Chapter Thirty Two
1151 Words
“W-what are you talking about?”
Roselidah was not immune to human feelings. There was a time she had considered leaving her whole life for one. A decision that would have cost her everything, including her family. She refrained from immediately repeating her words lest she upset the human further. Roselidah had caught sight of the quiver on the prince’s lips, the tremble in his voice. Although hard, she decided to suppress her curiosity. Besides, matters like this required proof. The prince would never believe that he was not a mere human until he actually saw it.
“Is that how quickly you fall into traps…Come, we have to begin walking before the sun completely vanishes behind the trees …”
Roselidah whirled around while fastening the swords on her back. Luke retained his stance, he had not misheard the witch and he was very good at discernment. The witch had meant what she said. Question is, why had she said it? And what did she hope to attain by posing such an accusation.
“Is there any truth to it? I mean with your sister-“
“Do not be foolish, the witch is playing mind games with me…She knows I already hate their kind and so she is trying to plant doubt of my roots…”
“Luke, that makes absolutely no sense!”
“Well we know you are not exactly intelligent enough to understand-“
“What does my intelligence have to do-“
“You two are the exact replica of Guzman and Rupert!”
Luke and Lawrence shifted around to view Roselidah at the same time, both their faces mirroring confusion.
“Who?”
Roselidah considered explaining but she didn’t see why she should. Those four would never cross paths anyway. Rupert and Guzman were in the magical realm, they were ensuring Tamara kept her cool with her brother being at the brink of death. Tamara was the reason Roselidah was currently in the woods. She was tracking down whoever or whatever had cast a spell on Tamara's younger brother. If they could track the source of the spell, they could remedy its consequence and save the world from an Armageddon.
Roselidah swallowed heavily, flashes of the Sema war invaded her mind. A familiar pain seared through her. For a moment she forgot she had an audience and let a stray tear fall.
“Are you alright?”
Roselidah lifted her gaze, she found the cowardly human staring intently at her. He attempted a smile, she fully mimicked it.
“If you two wish for some private time I would gladly grant you your wish…”
Roselidah groaned before beckoning the two men to follow her. Luke and Lawrence both shared a hesitating glance. Both men were skeptical of the strange witcch. Although she had technically salvaged both their lives, she was still an enemy. At some point, they would have to kill her. She was a magical creature, if they did not end her life, she definitely would.
“I had no idea humans were this slow, or is it just the men?”
Luke huffed in annoyance before following Roselidah into the unknown. Lawrence remained hesitant. He could always go back to Chi, it wasn’t too late.
This wasn’t his fight.
He had come all this way for the girl and of course his best friend but was he really of any help? Wasn’t he going to be a burden especially now that a witch had joined their band? Lawrence’s eyes fleeted to the dead body of Tony on the ground. Now he would have been much help.
“If you are having second thoughts, it is okay. I know I have insulted your gallant nature before but I only do so in jest. You are my brother’s friend and I know you care deeply for him.”
The tips of Lawrence’s lips began lifting. Luke finally saw him for what he was, brave.
“He would have been very proud of you and he will be. I will tell him personally that you came halfway and gave up when things got murky…”
Roselidah swallowed a snort. She had soon realized that no one was following her and thus had retraced her steps.
The prince was one tough human.
“Excuse me?”
“Well, you are considering going back to Chi without my brother aren’t you?”
“I...I…”
“Hmmm…very well. Do send my regards. Tell them of how you scouted the woods and of how once you faced your first encounter of hardship, you left your Prince alone to fend for himself…”
“But…But…”
“Nothing, but nothing. Once you make a commitment you follow through with it. That is how a man keeps his honor Lawrence…”
Lawrence blinked back the tears that had began forming in his eyes. He had actually been mulling over giving up. Barry was his best friend, he had stood by him through thick and thin. Lawrence was more of a brother to Barry than Luke would ever be.
“So what is it going to be? Are you going to accompany me on this eerie mission?”
Without a word, Lawrence aggressively passed a smirking Luke and an amused Roselidah into the shadowed woods. He could only hope that his father would finally see him as a man after this. Maybe he would finally stop seeing Lawrence as such a disappointment.
“What is the mission anyway?”
“Hunting. We are hunting for the creatures who cast a spell on your brother…”
“What?”
“Oh, perhaps I should have used that to convince your to pledge your allegiance to me. On the night your brother was taken he fell gravely ill. His condition continued to worsen at an alarming pace. His body began bloating and his skin began peeling. Worms and mites started to burrow through his body, some entering his-“
Lawrence hurled. He couldn’t help it. He had always had an imaginative mind which he had fully dedicated to his art. Now he cursed the gift, he had painted a vivid, grotesque image of his best friend.
“Tamara was certain it was a spell but since no creature in the Ninth Order or even the magical realm has the ability to perform dark magic…she secretly sent me and some warriors to track down the creature behind this and see whether the spell can be reversed…”
Luke felt his head spinning. His heart began beating frantically against his chest. Suddenly he felt helpless.
Could he really save his brother’s life?
- Writer
