Sarane snagged her rapier. After that, she dashed out to the unconscious Rael.
It may seem time did not pass much, however, it already took Sarane an hour to deal with Doctor Andras. Same goes for Quinn, who conducted a plan and determine the positions of the rodents that camps and wait for their commands.
By the time Sarane returned, Rael is already above ground, hovering. The amulet is slowly embedding on his forehead. The sight she's witnessing is ritualistic, a terrifying presence forms a sphere around Rael's body, guarding him against outside danger.
" What the hell is going on exactly? Is this some type of metamorphosis that the Soulless undergo that is unknown to us? " Sarane mutters, not daring to inch any closer from the percussive sphere's propinquity.
She tried to poke-stab the sphere with her rapier. In response, the sphere pulled itself to the back side, in contrast to the rapier's sharp end as if it was a bubble.
" Your remarks are shallow! How dare you cast gold dust!? Your senses will shut off as well! " Sarane suddenly heard a bellow from behind.
Quinn's in trouble!
She turns around and saw clusters of gold dust gathering from Quinn's position, akin to gales in a formation to develop into a hurricane. Due to instinctual fear, she steps back and enters the crimson amulet sphere's domain.
Then white streaks of light permeated her eyes, which flashbanged her in utter shock. In an instant, Sarane vanished.
The surroundings became quiet once more as the gold dust seeps in.
The sphere remained unharmed.
...
Not that far from the sphere, a man and woman can be seen, unmoving.
The rustling of the bushes joined the duet of the whistling air.
" You struck out of luck, Quinn. " A man emerges from the congregation of gold dust. He held a sacrosanct sword spruced by knight's inscriptions. The man imbued a white light throughout his body; his forehead shone bright blue which made him look like an ethereal knight.
" ... " Quinn's expression seems to convey that she's shouting the man's name.
The man is Prince Lock.
" Frustrating is it? Quite moving that you still have your eyesight, well what could I expect from a Pendleton heir with impressive incisive eyes? " Prince Lock said, he thrust his sword to the ground. He stood there akin to a pertinacious warrior. He held the round tip of the sword firmly. " As for you, thank you for your cooperation. " He gestured his head to Doctor Andras.
Doctor Andras remained still in his direction. It seems that all of his senses were shut down from being intoxicated by the inhalation of that deadly glitter.
That backstabbing schmuck!
Quinn glared at Prince Lock. Then she starts to struggle as she limps forward, her eyesight slowly blurring from the gold dust.
Prince Lock mockingly watched Quinn take her steps towards him. Then Prince Lock suddenly sends a slap when she got closer.
Phlack!
The sound of metal gauntlets colliding with Quinn's cheeks resounded. Her forehead suddenly dulled, opposite to Prince Lock's forehead which lights up brightly.
" I usually don't hit women, but you can be an exception to that rule. "
Quinn got thrown down on the ground. Her lips received a cut from Prince Lock's gauntlet when she got slapped, which bled profusely. Blood dripped down her chin like a waterfall. She spat out the blood that accumulated on her mouth. Her stomach churned in disgust from that scene.
In an instant, she felt her body going numb.
" Sit tight alright, be a good girl and I might spare you. "
She could still see things adequately. From Prince Lock's side, a man emerges. He, too, is imbued by the white light that prevented both of them from the effects of the gold dust.
The man spoke to Prince Lock. She could barely discern the message from the movement of the man's lips, which apparently talks about Princess Sarane. Quinn recognizes the man. It was that veteran lieutenant combatant, Pol.
After that, her senses faded. She felt as if she's thrown in freezing water.
...
" Princess Sarane was not there, your Excellency. However, what I found would mostly pique your interest! " Pol said in an agitated manner.
" Really now? Spill the tea then. " Prince Lock said, then he implanted his foot on Quinn's head. Her white hair got messed up as he repeatedly stomps his foot. " What a blissful outcome. "
" There is some sort of circular barrier which floats in that area over there. " Pol gestured his fingers behind them. " I have never seen anything like it! "
Prince Lock examined the spot where Pol's pointed finger directed. As he squints his eyes, he felt the aura of a roaring lion's horde, pouncing on his mental state and threatens to claw it to shreds. Beads of sweat accumulated on the back of his neck. " What the hell is that thing? "
" Inside of it lays a young man! His skin is like a honeycomb, but instead of polygons its full of wounds. He bathed in a powerful gush of authoritarian presence; however, he doesn't have any talent seed whatsoever. Which made it peculiar to one's eye! " Pol vociferated. The whole thing that he said was excessive, yet on point at the same time.
" His honeycomb expression then started to heal at a fast pace visible to one's eye! " Pol added, this time he shook his head and pulled out a couple of hairs in the process.
Prince Lock stared at Pol like he needed to be delivered to the nearest spring house to cool down his head from all the delusions he's been dreaming all day.
Heal at a fast pace visible to one's eye?
How can something like that exist from someone without a talent seed? The authoritarian presence could be authentic, but that?
Did you hit your head somewhere?
" I am not going bonkers your Excellency! If you want, let's head straight for it. I scouted the area and nothing dangerous lurk nearby the vicinity. Well, except for the floating barrier that is. " Seeing that the prince eyed him like he's a screwball, Pol was left with no choice to prove his words.
To see is to believe!
" Fine, tie her up first then lead the way. " Prince Lock said, he stomps Quinn's head for the last time. " After which, let's find the princess. I'm sure she will come back here, especially that her dearest Quinn is in danger. " Prince Lock knew Princess Sarane very well. She tends not to align her thought process to the logical side of the plate.
She's probably formulating a plan somewhere, without even calling in for back up from the kingdom. She's truly a courageous wench!
...
" Where am I? Did I inhale the gold dust? I can't see anything! " Sarane thought. However, she immediately debunked her idea. If she inhaled the gold dust, she would be rendered incapacitated. She can still feel her legs, so that was not the case.
Everything is pitch black!
" Seriously! The Heavens must be messing with me! Is this the so-called rumors of eternal bad luck cultivators which were born in SSS rank suffers? First was One Seven One. Second, that Soulless that goes by the name Rael and the stupid task. Third, that lunatic Doctor hoot-hoot. Now, this... whatever in god's authority did life plunge me! " Sarane sighed, she can feel her head ache with frustration and anger.
It must be that thing that possessed One Seven One! Not this warping wonderland experience again!
She decided to look around the vast space of nothingness. No warping of any kind happened, which was a relief. She wandered for a while until finally, she saw something which made her heart relax a bit.
It's a long gold string. The space within its vicinity appears to be distorted in a calmly flowing manner. It may also appear near to her, however, Sarane deduces it to be several thousand miles away from her position.
Then a supreme modulation that belongs to a female flooded the entire space.
" You are seeking an early sunset for your cultivation little brat! "
Hearing those words, Sarane's heart seems to rapidly oscillate inside her ribcage.
" Now this... whatever the hell is this! " She broke down like a toy with dead batteries. The relaxed state she was in earlier was reclaimed back in a short span of time.