Burning Soul

…

“You sure it was better to just flee!

We are in their own castle!

It’d be difficult to just run!” Naomi complained.

“Hmm maybe that was a bad idea but who’ll tell this to our dragon who detested being there!” Nuae replied!

“Of course, did you not see how he was treating us!

Seriously, if not for you all stopping me, I’d have crushed him under my feet!” Ember tried to secure her point while running.

“Oye! Don’t you dare even try that!” Nuae

It was her who had helped everyone escape once she had freed herself.

“Damn!

You never plan a thing, do you!

You and Aeneas are much alike!” Vivian was still angry after what happened earlier.

“I don’t because I don’t need to!” Ember replied pouting.

…

After running through the hallway for a while at a certain door Theo stopped.

“Hey!

Keep moving!

What are you dozing off for?” Catherine, who was behind him, warned him to which he didn’t move but replied,

“Did you hear that too?”

He was still looking at the door as if he heard something from behind.

“I hear Aeneas!

We should go this way!” He said so and walked to the door.

“Oye…”

Before anyone could react, he had opened the door, also they could hear footsteps of soldiers coming that way either.

With no chance left they all entered through the door.

“Why are you so impulsive? And how can you hear him?” Naue asked him a bit angry.

“Did you say something to master, Luna?” Ember asked Luna to which she denied.

…

“Anyway, what is this place?” Vivian asked Theo after giving a good look at the room they were in.

It looked like someone’s library!

“This way!”

Theo pointed in a certain direction and started walking,

“Come on hurry up!” He continued.

‘Looks like we have no other option but to move that way!’ Vivian gave a thought before following him with others.

…

“Belphegor?

Now, who the hell this is?”

Aeneas never had ever heard this name.

“To be honest this name is a taboo to us, we’ve never been able to find this monster of a person. But there sure is someone lurking with this name!

He’s looking for a way to resurrect her, Ulva!

Milot once faced him one on one, let me tell you, he’s way powerful!

And he has a lot of tricks up his sleeves too!”

Hearing this Aeneas had a questioned look,

“Ah!

You haven’t met him yet, right?

Milot is Duvrion’s elder son!”

This was a very ridiculous thing as if the legends were true Milot was a very exceptional swordsman and was close to becoming sword-saint, the greatest rank in swordsmanship.

Although Aces were an exception to any such ranking, being Sword-saint was just as honorable as being an Ace!

‘Such a guy couldn’t deal with him.

What a monster is this person anyway!’ Aeneas could only think.

“There’s a rumor saying he has teamed up with someone just as fearsome and been killing all the Avatars the gods had ever sent!

It’s not unheard, that Gods tried to clean up a lot of people.

Though their true intent is unknown and only time will tell what is going on, I suspect there are still a few Avatars lurking around.

A weird thing is that there is a certain pattern when it comes to deaths of Avatars.”

“Pattern?” It was something he had never heard before.

“It’s true that even I’ve seen a few Avatars here and there but I never tried to get their attention, after all, I’m still kinda dead to them!” Aeneas

“Dead!

Hmm, you might be right! Who knows maybe you were never the threat!

Anyways,

If the rumors are true that means you’ll need to stay away from this guy!”

Hearing this he came up with a question,

“Where is this grandson of yours? Did he die or something?”

Hearing this Dimitri laughed out loud,

“Hahaha! You think my blood will be so easy to die, ever since that defeat Duvrion threw him out saying he’s not fit to be his successor!

If he wants to get back home, he needs to defeat Duvrion himself in a duel!”

...

“That’s way too absurd!

How on Earth can anyone just defeat a Plane Guardian that easily!”

Theodore who had just arrived at their side spoke in shock!

“Ah!

I was waiting, when will we get to meet again!”

After saying so he turned to him but was shocked by something.

‘Am I seeing this for real?’

he saw a very frightening aura surrounding Theodore!

“Tell me this kid, by any chance have you ever used or seen dark magic?”

He asked him in a serious tone!

“Hya!

I don’t know!”

He replied with an awkward expression.

Following him, others gathered near him.

“If I remember correctly, he did use some summoning magic a long time ago and summoned a reaper!” Naomi replied as she was close to him when it had happened.

‘That explains, but I’m sure there’s more to that than it looks!’ he thought before moving to Aeneas.

“Keep in mind what I told you, Ace, you definitely have to!”

Then he turned to others,

“My apologies for anything and everything that happened,

as the ruler of the Arnor, allow me to welcome you properly.

I know you have many questions as well and I will surely answer them, but allow me to apologize with proper hospitality!”

Hearing this made them a bit angry, but they just couldn’t show it off!

...

“What!

Why did you keep us imprisoned in the first place?” Ember, out of everyone asked.

“Ah! If you couldn’t have escaped that, there was no use in moving forward!

Wasn’t that an easy one?

You’ll face enemies who will be after your blood!”

This was not some news, but this always made Theo questioned,

“Why?

I mean aren’t we just trying to seal that gate with the help of a goddess!

Then why will we have enemies!

I mean I can understand the dungeons can be dangerous and all, but besides that what is going to be our problem?

Who doesn’t want that seal to be repaired?”

His question was something he had held back for a long time as there was no one who could answer him,

but right now,

he was standing next to someone who could possibly give an answer!

“Hmm!

I wonder who might!

Listen!

It’s not just a seal and about who might hunt you!

Did you just forget what happened to you in the morning?

There are many people lurking in the shadows who don’t wish to repair the seal and they are tough!”

He then walked to Theo and placed his palm over his head and continues,

“The world isn’t some fairytale, sometimes you are surrounded by the enemy while sometimes, you are the enemy!

Tell me why you came to Arnor!”

Although the former part he spoke was a bit hard to gulp later was a direct question,

“Oh!

We were looking for that old guy!

We need some weapons as we happen to get our hands on some really good quality crystals and our weapons are already ruined!”

Aeneas replied while getting up from his place!

“Olive Tavern!” Dimitri asked, looking at him.

“Yeah!

You know that place?” Aeneas was excited to hear that.

“Yeah, how can I not know that place, Lumiere is my friend after all!” He replied while walking towards the door,

“Though we should wait for tomorrow, it’s almost evening and I won’t recommend you to step out right now! It’s not that safe even here!”

…

After a long talk, the guards and servants led everyone to their rooms for them to rest, it was rather a tiring day though they were to meet again for a dinner arranged by Dimitri.

It was a rather huge honor in normal circumstances but now that they went through so much stuff everyone was plain tired.

Dimitri took Aeneas and Naomi to talk about a few questions they had.

Aeneas suggested Naomi tag along as her brother got involved in the safety of Arnor and not to mention he was still let loose.

Duvrion had just teleported him,

he wasn’t dealt with.