Tales of Revenants

Chapter 36 – Doubt

They did not expect Duke's confinement was only because he discovered something the cult is hiding and never want to tell the world about.

“I found the underground dungeon and sneaked into it. The thing is, I didn't ask my servant to help me out as they might be also caught in the problem. They all had a family to return so it will be grave if they were to disappear,” Deriar is taking full consideration of his servants.

“It seems there's not much of the member of the cult so I somehow managed to search deep down, and I stumbled upon a spacious altar that looks like a church to me,” he explained drinking another glass of wine.

“Hmm... what you saw there must be the reason you were locked up, right?” Laken guesses.

“Yes. I can't understand exactly what they were talking about but I witnessed in the altar was a coffin with three missing orbs,” Deriar explained which got their attention.

“One of the cultists placed two shards gleaming red and blue onto the vent of the coffin, and I assumed you came for those isn't it?” Deriar fills his glass with wine.

“You're right. They dared stole the Shards of Flame and Frost from Lena and Luna,” Laken gritted his teeth.

The sisters faced them when they heard their names. They're just munching the cookies and still had crumbs on their cheeks.

“The shards are just below the underground?! I gotta get them!” Lena was going to leap on the window wherein they were on the second floor when Laken pulled her leg dragging her back to the sofa.

“Listen to what he had to say first or you wanted to be locked up again?” Laken scolded Lena to make her feel sorry.

Lena groaned like a spoiled brat, “I can burn down the entire dungeon if I wanted to,” she had her self-confidence held high.

“Please no,” Laken kind of sighed, “Either way, I reckoned that weird cult wanted to use the shards as an alternative for the missing orbs to awaken something, isn't it? Don't they realize there's no way that's gonna happen?” Laken makes a judgment.

“That's what I believed too, but I heard if after they filled all of the placement for the orbs, what they needed is the blood of the vampire progenitor and the power of the shards will be revealed,” Deriar described.

Laken knew that was impossible and there's no way it will work out fine. From his perspective, there might be some parts of the mystery that don't properly add up.

“Isn't the last vampire progenitor died during the Dark Wars? How are they going to find one?” The moment he regurgitated his own question on his head, he realized something.

The progenitors are the legendary ancient vampires who protected the Dethrim Kingdom from the neighboring nations.

Ninth Heavenly Hero, Dimitri Thanatos Allesandro protector of the Shard of Shadow was a son of a progenitor.

Though they all went to an eternal slumber after the Dark Wars and thus, there's no way the cults could gather all the necessary materials like the blood of a progenitor, and even if they did, they are powerful ancients who could never be defeated and easily extract their blood.

“I heard they were searching for a red-headed female who's with you. Make sure to be safe when going outside or else you all will end up caught again,” Deriar warned them after finishing up the glass of wine.

“Are you referring to Eirisse?” Luciella asked tilting her head. The eyes of Deriar glared her for a glimpse of a second. Laken surely is the only one who noticed.

“Maybe. Either way, we needed to stop them at all costs,” Deriar implies. It seems Laken's interest was piqued.

“Oh, so you know how we can help?” Laken smirked.

“The black clouds phenomenon here in the Dethrim Kingdom which is called Umbral Quevero is quite peculiar you see. It clears up the clouds once the red moon takes over the blue moon,” Deriar explained as he opens the window of the room.

“What does it mean?” Laken is starting to doubt the duke.

“The awakening of the great power needs at least three shards, the blood of a progenitor, and the moonlight of Solara, the radiance of the red moon,” Deriar revealed to them.

“And are you implying...” Laken gestured the sisters and Luciella secretly just to make sure.

“Your guess is correct and tonight will be the night where the red moon, Solara will take over Lunara, the blue moon. Thus, clearing the darkened horizon to bless the Dethrim Kingdom by the light it bears,” Deriar spoke as if he's on a speech.

“We don't have much time. Will you tell us how to prevent the awakening from happening?” Laken's fully aware of what's transpiring.

“In the center of the Ravina City, a crevice shall be opened. The moonlight of Solara shall bless the coffin where the sealed power is contained,” Deriar went back to the sofa where they sit.

“It's actually a path towards the underground dungeon where the people were evacuated during the war,” Deriar handed them four torches that contains a considerable amount of mana inside.

“A torch? Can we eat this?” Lena tried to bite the thing but Laken intervened.

“Don't just eat anything you see! You'll become like Xenon one day,” Laken's scolding her again.

“Who cares? You're not my father to tell me that!” Lena exclaimed. The timid Luna's hiding behind her as always. She's actually right and Laken just kind of sighed.

“These are the wards that are used to close the underground path to prevent the moonlight from reaching the sealed power. It will totally prevent the cultist on their plan of awakening,” Deriar clearly explained to them.

The underground dungeon is more like where they evacuate the citizens when the Ravina City became the frontline battlefield during the war. They placed barricades surrounding the city in order for them to defend the kingdom.

The wards were used to lock the underground dungeon just in case they managed to penetrate their forces. It turns out there's no need to use it as one of the progenitors guarded the city, preserving the peace of its citizens.

 “Just tell us what we needed to do,” Laken is always ready to help no matter what as long as it has a concern with his objective. This time he had a plan in mind.

“I can't pay you enough for your assistance. These wards must be placed on the four gates of Ravina City. Once they are lit, I'm sure the cult's plan will surely fail,” Deriar was certain.

“Got it. We'll be taking our leave so rest assured we will finish the task,” Laken declared.

Each of them held one torch since they're quite a handful. The ward was bigger and thicker than a staff rod so Laken needed a little helping hand.

“Before you depart, if you ever meet a woman who claims to be my wife, ignore her, and finish your task no matter what,” Deriar gave them a piece of advice. They all took into account based on what he said.

They went out of the mansion to commence the task they accepted. Carrying the wards they needed to place on the north, south, east, and west gate of the Ravina City.

Laken nudged Lena on her shoulder, “You felt it?” he whispered.

“Yeah, it's the same glare I felt in the inn,” Lena replied.

“Me too, but I don't think he's a bad guy...” Luna said in a silent voice.

“I also can sense his malice... there is something wrong in his mansion,” Luciella shivers quite a little bit but Laken placed his hand on her head and said, “Worry not. We'll finish this in no time,” he's trying to take away the fear in her heart.

They are now headed out to place the wards on where they should be. Their task is to make sure the unknown cult who wishes to awaken an ancient power that should be sealed must end at all costs.

Laken will make sure the evildoers will neither see the light of the sun nor the moons. There is part of him who doubts the duke.

He can't deny he is worried about his comrades especially Eirisse who surely had a secret she can't tell.