"Thank the tree. You're alive." Kayil said as he approached Kol. "Junner, take a team and sweep through the area. There might be other survivors."
A Dwarf with a braided beard approached. He was bulky due to his armor but what set him apart from the other paladins was his white cloak.
Kayil then knelt before Kol, "Are you injured?" he asked.
Before Kol could respond Kayil grabbed his amulet of Obedience, the white magic glows forming a circle around the amulet. After reciting a short prayer, the magic then shatters and envelops Kol in a warm white light.
Though the magic did not affect him because he was already healed, Kol still welcomed it and pretended it worked on him.
"I have to admit, kid. I wasn't expecting to see you alive." Said Ross standing over Eden's mutilated body. "Judging by how powerful she was, I thought you'd be dead." Ross smiled.
"Don't mind him Kol, Bea, and I always knew you were alive." Said Kayil.
"Bea? Is she here?" Kol asked.
"No, she could not leave the kids alone. But she fought tooth and nail to make this riad happen. I had to get some help." Kayil gestured to the paladins around the cave.
Kol felt mixed emotions, not only was he rescued but the reason behind it was thanks to Bea. Though she was not here, it was good to know that at the very least someone cared about him. The thought of facing Eden already made him question his sanity, especially now. Knowing that a group of paladins and a 3rd level wizard found the encounter with Eden difficult. Kol's mind then stops at the thought of his deal with Desherine.
"Alright boys, time to nut up we're going in," Ross ordered the men. "Kol, you've been inside. Is there anything in there that we need to be aware of?"
Kol thought for a few seconds.
"There were others besides me. I don't know where they are or if they're ok."
"Alright. We'll take it from here." Ros then puts his hands on the floor a green circle then forms around the floor beneath him. The magic then shatters leaving behind a swarm of rainbow hummingbirds that quickly filled the room. "Go and report back what you find."
Ross then nodded to Kayil and signaled the rest to follow him.
Kayil then grabbed Kol and assisted him to the exit.
Once Kol felt the warmth of the daytime, his eyes watered. A few meters away from the island was the duke's ship. The ship was big but was nowhere equipped for war, it was known for being fast amongst all others. The duke normally would use this for his travels when visiting the king, though the rescue team was small it was clear to Kol that his rescue was nothing but a happy accident of an extermination project.
Standing at the head of the ship was Oakheart's number 1 fighter—the Fencing Knight Ella. She was covered in her tight leather suit, with plate armor on her shoulders and greaves. Her thin needle-like sword in her hand and her long flowing red cape in her back matching her Red hair.
Kayil and Kol was being hoisted up the ship. This gave Kol the perfect opportunity to confirm his imagination. He always thought they were inside an island with the cave opening submerged somewhere underwater, but he was wrong.
The island was a giant stone jetting out of the water like a small spire, the entrance occupied the majority of its base making it look like a cavity on a sharp tooth. Water is not directly flowing into the cave; it is only the excess from incoming waves that crash into the entrance.
"I told you; you won't need me." A firm female voice interrupts Kol. "This whole mission has been a waste of my time."
"Well, it would've been faster if you had gone instead of me," Kayil said, helping Kol up the main ship.
"What are you talking about? I did not ask you to help Rosseler. He's more than capable of handling that witch alone."
"Yes, but I went just in case. And it's good that I did since we found a survivor." Kayil is making a small courtesy bow to Ella.
Ella then approached the two embarking on the ship, each of her footsteps carried a weight Kol could not understand. Her presence alone made everyone except for her knights avoid her. Kol struggles to maintain eye contact; he can never imagine acting so casually in front of her. This was always the case whenever Kol would have the pleasure of interacting with her.
"So, you survived?" she asked.
"Barely, my lady," Kol replied as he glimpsed at the person before him and then quickly gave a bow.
She was always beautiful; every time Kol would see her the thought of Nicole having the same mature look when she reached adulthood always lingered in his mind. After all, they look almost the same.
"Good. My sister would be pleased." Said Ella as she looked over to Kayil and nodded. "Go inside and rest."
"If it is alright with you my lady, I would like to stay. I had companions inside while I was being held prisoner. I would like to wait for them." Kol's face then flinched as if waiting to be attacked.
Everyone in Oakheart knows Ella to be the most powerful Arcane Knight on the island. The duke himself was a powerful wizard but to say that the people of Oakheart love, obey, and fear him would not be correct. People would be more inclined to say that the reason they love, obey, and fear the Oakheart family is because of Ella.
Kol would not have understood what he felt at this moment if he never encountered Eden. Kol had a similar reaction if not greater to when Eden placed that curse on him. Kol understood. All this time since he met Nicole, every encounter he had with Ella was met with the same reaction. Kol was internally petrified by her aura and presence. Though there was no signal from the system, this was genuine. Kol feared Ella.
Ella then turned and walked to her position in the front of the ship.
"You may do as you please."