|| Chapter 24 || Red, Red And More Red

It was a blood bath.

A fluorescence of red emitted by gentle innocent flowers brought forth a burning scarlet haze, devouring the air with their hypnotic corruption of the mind. The once tidy stone floor was polluted with crimson and mud giving out a mix of foul odor. A barrage of swift movements could cause confusion as two sides battled in ruthless combat.

Only a few of the nobles we're armed with weapons, either bravely charging for their own safety or for the protection of someone significant to them. One could feel the continuously generated mana in the air as few Maeruthans with their elemental abilities fought, sweat trickling down their foreheads. There were too many enemies to take down that a few nobles had already lost their lives. Clawed faces, severed torsos, and limbs we're dragged on the cold wet floor, muscle tissues, slimy intestines, and small visceral organs were left on the mudded stained ground.

Veialeans swarmed around the pavilion, pushing back the resisting people who had dared to go against them in a bloody battle. Within the circle of courageous people, a mass of incompetent people within the pavilion shamefully hid behind those who would risk their lives. Cries escaped from countless wailing mouths as terrified people selfishly pushed each other away, the fear of death creeping into their skin.

A particular lady pushed through behind her fiance and reliantly clutch unto him. Lady Maelina Gorianna feigned a strong exterior as she hesitated to activated her wood ability to help aid Quade while her shivering hands trembled. She screamed and pushed one of her followers towards an approaching hooded man lunging towards her. So what if she does?! At least I would be able to live!

The poor girl screamed, her eyes inches away from the blade-like claws. But blood splattered over her body, soaking her red, as a sword pierced through her attacker. The pointed tip of the blade protruding, dripping, a drop of blood dropped on the girl's cheek as she looked up in a daze.

Emlen pulled out his sword as the body dropped before his feet. He glared at Maelina before walking away. A couple of Veialeans cornered him only to be struck down like slaughtered pigs. Coating his sword in a sheet of blood-freezing ice, he slashed his way through the defensive circle of Maeruthans a trail of frozen bodies dropping as he moved forward.

Moulin wasn't in the pavilion, his heart was in turmoil as he thought of his defenseless lost little brother alone possibly attacked. Where is he?! His eyes darted around in search, bared teeth, and face paling in potent fear.

Striking down one enemy after another, his fear grew stronger as he failed to spot Moulin. Could he be in the garden?

His gaze abruptly turned towards the dense garden in front of him. His brief moment of distraction was taken advantage of by an approaching hooded man behind his back who swiftly moved to stab the young master's heart. Emlen jerked aside to avoid it but his movements were too slow.

Out of the blue, a sharp ice stake pierced through the man's head and busted into tiny shards. Blood drizzled over Emlen's head, the smell sickening. Emlen watched the headless body fall to the ground and three people, far away from where he stood were revealed within his sight.

A sense of relief plunged into his being as he recognized Moulin safe and unharmed by his eldest brother's side. "Thank the gods..."

Moulin swallowed hard as he took in the scene before him. The scattered limbs on the ground, charred bodies, blood seeping out of flesh, and splashing on the ground dyeing it red.

There was too much red... too much death...

His hand trembled unconsciously as his silver eyes gazed upon the trapped people with the pavilion cornered by swarms of Veialean assassins. The situation was truly critical...

"Something isn't right... " Maxille voices out, eyes straining. "The Veialeans might be cursed from the urge of the blood running through their veins but they still possess reasoning and understanding. Right now they are mindlessly attacking like--"

"Savages..." Moulin looked over the preoccupied Veialeans and consciously eyed the red glowing flowers of a bush by his side. There was something unusually strange about the flowers.

Maxille momentarily glanced at Moulin's expression.

"My Lord!"

A heaving man wearing a black red-stained uniform panted as he ran towards Hadrian, within his grasp was a silver sword dripping with fresh crimson. His hair was as red as the blood soaking his clothes. "We have found a solution to break the barrier"

"Speak..."

Swallowing, Varick replied "The lanterns of the high pillars surrounding the garden. -"

His voice was cut off as he noticed the familiar snow-white hair and glaring silver eyes of the youth behind the heir of the Fraunces household. With widened eyes, Varick stuttered "M-Moel?!..."

"Varick..." Moulin nodded in return.

"Speak" Narrowed golden eyes brewed a storm within as the Lord deepened his voice. The intimidation almost made Varick cry.

"Y-yes. Fhorg discovered strange mana generated by the lanterns. It gave off some sort of demonic ambiance, one that we could not identify. The lanterns might be the ones supplying energy to the black barrier. But no matter how much we tried to put out the fire within the lanterns, it kept burning..." Varick reported, occasionally peeking at Moulin.

"I could try to extinguish it. Perhaps, the results would be different if it is put out with my ability" Maxille suggested while paying attention to the enemies before them. "If the light is generated by mana, perhaps it could be destroyed with mana as well".

In the end, they all silently waited for Hadrian to give the order. The golden-eyed Lord thought for a moment before turning to Maxille, he spoke "Then it is decided. Escort the young master Varick, he might need assistance. Send the rest of the men to the pavilion, We will drive the rats off".

With a bow, Varick understood. "Yes, master".

Moulin tugged at Maxille's sleeve with a worried look in his face. Pressing his lips together, he whispered "Please be safe, Eldest brother".

Maxille had a similar look as he pulled Moulin into a hug "You too...". His grey eyes darted at Emlen's approaching figure before facing Hadrian's stern face.

" Please protect my little brother" Maxille almost implored him, a whirling sea of concern in his eyes.

Hadrian pulled up a corner of his lips as he glanced at Moulin "Although I don't think he would need my protection, I will gladly do so...".

Moulin threw him a glare before he watched his brother accompany Varick. Comforting himself, he calmly shifted his silvery gaze towards the group of Veialeans who seemed to have already noticed their presence.

Emlen arrived by his side, greeting his little brother with a tight hug. His jaw clenched as he felt the living warmth of his little brother, he was careful not to let his emotions run wild for he might risk Moulin getting frozen. "You don't leave my sight from this day onwards!".

Hadrian had already witnessed one brother overly protective of Moulin and now this... He wanted to question if this family of Moulin had really thought of the little doll for a weak, vulnerable porcelain vase. Clearly, Moulin was stronger than how he looks. His eyes slightly narrowed as he thought of how underestimated Moulin had been feeling all this time. It would be an interesting sight to watch him lose control...

"Enough coddling, it seems that we have caught their attention..."

Pointing his sword towards the assassins who had bared their teeth at them, his expression remained calm as if looking at a boring and dull swarm of flies. His relaxed countenance mocked the approaching enemies, their eyes seething with unbridled rage.

"How scary..." Moulin snorted. He positioned into a battle-like stance, one that Sir Vidola has taught him. He was prepared when-

"Get behind me!" Emlen forcefully pulled Moulin behind and told him to hide behind the hedge.

Without even having the chance to say a word, Moulin was helplessly dragged behind the tall green hedge of the entrance. He swore he saw the amusement in Hadrian's eyes while he was being hidden.

"Stay there and don't come out until I say so. Scream if anything comes after you and this..." Emlen pulled out a dagger hidden in his suit handing it to Moulin "... use this and don't be afraid, I will protect you, Alright?"

Moulin's knees were flat in the ground, his pants stained dark brown with dirt. His arm ached of the strength of Emlen's grip, despite all that reluctance was evident on his face as he held the dagger.

"But I can-"

Emlen abruptly rushed towards the Veialeans when a few had gotten closer to the hedge where Moulin was hidden. Moulin was left with an open mouth as his words were utterly interrupted and ignored.

...

The hell?...

He loves his brothers but this is totally outrageous! He wasn't some kind of decorated jeweled vase! He is going to fight alongside them until this is all over!

To hell with protection... I'll show them...

Grasping the sheath of the dagger, he pulled it out to reveal a sharp glinting blade, a golden hilt, and it was very light. The silver pupils beneath his lower lids gleamed a red flash. He was only brave if it was needed to be...

He tilted the blade back and forth and noticed it was glinting a red light. He slowly looked ahead of him and saw the red flowers dancing with their leaves.

Strange... He felt really felt that these flowers were a bit odd. Aside from the shift of their colors, their centers held a pitch-black mist. The grip on the dagger tightened. He pulled himself off the ground, peeking past the hedge.

Nobody was paying attention to his side of the garden so he took quiet steps toward the flowery bush, dagger within his grasp. The red glow was hypnotizing and dreadful. The mana thoroughly corrupted and gone were the jewel-like features.

He decided to cut one flower together with its stem, cutting with the blade in his hand. What happened afterwards made him freeze...

The petals turned black and its leaves crumpled. The once sweet tantalizing fragrance turned foul like the odor of decayed meat. There was not an ounce of mana released...

What a waste...

He was completely sullen about the waste of going to the gathering now that his main objective was sadly destroyed. The flowers were supposed to help him advance. Perhaps there was hope of saving them... perhaps...

He threw away the flower before the corrosion could reach his fingers.

Damn, Veialeans.

The sudden sound of rustling leaves reached his ears. A bad feeling crawled into Moulin's skin and he positioned the dagger in front of him.

The moment he turned around he barely dodged the sharp tips of blade-like claws. Moulin's breathing stopped for a moment before he leaped away, feet elegantly landing on the ground.

Red glowing eyes met his silver ones...

The Veialean assassin gritted his teeth. Claws extending. Moulin glared as he eyed the man before him.

The hell was Moulin screaming for help...

The assassin pushed his feet off the ground and swung his claws. Moulin dodged and swiftly moved his body behind the man. The dagger flashed a murderous light as it stabbed deep into the man's nape. The assassin could not even scream as the blade pierced through his throat.

Blood spewed out following the dagger's trail as the blade was mercilessly pulled out from the neck. A gurgling sound came from the man's throat as blood bubbled out of the hole.

Thud!

The body dropped, the soil soaked with red liquid.

Moulin could not even have a moment to prepare himself when a second Veialean lunged at him from behind his back. He hardly evaded the attack as his sleeves were ripped by the claws.

Moulin slightly retreated before the assassin forcefully advanced with a barrage of swinging claws. The attacks were reckless as if the person was mindlessly stupid.

Moulin could easily escape his advancement by ducking and sliding a foot towards the man's legs. The man fell on his back when he lost his balance.

Unhesitating, A dagger fell heavily on the Veialean's head. The thin tip was embedded on the ground beneath the man, crimson spreading outwards in the soil.

Pulling out the dagger, Moulin heard another rustle. His eyes were heavy with murderous intent as he turned to aim the blade at the person's throat. A drop of blood fell from the dagger's pointed edge.

What met his gaze was no one...

"Ao!"

...

Moulin's head blanked as soon as he heard the intensely familiar sound that could only belong to one bratty animal. His gaze lowered and his guard somehow fell.

A small white fox blinked at him, nose unusually twitching. He sat on the ground happily yipping at his master.

"Snow?..."