CHAPTER 252: DARKNESS

Aira instantly began to head through the corridor not seeing any reason yo stand in front of the door considering the other things she needed to do.

Rymora followed behind her and had just opened her mouth to speak when she clamped it shut. Realizing that having been speaking more recently, she had actually forgotten that she was a mute one that and to remain a mute in public lest her secret be made known.

’That’s if Lord Drehk actually keeps his word and doesn’t just find ways to publicize it so that I can be punished and made into his slave!’ Rymora thought as she kept quiet as they walked and made their way to the castle gates.

Rymora had already informed the guards by writing on a piece of paper about all the things Aira needed and wasn’t surprised to see that carriage waiting for them once they got outside.

Aira instantly raised her hood up to cover her face while Rymora did the same thing as they both got into the carriage one after the other.

The carriage had just began to move when Rymora opened her mouth to speak unable to keep quiet any longer confident that with the noise the horses made there was no way the human driver would be able to make out what was being said and by who.

"Are you actually going to stop healing people? Rymora asked in a tone that showed how much she disapproved of what she had heard the hunters say.

"They are asking for a lot! And willing to let people die for it." She said even as Aira sighed leaning back with her hands in her laps as she listened to Rymora speak without immediately responding.

It wasn’t until a moment later that she finally opened her mouth to speak with a sigh at the tip of her tongue.

"I don’t trust them neither do I believe that they would actually easily give me the ritual they have. Left to them, I’m pretty sure they would rather eliminate the whore with hunter blood who’s sleeping with the enemy!" Aria said, Rymora’s eyes widening as she recalled that Zyren had indeed killed Aria’s father and brother.

"But I am curious about what their goal is for for now I would comply. I will only heal people in complete secrecy!" She told Rymora who sighed and nodded her head.

As much as she cared about the maid Rymora knew that there were other forces at work. Moreover, she was a werewolf who had grown up in a pack that preached dominance of her species over all.

’The strong survive and the weak does!’ A rule she herself had abused by when she had been a runt doing her best as a spy considering that was all she had been able to do.

"You’re going to do the temple’s ritual today?" Rymora asked, "...does King Zyren know?" Rymora asked and Aria’s sigh this time around seemed to come from the deepest part of her chest as she spoke.

"Assume he knows Everything!" Aira replied aware that it overestimating him would be much better than underestimating what he was capable of.

Having expending all her questions, Rymora no longer opened her mouth to speak as she simply nodded and kept quiet.

Aira seemed even more sober as she stared outside the carriage and the seeming ordinary life of people they passed by.

Everything seemed so simply as people haggled in the market and walked across the road with their families. A life she would have had if Zyren hadn’t decided to jump right into it and burn half of it into ashes.

Finally the carriage came to a stop signaling that they had reached their destination. Quickly, Aira got out of the carriage with the hood of her cloak lowered enough to hide every part of her body as she instantly made her way in through the temple gates.

The guards that had followed in another carriage were twice the ones she previously had confident that there were even more as they paved the way as she and Rymora walked in their midst.

The commoners around them stared hard at her almost like they are looking for proof that she was the messenger of light they needed her to be.

Some didn’t care for proof since the presence of soldiers were already enough for them as they began to shout at the top of their lungs.

"Messenger of Light! Heal me!"

"Messenger of Light! Please...help my son!"

"Messenger of Light! Do not desert us! Help my family. We’re starving!"

The poverty pain and despair was palpable but instead of allowing sympathy to worm its way into her heart Aira only made herself walk faster than usual with a determined look on her face.

’For all I know all of you could be monsters!’ She told herself well aware that it was simply an excuse to kill the guilt she felt at walking away from them when she had the power to save them.

She walked even faster before a crowd gathered making her way into the temple which seemed much quieter than usual.

There were only a couple of people but what was truly strange was the fact that Serraphina was no where to be found. Having already expected the woman to know that she was coming and be waiting to leave her in like previous time.

They had just entered when Rymora whispered into Aria’s ears something about stepping out for a while with a few guards which Aira nodded to especially since she was aware of how strong Rymora was.

She looked weak but in a fight against a Zygon she would at least be able to run and survive before she was killed. Something she herself couldn’t totally say with conviction that she could do.

No one came to lead her but as she headed up the stairs that led to the priest’s stand and towards the door there she lowered her hood to reveal her face and red hair that would show that she was a messenger of light.

One that allowed the guards standing close to the door to instantly lower their raised swords with a wary look on their face as they allowed her pass.

’There weren’t guards here before!’

Aira thought to herself even more surprised that they held their swords in their hands instead of sheathed in their scabbards where it was supposed to be almost like they were waiting for a fight.

What was even more surprising was the wary look on their faces as she walked right past them and headed through the door closing it behind her.

The door led outside to a garden and a path that led to an even much bigger building one she had been to before led by Serraphina.

Slowly she began to head along the path between the garden lines with beautiful flowers and trees.

Previously on her visit she had admired them but at that moment she couldn’t bring herself to. The silence around her was strange and much more alarming than she would have liked to admit.

Looking around almost like she was expecting a monster to jump at her from the bushes. She was even tempted to head back and bring her own guards with her only to steel her resolve and continue to head forward.

The thought of the ritual she was about to do popped in her head only for her to bury the guilt hat came with it.

’Killing them is also a way of setting them free of their suffering!’ She told herself aware that even their king knew and had no intentions of saving them.

Her gaze fixed in front of her as she came closer to the building raising her head slightly eyes widening as she suddenly caught the distinct smell of blood in the air.

What was more alarming was the fact that the closer she got to it the more the smell of blood increased in a way that could only be alarming.

It was so thick that it was obvious that lived had to be lost for that much blood to have been spilled.

Unlike before when she had been caught unawares, Aira slowly pulled out the blade she had kept in her cloak determined to go no where without it after the near death experience she had.

Pulling it out of its sheathe with a soft metallic ring in the air she didn’t step back but instead stepped forward heading straight toward the path she recalled as she entered the building.

Heading straight down to the basement the moment it became clear that it was where the thick smell of blood was strongest and came from.

Aria’s heart thumped louder than she would have liked. Determining to not go anywhere without Rymora by her side going forward. It was better to have hidden cards unknown by the enemies.

It didn’t help that the monsters were shape shifting devils and monsters with a mind of their own.

Slowly she pushed open the basement door stepping in with care making sure to leave it open even as she frowned at the smell.

But she had only taken a step in when she jerked back with her sword raised just managing to parry the sword that seemed to have been slashed in her direction seconds before the door of the basement slammed shut.

Rendering her into absolute darkness and silence.