Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 454: Upset of Convecia

Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 454: Upset of Convecia

"Lady Alkemar!" Elder Gray, an old man in blue robes, ran, paused to recover his breathing, and bowed, his flustered head swaying. "Are we truly doing this?"

Helen Alkemar drank several elixirs, each carrying a potent power, and retied her hair to prevent anything from flowing down. Elder Gray's confusion and questions were not unreasonable; anyone who lived in Convecia City would not believe her words. She gestured for him to raise his head and said, "It's only a precaution. I refuse to believe that Aldric would do such a thing."

"Then why? You even wasted so many grade-three elixirs to make us answer your questions honestly. Are your fears turning to paranoia? You cannot go on baseless rumors." Elder Gray warned.

"Do you think that I, one of Aldric's oldest and closest friends since we were naught but runts playing the mud, will not consider everything there is?" Helen said, expelling her Ein dangerously. Elder Gray paled and froze still. She sighed and quelled her Ein down to normal, bearable levels for this Greater Knight Exalt.

"This is a last resort if Aldric is the one behind it. I will speak with him beforehand and gauge his intentions. If fighting breaks out, storm into the palace and take control." Helen walked out of the Alchemist Guild and into the carriage. Elder Gray seemed torn but nodded and went back to make preparations.

Carried by the carriage, Helen watched the people go about their lives out the window, heard the cheers from the coliseum, and smelled the great feasts and festivities. Convecia City was always a great nexus between the continents due to the large portals that linked them, but it was under Aldric's leadership that it became far more prosperous and a paragon of order, leading to this welcoming sight. A betrayal by Aldric was impossible.

Still, her thoughts turned to the man, Oscar, who was willing to break into the palace by himself to free his wife. In the past week, she had observed their little shameless interactions in the main lobby. They acted as if the world around them didn't exist. Though Aldric was her good friend and a leader she followed, she could not ignore their plight.

'That pair is too similar to how we were. Maybe that's why you also wanted to help them, Hector.' Helen clicked her tongue and tossed aside all thoughts about that dunce, Hector. The carriage stopped, and her attendant said they had arrived. Outside the carriage, she beheld the City Lord's palace and peeked in the direction Oscar had mentioned, a small alleyway between the walls.

Her power was enough to blow apart the ramparts to expose the place, but Avril might be caught, and if Oscar were wrong, then there would only be a mess to clean up. Forget it. She came here to speak with Aldric, to see her friend, and confirm if he was still for Convecia City.

A butler came out, bowed, and led her inside. The hallowed halls of the palace were bathed in sunlight, tapestries of lions and men spun across the curtains, telling a story of a great hunt, and the shields and swords along the wall gave off an imposing presence of might and holiness. Passing through the large gilded doors, Helen bowed and greeted her friend, "It's been a while, Aldric."

Aldric Inron, clad in his iconic full set of armor, resting the broadsword on his side, laughed through his helmet and waved her to come in. "There is no need for pleasantries between us, Helen. It's been so busy as of late with the Grand Gamble, so forgive me for only giving you 15 minutes. Tea?"

"It's alright. Everyone knows you're the City Lord. No tea, thank you." Helen sat on the seat across from Aldric, merely a table between them. Her friend was as amicable as usual. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

"No tea? That's quite strange for you. Are you sick?" Aldric pushed the teapot out of the way and got to the main topic. "Nevermind. You look as healthy as ever. Why are you? What did you want to talk about?"

"The missing cases. Have you found anything about them?" Helen asked, unable to see Aldric's expression through his helmet.

"Oh...." Aldric trailed his words. "Nothing came up. No matter where I searched, nothing turned up. Why do you ask?"

"Someone I know has gone missing. Her husband says he caught a glimpse of her near your palace. I wonder how if your guards saw anything. May I interview them?" Helen pressed on.

"Gone missing? That is terrible." Aldric stood from his chair. "Lead the way. I will help you interrogate the guards."

Before Helen could speak, the door slammed open, and a soldier in lion's armor rushed in, his exasperation clear through his helmet. "City Lord. There is grave news."

"What news? What kind of news is it that it can intrude on our meeting?" Aldric maintained a calm voice.

Aldric didn't respond but unleashed his Ein, breaking apart the roof of the palace. Helen realized there was no room for talk. Aldric was serious about killing her.

.......

Avril raised her head inside her prison to see Gail and Arinn outside the bars. Gail's unnerving sweet smile irritated her, an unpleasant feeling similar to her mistress radiating from the woman.

"So you used an elixir to change your hair and eyes. What a beautiful combination of indigo and gold. Are you enjoying your stay here?" Gail asked, tapping her fingers along the prison bars.

"Are you going to interrogate me or not? So that you know, I took several anti-truth elixirs before being captured." Avril held in her urge to narrate, unwilling to let them get ahold of anything. She bit her tongue to rouse herself from her habit. "Give it your best shot."

"That's not up to us. Our dear host will take care of you later." Gail laughed.

Avril turned to Arinn. "You know, you seemed nice. It's always said that war is tough, and I get it. But is this something you should be proud of?"

Arinn seemed troubled before his expression hardened. "Everything for our victory. Sorry, Asher, if that is your real name. We can't lose this war."

"Eh, so the two of you are married. How's that like?" Gail pressed on. A deafening boom erupted with overwhelming force and violently shook the prison.

'Is he here?' Avril hid her slight smile. He came for her. She knew for certain.

"What happened?" Gail asked one of the New Dawn members.

"Intruders! They've barged through the entrance. Everyone is to get out and stop them." The New Dawn member urged Gail and Arinn to follow. Gail shot Avril a single maniacal smile before leaving.

That woman was crazy. Avril shuddered from seeing her, all too similar to her former mistress. She stared at the cuffs on her wrists and knew there was no better time than now. Standing up, Avril focused and entered her Adamasreis, a paltry ten percent compared to the likes of Oscar, Sevon, and Adam. But for this, she had just enough to do this. Her hand gripped the other hand's cuff tightly, and a Shattering Wave rattled the metal.

"Wait for me. I'm coming to help." Avril waited for her Adamasreis to recover and used her Shattering Wave in the same spot.

.......

"Who dares to intrude here?! You're dead!" Voices came from beyond the burning path Oscar and Erden carved into the New Dawn base. Flames burned furiously, melting the rock.

Oscar walked through the burning passage. On his right arm was his golden drill, and on his left arm was the golden maw of a dragon. Burning red flames coated and flickered along their metallic surfaces, a beautiful and deadly combination of red flames and gold metal.

"Where is my wife?"