The silence spread. After Laya left the room no one had spoken anything. Their pulse acted as a ticking clock. Shugel was starting to feel a cold sweat, he had already dealt with the first phase and relaxed a bit. But that relaxation also brought his normal reaction to uncomfortable situations.
"Umm...do you want to ask anything?" He managed to utter.
"Nothing." Celena replied.
"Then mind If I ask you something?"
He didn't know if it was right moment to ask this, but for some reason he knew he would not get any better chance than this.
In the long conversations he had had with her in previous loops and this one, he had observed something. That she held back on lot of information when it came to matter of secrecy.
"Go head." Celena allowed him to speak.
He noticed there was certain change in her tone. It was instinctive.
"Will you be willing to walk on death's door with me?"
Taken aback by his words, Celena eyes widened as she asked, "What do you mean."
On the peripheral of his vision Shugel could see that he had even managed to get a reaction from Celena's stoic elderly butler, Fors. His reaction was much subtle than Celena but the waves his question had managed to generate were drastically different.
Fors had successfully suppressed his reaction so Shugel could only guess the reaction to be 'what the hell is this lad asking?'
On the other hand, Celena had a more balanced reaction; taken aback but gaining her composer back to ask him to elaborate on what he meant.
Shugel felt he could speak a bit more freely, Celena didn't indicate she minded Shugel speaking in front of Fors, so keeping his words more direct and elaborative he spoke.
"For some reason you seem to place if not unprecedented then very high levels of trust on me. I don't understand all of it, and I know you don't want to discuss it right now. But still I need your help to get out of this situation. Not only you but everyone, but I don't know whom to trust and whom to not." Shugel stopped for a breath, "That is why..."
"You need me put my life on the line for you?" Celena interrupted.
"No. But yeah that's the gist of it." She had got it a bit wrong but as long as she agreed to help him he didn't care.
"Let me correct you on something. It is not you who I am putting my trust on, but my..." She suppressed her voice, Shugel could hear what she said.
He wanted her to elaborate, but just like first loop it wouldn't lead anywhere.
There was a reason she could not say that specific someone's name. It made him 'Just who is this person whose name she can't say'
On noticing that Shugel looked bit concerned, she changed her words.
"As long as you do lead us towards the end of this situation. I intend to keep my promise and keep you safe. That's what you wanted right."
"Nothing more than that." Shugel nodded as this time Celena got his request right.
"If that's case then I would beginning by telling you everything that has happened since I arrived here."
Celena looked at the door, and then towards Fors. At a glance gesture Fors understood her concerns and stationed himself near the maindoor of the room.
Keeping tabs on any intruder who might come.
Shugel witnessed this wordless communication. Which had taken place between master and butler, almost seamless and efficient.
Shifting his attention from Fors who had stationed himself near the entrance, Shugel looked at the person sitting in front of him. Ready.
"Where should we begin then, it was..."
Shugel listened as Celena went through everything that had happened to her since arriving her. He would ask questions here and there but largely he listened to her without any questions.
—letting her nectar like voice weave his memory.
___
Princess Laya returned back to room after sometime, following her came someone Shugel could never forget. A bitter taste of horror in his mouth, Shugel tried to act normal.
The face of the person resembled nonotherthan the one who had viciously murdered him in previous loop. No, it was the same person.
"I am Dae Gaur. Pleased to be at your service. Princess asked me to keep the matter unofficial so you all can refer to me as Dae. Simply."
Laya motioned to them as if confirming that this was person who was going to escort them.
"Only two people are allowed inside. Celena, you go with Shugel. We will wait at the end of the hall."
Celena nodded and stood up, she looked at him, "Let's go."
"Well then follow me." Said Dae as she got outside the room.
Shugel, Celena, Laya and Fors followed dae. Shugel tried to remember the turns they were taking, but the size of the place and detours that were taken made him doubt how much he had been able to memorize.
Before entering the another wing of the palace Dae slowed her place to warn them about using Mana.
"Knights are equipped with mana detectors so don't try to fluctuate your mana."
Everyone seemed to be on agreement as if it were most basic of the protocol.
But their gaze soon fell on Shugel.
"I don't know what you mean by fluctuation but I have no control over my mana for now."
Dae spoke, "I heard, Queen used Truth seal on you. I have heard seals of that calibre to have potential to mess with anyone's hold on mana." As if trying to recall where she had heard this.
Snapping her fingers, "Whatever, it's not like I will remember. Don't worry about your mana fluctuations, I was going to use mana barrier anyway for that. But I cautioned just in case." Dae reassured.
Shugel felt a thin sphear of mana form arround them.
The second wing of the palace had different atmosphere, as if a complete different place. The air felt dry yet cold, the temperature had gradually dropped.
The halls were more complex, and turns were getting hard to remember. And soon they stopped in front a intersection.
A hall streching in front of them, a hall to their left and a hall to their right.
"Which way is it?" Shugel asked in confusion.
"No idea. could be one of them, could all of them or could be non of them." Dae shook her head in silly manner.
"We will have to wait for someone to come and escort us. It's like a maze where paths constantly change." Laya sighed as see elaborated it for Shugel.
*Path shifting mazes!? This is...* Shugel suppressed his excitement.
He had read about these kind of mazes in fantasy novels once. These scenes in the novels would immerse him, instilling in him a different kind of horror in his senses of words. Witnessing something like this in real life made him excited and overwhelmed at once.
"He is here." Dae said as she waved her hand towards a silhouette of person coming towards them from the hall in front of them.
As the figure got closer the silhouette revealed a yet another familiar face. Shugel didn't had any particularly bad experience with that person, atleast compared to what he had experienced by Dae any other thing paled in comparison.
As he looked at the person he tried to recall his name. "Ulius..."
"You know him huh?" Dae asked.
"How could I forget someone who brought me here." Shugel replied.
The elegant elf clad in his armour stopped in front of them.
"Looks like two old friends got chance to meet again." Dae teased looking at Ulius.
"Shut up Dae."" Ulius clicked his tounge in irritation. "Don't lump me with that boy."
*Is he still mad for getting humiliated in front of the court? I didn't think it would affect his mood that much.* Shugel shrugged innocently as the thought crossed his mind.
On noticing the figure of princess Laya and Celena standing behind looking at scene unfold, Ulius coughed trying to divert his tone.
"Here." Ulius tossed a red crystal about the size of a palm towards Shugel. Shugel caught it even though it took him by suprise, nearly sliping the crystal.
"At least warn before throwing!" Shugel complained.
Ignoring his complain Ulius explained the use of the crystal, "That crystal will guide you towards the room. Don't lose it you don't want to end up in some unknown corner of this palace where no one can locate you. The crystal on the door will glow red when you are close enough."
Ulius pointed towards his left, which was their left. "Only two are allowed to go, and don't worry about gaurds as red crystal path is never guarded." He explained to them the basics.
Celena, Laya nodded to each other.
"Fors look after Laya and situation while I am not here." Celena requested.
Fors simply bowed down, and said "I will." then gazed at Shugel for very brief moment before returning to his position.
It seemed no one had noticed his gaze. It was only intended at Shugel. Shugel didn't know what to feel about it but his mind was occupied by something more urget right now.
Celena looked at the crystal in Shugel's hand, and said "*Activate*"
The crystal started glowing red, Shugel tried to hand the crystal to Celena but she motioned for him to hold it. As she started walking, Shugel followed her.
Fors, Laya, Dae, and Ulius looked as the figures of Shugel and Celena got further and further before they vanished as curve of hall no longer made it possible to see them.
___
Shugel turned back to see how far they had come, the curve no longer made others visible. After few more steps Shugel tried to recall everything Celena had told him.
There was a lot of information but was limited her perspective. One key information that she had revealed was vague and instinctual but it resonated in his mind very strongly. He being able to remember previous world lines had sensed this to a greater extent. Having already died two times her words confirmed his own unease.
'Ever since I arrived here, I have started to lose my abilities to sense spirits. Infact, I have lost all sense of intangible.'
She campared this to feeling of being able to breath but not being able to sense the air itself.
It made her feel as if something seriously ominous was approaching from shadows, but she could not sense what was going. To eyes everything seemed normal. Yet it made her sick the feeling of hollowness that consumed the palace.
"How will you get her answer in the case she is hiding something?" Celena asked seeing they had come far enough.
"Somethings can't be predicted before hand, we will just have to adapt accordingly." Shugel replied. It was true, he has no idea how he could get the queen to spit out whatever she was hiding, nor he has the capacity to tell if they will be able to confirm her words. For now he will just have to see how it goes.
"I see."
"On that note." Shugel advised, "it would be better if you prepare for any attacks or anything abnormal."
Celena brows raised, as if confirming what she had heard. She knew she wasn't going anyplace dangerous, atleast for now she was only going to meet her aunt and get some answers.
She didn't see where in the equation his words fit but nodded in yes.
It was true that the chances of something like that were absurd but she could not forget about other threats and possibilities.
Soon the one of the gates in the corridor started glowing red, more specifically the crystal attached on the the door. As they got closer to it the crystal glew brighter. They looked at each other to confirm if they both agreed that this was it.
Shugel placed the crystal in his left hand as his right hand reached the knob to open the door.
In the anticipations of what awaited them on the other side, he knocked the door and waited for few seconds before twisting the knob. With smooth manner the gaze swiftly unlocked, very dim light seemed to be coming out of the little opening, Shugel pushed the door open revealing a dimly large chamber like room.
The room was very dimly lit as he had expected, and in the centre sitting on chair was silhouette of someone, as Shugel's eyes adjusted to the light he saw the face of Queen smiling welcomingly.
"Oyaa, who is here I see? If it isn't my lovely nephew and her guest." Queen said with a bit of exaggerated humour mixed in her tone. Shifting her tone to more refined one she welcomed, "Please come inside. I have been waiting for you ever since Ulius informed me about you."
Shugel felt a sudden pressure as the moment of truth was upon him, it took him two deaths to reach here and beyond this he had no idea what would happen. Shugel nodded and entered the room with Celena, as he moved towards the couch at distance to which the queen was pointing towards, the door slammed shut.
On the the sound of slam, his head turned to see one of vine extending from a plant near the door had shut the door. Celena didn't seem to react to this, so he ignored his thoughts and focused on the queen.
"Why don't you sit?" Queen suggested.
Gulping down his hesitation and anxiousness he willed courage in his breaths. "Sure, thank you for your generosity." He said politely.
After they had settled down, Celena motioned for Shugel to start.
"I heard that you had something to discuss. I am quite curious to what you may have discuss, since you went all the way to make it unofficial and a secret." Queen recalled how much she knew.
"I think you already know what's going on or atleast that we don't have much time." Shugel said trying to set a common ground.
"By going on you mean the unknown barrier that has trapped us inside this castle and your warning about Edgarm's and Celena's life being in danger." Queen asked for confirmation.
Shugel nodded, "Basically that, but I want to discuss how to break out of this situation."
The furrowed her vision, as she looked quite surprised by what Shugel had said, He carefully observed her reaction her words her body language.
Looking into memories beyond death, before death and present constantly thinking and trying find and pieces at the same time. He didn't know for long he could maintain this.
"Do you know how to break out of this situation? How to prevent what is going happen." The queen said regaining her composers.
The queen face was naturally pale due to sickness that had been consuming her for years. Fragile, weak, and hollow.
Her eyes were weak, as if she hadn't been getting enough sleep for years. Yet with all this she possessed some kind of hope in her eyes, in very corners of hollowness there looked something akin to hope, something that was keeping that hollow vessel alive, a certain kind beauty words could not describe, was it due to that blick something she—
"Shugel?" He was brought back to his senses by Celena's words.
"No, I don't know. But I am sure with queen's help, I can hundred percent solve this." He said it. With full courage as if he was sure of himself, but a he knew was that he was definitely over promising hell it was akin to a lie if future was not possibility based.
He could feel a burning sensation in his chest but it was manageable, he could still keep his poker face.
"How can I help you." The queen seemed to have gained certain confidence all of sudden.
What was it? He wasn't sure.
"For now just answer some of my questions. You can manage to do that can't you." As Shugel said this Celena seemed to preparing herself for actual purpose of coming her. In anticipation she looked both ways, she had made herself silent was simply observing how things would go, while also being aware as she had been advised. She contant kept her eyes on the entrance and window for any intruder or threat.
"Shugel if I remember right. You are free to ask anything, I Siale Erasa promise to help you by answering your every question." The Queen declared in official manner.
No, it was more of a promise of honesty.
Shugel acknowledged her words and with deep breath prepared himself.
He had a rough idea now. A rough story.
As he exhaled he got ready to base his faith in his assumption and take the courages step of no return. The world of words.
*The queen has been consumed by sickness since her child's unexpected death. That sickness is slowly consuming her. Just what could she be hiding, what motive does she... Celena and Laya have faith in the queen but not me.*
*I can't afford to be agressive. I have to keep other side in mind. Plus if I mess up, I will have no hope to be alive as I will become an enemy of everyone.
*How do I go, how do I get to the truth how do I ask? If I ask directly will she answer?*
"Why are you cautious... No... Why are you anxious of me?"
"Wha—" The queen, Siale Ersa seemed confused by his question. But on noticing that Shugel's expression didn't change, her eyes narrowed.
Looking into his eyes she gave soft chuckle, then slowly without saying anything she stood up from her place, taking support of the objects near her she walked towards the table side.
Her expressions were hidden when she spoke, as if intrigued, "Have we talked about this in future?"
"You talk as if future is past." Celena commented confused.
*What does she mean by future. How am supposed to know if I have talked to her in future? Wait that does not make sense... Why would she even ask if I have talked to her, I haven't.*
"Oh sorry I must have slip of tongue." Siale apologized.
"As to your question, I didn't knew you would catch on that soon, but yes I am anxious of you if that's how you would like to phrase it." Siale added answering his questions. "But I don't understand how that would help you."
"You are right. It wouldn't have helped me but I just made an observation." Shugel senses were telling him that something was off. As if the person in front was trying to read him.
"I must praise your level observation,I was not expecting that." Queen said.
"If only it wasn't for the conditions of the completion I wouldn't have to entertain you for so long." Queen sighed to no one particular, but it was still hearable.
Shugel eyes widened by sudden exhausted sigh. As if a mask were dropped. He turned catch glimpse of Celena, she too was bit taken aback by sudden change in aura. It was very subtle but, in this dimly lit room and level of immersion, something noticeable.
"Allow me tell a little story," the queen said without turning, her expressions hidden.
Without waiting for their reply she began, her voice monotonous yet motherly. As if a sickly mother reading a fairy tail to her child.
"*Ever since the girl opened her eyes she had been surrounded by hollow, dense forest. She had no one who she could talk to, the forest spirit took pity on the girl and became her friend. And for the first time in her life she cried, she didn't know why but she cried till she could no longer. The spirit gently embarassed her, pity somehow turned into protectiveness. No matter what would happen the forest would bend to her will to help her. Soon but time came when the forest caught fire, the spirit managed to save the girl but it lost itself. The forest was no longer. It was burned.
*The forest spirit gave her two seeds.
She took them with her, and planted them in soil. Children of forest were born, she promised to pay back the love she had received, years after year she took care of them, but one morning all of sudden the trees where dead. She tried everything in her power to make them alive. She had no reason to live but then when she was screaming why, someone came to her and promised she could bring back her child. When she asked who that person what she was answered with 'God'.*"
As Siale finished her story she stood there, Shugel was trying to comprehend the story and relate but at peripheral of his vision he could see Celena.
Looking like she had pieced together what Siale had spoken, he turned to confirm her expressio—
Celena face was contoured in horror, as if she had realised something and could not believe it. As if trying to utter something...
"You didn't... " her words leaked as a whisper.
"If only you had stayed away from this... now If you will time is upon us." The second line seemed be for someone else. Why, why now? His gaze shifted to dark corner in the room.
He narrowed his eyes to see, when all of a sudden Celena grabbed his hand and pulled him closer. The force with which she pulled him was so strong and fast that for a second he thought his muscles had teared.
"Akk" a groan escaped his mouth as pain registered in his mind.
Soon a white light glew at the corner.
He heard celena casting "Absolute sheild." Before that white light consumed his world.
He squinted his eyes but the strength was so great that even with closed eyes all he could see was white.
His body was sweating from heat, it was hot... But he realised something; 'he wasn't dead'.
Someone had carried him and ran towards somewhere. It took some time for his eyes to gain vision back but he could see person who had carried him was Celena.
She placed him back on ground, and now they both stood near the exit they had come from.
Shugel tried to get grasp on situation. He saw the queen trying to exit the room from the door on other end of the room. While a figure dressed in clad black was approaching them, on his back he was carrying bazuka sized flute shaped object. It was hard to make out how it looked from far but from the smoke rising from it made it clear that the attack just now was fired from that thing only.
"I don't have enough mana fight after taking that attack with full force." Celena cursed.
The Queen was quite shocked to see that Shugel and Celena had managed to survive the attack.
"Is running away an option. That assassin is gonna kill as at slightest of our moment." Shugel noticed that the figure was waiting for them to make a move.
Celena nodded. "There is no other choice," Celena took out a bracelet from her hand and put in on Shugel's. Before Shugel could ask any question the assassin leaped towards them.
Before he could reach them celena casted air resistance barrier, and in brief second she had managed to gain by doing so she casted "...Space Distortion!"
The gate behind Shugel and Celena blasted open, the space began to wrap.
It was hard to manage balance.
Shugel could hear the annoyed and suprised groans of the assassin and Silia Ersa.
The sound too had started to distort, he could feel his physical body starting to distort and disappear.
"*Wes— ki* t*!m n$w!"
As soon as the word kill resonated Celena pushed Shugel, he saw blade graze past between them.
His hand had sperated from Celena.
"Use that to find—$&*#?!*"
He heard Celena voice before something made him almost lose consciousness. A sudden jolt, as space arround him was no longer recognisable, and he was soon, soon surrounded by darkness; Utter Darkness.