It was the beginning of the last day where Luke and Elspeth were still intertwined with each other. With the sun's warm delicate rays heating his face,he got up to realize that Elspeth's puppet was kneeling infront of him ready to relay a message. He was sure that the chances of such an event to occur were highly unlikely but he still decided to go along with it. He got off bed and took a nice relaxing bath in the hot spring that was right outside the fort. During his bath,he was accompanied by Elspeth who had now woken up before they went back and put on their clothes.
The puppets packed everything up walking behind the two as they made their way to the heart of the forest which was to the far East. "Why are we going there if you are aware of what lies ahead?" She asked walking next to Luke. "I want to see what they have in store. Besides, if we leave now, we're gonna miss out something I want you to see." He said looking forward. They could leave now and emerge victorious out of the ten students that remained from thirty five but there would be no excitement,as he preferred it. Releasing his aura of a SS ranker,most of the creatures avoided them till they finally made it there.
The place was densely packed with trees but what set it apart was the enormous cave that lay here. The entrance was covered with vines ad stray vegetation that permeated into the cave giving of a mysterious vibe to it. 'Did everyone receive this invitation?' Luke thought scanning through the crowd of people that stood here. All of them were aware of Luke and Elspeth and especially about the Troll Devil. Thanks to him,they had to keep on forcibly relocating to avoid running into him. At times he would kill everyone leaving one or two people alive but badly injured to spread the word of his slaughter and this news spread quicker than wildfire.
They naturally retreated back in fear seeing the quartet and they stood infront of the group wondering the cause of their summon. Looking to his right,he saw Ciara before making his advancement. "I'm here,so what do you want cause I hope you didn't waste my time with calling me here." He said flatly. "The reason why we used her was to get you here, Luke." Elaine stated a neutral expression. "Well I'm here." He said without looking at Elaine. For a royal figure, Luke certainly didn't give her the respect she deserved and this fact annoyed her greatly. "Where's Bruce? I naturally expect him to be here."
He asked looking around only to see her envoy save for Bruce. "Don't tell me the commander knight of Astria is actually afraid." He mocked them giving a small laugh. Elaine could only grit her teeth in silence as Luke started walking back to Elspeth. 'Just because you're safe for now doesn't mean that it'll stay like that,just you wait.' Elaine thought seeing Luke standing next to Elspeth. She wondered why such a lady would associate with a wretch like him but after today,that could change.
A few moments after everyone made their arrival,the cave emitted a dazzling and captivating light with an otherworldly pleasing aura eminating from it. Most were perplexed by this feeling except for Luke who was tired of such acts. He'd seen even grander displays in the higher dimensional planes yet none of them fazed him,why, because he viewed it as attention seekers intentionally hiding their flaws with pitiful acts with arrogant displays. It was also a reason why he never had any dangerous or monstrous aura around him,because it lay within his actions not his looks.
Within the dazzling light,an ethereal beauty of the queen of the fairies made her appearance along with the rest of her subordinate which were bathed in resplendence and beauty making the scene all the more unreal. 'What a performance.' Luke thought in his mind noticing how the rest were fawning over her beauty. "It's so very kind of you humans to accept our gracious invitation." One of her servants spoke with grace and elegance further pushing the crowd over the edge as they endlessly gave their remarks about their beauty.
'Well it's certainly different from earlier. This one has more respect to it. It's clear that they want something.' Luke assessed his situation. The female talking gave way to the queen after introducing her. "Hello humans, we're glad that you would grace is with your presence this far into the forest but it would seem that we have a little bit of a conflict of interest." She said inciting sparks of excitement and jeers from the crowd. "Many men shamelessly asked whatever she wanted,they would make sure that they would execute it.She gave a small giggle before resuming ,"The treasures that you are collecting belong to my people but seeing that you are in dire need of them,we will give them to you."
"However the amount that one of you has amassed has caused a strain in our resources so we would peacefully urge you to hand them over." She said looking at the Troll Devil personally. She wanted to see where this freak stood and whether these pitiful humans would forcibly take them away from his clutches. To her surprise,none dared to make a move against him rather they backed off in fear and why wouldn't they, anything to do with Aldritch was basically suicide not to mention they all knew the repercussions, he could take over the kingdom of Astria as a form of retaliation placing the ones responsible in between the wrath of both Aldritch and the king of Astria,James.
To her dismay,the ones who vouched to follow her to the ends of the earth stood adamant, refusing to do anything about her case. The Troll Devil spoke in ridicule ,"Considering your numbers,you should be able to take me down if you play your cards right." But still nobody took the bait only waiting and praying that things wouldn't descend taking a violent turn between him and the fairies. Thelma looked at Luke who stood infront of the Troll Devil ,"Kind sir,can you consider telling your surbodinate to relinquish what he rightfully stole from us." Hoping her charms would work on him. Luke instead gave a maniacal laughter.
"Why would you have me do something I am unable to do your majesty? This surbodinate as you put it has an order of ensuring my safety, nothing more and since it was an order from above, he can't refute it so I'm so terribly sorry if I am of no help to you. But I'm sure he has heard your complaints and as a man, I'm sure he can't turn down your offer." He stepped to the side giving way to his puppet to take the stage. "My initial offer still stands but my patience runs thin,your majesty." The Troll Devil spoke in a dreary voice instilling fear to those who heard it. The queen could only remain silent before she came to a conclusion ,"Fine. I accept your deal."
Everyone was bewildered with how the two had met prior and what deal were they talking about. The Troll Devil tilted his head sideways before responding. "Lucky you are such a beauty or you're deal of sleeping with me would be off." Of course there was no reason to specify the details but to invoke the hate of the people,he took this initiative. Besides,he wanted some specific people to play ball in the grand scheme of things.
"You cannot do such an immoral act to a beautiful lady!!" A voice echoed through the air cutting through the silence that had settled in between the crowd. Sure they too wanted to interject but knowing their standing decided to let matters go. It was Bruce Goldeneye,though Luke was anticipating someone else. "So you were actually planning on showing up,now we can get things started." The Troll Devil spoke. "What are you doing here?" Elaine protested but Bruce proclaimed ,"I'm sorry my princess but I can't continue to see this injustice go on any further." He then brought out his sword.
*Snap*
The next frame of a second,two huge sickles manifested plunging their bloodthirsty edges into Bruce's chest hoisting him up making him yell out in pain.
Thelma expected someone to intercede yet none did,the Troll Devil widened his fingers and thumb stretching the sickles easily cutting through Bruce who was profusely bleeding writhing in pain. Elaine tried to make a move but the Troll Devil froze her in place as he continued to stretch Bruce to his limits giving her a front row view to the gory show. Retracting his sickles,Bruce fell to the ground right at the Troll Devil's feet who glanced down at him as blood came gushing out of two holes in his chest. He raised his Edged Void ready to claim Bruce's life before someone else interjected bringing the bloody fiasco to a halt.
Looking at the source,it turned out to be Regald. 'So the protagonist decided to have someone else say his lines. Crafty to say the least. Considering that he won't be endangering himself so have someone else who can bite the bullet for him.' Luke thought looking at Connor who seemed to be hiding a small ring in his inventory. Most of the students were relieved seeing him here as he was a neutral side with backing.
As for Elaine,Regald was usually neutral when it came to politics so his indulgence in the matter would remain neutral for the throne of Astria should things get hectic. Regald took a couple of steps forward with people making way till he stood face to face with the Troll Devil. He had a steel determination in his eyes, steadfast against the dangers that lied ahead compelled with his undying resolve to help those in need such as now. "I'm well aware of who you are and who you represent but as of now, I'm am forced to urge you to hand over the stolen treasures back to the fairies."
The queen Thelma finally saw a glimmer of hope amidst the somber silence that dreaded the atmosphere. And sensing the individual was that of a high rank as well further motivated her hopes. "Thank you kind sir for your valiant efforts." She softly stated though Regald didn't seem to concerned with it. He lifted up Bruce whose consciousness was fastly fading and placed him to the side where he was nursed by Ciara and Elaine who had been let go. "I want you to choose one. The forest with it's inhabitants or Bruce, Regald." Regald didn't seem flustered always maintaining a calm and composed face.
"I don't think you know what you are facing. I'm saving both so I would like to urge you to back down now." Regald spoke with a collected face. "I've met a lot of annoying insects like you. Thinking they have control of the situation while the truth of the matter is that they are seconds away from death. I'm actually going against my orders here by giving you an option. So what's it going to be? Or do you want me to choose it for you." The Troll Devil spoke in a nonchalant manner placing his sword on his shoulder. Regald maintaining his poker face replied ,"I've already told you,I choose both."
The Troll Devil tilted his head in dismay ,"How disappointing? I'll go with your option then,of destroying both." He said in a menacing voice before raising his right hand. Before he snapped his fingers,both his hand was chopped off in a matter of seconds. The cause,Regald's cane which was disguised and it turned out to be a Ytterbium sword. Most people looked elated at the result as from their references,before the Troll Devil was about to make a move,he had to snap his fingers and he couldn't with his hands sliced off. Looking at the Troll Devil, Regald saw him standing looking at his severed arm before looking at Regald. "It's not your fault. You wouldn't be the first to make this mistake."