The room had an unimaginable change of atmosphere; revealing that the priestess in bed, in agony, was the person Hugo had been looking for. Everyone had a confused look painted on their faces.
What does he mean by it?
Lady Edrei walked over to the bed and watched Lithea curiously, and although she can't see manas like the Divines, she could feel its intensity. She was hoping whatever it is doing to its owner isn't that much of a threat, if the tale was true, she would be dead just for causing her mana to explode, get uncontrollable, and eat her up.
"What do you mean, her?" Lance asked, fist clenched, "why have you not said a word while she was still conscious?"
"I did not know then," Hugo lowered his head.
"What?" Lance whispered.
"The person I have been looking for, I had no idea what she looked like. We were separated when we were kids."
"You went looking for her without knowing that?" Serene could not believe what she was hearing.
"My Lily, the one I grew up with, had pale blonde hair, and a pair of black eyes," he said, looking at Lithea's face. "She was taken by Master Chi from our doorstep."
Everyone seemed pretty interested with his story.
"My parents told me she's going to the Sun Temple, a counterpart of Sol."
"There could be a hundred of blonde haired priestesses with black eyes, you know?" Lance gritted his teeth.
"Yes, but as I kept meeting Master Chi when we visited the academy I was once trained at, he told me about Lily's enormous mana that could possibly destroy her one day."
"I asked if there's nothing we can do to prevent it, he then told me about this stone's story."
Under the scorching sun, the future knights in the Dragon's Knight Academy were training hard as their bodies were covered in sweat, and hair damp with it; their eyes vying with the dream of becoming number one, proving to no one but themselves.
But not the kid with a silver hair, Hugo Marbles.
The ten year old had been proving himself worthy of his trainers and mentors' praise. Ever since he joined the school, despite his parents' disagreement, he showed his determination with how quick he is to adapt the harsh and crazy road he had to walk on to become a soldier to protect not just his parents but the sisters, Lithea and Mia, too.
From martial arts, to fencing, and agility, Hugo had topped all of his monthly mock battles. All thanks to Master Chi.
Hugo was already twelve when he was called towards the East to check on the graduating Knights that was injured during their final mock battle.
Hugo remembered the symbols that was displayed on Chi's coat.
He courageously greeted the high priest who was waiting for his ride, fortunately, Master Chi does not forget a face. Let alone the closest friend of his goddaughter, Lithea.
Their meeting was the answer why Hugo had stopped visiting the temple with his parents. The Marbles had also moved to the capital to make it easier for Gerard to travel back and forth when needed for his trades and sells. The busy life of the family had led them to forget to inform the temple about their sudden disappearance.
"I see you have been busy," Master Chi chuckled. It is as if he had not many questions to ask the boy. After all, the family had worsen Lithea's situation.
It is hard for a girl of three, now, ten.
"Yes, I have. I need to protect them from the attack."
"The attack, do you mean Lithea and Mia?" he interests himself.
"Yes, sir. They won't have to worry about a single thing ever again."
"Son," Master Chi sighed heavily, "Lithea had took up the training as well."
"As I have predicted, if she is in the temple, she must have been. She's a smart girl, even for when she was little. She would make great decisions."
He looked proud with what he learned, he couldn't wait to meet her again. He has a lot to tell her.
"You see," Master Chi's serious expression had the boy worried, "she can't control her mana."
"Her mana?"
He nodded, "I can see your mana is very little, which is why you have been very good at using your body and muscles alone. You don't need the mana's assistance."
"What of Lily's mana?"
"It overflows every time she uses them," he looked far, "but because of her training as a priestess, she somehow manages to keep them in place."
"Will it still overflow even though she's been training?"
"It will. Somehow, someday, it will. I'm afraid when that will happen, I am not there to help her."
"Was there nothing that could help her?"
"There is something," Master Chi closed his mouth, shutting them tightly.
"What is it?!"
He shook his head and grabbed Hugo's shoulders, "it was just a tale, boy."
"Please, tell me. It won't matter if it's a tale or not."
"The stone the heroine priestess used back in the day."
"The blue stone on her forehead?"
The divine nodded, "it is rumoured to be a mana stabilizer. The books had written that she too suffered with an overflowing mana. The reason why she always carries gem stones with her. Mastering the impossible craftsmanship, it helped them defeat Azazel."
"What's the possibility of it being true?"
"I don't know, son," Master Chi watched his carriage arriving, "only the people in that age can answer you."
Inside the room where the priestess is, they all were processing Hugo's story.
"And you went searching without confirming if it's a fantasy?" Lady Edrei was impressed at his determination, although disappointed at his stupidity.
"I could always start over."
"Why would you go to such lengths to help her? If anything, you are now strangers to each other." Leon said.
"We may as well be, but the trauma she had to go through after her parents death, I've seen it all."
"Trauma?" Serene looked at Lance, she thought he knew about this. But none of them knew.
"If her mana could someday destroy her, or the people around her, I don't want to watch her go through the same thing twice." Hugo sat on the edge of the bed, "and this."
All of them watched him as he slowly lifted the necklace that was loosened on Lithea, "is my parting gift for her. It has a picture of her parents."
"If what you said is true, this stone might be of help for her."
Lady Edrei nodded at him.
Hugo took a deep breath and carefully placed the blue stone on her forehead and it immediately stuck on it like it was meant to be there and had just been waiting.
They all waited for some kind of a reaction but there was none. It was all too quiet, the only thing that was distracting them from Lithea was Viv's constant groaning and mumbling to himself.
Thenea gently tapped his shoulder and sat next to him.
"I'm sorry, I think he's hungry," she said softly to not startle Viv as well.
Just when she said that, before anyone could say anything, the stone glowed and Lithea floated along as it shines brightly, devouring the whole room with blue radiant.
"This–" Lady Edrei could not seem to find the exact words, the right words to say at that moment.
"The tale is true," she gasped, remembering everything they passed on the council when they first took their oath, "this is bad."
"Lady Edrei?" Leon asked as he is the only one who heard his mistress. The others seem to be focusing on Lithea and all wear a face of relief seeing the stone work.
Lady Edrei did not answer Leon and acted nonchalant as she called for Jan.
"Do check her pulse."
"Yes, my lady."
Jan tiptoed herself in between the adventurers, almost not wanting to get noticed by anyone other than who she worked for.
"The mana is slowly running towards the stone, my lady."
"Is she experiencing side effects?" she asked, squinting her eyes at the misty breath Lithea let out.
"I'm afraid so, my lady. She's running a fever."
"Nurse her," Lady Edrei turned around and opened the door, "I need all of the rubies downstairs with me."
Leon did not follow his mistress right away, instead, he studied the room before giving Jan a meaningful look, "you know what to do."
Jan was surprised but then understood, "of course, sir."
The rest were confused with their exchange but did not press further and followed Leon, leaving the room with Jan to take care of their member.
As soon as she was left alone, Jan used a series of hand seal, ending it with a circle. When her hands glowed white, her hands remained the symbol and she went around the room. It is as if she's trying to detect something.
When she's done looking at every corner, once she knew nothing leaked and nothing had planted something, Jan took a deep breaths before cancelling her hand seal.
She found the middle ground bit her finger before sitting down, drawing a seal on the ground with her blood.
"Protect!" the X tattoo on both of her hands glowed for a second. After that, the seal grew bigger and covered the room with a white light before disappearing like evaporating in the air.
This is the protection spell Lady Edrei planted to those who serve directly to her. Leon and other trusted council workers were given one.
To her, if something were to happen and she's not present to protect them, they can at least summon the spell and help some guards to shield the villagers. In this case, Jan was left alone with Lithea who, if her situation gets leaked, would be threatening as other neighbouring countries would want to get ahold of her. Especially from their own turf, the Jade Ranks.
The Jade Soldiers have a complete control over the land if they were given the word. And knowing how the King and the nobles are scared of the possible reincarnation of any of the heroes, they could possibly pressure the King to give them power over Lithea. Especially the investigating unit.
They would do everything to dig deeper into this, no matter the cost. Their commander, Dash Claudio Vancouv is infamous for his inhuman methods.
If what she heard was true, Dash once pulled a criminal's nails once. It was later revealed that that man's crime was only stealing a bag bread to feed the homeless children who relied in him and it was a one time thing. But because of the similar appearance, Dash's men mistaken him to be the anonymous underwear stealer around the outskirts of the capital.
But it was already too late, when he wasn't proven guilty of the other crime, he was found dead inside his cell.
At the manor's parlour in the first floor, the group was brought in to have a word with Lady Edrei. With the air coating around the council's word, they assumed there might be something they need to know about the mission, or the children's condition.
Without a doubt, it was the first one.
"You must be wondering why I have to gather all of you here," she crossed her legs, "but rest assured, Jan had already casted a protection spell around the room.
"Do priestesses get to do that? I'm sure Lithea had protected us a few times." Serene said.
"No, it was a protection spell I put on them," Lady Edrei let out a subtle smile.
"What did Lithea use then?"
"I am not very familiar with their training," she answered, visibly annoyed with her irrelevant questions.
Leon leaned a little towards Lady Edrei, "Shall I, my lady?"
The council only tilted her head a little and smiled as her fingers swiftly moved to let him do as he pleases.
"You are all here for a mission," he said without second thoughts. Before anyone could prolong this meeting any further.
"A mission?"
"Yes," Leon glanced at Lady Edrei to check on his expression. But she still is relaxed, "we need you to learn anything you can on that mysterious stone within the Northern Forest."
"The Forbidden Forest's Stone Slate," Verin uttered.
"That's right," Leon pulled out the mission scroll within his sleeves and placed it on the table in front of the adventurers, "here's the scroll."
As Lance grabbed the scroll, the doors burst open and revealed a panting boy with a white bird on its shoulder. The golden ribbon around its neck shows how it is from one of the councils.
"My lady," Leon said, seeking permission.
She only nodded subtly.
Leon raised his finger and the bird flew and landed on it, "there's a letter wrapped around its leg."
He moved his finger a little and the bird flew right back to the boy, "you may now set it free, Cayan."
"Yes, sir, my lady."
Once the boy took his leave and the door was shut tight again, Leon read the letter first.
'Northeastern Council, Lady Edrei,
Code V',
Reading the code, he immediately handed the note to Edrei while making a V sign to let her know the level of the code. The highest level.
Lady Edrei's soft expression faded immediately, 'this is bad.'
She continued to read what Leon did not.
'First, I would like to congratulate you for retrieving the children. Unfortunately, I would like to have them back. Another threat was disturbing the peaceful land of the East.
I want them to look a double A-Rank mission.
The composition of the mission will be revealed in the scroll that will be delivered by tomorrow.
Council's Mistress'
Lance had been reading the two's expression and picked up an unpleasant scent from it.
He gulped.
But it wasn't only him who noticed it, Verin, Hugo, and Serene did as well.
Lance took the courage to speak up, "is something the matter, my lady?"
She looked at them and her eyes tells everything, something is indeed wrong.
"Lance, Thenea, and Serene, I want all of you to go investigate the slate."
She then looked at Hugo, "you and the rest will be given a different one."
"Is there a different one?" Hugo asked.
"Yes, and you will take Lithea with you."
"But she's still asleep."
"This mission isn't as dangerous as the previous one, it could be a great opportunity for her to get used to having the stone if she's in the real battle."
"Furthermore, the children are not doing well. Their mana and most of their life for were sucked out."
"What," Thenea gasped. She could not believe someone would do such a cruel thing to little children. "Why?"
"If what I have in mind is correct, the children's mana and life force is pure. It is a perfect one to turn dark as it would become powerful."
"Dark," Thenea repeated, "that slate is believed to have a dark energy in it!"
"I'm glad you got it. As expected for a light mage," Lady Edrei was genuinely pleased.
"We just have to dig in, right?" Serene asked.
"One of the spirit guardians, the one who resides within the northern forest, an elemental one who protects the earth, Pygmy."
The mention of the name brings memory towards Thenea.
"Find ways to contact her, she must know how it sprouted there."
Under the tree, covered by its thick and huge roots, the magical house of Pygmy glowed as she felt some presence coming to visit her.