Episode 05
(Master… Carrying A Lady?!!)
At that very moment, a resounding rustling emanated from the depths of the forest. Suddenly, as if in the blink of an eye, a grotesque creature emerged from the precise location Julius had been observing, scuttling on all fours.
This abomination lacked any trace of fur, its body marred by filth and decay. Its head, grotesquely human in shape, bore no resemblance to anything remotely human. Hollow eye sockets stared back, veiled by crimson flesh that concealed parts of the void within. Instead of hair, vile and slimy tentacles sprouted from its scalp. It possessed no mouth or nostrils, but rather, sharp thorns adorned its face and skin, replacing any semblance of normalcy.
And soon, in no time, two more creatures of the same kind emerged from the forest, following the first one. It appeared that there were still more of them yet to reveal themselves. However, Julius, without waiting for their full emergence, fixed his gaze upon the creatures with his piercing crimson eyes and muttered something in an indistinct language.
In an instant, a chilling mist, carrying a mesmerizing sparkle, began to unfurl through the forest. As the mist touched the raindrops, they transformed into icy crystals, suspended in time. The creatures, too, fell victim to this ethereal phenomenon. They metamorphosed into frozen sculptures, only to shatter into a mesmerizing cascade of crystalline dust.
A moment of silence followed, broken only by the sound of rain pouring against the leaves of the towering forest trees.
Gradually, Julius's gaze shifted towards the woman nestled in his arms, seemingly unaware of the danger surrounding her. Her pale complexion conveyed an intense chill that seemed to penetrate his very being. Frankly, her complexion had been that way from the very start. It was just that Julius had failed to notice it until now.
"Are you cold?"
As he murmured in a dejected tone, Julius's crimson eyes slowly reverted to their usual cold, piercing, ice-like light grey hue.
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'Haa~ What am I to do?'
Elden mused with a heavy heart, his eyes lingering anxiously on the path that Julius had taken mere moments earlier. He now stood alone beside the carriage, taking refuge from the relentless downpour beneath the meager shelter of his umbrella.
Out of the blue, Julius had vanished to who knows where. And that too when it's pouring out like this! Julius absolutely hates rain. Even a while ago, inside the carriage, he made an unusual, even impossible request.
"Something he had never done…"
Elden whispered to himself, his brow furrowed with worry.
He had been in a foul mood for a few days now. Right, in a really bad mood and it was getting worse.
Since then, Elden had been consumed by worry, unable to shake off the unease that had settled within him. And to make matters worse, Elden isn't even allowed to go after him unless specifically asked. This rule left him feeling even more helpless as he watched the rain pour down.
'Sigh~'
Elden let out a weary sigh, barely audible over the relentless sound of the rain hitting the ground.
'Now that I think about it, he mentioned 'Blood' before rushing off... Could it be related to why he left so suddenly?'
Lost in these thoughts, Elden suddenly felt a chill that made his skin prickle with goosebumps, as an ominous sensation enveloped him.
After a moment of utter stillness, he sharply turned his head toward the source of the oppressive aura... The very path Julius had taken…
"This aura… How can this be?"
Elden whispered, his features twisted in astonishment.
"N-No way… It can't be…"
As Elden mumbled in disbelief, just as abruptly as the dark aura had materialized, it vanished into thin air.
Then, emerging from the shadowy veil of the downpour, a figure appeared. Broad-shouldered and formidable, the man approached slowly, bearing another in his arms.
It didn't take long for Elden to realize the identity of the figure.
"Master!"
Elden exclaimed, rushing towards Julius, holding an extra umbrella.
Seeing Julius return in such a dramatic way sparked a flurry of questions in Elden's mind, yet, he knew better than to ask them. Serving Julius had taught him one golden rule: the man was as fond of questions as cats are of swimming. Julius was not one to entertain endless questions; he was a man of few words, and he only spoke about his thoughts occasionally.
Under ordinary circumstances, Elden would have maintained a dignified silence and merely escorted his master to the carriage with the grace of a courtier. Yes, that would have been the prudent course…
However, this was no ordinary circumstance…
"Th-This…"
Elden's stride halted, his task of shielding Julius from the rain momentarily forgotten as his gaze locked onto the unconscious figure cradled in Julius's arms.
"Master… Wh-What… Who-"
His voice stuttered, breaking his usual poise, as his face mirrored the shock of a bard who'd lost his rhyme.
"Tha-"
"Elden."
Julius interjected, his voice cutting through the tension like a sword through silk. His eyes met Elden's just long enough to remind him of the pecking order.
Elden nearly jumped at the chill in his master's tone, quickly snapping out of his daze.
Without further ado, Julius resumed his march towards the carriage, and Elden, recovering his wits, hurriedly followed, hoisting the umbrella aloft. Together, they navigated through the curtain of rain, leaving a trail of mystery in their wake.
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As the relentless downpour deepened into a dense curtain of gray, the deluge showed no mercy, intensifying with each passing moment. The somber melodies drifting from the carriage's interior merged with the staccato rhythm of raindrops pelting the windows, weaving a mournful serenade. Within this enclave of shadow and sound, the mood had shifted, wrapping the space in an air of eerie tranquility.
Julius, whose icy silver eyes seemed capable of killing anyone who dared cross his path a while ago, now appeared as calm as the ocean. His stern features softened as he held the unconscious girl, his curiosity piqued yet veiled beneath a veneer of stoic calm. Yet, after a fleeting moment, he turned his head sharply towards the window, his gaze sweeping over the monotonous expanse of the forest with a weariness that seemed to weigh upon his very soul.
Meanwhile…
'Master Julius? Carrying a lady? Truly?'
Elden blinked, peering through the rearview mirror with exaggerated surprise.
'Are my eyes deceiving me? To think that a day like this would come when the stern Master Julius would be rescuing a damsel amidst this storm!'
'Who IS she? Goodness gracious, where on earth did he stumble upon her in the depths of the forest anyway? Aghh~ My goodness, this is going to cause quite the commotion back at the castle!'
Elden, who had initially been mildly concerned about Julius' foul mood but managed to maintain his composure, was now far from being calm. A whirlwind of excitement, anxiety, anticipation, and curiosity raged within Elden's mind, stirring up a tempest of emotions.
At first, Elden was just mildly concerned about Julius's foul mood, managing to preserve a semblance of calm. But now, seeing Julius with this mysterious woman, calm was the last thing Elden felt. He was swept up in a whirlwind of excitement, anxiety, anticipation, and curiosity, all mixing together into a storm of emotions.
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After navigating the shadowy reaches of the forest, their carriage rolled down the cobblestone streets of a quaint medieval town. The street, unusually wide and shrouded in the cloak of night, was bordered by somber, stone buildings no taller than three stories.
Each structure was adorned with lanterns wrought from dark iron and glass, both at the front doors and hanging from the lampposts, casting an enchanted glow that seemed to dance defiantly against the relentless rain and wind. These lanterns swayed with a grace untouched by the storm's fury, their light swaying with a spectral elegance, seemingly untouched by the tempest around them.
The late hour cast an eerie stillness upon the road, not a single soul in sight. Yet, every now and then, the silence was broken by the occasional glimpse of patrol knights. Clad in black tunics and trousers, these men wore distinguished overcoats adorned with golden cords at the shoulders, their presence marked by the long swords sheathed at their waists. Each knight paused to bow deeply upon spotting Julius's carriage, their movements swift and reverent, a clear recognition of his eminent status in this shadowed realm.
After a brief period, they finally cleared the confines of the town. The street seamlessly transformed into a serpentine road, ensconced within the embrace of an ancient, shadow-laden forest and undulating hills. As they ventured deeper into this enchanted woodland, a sight of awe slowly emerged through the mist: a grandiose castle of ancient provenance. Crafted from weather-beaten grey stones, it towered with dignity, its myriad windows and balconies casting an aura of timeless grandeur and splendor.
Before long, their carriage drew up before the castle's monumental gates, which were works of art in themselves, intricately designed and imposing. The vigilant knights stationed at the gate immediately recognized their approach and sprang into action, swiftly unlatching and pulling open the gates. With a resonant creak that echoed through the rain-soaked air, the gates swung inward, granting them passage into the storied heart of the castle.