CH 20.1

Lionel’s brow furrowed as he surveyed the area, scanning for any signs of danger. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the Empress was alone, unaccompanied by her retinue. But his relief was short-lived, as he realized that the knights, who were accustomed to seeing her in regal attire, failed to recognize her in her current garb. Lionel called out to her, but she did not respond, instead staring at the tower in the distance with an expressionless face.

“Dangerous! Go back, Sir Leppart!” Lionel shouted, shielding the Empress from the gusts of wind that buffeted them. He was about to appoint one of his aides to escort her to safety when she finally spoke.

“Yes.”

Lionel wasted no time in delegating the task to one of his trusted men. “Take Her Majesty and move to a safe place, now!”

Sir Leppart squinted at the tower, his gaze fixed on its trajectory. “Why are there no wizards? Can’t they destroy it before it reaches us? Or are they waiting for it to hit the ground?”

The Empress shot Lionel a questioning look, but he had no time to answer. “Hurry, Your Majesty! It’s not just the tower that poses a threat. Look out for the glass shards!”

Indeed, shards of glass the size of a grown man’s forearm were hurtling towards them at an alarming speed. If they hit the Empress, who was not wearing any armor, her body would have been torn apart. Lionel shuddered at the mere thought of it. He took a step back, holding his sword aloft to shield her from harm.

Just as the glass shards were about to strike, something transparent appeared out of nowhere, intercepting them with a gentle push. They were swept away by the wind, leaving Lionel and the Empress unscathed.

“Kepper?” Lionel muttered, wondering if the wizards had finally arrived. Sir Leppat scanned the area, his eyes roving in search of the source of the mysterious force that had saved them.

For a moment, the world stood still as everyone present struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Then, the tower of destruction loomed closer, its ominous presence a reminder of the danger that still loomed over them.

The sky was a deep red, illuminated by flashes of black lightning that crackled across the horizon. Wizards were on their way, their power rumbling through the air. But was this power really theirs? Lionel looked at the empress, wondering if the magic was truly in the right hands. The distance was far, and there was no urgency like the empress had said. But she moved towards the tower with purpose, her slender frame holding a sharp black sword that matched her masterful aura.

“It’s level 4, which is close to level 5, so there’s no reason to wait,” she said, her words confident and cool.

Before Lionel could react, she began to run like a black panther towards the thunder and lightning. He followed closely behind, but as the empress lifted herself into the air with an updraft, Lionel reached out to grab her shoulder.

Adele clicked her tongue and pushed his hand away with magic. “Don’t worry. Do not interrupt.”

As the empress charged towards the tower, Lionel felt the magical power pushing him back. He looked up to see the empress throw herself at the tower without hesitation. Before she had time to stop, Lionel stomped his right foot hard and propelled himself into her updraft.

“NO!” the knights cried, looking on in shock as Empress Adelaide flew into the sky.

But Lionel quickly regained his senses, recalling the empress’s warning not to disturb her. She had been crystal clear. He made a quick decision, and with the magical power still surging through him, he charged towards the wizards, sword drawn and ready for battle.

“Prepare for the Empress to fall!” Lionel said with a firm voice as he gazed at the towering inferno before them. His mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan to save their beloved empress. The knights and wizards looked at him expectantly, waiting for his orders.

“Lennox Poitier, send your fastest wizard to the nearest water source and bring back as much water as possible. We need to put out those flames before they consume the whole tower,” Lionel commanded. Lennox nodded and immediately sent one of his wizards to do as he was told.

Lionel then turned to the knights and said, “Get ready to create a human chain. We need to get up there and save Her Majesty if she’s still alive.” The knights nodded and prepared themselves for the dangerous task ahead.