A menacing scowl was drawn on his face. The seething anger formed an aura around Brandus that was almost visible to the naked eye, sending a wave of overwhelming pressure that bore down upon the surroundings.
However, the Devil's Compendium and the palace it resided in were uncaring of his fuming, not budging a single inch despite their age or decrepit state. They appeared to instead view it as a child's tantrum, with even the most unstable columns remaining indifferent to the pressure.
Indeed, how could these proud creations waver? It was nothing compared to what they had once been witness to.
The one indication that his pressure even existed was reflected in the lantern that sat upon the makeshift table, whose already dim flame flickered as if a gust of wind was raging around the room, coming dangerously close to burning out the wick.
The aura only grew stronger with time, until a voice reached his ears.
"--dus! Brandus! What's wrong man, we got a problem?" Edwin questioned, his drawn bow slightly quivering from the exerted force as his sharp glowing eyes discerningly roamed the palace hall in search of a potential target.
He had frantically rushed over as soon as he had heard Brandus shout for them, expecting good news. Instead, he was met with a powerful surge of aura emanating from Brandus, as if he was getting ready to face some great foe. Even as his teammate, Edwin couldn't help but let out a gasp.
Perceiving his voice, Brandus began to calm himself. "No, it's nothing." He stated assuredly, dragging his swirling aura back to his body until it disappeared entirely, leaving no trace that it had even existed.
As much as he wanted to air out his grievances, he still preferred to keep the peace.
For now.
Edwin slowly lowered his bow, though he still cast a doubtful glance toward Brandus. He wasn't gonna buy that, but he didn't mind ignoring that fact if that is what he preferred.
"Whatever you say, man."
"...Are the others coming?"
"Yea, they should be-- wait, did you?" Edwin paused as realization dawned upon his visage, "Did you find it?"
"Got it right here," Brandus waved the page in his hand in response, "It's high time we find a way out of this shithole."
It did not take long for the others to gather together, with all eyes glued to the page within his grasp. As he looked at the four members, he noticed that the person he was dying to talk to just happened to be missing.
"Where the hell is Gary?" He sternly questioned.
The others swiftly glanced around, quickly realizing that he was nowhere to be seen.
They were unaware that the object of their little search had frantically hidden himself behind a pillar, dismally peering out from behind the shadow that hid his fearful frame.
Gary had a bad feeling the moment he heard Brandus mirthfully shout for them. The only thing that could have caused such a reaction would be if he found the page.
The problem was, it shouldn't have been so soon!
He had taken into account how far each member could read through in an hour, strategically placing the page far enough in where it would have taken at least three more shifts to find.
He was also fairly confident that the page wouldn't pop out. He had forced it in place after wetting the edge, so it should not fall out from any gentle touch. But to be safe, he had placed it farther in the book with the hope that he wouldn't be the first suspect, if the worst did come to pass.
Even now, he had no idea how he had found it so quickly. Brandus may be a skilled adventurer, but he was no speed reader. There was no way he had dutifully read each page.
'Go fuck yourself, Brandus,' He silently cursed. 'Aren't you suppose to be the responsible one? What the fuck is this horseshit then!? I swear I'll sell my body to the nearest brothel if you actually read all those pages!'
Of course, Gary failed to realize that he had made a small error in his execution, falsely attributing it to his dogshit luck.
Granted, he still walked over with some confidence at first. He had done his due diligence, and was not afraid to take bet on his own thoroughness.
But that confidence vanished the moment he saw Brandus holding a single page: one that was clearly not connected to the Compendium.
He dreadfully looked on for a moment, before scurrying behind the nearest pillar. He glued his back tightly against the side in an attempt to make himself as small as possible, as he did his best to think of how he would make it out of this predicament.
Preferably, with his life and body intact.
'If I give up on my last bit of pride and grovel for mercy... maybe they'll spare me again?' He wondered gloomily, ignoring the fact that he had long lost any respect his peers may have had for him.
Peeling his back from the pillar in a gradual manner, he poked his head out as he squinted at the teammates.
They had been calling his name for a while and had begun to consider sweeping the room to search for him.
Alfred was no exception, and he stood closest to Gary's hiding spot. As he peered around, he glimpsed a pair of black eyes spying out from behind one of the many pillars that cluttered the hall.
Hey, that you Gary?" he called out to him, rather confused by his behavior, "Get over here man! Brandus has some good news for ya!"
Contrary to expectations, Gary did not immediately come out, although he did eventually sulk out from underneath the pillar's protective shadow.
No one-- save for Brandus --could make sense of his actions. His reserved manner contradicted the unbearable personality he usually had.
But Gary didn't give a rat's ass about what they thought.
Not when Brandus's eyes threatened to burn a hole through him.
"I'm happy you are here, Gary. I was so worried, I almost thought you ran off."
"Oh, Me? Run away? Nahhh-- You know that's not my style," Gary laughed awkwardly as he shifted to and fro, panicking at the underlying meaning of Brandus's comment.
Before that sentence, he still had the tiniest hope that-- by some miracle --he wouldn't be suspected. Now, any chance he had of getting off scot-free had gone out the window.
'He knows. Oh, Goddess, he knows!'
His neck retracted in fear, resembling a frightened turtle. It was like he already felt the blade that would soon be held against his throat, ready to end his life with cruel indifference. He couldn't help but ponder uneasily if this is what a criminal felt before their execution.
But nothing came.
Not even a single curse or raised tone was voiced out at him.
Raising his unsure gaze up at Brandus, he saw that the hateful look had abated, no longer showing any form of threat or danger.
Instead, Brandus had shifted back into his somber self, although he did send a few glances his way. The message behind them felt more like a warning-- and a promise.
This was not over.
But right now, it would not be addressed.
Gary's fearful expression faded once he understood, yet the underlying warning kept his nervous trembling from completely abating.
As for Brandus, he professionally turned his attention to addressing the other members. It was time to get the show on the road.
"As you all have guessed, I found it." He nodded affirmatively.
And with those words, the gloomy atmosphere immediately dissipated as almost everyone in the room broke out in a rowdy-- but joyful --celebration.
Raising his hand to calm the unruly bunch of adventurers, he continued, "Don't get ahead of ourselves, we still need to get reading.
That was all the encouragement these poor folks needed, and they did not take long to gleefully pounce at the text, with Gary tagging along in the back as he bitterly slumped forward and trudged along.
Before he had been found out, Gary had anticipated this moment with all of his heart, imagining the pure elation that he-- along with the rest --would experience.
But now that it was here, the only thing he felt was the desire that time itself would freeze, keeping the punishment he deserved from ever coming to pass.