I raced back to Xerxes food court as fast as the speed limit of the aero surge could take me. However I came to a halt 10 meters away from the Inn. I wasn't the smartest mage around but at least I wasn't dumb enough to realize that running into the Inn at such speeds will trigger Xerxes suspicions.
Slotting my hands into my pockets I acted normal, normal being having an emotionless expression written all over my face. I approached the Inn at a slow pace with my face pointed down at the ground, my skin itched a bit as I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched the moment I came into the vicinity of the Inn. It was Xerxes.
There was no doubt, normally I'd follow my guts feeling and assume it was just another depressing atmosphere. Now that the truth had been revealed to me I knew, the dark essence of the evil realm escaped slowly from Xerxes temporary host. It was deteriorating, perhaps as a result of using such a large scale attack with the beast Sage magic infused.
I pushed the door to the Inn gently and walked through the open space, as I stepped foot into the Inn my eyes met immediately with Xerxes who was seated behind the counter, almost as if he was waiting for my return.
"Welcome back Xavier, I take it your quest for fresh air was successful?"
He spoke in an odd manner, something was definitely wrong. Xerxes was reading a book, for someone who likes to get drunk on a regular basis why would he take interests in books all of a sudden.
"Yeah..."
I responded, I wouldn't want to do or say anything that he'd find suspicious. Currently I had one goal in mind, find and rescue Rachel then get the hell outta here. It was already obvious both our magic combined would still look like an ant standing beside a mountain, that was the realistic comparison between our magic and that of Xerxes.
He is someone who attained the magic and title of the Greek Dragon Sage, that alone ensured our total defeat if we decided to fight, now that his magic was infused and combined with the evil essence of the dark society and he evolved into a Beast Sage. We are completely powerless against him.
The only issue now was, how to locate Rachel. Surely he had a hand in her disappearance but I couldn't bring up the Rachel topic right now, so I had to devise a less smarter approach.
"I'll be taking a rest, feeling a bit drained."
Xerxes flipped through the page of the book he read focusing on the written content before he chuckled softly.
"That's what you get for over-exerting a completely beaten up body."
He stated and continued reading his book, using the opportunity created I ventured up the stairs in other to avoid more questions, even though I knew I was powerless against him, I felt this burning desire to beat the crap out of Xerxes for all he had done. Most especially for kidnapping Rachel.
Back in the room I used as accommodation, I pondered on one specific thought.
"What if he already killed her?"
My heart raced as I asked myself this very question, it was a thought I wished wouldn't manifest into reality.
"No, after a century experience of soul transplant, he'd have devised contingencies with the assumption of whether acquiring the perfect vessel would fail or not. That means, to prepare for the worst he'd have Rachel around if all doesn't go according to plan."
I slammed my right fist into my left palm on arriving at a conclusion.
"That means she must be close by!."
He exclaimed in a less audible tune to prevent any unforseen circumstances. It was decided, in order to find Rachel I'd have to tail Xerxes without him noticing. As difficult as it sounds it was the only way.
Quietly I left my room and snuck towards the balcony slowly, crouching on my knees I spied on Xerxes from the second floor. For a moment he proceeded with reading his book but after a short while, he closed the book and got up immediately.
My heart began racing and pounded heavily as I was under the impression that he had spotted me, I used my left hand to cover my mouth to prevent any noise from escaping. Xerxes turned around and walked into the back door leading to the kitchen.
I let out a sigh of relief realizing that I haven't been caught yet. I jumped off the balcony and landed on my toes gathering wind energy around my foot to lessen the impact and avoid any noise.
I followed Xerxes quietly from behind and eventually I arrived at another door right at the end of the kitchen, Xerxes wasn't there anymore and he couldn't disappeared just like that so he must have gone through this door.
As I opened the door slowly a dimly lit passage was revealed. I could see Xerxes down the passage entering into a door and closed it behind him.
"That must be where Xerxes is holding her."
I muttered softly before walking slowly down the stairs, I did this with caution as I did not know how long Xerxes would be there.
After alighting the stairs the door Xerxes went through opened immediately and I was greatly alarmed, I ran towards a dark corner instantly and crouched there holding my breath and mouth instantly.
As Xerxes passed by me, my heart pounded aggressively in fear. If he caught me it would be the end of it all. I did everything humanly possible to avoid making a sound and by the time he walked up the stairs and shut the door, I placed my hands on the ground instantly and breathed heavily as my sweat rolled down the side of my face.
"That was close, really really close."
I stood up and walked towards the door Xerxes came out from, taking deep breaths I pulled down on the knob before opening it and walking into the room.
"Rachel!"
I exclaimed as my eyes met with that of Rachel's whose hands were chained at the opposite sides of the walls and her mouth tied up, her eyes were widened on seeing me and I rushed towards her.
Green light particles surrounded my hands and were converted into little compressed balls of wind, firing several compressed balls of wind into the keyhole of each shackle the combustion forced all the shackles open freeing Rachel who fell towards me.
As I caught her she mumbled loudly trying to say something but it wasn't clear, her mouth was tied up.
"I can't hear what your saying."
As I pulled the fabric used to seal her mouth down she began warning me.
"You have to get out of here Xavier, everything Xerxes said was a lie you have to leave now!."
I held Rachel by her shoulders and raised her up on her feet with a little smile on my face.
"I know Rachel, that's why I came back. To rescue you."
"No you have to leave now you don't understand, he knows your here!."
"What?"
THUD!
As I questioned Rachel the sound of the door being closed behind me was loud, my eyes widened and I turned around slowly only to see Xerxes with an evil smile on his face as he spoke.
"It seems you figured everything out sooner than I anticipated, Xavier."
The cold tune of his voice sent shivers down my spine and I could feel it, the evil essence that resided within the beast Sage known as Xerxes Advent.