"I have a mission for you," a stoic voice of a woman rang on the silver haired buff guy in a silver armor with a gem embedded scimitar on his side.
"What would like me to do, my lady?" His deep voice brought a smile to the woman.
"To give you what you came here for, there's something I would like for you to do first."
He nodded, staring at her as she slid down a piece of envelope with a sapphire seal.
"Everything to need to know is written in here," she gestured for him to open it, "but you will do this alone."
The eyes behind the silver helmet squinted, his green eyes darkened.
"I want you to act now."
The armored man was not given a chance to react as he was suddenly left alone inside the dim lit room. He confirmed the rumors of how nasty these people are to form an agreement with. Especially the woman who leads them all, she would not listen and give you enough time to deliver your message if it won't benefit her.
She may be powerful but her cunning would one day be the reason for her doom.
He sighed and took off his helmet, his perfectly carved face was caressed by the fresh air; pressing his fingers on his eyes, he tried to calm himself and think of the reason why he is doing all of this and for whom.
"I have to take that box no matter how high the price is," he told himself, he wants to convince his own mind that all of this will be worth it. That at the end of the day, all his hardships will draw a smile on that person again.
A figure of a small fragile looking child flashed his mind. But unfortunately, he can no longer paint what she looks like. Especially now that she's grown into a lady.
He left the room and slammed the door behind him with only one thing in mind, finish this task, take the box, and get out of the place.
The man put back on his helmet and with oozing confidence, stride towards the exit of the structure.
His silver armor clicks and clang as he swiftly dash to the woods, he has a hunch the one they were looking for must be within the scope of the land. Seeing how quick the man is, he must be familiar with all the places; a former miner perhaps? A scavenger?
Thinking about the possibilities, he looked at his ring.
"Could he be using a portal?"
Without blurring his senses as he gives deep thought about the potential hideouts of this criminal, he suddenly hears a heavy stomp followed by something dragging.
The scimitar user relaxed himself and followed the sound, he hopped from one tree to another but there was no one in the woods. And the ground is filled with grass and branches that if something is being dragged on, the smaller branches could snap and the grass would muffle the sound a little bit. Making it completely hard for him to hear the noise.
But what he's hearing, it seems like a sack being dragged on the sand.
'Sand!'
He stopped at one tree and looked to his right, squinting his eyes, he knew he is not deep within the northeastern's wooded area. He must hurry.
He jumped down and ran full speed. If he is right, this person is just hiding in plain sight and confidently conducting his crimes to the point where the locales wouldn't suspect him. But he could also have some accomplice.
"Mmmm!"
The man halted and took off his helmet, and tried to focus on the sound. If he won't take it off, the cries would be even more quietened due to the helmet pressing on his ears.
'A child's cry,' he squinted his green eyes.
He then tried to find a clear spot to watch him without getting noticed, not a moment longer, the hunched man was dragging a knotted wool fabric; inside is something wiggling.
"Bastard!"
Inside the Scorpion's Council Hall, the adventurers were again standing in front of a giant double doors. But these double doors aren't like those they have seen before, it has a very bright azure blue pigment with some white and golden swirls.
"This is such a unique marble color combination I have ever seen," Lance said.
The kid who guided them folded his arms, frowned, and rolled his eyes on him, "'cause that thing is not marble."
"Do mind telling us what that is?" Thenea asked politely, she is very eager to know.
The kid nodded to the two guards and they opened the doors.
"This is a luzarite, a type of crystal," he informed as they walk inside the room, "Mayor personally chose it as it is her favourite out of all."
"Why?" asked Thenea again.
"It is rare, and she likes blue." He shrugged.
"This is extra for a council hall," Serene did not mean anything with her comment, she just noticed this is by far the most fancy out of all. Not even the castle could surpass their interior.
"I have never heard of a council as dazzling as this one." Thenea agreed to Serene.
The kid chuckled, proud of their land, "this is why only a few chosen people gets to enter this building."
As the bright simple crystalized room is a treat to their eyes; all the details, the paintings, and decors are all worth gazing at, they can't help but have their eyes fixated on the lady sitting in the middle of the podium at the end of the room.
They all gasped at her tantalizing beauty; although her gemmed half mask covered the upper part of her face, the way she gracefully carries herself relays the beauty hidden behind that glamorous mask.
She shifted her long pale legs, the white fabric of her robe dropped, exposing the long slit it has, showing how beautiful her thighs were.
"Person?" Viv rubbed his eyes thinking the person in front of them is a doll controlled by the real council who won't show their face. But he was wrong, this very person in front of them is the council of the land of scorpion.
The lady started trembling and her expression darkened as she bit her lower lips; they all feared for their life. Had Viv somehow offended her?
The masked council suddenly raised her gloved hand and started throwing his head back, hysterically laughing. Everyone was taken aback with her sudden behavior and gulped. Even the kid she assigned to guide them was surprised at the manner she is displaying in front of the rubies; this is the first time he's seen her laugh like this.
"Oh dear," she wiped the tears forming in her eyes, "this child is so amusing."
The rubies who had been holding their breath exhaled in relief while Viv just blinked, not understanding a single thing that's happening.
The council smiled at them.
The kid's eyes widened and saluted, "my apologies, Lady Edrei."
'Huh?'
"These are the esteemed ruby adventurers we requested from the guild," he bowed deeply.
The council chuckled and looked at the kid with a gentle glint, it is unusual for him to forget his duties as he is someone who wants to perfectly carry out his responsibilities.
"I thank you, Leon."
The kid once again looked at the council and gave a pleasing smile, "It is an honor, my lady."
Right after he uttered those words, a wind circled him creating a whirlwind around him. This startled the rubies, afraid they're being attacked and the enemy went for the kid to take hostage. But it confuses them how Lady Edrei didn't move a muscle and just watched this boy being devoured by the monstrous wind.
Lance raised his finger and motioned, "um—"
The wind slowly died down and the kid was nowhere to be found, instead, he was replaced by a handsome man who seems to be in his twenties. He no longer wears those ragged clothes, a white coat with blue details, sword at the side with a gold sheathe, and the blue stripe on one of his eyes with three black dots completes his look.
The innocent big sharp eyes of the kid were replaced by a golden intense gaze of the young man, and his black hair grew long that reached down his spine.
The man glanced at the adventurers before taking his place beside his mistress, the godly beauty of council of the Land of Scorpion, Edrei Elsher.
Eyes popped out when the rubies processed everything they saw, the little kid is not just a guide assigned by Lady Edrei herself; he is her trusted man. Her right hand.
Viv being it the first time he's seen a transformation magic, ran behind Thenea and gripped on her shoulders.
"Ha!" he took a peek behind her.
She tapped his hand, "that is only magic, Viv. That's still the kid a while ago, he just grew up."
Viv pointed at Leon, "real?"
Thenea nodded, "yes, that one's the real form."
Viv then slowly shows himself but is still keeping close to Thenea, trying to keep a straight face to appear like Verin and Lance.
Leon snapped his fingers and with a booming voice of a man he said, "Lady Edrei will speak."
Lady Edrei raised her head a little, scanning each adventurer before her and one cannot lie, the presence she holds is massive. Despite the room being bright, the atmosphere is dense, it makes them want to crumble as though there's a boulder trying to press them down.
"I am Edrei," her voice is soothing yet it holds too much power. The six of them bent their knees and bowed to show their respect. Although she did not demand to be treated as such, everyone around her tended to do so.
Even the unfazed Lithea bowed and kneeled to show her respect. Not even the current divine priest and priestess can rival her presence.
They all paid attention to her.
"I am the one who watches over the northeastern part of this kingdom," she caught Lance's eyes, "you were summoned here to help us catch the one behind the abduction."
"Yes, my lady," Lance felt he had to say something.
Edrei took out her hand and flattened her palm, they all watched intently what she's about to do. Gently pulling her fingers towards her, the scroll in Lance's position floated towards Edrei. And when it landed on her hand, a cerulean flame engulfed the scroll and it vanished.
He gulped before glancing at Leon, there was no reaction from him. This indicated how he's not new to this all, he's been beside her for a long time.
Leon noticed his eyes on him and battled the commander into a staring contest but Lance did look down before fixing his gaze on Edrei again.
"I trust you all have been informed with the quest as it was written in the scroll," the corners of her lips curved and it sent shivers down Lance's spine.
"Yes, my lady."
She scoffed, "very well."
Edrei stood and slowly made her way towards the kneeling adventurers and stopped in front of Lance who was at the very center of his team, "do not disappoint me and my people, rubies."
Leon stood behind her, awaiting her instruction. He never did once act that isn't from his mistress' lips. To him, her words are absolute and shall be followed no matter what the cost was. After all, she was the one who saved him from the poisonous knives of society when he was struggling on the streets, trying to scamper near the dumpsite, hoping to find soiled food.
Had she not found him and saved him, he would have died at a young age; hungry and cold.
"Leon," Edrei said, not peeling her eyes off the newly completed ruby rank, "show them the way."
Leon placed his right fist on his left chest and bowed.
"I will grant them permission of all evidence we have gathered," she gave them one last look before retreating to the wall behind her fancy chair.
The six ruby adventurers all watched as her slim figure got sucked in the azure crystal wall that's sized to fit the small podium where the chair sat.
"Follow me."
Leon did not give them time to ponder the things they are experiencing in their land, they needed them and they must work and pour all of their time to solving this horrifying crime that's been going on for so long.
If he could, he would join them but since he's needed by Edrei, he can't just do as he pleases. Despite how he's treating them, he wants to plant a little faith in them and believe they can save those children, especially the ones who were first abducted.
It was cold and damp; the vibrating echoes of a man's loud voice troubled the small and terrified children being held captive in the middle of nowhere. The children of the region were sitting close together to share warmth and to console each other. But no matter how hard the older kids put up a brave face, in the end, they are still children and are naïve of the world's cruelty.
They don't know how to react to this situation. The other day, they were just playing with their friends, having the best time of their lives, creating memories. All of a sudden, they woke up to a cold and dark place. It is very unsettling.
A hoarse sunken voice breathed heavily as he dragged a piece of fabric tied into a knot at the either side, improvising it to a sack. The fabric seems to come from a very expensive household as it seems to be a pretty decent wool material.
The children seem to have known what this meant and scooted towards each other, wishing to be invisible.
Something inside the self-made sack moved and wiggled, a muffled voice leaked and it irritated the old man. Full white silver hair, thin muscles, sunken cheeks, and pale complex. His physique seems to be a description of the blood-sucking monsters the mothers use to scare their children to prevent them from going out at night.
"Gragh!" the man's back hunched as he kept dragging.
Little children, not any younger than three can't help themselves but cry.
"Shh! Shh!" the older ones tried to hush them, afraid the old man would snap at them again.
For months, he's been keeping these tiny children, feeding them scraps, and barely giving them anything. But the worst inside this cramped, damp place, were those children who all passed out at the end of the cave.
The sound of footsteps and the dragging of the fabric, and its whimpering grew louder and louder every second. The children wished for him to come back a little later but he was quicker this time.
With a grunt, the old man threw the wool sack to the other children and revealed three more kids; they looked like no older than two. They probably were the youngest he's ever gotten.
The next thing he did was get the shovel before he staggered outside the cave. Unbeknownst to him, someone had already found his hiding place.
"This place looks utterly suspicious."
This person eyed the old man quietly leaving his hideout, he would have pounded him as soon as his eyes landed on him but he has a bigger task to carry out; the children must be kept safe. And if he attacks, they would hear his cries and they might not trust him. It would be a disaster.
A shadow within the woods is carefully observing his every move.