While they were going down the Bookcase Stairway Zero started tugging Xarth's clothes from behind. Xarth started to wonder what's gonna happen to him if he were to turn around.
He slowly turned around, he was now facing Zero with his usual expression on his good looking face. "What is it Zero?" he asked.
Xarth could see Zero calm while holding the 'Mirror of Adea' he was quite happy with Zero acting indifferent after that troublesome situation. He then proceeded to smile at Zero while waiting for his reply.
"Xarth-nim you'll pay me the correct amount right?" Zero asked in a quite calmer manner than usual.
Xarth maintained eye contact with Zero "Of course. I promise a large amount right? Don't worry."replied as he turned his back away from Zero and continued walking down the Bookcase Stairway.
But still Zero kept tugging Xarth's clothes. 'What's with him!? Why does he keep tugging on my clothes?' He then again looks over at Zero's Direction while having an awkward smile.
Zero leaned closer and shoved the artifact at Xarth's face. "She wants to talk to you. I know you can hear her." He said while whispering.
Xarth placed his hand on his neck "Haha...Okay, you got me. So why does she want to talk to me?" He asked back quietly so they can't be noticed by the other three men currently walking down the stairway into the Duke's office.
"See for yourself." Zero handed the Artifact to Xarth. He carefully grabbed it out of Zero's palms.
'Why does the 'Mirror of Adea' keeps on wanting to talk to me?'
'Because you're interesting!'
"W-What?" he stuttered as he had heard the Artifact's voice responding to his thoughts.
'You can hear my thoughts?' he asked inside his head.
'Of course! I'm a Divine Artifact, This much I can do." she replied through his head.
'That's pretty convenient. So why do keep requesting to talk with me?'
Xarth continued walking while holding the Artifact along with responding to it in his head.
'Hm...There's this interesting aura around you.'
'What are you talking about? You kept telling me that since earlier'
Someone other than the Artifact responded to Xarth's thoughts.
'What's so interesting about him!?'
It was none other than the contracted owner of the 'Mirror off Adea' Zero or also known as 'Park Min Ah'.
'You also thought that too before, Right? You kept asking me if I'm hiding some Extraordinary powers.' Xarth replied to Zero's question.
(He was referring to Chapter 17 when Zero kept asking him how he defeated The Yellow Serpent.)
"Tch!" Zero swiftly passed by Xarth to go on ahead of him.
'So childish' Both the Mirror and Xarth said while looking at Zero quickly walking down the stairs.
'So what's this interesting aura that you're sensing on me?" He Asked.
'Well, It's something about a prestigious household.'
'Prestigious household? What are you implying?' Xarth asked once again because the topic interest him.
'Nevermind...It's gonna be a big problem if others that don't have any ties to it knows about it.' It was the last words of the artifact after her voice disappears into the background.
That last reply that the 'Mirror of Adea' gave to Xarth made him more suspicious and curious about this supposedly 'Prestigious household' that the artifact seems to respect so much, Even though it posses the power of a Goddess. Xarth suspected that it may hold some connection for the future part of the storyline which made him frown.
'Let's not try to know more about it. As knowing it will get me furthermore involved in this mess.'
They have now arrived at the Duke's office.
The Duke's office was quite spacious with its mismatched wooden furniture and floor made of wood. And walls that are painted in a bright gray that compliments the wooden accent of the room. Light is provided by Light Magic that was cast by A Quintuple Magician that only serves the Ducal Household. Among the first things, one notices walking inside the room a sculpture and an award plaque that was given by King Taylor Slyman for his achievements.
The sculpture was a lion with its mouth opened.
Duke Jidek looks at the four men following him. "We'll be going on another secret passageway only known by me and Harold and the other two men that I mentioned." he quickly turns his back at the four men and proceeds to amble his way at the sculpture on the far right corner of the room.
He grabs the lion's head to lift it revealing a button that was used to open the secret passageway.
The middle wooden flooring of the room slowly slides itself to the sides revealing a long staircase leading to the deepest parts of the Ischyrós Castle.
'Woah, The things that I see here in the Lancaster Territory are all cool. So it's really true that the Ischyrós Castle is full of secret passageways for the Ducal family to use in case of emergency.' Xarth thought that to himself feeling amazed by the Lancaster family's Stronghold.
"Let us go."
The Duke cast a Lvl. 1 Light Magic spell that can be used for light as they venture down the depths of the Ischyrós Castle.
Walking down the stone staircase. They could see countless pathways that lead to other parts of the Lancaster Territory Underground system.
They further descend to the depths of the Lancaster Stronghold. A large door was awaiting them at the very of the staircase. As they walk their way to the large door. An alarm signal was triggered alerting the Quintuple Magician to investigate.
"Who goes there!?" A loud voice came from within the darkness echoed inside the large area of the room.
"Lex." The Duke replied in a stern tone.
"Oh! Master sorry for the vulgar words," he replied chuckling.
A man with a red cloak came out of the darkness from where they had heard the loud voice. He had Chestnut colored, oily hair pulled back to reveal a chiseled, charming face. Hollow gray eyes set dreadfully within their sockets. He was Lex one of the Quintuple Magicians in the Messiah Kingdom serving under Duke Jidek.
"Master, what brings you here?" he asked respectfully.
"We'll head to Amoth's chamber." Duke Jidek replied in a very serious tone.
Lex took a peak on the men following his Liege. "Master, Who are these people?" Lex asked as he was curious to know what these individuals are here for.
The Duke happily walked and pointed towards everyone in Harold's party. "This is Young Master Harold Eldest Son of Count Barrows." Harold waved his hand at Lex. Lex quickly bowed his head. "And this is Young Master Xarth youngest Son of Count Barrows.'' Xarth just smiled back at him and so he did. "Lastly, This here is Sir Zero their Swordmaster companion." Zero just coldly looks at him.
Lex gulped at the sight of the Young Swordmaster and hurriedly looked at his Master while chuckling awkwardly. "Hahaha...Master, you seem to have invited some interesting people in our Territory. " he quirky replied to his Liege.
"Your right about that. Can you open the door?"
"Well, Of course, Leave it to me!" Lex ran towards the front of the large door he uncast the Lvl. 7 Security lock on the door.
The large and grand door slowly started to open itself. Revealing a large and spacious area that can hold even a Dragon with the size of 35 meters. The most eye-catching thing wherein the middle of it was 'Amoth' that stand as tall as 25 meters, with his head lifted showcasing his dominance over the Humans in front of him. He was bonded to a large White Chains that are losing their color as they gradually turn into pitch-black.
"I beg your pardon Master, But what would you exactly do here inside Amoth's Chamber?" He asked as he wonders his gaze upon Zero.
'AH!"
Lex pupil started to widen at that moment realizing what they were about to do.
"Master! Don't tell me we're destroying Amoth today!?"
Duke Jidek smiled back at Lex and nodded his head.
Harold's eyes wonder in the middle of the room. "T-That's Amoth?" he stuttered as he asked that question.
'Yeah, He's huge.' Xarth thought this to himself as he looks at the terrifyingly large creature with its fangs showing in each of its three heads.
The Duke looks at Harold and the others.
"Hu...Okay, Sir Zero. Do you think you could kill it?" he asked hoping he could kill it as he has a Divine Artifact to rely on.
Zero just looks at the Duke and march his way toward Xarth he wraps his arm around his shoulders "Xarth-nim, What do you want me to do?" he asked while looking at him intently.
'What the hell!? Why can't people touch their own shoulders!?'
Xarth carefully took Zero's arm away from his shoulders. "Why are you asking me that?" he asked as he was confused as to why Zero was acting like this.
"I'll only follow your orders." he looks at Xarth straight in the eyes.
'W-What!? Why are you talking like that!?' Xarth was speechless he can't comprehend what was happening in front of his eyes.
Xarth let out a sigh, he looks back at Zero. "Yes, Kill it." he shortly replied at Zero's statement.
Zero chuckled and headed his way to the middle of the room where Amoth was currently restrained. He positioned himself and took the Drunken Blade out of his scabbard.
'What the hell is wrong with him? Just earlier he was pissed at me now he's so friendly. Is this what girls called 'Mood Swings'?' Xarth thinks this as he watched Zero come face to face with 'Amoth'.
Xarth including the other men inside the room was currently with Lex safely surrounded by a High-grade barrier spell.
The Duke shouted "Release" and the 'Chains of Restraint' automatically returned to its original form, A 'Ring' that is almost color black. That was the original form of the 'Chains of Restraint' which is pretty convenient as no one will notice it. Because they'll likely tell themselves that it was just an accessory.
Amoth stomps his large body creating Large cracks in the stone floor of the wide room.
*GNAAAAARRRRRRR
The Roar Amoth let out gave chills to the men who were safely inside the High-grade barrier.
While Zero on the other hand stood still withstanding Amoth's menacing roar.
Zero took a deep breath and releases his Red Aura. It was burning red blood like flames that shine the brightest in this large and dimmed room that was shrouded with heavy tension.
He held his position, steadily lifting the Drunken Blade while gripping it tightly with one of his hands. The monster he's facing right now was twice the size of the monsters he fought in the underground cave. But still, he looks forward to their exchange as this gives him battle experience.
He did survive 17 yrs under that circumstances But still, he isn't an experienced battling Humans. So he needs all the fight opportunities that he can get. For that reason he'll be able to stand proud and protect everything important to him.
'Ebony Arts' This was the Black Aura he showcased fighting the Blue Serpent. He already used it countless times during the time he was in the underground cave fighting to survive. In the process, he created another aura which was the Red aura that is his alternate aura than the Black Aura he learned from the book. So he'd always used the Red aura so that he can limit anyone knowing about the 'Ebony Arts' that he had learned for the past 17 years.
'Aura'
Auras come in different colors to what a person can express. It's like Mana which are within us that we just can't normally access.The most sought-after aura is the color Red which embodies fearlessness or can be attained by holding on to anger, frustration, or trauma that can generally generate this unique aura. Other colors can be attained through a different experience. And as you hone it more the more powerful it gets.
This is why there are generally so few Swordmaster in the Whole continent as it is hard to generate their own aura and hone it to perfection.