Burning Soul

In the morning everyone gathered at the main hall for departure, though not everyone was as energetic as they were supposed to be.

“And what the hell caused you not to sleep well huh?”

Catherine, this time around, took the charge of being the leader as the one who does this job flawlessly every-time was later herself.

Her eyes were red and were darkened as well, clearly telling that she didn’t sleep well!

“How can you expect me to sleep next to him!” Vivian pointed towards Theo who was also sleepy.

“What do you mean by that?” Aeneas had a questioned look.

“We told you to carry him to bed, wait did you …”

Before Aeneas could say a word, he was confronted by a heavy punch.

‘Any doubt about her being a dragon?’

Nuae was looking at Naomi whose eyes were sparkling by the scene which was unfolding before her eyes.

“Looks like we are all ready to move, and well anyone here?

Guards!

Please clean up the body once dealt with.”

Dimitri walked in and talked while giving Aeneas a look and referring to him as the body.

“Oye!

Watch your step old man!

I’m still alive!”

Aeneas got up hearing this in an instant and replied with an angry look to which everyone busted out in laughter.

“Well let’s head to his place right away, that lazy brat won’t be waiting for us once he gets up, which he does very late.

So, we still have some time before that happens.

Let’s go!

And I dare you try to come, and I’ll send you off flying Duvrion!”

Saying so he thumped his staff on the floor and Duvrin who was apparently hiding up at the ceiling fell down making an awkward noise.

He somehow balanced himself and saved himself from the embarrassment that’d have followed somehow,

“But father,

you know he’s crazy.

What will I do if something were to happen to you?”

He asked in a worrying tone.

As Duvrion stood there with his saddened pose, Dimitri walked close to him and hit him in his back with his staff,

“Umm-hmm,

worrying about your old man!

Isn’t that cute!

I almost shed a tear!” Hearing this Duvrion was furious,

“Hya! Go on! Hmph, let me see how you work this one without me!”

Saying this he walked out stomping his feet.

“He really cares for you huh!” Aeneas whispered in Dimitri’s ears!

“Don’t you dare say it on his face!” He replied while glaring at him from the corner of his eyes.

Others stood there clueless as no one really heard what happened and some of them were a bit too sleepy to even bother!

“Enough chatter people let’s move out! We are taking a shortcut!”

Saying this he thumped this staff on the ground, a small magic circle appeared, suddenly it grew bigger in size and began swallowing the surroundings.

Before anyone could react,

they were already teleported from where they stood before.

Duvrion who had walked out looked back at their faded figures,

‘I really can’t predict what goes on his mind!’

…

In the forest, they were teleported at the place the tavern stood. They were standing right in front of the Olive Tavern, though at a little bit of distance.

This sudden action really woke up Theo for good.

“AH!

You back to us huh!

Were you too busy with your dreams?”

Aeneas asked him while pinching his cheeks turning them a slight pink.

“Anyways, we are here!” He then pointed towards the Tavern.

From the outside, it looked no different than any other Tavern,

an old, shaggy looking shady place, and moreover, it gave off a spooky aura.

‘How could anyone even live in that’, was the only thought on everyone’s mind.

Just as Naomi was about to take a step, Dimitri stopped her.

“You just don’t walk in blindly at such places, little one! Lumiere is a very self-centered person, he never likes to interact with people with other concerns than alcohol! And the thing he hates the most is…”

He was cut off by Aeneas,

“Royalties!”

His explanation didn’t help though he received glares from at least three people there for interrupting Dimitri.

“Hmm,

well, he’s right!

He doesn’t like getting involved with us in any way,

he had helped us in a lot of ways, all the armor for sentinels were made under his guidance but he’s not the one who made them!”

Hearing this they had a shocked expression!

“What do you mean he didn’t make them,

Everyone out there believes he was the one who forged those armors.

Then why are we even here?”

Vivian asked looking at Aeneas who had initially suggested coming here.

Just as he was going to get one more taste of her fists, Dimitri broke the chaos,

“I didn’t say he can’t forge any weapons!

I said he didn’t do it!

Moreover, he stopped forging anything long ago.

He only makes weapons for those he acknowledges!”

This was some news, everyone had thought it was more like a weapons shop where you walk in, give in money and material, if your work is custom, and walk out with the weapon!

But this seemed more complicated.

“Well, why are we not going in then?” Nuae asked Dimitri while standing at the back of the group and rubbing his hair.

“There is a barrier!”

unexpectedly someone else answered his question.

“I can feel an abundance of mana being concentrated here!

Got to be a barrier. Yeah, that’s it.

There is a barrier stone set up as an alarm, we walk it and it goes boing!”

Ember replied jumping while twitching her nose, proudly as ever!

“If you want, I can take care of it!”

She continued.

For some reason, she was looking confident as if she could take on anything!

.

“Umm-hmm, quite a talent!

Well, instead of me always showing off, let’s see how this little one handles the things.” Dimitri was looking at her in interest.

She walked to the front and took the first step.

Stretching her arms out she reached out to the barrier,

“First, Thanks for that compliment!” she was standing confidently as she looked back at Dimitri with an irritated look and blush on her face,

“And second,

…

I’m not a kid!”

With a push, she shattered the barrier like a thin piece of glass,

a gust of wind came rushing blowing her hairs,

her eyes were shining with a hint of resolve!

Her small figure really packed an explosive punch!