Chapter 248 Black Water Lake

"There is something that I am curious about. Can you answer a few questions of mine?"

Everyone turned at me with a curious look on their faces and once I got everyone's attention,

"Since we will be going to 'that' place soon enough, my first question is about your thoughts regarding life and death? What do you think about the terms 'life' and 'death'?"

"A journey after birth and an end to that journey," answered Linda with a pondering look.

"Life is what we make of it, death is when we fail to do things right," spoke Rheo as he looked outside through the window.

"Life is a suffering filled with hope and death is a way to end that suffering," William spoke as he looked at me.

"A cycle of birth and rebirth?" Spoke Cristine, pondering.

"The most important things one can keep their eyes on," Lucas spoke after giving it some thought.

I looked at Reeve, who was quite as he observed me with a curious look and I shook my head before asking,

"How scared are you right now that we are going to a place where the chances of coming back are below 1% ordinarily?"

Lucas and William both contemplated it, and the rest of them made a confused expression.

"Don't you have a plan to come back alive?" William asked, and I nodded at him.

I certainly do have a plan to come back.

"And you have considered most things from all angles?" Lucas asked, and I nodded again. I certainly did that.

"Sir Lucas said that you can defeat all of us combined together and how much I have seen you dealing with things. I believe you really can do that?" Rheo was the one who asked this question.

"If I go all out, yeah… I think I can do that," I answered, making me wonder where this conversation was going.

"You already have been to that place and from that place where the chances are returning below 1%, you most probably have returned too, haven't you?" Asked Cristine with a smile, and I observed her silently before speaking.

"Yeah… "

"Did you escape from that place or came out without much problem?" Reeve asked with a bit of curiosity, and I shook my head as I answered.

"None of that… I was kind of kicked out of that place."

Their eyes widen before they made a slight sigh, and then Linda asked,

"And I take it you will be protecting us and making sure that we will be coming back alive, unscathed… or perhaps even stronger than before?"

"Yeah… I will do that as well."

"Then… is there anything to be afraid of? I mean, it's dangerous alright, but then… isn't everything already sorted? Is there really any need to be afraid of it?" Linda spoke and everyone just kept gazing at me for a few seconds as I stood there.

'They have become fanatics?! Man, it's kind of scary… I mean, I want them to believe in me, but still… ' I looked at them and then sighed before speaking.

"Well… I guess. That is all, then."

Everyone observed me for a few moments before they nodded and then returned to their own.

"If you are confused why we… or personally speaking, why do I trust you with my life so much then… Because the skill you gave me last time… that Ancient Rune Skill… I don't think a skill like that exists in this world anymore. I don't know what you are or who you are, but if you wanted to take my life, I might have already been dead, though from what I have heard from Lucas you want to make us stronger to be a part of your force.

Wouldn't I be an idiot to not take part in something like that?" Rheo spoke as he observed me with a deep gaze and I observed him before asking,

"What if I were to kill you? Or maybe use you as a sacrifice or something?"

"Then you won't be the first one. Though probably be the first one to succeed… however mind you, I won't go down so easily," Rheo spoke with a smile.

'If I remember correctly, Rheo's cousins have tried killing him before and it wasn't just that, but his uncles have sent assassins to kill him too….' I recalled bits of information that I collected about Rheo.

'Hmmm… now that I think about it… almost everyone is similar in a sense, huh? All of them have genuine reasons to get stronger… and not just strong but by a huge leap,' I thought and thought before I sighed before muttering slowly,

"I will just take it as they are ready to risk their lives in the den of monsters in exchange for real power."

William chuckled a little before he began reading a book from the shelf and I too sat in my seat.

About an hour later, we reached a town near the Black Water Lake, where that driver dropped us off before departing towards the Rose Mansion.

"Themis, you can come out now but keep your Aura hidden," I spoke and a fairy-like girl appeared out of thin air right beside me.

She had orangish yellow hair that felt like the autumn leaves shining against the sun and crystal blue eyes that felt like they held an entire galaxy in them.

Her white Angel-wings came into existence and wearing that white one piece dress, it felt as if a heavenly being had graced us with its presence.

Goddess of Equity, Themis stood in our vision at this moment.

"Is she one of…" Lucas wanted to ask something and I understood what he was saying before I spoke,"I will explain later. But for now, she will be coming with us to that place. Her purpose is the same as that of Lucas and William."

Even when I spoke this, the rest of the people here didn't get out of their stupor. The only one who felt sane was Lucas.

I turned to Themis, who had a slightly awkward expression before I sighed as I understood what just happened here.