that looks like it was written in blood.

The arrogant boy that came along with us vomited on the sight of seeing the body.

Ashir looked interested of what he just witness while Zagreus ordered the other guards that was already there to untie the girl and put her down. I move closer to the maid that was sitting of the floor and help her up.

I saw a marking of knife behind her neck. She got up and I told the other guards to take her back which they did do so.

I look at the symbols that was written on wall. "it's the old language" Zagreus said to me "this was by the people who worship Hades to call for demons to fulfill their wishes but in order to do so-" "they need a sacrifice" I said cutting off his words.

He turned and look at the maid that was used as a sacrifice "poor woman" he whispered as the guards were dragging her lifeless body away. "the symbols that were written here is the old language of Alac" Ashir said to us while examining the symbols "how would you know?" I asked him "my teacher taught some of the old language" he said to me.

"Ashir investigate on this language and you two come with me" Zagreus ordered and walk back to the throne room.

"Father, I need to discuss something with you in private" he said and the king nodded in response and said everyone to got out of the room. Zagreus told us to wait outside the room and that we did, "hey" said the arrogant boy to me, I didn't response to him and just look at the wall "are you deaf?! I'm taking to you, you low-life servant!" he seemed to be annoyed that I ignore him on the first time he called me, I just ignored him and rolled my eyes, because I have no time to talk to this guy, I need to think of a way to get that stubborn king to allow me to be Zagreus companion in order for me keep on living.

The main plot of the novel is coming up soon and I need to think of a way to survive in this place.

"I'M TALKING TO YOU DANG IT!" he yelled out that his voice echoed through out the hallway. "what do you want?" I look at him with a dull look on my face "I don't know what your playing at you low-life and pretentious dirt but I will not let someone like you become the prince companion" he said while glaring at me. I just remained my composer and pay no mind to what he said.

The door had opened and Zagreus walk out of the room, having a serious look on his face. "you, go find Ashir and tell him to get to the old library" he said to the boy arrogant boy and he did as he was told and run off to find Ashir.

"And you come with me" he walk through the hall and I followed behind him quickly.

We both went back to the hallway where we found the maid that was sacrificed.

He closed his eyes and open them again reviling it to be know in a gold color he look around as if he was looking for something. "They covered their tracks well" he chuckled and his eyes went to its original color.

"What are we doing here, back here again?" I asked him while his back is turned to me "hunting" he replied "I'm not a fan of hunting, can we go fishing instead" I said to him and smiled. He look at me as if he is so done with my shenanigans.

"How do we find the one who made the ritual?" I asked "We don't need to find them, we just need them to come to us" he replied and smile wickedly as if he is ready to kill his prey.

I don't like the sound of that. I don't really like this at all but I must do this for the sake of my task and prove to that king I can be this prince companion.

I gave out a nervous sigh and prayed for my life not to be over soon.