Chapter 248 - In Dire Straights (7)

The sound of metal clashing against each other was heard. It echoed as the noise bounced off the walls, resonating and ringing inside their ears. Harrison took one big leap backward and he clicked his tongue as he stared at the beast in front of him. What it seems like a human beast standing not far away from him was wielding a sword double the size of the sword that Harrison bought or more like was handed to him when he became friends with this blacksmith as he was passing by his shop which happened a few days ago.

He heard the sound of something crack and he looked down on his sword to see that there was a crack on the blade. Harrison clicked his tongue once again as he threw the sword away.

"God, would you just go and die already? You're tiring the hell out of me," Harrison said and he let out a weary sigh. He just entered the enchanted forest where the Fountain of Life might be found, his goal in this adventure. Then monsters and beasts that were protecting the entrance and the whole forest itself greeted him as soon as he entered. Well, this is the Enchanted Forest after all. Once you enter, you will not be able to go back, it was what they always say.

That's why as soon as you entered, a few hours later, you will be immediately declared dead. Well, who would be able to survive and fight against these beasts and monsters? Unless you are really strong both in magic and physical strength. Just like Harrison though he isn't that strong when it comes physically. As the Dark Wizard, something like this is just fairly easy to him.

There is only one left among all of those monsters that came to attack him and it seems like he was the leader of this group that he has slaughtered. However, this was just only the entrance. The deeper you go, the harder and stronger your enemies will be.

The beast only roared as a response before he charged straight to him with the sword in its hand, threatening to slice him into half and Harrison only let out a sigh. Since he doesn't have any other weapon aside from the one that broke earlier, I guess, he has no choice but to use that one though it would consume his mana.

A few layers of magic circles that glowed appeared on his hand and somehow, the wind blew at them harshly as the atmosphere of the place became cold and tense. What it seems like shards and fragments came together. A weapon materialized in front of the palm of his dominant hand where the magic circles are seen, the beast was still approaching him as if it wasn't aware of the situation and what will happen to him.

Harrison wrapped his hand around the handle of his scythe and swung the blade straight to the neck thus making the creature stop from his tracks, his head sliding down his neck and blood spurted out like a fountain. It was only one swift and light swing.

Harrison has this disgusted look on his face as he took a step back while holding the scythe in his hand. It was fairly close to him and he doesn't want to get his newly bought clothes dirtier than it was.

A loud thud was then heard afterward coming from the headless body as it fell back to the ground. Harrison stood there, motionless before he turned his head to look at his scythe. It has been so long since I last wielded this thing, he thought to himself as he stared at his weapon. The last time that he wielded this scythe was 200 years ago, at the time of the Great War.

And the last person that he used this against was—

Memories of that event came rushing in his head, almost making him let go of his scythe as there was an aching pain in his head that popped up out of nowhere. He hissed in pain as he started to recall that even though it was only like a small piece of memory, blurry as he heard voices in his head while he closed his eyes.

--"You betrayed us, killed everyone as well as her, and now you're siding with the enemy? You're goddamn unbelievable."

"Are you still mad about that time that I took that girl away from you? My bad but she got what she wanted. She fought to her last and she died in a field of flowers just like how she wanted her death to be."

The sound of weapons clashing.

"You took everything away from me."

"It was you who took everything away from me along with your family, Harrison. Have you forgotten?"

The feeling of being stabbed behind.

"No wonder, you're unable to wield and control your Holy Magic. Your fragile yet stone heart is filled with hatred, pain, sadness, and all sorts of negative things so it was the other that manifested and became stronger."

The smell of blood.

"Shut up."

--A close friend of his.

He opened his eyes.

Harrison swung his scythe once again and the wind blew harshly as if it was expressing its anger. There was a cold look in his face as he recalled that event which he almost forgot as it has been 200 years. He turned his head to look ahead of him and stared at the unconscious and lifeless bodies of the monsters that he had killed and he could feel a faint trace of mana coming from them. Maybe I could take their mana and replenish mine with that though I doubt that it would do that much, he thought to himself.

Then he looked at his scythe once again then at his hand then at the broken sword that he was using earlier. I guess I have to use some spells and this weapon of mine. Ah, I have to use mana.

I think my skills in handling this weapon is getting rusty, perhaps I could try and use it again when fighting those monsters.

--

3 days in making the antidote.

Maribelle has been going back and forth the palace for the past few days just to create a small bottle of antidote that will cure Carlos. However, despite Sir Friyedor and Rowan always lessening the effects of the poison in his body every day, it seems like it would still get worse. It has been 6 days though and he is still alive and breathing, thank goodness.

"This is the last step and after that, we can use this antidote on Sir Carlos then he will be cured," Lillianna said as she stood in front of the table that has a few herbs laid on top of it along with a small glass bottle that has what it seems like a light-colored powder inside it.

"Pardon me if I'm being rude, but isn't it ironic that you are the person that stabbed Sir Carlos but at the same time, you are helping us in creating the antidote so that he would be healed from it?" Amanda spoke as she was only sitting on the chair not far away from them. She only watches them do everything as she doesn't understand or know a single thing on how they are creating the antidote with those plants. I thought they would just mix and grind those herbs but why are they boiling some of those leaves then doing some things to it?

She's only here for moral support and assistance. Like cheering them up or making them some tea in case they are tired.

Lillianna hummed before she responded, "Well, yeah. I don't know why," She said. Maribelle, Amanda, and Lillianna's age were just pretty close. Maribelle and Amanda are both 17 years old while Lillianna was 18 years old. Though by the fact that Lillianna was an assassin at such a young age and has dirtied her hands many times already while Maribelle and Amanda would just do what other females do at their age. Go shopping, try out new clothes, drink tea, and fall in love.

The differences between them.

They are casually having a conversation with a person that could kill them in just a few seconds. However, with the knights inside and outside the room, they doubt that Lillianna would dare do a move that could harm them. Amanda was also skilled when it comes to magic as she is one of those uncommon females who are attending the academy.

"Is it because of the princess?" Maribelle asked. She doesn't feel awkward talking about it with the knights around them. She knows that they are listening to their conversation right now and she doesn't mind. Though the person that they are talking about has been missing for 6 days and her family along with some people are doing their best and are looking for her.

Lillianna was caught off-guarded by the question and she stopped from her movements. Blinking multiple times as she stared at the things on top of the table.

'Princess, please run away.'

She recalled herself telling that to the princess. At that time in the garden when she was startled by Mark's voice and by instinct, she moved and almost wounded the princess, however, she ended up being stabbed by her instead. She could still recall that shock and confused expression in the princess's face before she returned to her senses and dragged Carlos out of the mess then she passed out. But she was still taken away.

"Perhaps," Lillianna started doing what she should do as well as Maribelle while Amanda just watched them.

"Well yeah, I get you. The princess somehow has this friendly and chill vibe around her. You get attached to her easily because of that. She's kind and doesn't' discriminate. I mean, she became friends with almost everyone that she meets, including you," Maribelle said.

"I was even able to chat with her freely during that time when we were kidnapped though I had a hard time talking to her because she doesn't respond that much not until Harrison arrived. Harrison and the princess were really close with each other and that's when we started to become close too, both to Harrison and the princess. I called her Ocean back then because of the color of her eyes. And also, despite knowing that there is only a low chance of us successfully escaping, she still did and somehow, it became successful. The princess, she's like a one-of-a-kind friend or person."

Amanda added as she let out a hum in the end. Even though she was envious of her at that time when she learned that Harrison likes Alexandra but she forgot about that. She already has someone and moved on.

"However, she was taken away by someone and that someone is also working with someone who is here with us. Hey, if you expect that we have forgiven you because of what you did. Too bad," As Maribelle spoke, her voice became colder and colder as well as the carefree and light atmosphere that became tense and heavy all of a sudden. The carefree and bright smile on Amanda's face became a cold and somehow sinister one that was chilling.

Both of them were letting out this menacing and ominous aura that even the knights around them raised their guard and is ready to attack in case something happens.

"I could slice you with my sword if I want to. I am only stopping the urge to do so," Amanda said. Was it because of the shadows and the lighting of the place that made her expression looked colder and menacing? It feels like Lillianna has entered a cave filled with monsters. Maribelle only looked at Lillianna in the corner of her eyes. She let out a sigh before she spoke.

"You can do that after all of this mess.��

Amanda just hummed and smiled at her but this time, it was a gentle one though she still held the same aura that she have before as well as Maribelle then they continued what they were doing as if what just happened earlier didn't happen.

The princess is lucky to have friends like them.