Chapter 207: Back to Pavillion

'Wham!'

As they hid in a dimly lit space, Moon collided with Severus.

"So, what's going on?" Severus inquired, clearly perplexed.

"Stop acting. I'm sure you've heard the whole story by now. You may think that I colluded with him but trust me I didn't" Severus refused to budge despite her desperate explanations.

"Quit acting. I know that you now know the whole story. You might think that I colluded with him but believe me, I didn't" She desperately explained herself however Severus didn't budge.

"Are you serious? You've got to be kidding me if you're throwing tantrums right now. Minya would have used you as a sacrificial sacrifice if it hadn't been for me." Moon screamed. It was clear that she was irritated.

"

Is that correct?"

YES, absolutely.

"..."

"Well thanks for your help now if you may" Severs pointed his finger towards Moons' hand that was grabbing his collar.

"With all due respect, please allow me to depart from this dead land," Severus said flatly.

Moon was taken aback.

"What are you talking about?" Why do you want to leave? Didn't you come here to get some really important information? What went wrong? Do you know or are you quitting your job?" She inquired vehemently.

Oh, my goodness!

"Does it make a difference to you whether I finish my work or leave it half-done?"

"How does it affect you?" Severus countered with a retort.

Moon had no words to say.

"Severus, I said. I am concerned about you. Even though I'm not sure why it does matter. I can't imagine you being sacrificed like this, you see. It's just not right. I came here to warn you, and that's exactly what I did. I know you don't care, but I have to share something with you. You assassinated Minya's younger sister, whom he desperately wanted to resurrect. You are the only key that can make his forbidden wish come true, and if it does, the world will be destroyed. Like rodents, people will die. The whole kingdom will be in disarray. I'm afraid I won't be able to save it. It is impossible to undo a deed after it has been completed. Are you able to take it? The weight of people's deaths, their troubles?" Moon questioned.

For a long time, Severus was silent.

That is right.

He was debating whether or not to proceed.

Hesitating because he wasn't a selfish person, but this was different. He knew once he engaged in this battle, he won't be able to come out unscathed. The choice was hard and the temptation to flee from this dire situation was hard to resist.

Whatever angle he looked at it from, the only possible solution was to run. Severus couldn't stand a chance against those 12 knights and Minya. He knew his powers would be drained the moment he started fighting those 12 knights. Even if he managed to kill the rest of the knights, he would be utterly exhausted when the time to fight with Minya would come.

DEATH was doing a dance in front of him.

But, what does it matter?

Was he ever scared of dying?

Was he ever afraid of adversity?

No way!

Never, ever!

He understood he was treading on thin ice the moment he decided to visit Znye Island. Death was unavoidable, and he had no intention of giving up.

"Ah! You got me there. You see Moon, I never leave my job in half so I guess I need to help you as well as this kingdom by whatever means I can use. So, show me the room where the ceremony is going to take place."

Moon gasped. She was delighted and, in her excitement, she hugged Severus. "I knew it."

"I knew you wouldn't leave me and the others in need, Severus. Today, the prophecy will eventually be fulfilled. I'm overjoyed. Come along with me. I'll show you around the place. However, you must keep in mind that I am unable to assist you in your fight with Minya. He was given a guardian creature that is much more powerful than I am." She said it with a heaviness in her voice.

"Don't be concerned. I don't want you to go head to head with Minya. All you have to do now is assassinate Minya in secret. Kill his 12 knights in a stealthy manner. They are a stumbling block to our plans. Are you up to it?" With uncertainty, Severus inquired. He wasn't certain of her abilities, but he knew that without her, the plot to bring Minya down wouldn't go as smoothly as he had hoped.

Moon pondered the situation.

"I really don't know, but I'll do whatever I can to assist you." She gave a hazy answer. She continued to stray from Severus.

Severus grinned. Since she was unable to share her talents, she was much more powerful than he had previously assumed. Either way, you look at it, it was a positive thing.

After the conversation ended, they both fell silent and didn't speak for the rest of the trip.

----

Inside the Prayer hall.

Minya was dressed to the nines and perched atop a golden tool. There was a large Buddha statue rooted there, along with several joss sticks that had been lit. Minya sat across from the statue. His lovely eyes, which were framed by golden lines, were shut. His lips don't even pause for a second. The room was filled with constant mantra singing.

He seemed to be fully absorbed in his prayer.

The twelve knights formed a semicircle and took a defensive stance. The significance of the prayer was obvious.

The silence was deafening.

squeak—

A fat man entered the room, he was terrified when he saw the room's cold yet divine atmosphere. Since Uze was the one who detected his presence, he rushed over to him right away to deal with him. He shoved the man into a corner and glared at him, asking with him to explain why he had come here when everyone else was barred from entering.

When the man saw the death glare in Uze's eyes, he almost peed in his pants. His body was drenched in a cold sweat, and fear gripped his heart.

"talk"

The man shivered, but he summoned the courage to tell him why he had come here. "I. I...Knight Uze, the prisoner has gotten away."

Uze's brows were furrowed. "Go pursue him if he has escaped. Why did you come here in the first place? Do you realize how important this event is? Don't you think so?"

The fat man's face was red. "Yes, I do. I am aware of this, which is why I came here. The prisoner who escaped is none other than the one whom Crown Prince Minya requested  not to touch."

Drop!

As Minya opened his eyes, the beads fell from his hands.

Everyone was terrified, including the 12 knights. They sensed the Crown Prince's oppressive presence. 

"Have mercy Lord."

The fat man coughed blood and looked as though he was being choked. He died due to lung contraction minutes after he felt no oxygen in his lungs.

Everyone's head appeared dripping with sweat. They knew that if it hadn't been for the Lord's influence, they would all have died today in the same manner as this guy.

Minya did not speak nor had any courage to say anything.

When everyone felt they could no longer hold the deafening silence, a loud bang resounded followed by two people's entrance. Their eyes bulged out from their socket when they saw who it was,

Severus.

Why did the convict who escaped a return to hell?

Everyone was thinking the same thing, but they were relieved on the inside.

Uze was the first to say, "Catch him."

Everyone rushed to him the moment his words left his mouth.

Everyone expected Severus to fight back, but to their surprise, he didn't. He also placed his hand up in a surrender pose politely.

"I surrender"

No one dared to approach him because the knights were alarmed. After all, he wasn't a simple guy.

He ridiculed them, saying, "Tch...such wuss people."