We didn't know how long we were inside the crate. Just knew Claudina hadn't been able to find us. Our mana recovered by half only, not enough to use large scale and stronger spells.
I wonder how the others are faring outside...
Suddenly the door where the crate was in creaked open slowly.
"Ophelia, Melany are you two alright?" It was Orion!
He tapped on top of the crate and we opened it. The front of his uniform was bloody. In his hand was a sword that was dripping from a murky brown substance.
Monster blood.
"I was attacked on my way here," he said quickly. "A Bee almost stung me but I managed to get away."
He led us out of the dusty room and gestured us to follow him. All of us were on edge. We just saw murder after murder. We walked with certain stiffness.
We hadn't taken a few steps when a I heard a buzzing sound come from behind us.
"RUN!"
We ran. None of us had enough mana to cast magic. We didn't look back to see whether it was Claudina or the monsters that was chasing after us. The horde of monsters must have increased because other than the buzzing there were low growls, hooves stomping on stone and guttural howls.
One of them almost grabbed a hold of Melany but I tugged her away.
"In here!' Orion pointed to a brass door in the front. I put a burst of speed and rushed to open the door. I wrenched open the doorknob and held it open. My eyes widened in shock. A vast number of monsters were chasing after us. And all of them had Claudina's mark.
"Quickly! They are almost near you!"
Orion hoisted Melany over his shoulder and dashed inside. I shut the door the moment they were in. I barricaded it various shelves and drawers. I didn't stop until the horde passed our refuge.
I heaved a sigh of relief. I felt my knees giving out and fell on a heap on the floor.
"W-what was that?" Melany was the first to catch her breath. "What was with that horde of monsters? Why are the following Claudina?"
"Yes and I noticed they were awfully compliant to her," Orion said thoughtfully. Melany gritted her teeth at the mention of her but I paid no attention to it.
"Did you not see the mark behind their backs?" I asked.
"Marks? You mean that patch of blue and red? I believe those marks are due to recent mutation. "
"No. It is the mark of ownership not a mutation." Orion frowned in understanding.
"So you are implying…that…all the increase in the monster attacks are Claudina's doing?"
I nodded.
Both of their faces were deeply disturbed.
The recent surge in monster attacks, the ownership marks and Claudina's sudden uprising… it all makes sense. She's targeting the Five Nations.
A horrible weight settled on my shoulders. She wants to destroy everything rather than take revenge on seven of us.
Typical Claudina...
"Where are the others?" I asked
"Still somewhere in the castle I believe. Though I can't tell whether they are alive or not."
I gnawed the inside of my cheek. Things aren't looking good for us.
I pressed my ear to the door for any incoming hoard. Nothing but empty silence. At least there aren't any monsters coming this way.
Al three of us agreed that we will go to look for the others only when we have our full mana back. If all three of them are gravely injured or killed we will retreat with no questions asked. Then we would proceed to ask for help from the Five Nations' True Rulers. Orion especially pressed the plan to me.
They might be able to oppress Claudina or at the very most seal her off for a few centuries. A flash of memories passed behind my eyes. The one time they had tried to do something else, hadn't it failed miserably?
Maybe they won't be able to.
Why am I thinking about the past again? I should think about the present. But the present feels no different than the past.
Will one day the past and present fix together until I can no longer feel the difference? Will I be able to…run away again? What if this time I won't be able to? What then? The Claudina from fourteen years ago is no longer with me. Maybe I will drown in my mistakes. They caught up with me after all.
Maybe I will go down in history as the worst saintess.
My thoughts went to Lucian and the others. I hope they are safe, wherever they are. More than the rest I felt bad for Lucian. There was no need for him to come with me but he still insisted. He is the crown prince of our Nation and the next ruler. He only came along because of my trauma and fear of blood. I never meant for him to suffer through this. He didn't deserve to see dear comrades die before his eyes. He did so much for me, for this Nation and he will continue to do in the future as well. As the next Queen and current saintess shouldn't it be my duty to alleviate some of his sufferings? But I wonder will he still be willing to accept me when my deeds come to light?
Lucian… I hope you are safe.
Unconsciously I had laid my head to the door. I felt drowsy my fatigue as worn me down. However I jolted awake when I heard shoes clicking on stone. Sharp, cruel like whips. The footsteps were coming nearer. Only one person could have a footstep so foul.
I beckoned the others for attack while I myself slid off the shelf to draw out my rapier.
Although I am not strong enough to wield a sword I am still able to learn a bit of swordsmanship. I am not confident with my skill but at the very most I can fend a few monsters.
The footsteps stopped right in front of the door. Will she open the door? Her strength currently is more of a demon, less of a human. She was simply toying with us until now. She may now be serious on killing us. Claudina is completely unpredictable.
"Little Mouse, I know you are in there~" a jeering voice called.
I shivered at her next words. "Did you use the shelves and drawers in the room as barricade from my friends?"
"That's ok. That gives me ample time to go and behead your captured friends. I will make all of your heads surround me. That way you can always, always keep your eyes on me."
Her footsteps receded down the hallway. "Won't you all enjoy my tea party?"
She went away. I released a breath I didn't knew I was holding.
I slumped to the floor. I heard Orion's sword clattering on the ground.
It was a whimsical mercy from her part but a huge relief to us. Her words, actions everything is terrifying.
Wait. She said she's going after the others first.
No… Lucian! You can't hurt him after all he's gone through!
With a cry I leapt up to my feet and started to push away the shelves from the door. I had only one concern; Lucian being safe.
As I pushed away the third one a hand pulled me from the place I was pushing.
"Are you out of your mind?!" I looked at Orion's angry eyes. "What do you think you are doing?!"
Now I was angry. "Didn't you hear what she said? She is going after Lucian and the others! I have to stop her!"
"I heard but going after her is suicide. That's why we will escape from here." He turned away and stalked to the darkest corner of the room. Hidden behind a damp, ruined painting was a window large enough for an adult man to escape.
"Not without the others I am not!" I made my intention clear as possible.
"Did you forget the plan we just agreed on a few moments ago?" Melany looked like she wanted to kill me. "We will retreat if we can't save the others. Not go after Claudina. And how knows? She might have killed them already and is lurking around the bend."
"So we are just supposed to leave them? Should we leave the blood of our precious comrades will be in our hands. Can you live with knowing that?!"
"So you are going to betray us."
"When did I even say that! I was saying we should go and save them."
"And die in the process? Look we are not the noble saintess like you, where you sacrifice yourselves for the greater good."
"What's wrong with that?!"
"You know most of the time when you say that everybody deserves a chance it all sounds rubbish. Something you say to make yourself look good. But I guess that is necessary for you after all you are going to be queen, you need to save the prince to secure your position."
"I would never do something that vile!!"
"Melany, that's enough out of you!" She immediately fell silent. Orion stared at me. "What do you wish to do?"
Melany turned red to her face.
"I want to save everyone."
Orion signed "I knew that would be your answer. It is too difficult to save them now. If you wish to save them neither one of us will stop you. However I at the very least will prioritize the saintess' safety over my own."
My heart softens at his words. He decided to help me in the end. Orion the gallant knight he is always like this. "I am truly grateful towards you."
He gave a small smile. "The future queen needs not to express any gratitude."
With those words he started to help me move the shelves in front of the door. Melany didn't help but I was grateful that she didn't escape by herself. In a few seconds we were done. I pressed my ear for any sounds outside. Nothing. Then I slowly opened the door and peeked out. Nothing once more. With that I fully opened the door.
"Which way we should go?"
"We came through the right and the horde went through the left. So to the left."
"O' Holy Heavens! Please grant us light in every abyss!" A bright glowing orb of light was produced between my hands. I lifted it up and the light drifted on the path and we began trudging onwards the steep hallway.
Like everything the hallway was ruined also. The recent stampede of monsters has made this place beyond repair.
We kept tumbling on the path but we persisted. Melany followed us from behind, muttering. Somehow I had a feeling she may think of me as a new rival.
"AGHHHHH!" A scream shook us to our core. Another monster horde? An incoming attack? If so then from where?
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! IT HURTSSSSS!!!"
The voice sounded familiar.
...Noelle?
"AGHHHHHHHH!!!!! STOPPP!!!! HURTSSS!!!!"
NOELLE!!
I ran.