Ann accelerated, making the yellow wind thinner, and they managed to pass through the tunnel. Then, they went through the entire tunnel, enlarging the hole and soaring at high speed into the sky until Ann managed to stop.
"Are you... okay?" Ann asked, struggling to breathe.
"Yes," the two replied, also tired, but Kassie was trembling.
"Good... because I... don't..." Ann passed out and began falling with them. Kassie started screaming desperately, and Louis sheathed his katana, grabbed Kassie and Ann, and placed them in front of him while falling on his back.
"What are you doing?" Kassie asked, confused.
"I can handle the impact, you can't!"
Kassie closed her eyes. They were falling at high speed... But suddenly, they went through a large amount of green slime that stopped their fall, landing in the middle of the large slime sphere. Ririam absorbed the slime again, allowing the three to touch the ground safely.
"Are you okay?!" Mei shouted, running towards them with Ririam and Xitlari by her side. "Why did you come out of the hole like that?" she asked worriedly, kneeling as she arrived.
"Ann! Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay!" Ririam exclaimed, kneeling down, nearly in tears, as he took Ann in his arms and touched her face.
"I'm fine..." Ann replied, a little dizzy, and then Ririam hugged her tighter.
"We don't know who it was... but they had white magic," Louis replied as he saw Kassie wasn't responding and was looking at Ann and Ririam.
"White magic...? It can't be... Only the priest has that magic..." Mei was stunned by Louis's response.
"Louis! Your stomach!" Kassie shouted, snapping out of it.
"What? Were you injured?" Mei expressed, worried, as she stood up.
"No, I'm fine," Louis replied, standing up and covering his stomach.
"Of course not!" Kassie retorted, thinking Louis was faking being tough. She stood up and moved Louis's hand, showing that he wasn't injured, although his shirt had a hole in it. "How...?"
"That doesn't matter now, we need to leave! Get in the car!" Mei noticed the hole in Louis's shirt and the blood stains, but quickly headed to her car, and everyone got in: Xitlari in the front, Kassie and Louis in the back, and Ririam with Ann on top. "Canbel! Did you call the architects? I don't want any complaints from that animal," Mei asked through her communicator while driving at a moderate speed.
"They're on their way! They'll fix the damage and seal the tunnel for the usual price," Canbel responded through the communicator.
"Perfect, thanks," Mei turned off the communicator and glanced at the others through the rearview mirror.
"The mission was a failure..." Ririam mentioned while Ann was still unconscious on top of him.
"Of course not... We got careless because we were so many, but now we know what we're up against. It's not just anything; illusion magic of that level is very dangerous, and white magic is undoubtedly the worst... I need to arrange a meeting with someone from the church, and soon... The kingdom is in complete danger," Mei said seriously, with a determined look as she drove.
"Kassie found this, it's some kind of scroll or something," Louis mentioned, pulling the scroll from his bag.
"Let me see," Xitlari took the scroll and began analyzing it.
"There are many beings inside, Xitlari," said the spiritual rhino. "I can feel it, it's a large amount."
"It seems to be a containment space; it contains a large number of creatures."
"Keep it here," Ririam handed a security capsule to Xitlari, who stored it.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the portal...
"They escaped, how unfortunate... I better change the direction of the portal. Huh?" he commented with slight frustration while putting on the mask. Suddenly, a beep sounded again, and Tai pulled out a round device.
"Is something wrong?" Tai asked, answering the call.
"Of course something's wrong, you were supposed to be at the meeting. Where are you?" Yeynos said, annoyed, through the communicator.
"Meeting? What meeting?" Tai asked, confused for not remembering the meeting.
"In the ashes of Trownlian, Zthur will make a very important announcement. You'd better come as soon as possible," Yeynos replied.
"I don't remember being told about a meeting, but I'll do what I can to get there on time," Tai said, as he lay on top of his katana, which floated, taking him toward the tunnel.
"Alright, hurry up..." Yeynos said, ending the communication.
*Sigh... what a nuisance... But! I have to obey my father*, he commented, looking at the sky.
Back in the kingdom of Ystir, and after a peaceful trip, everyone returned to the agency. Ann was feeling better, and it was getting dark; some people passed by the place on the sidewalks, and a few cars were driving by.
"I'm fine, don't worry," Ann was saying as Ririam helped her walk toward the agency. Kassie also came closer to help her.
"You two go and take that to the research room," Mei said firmly, driving off in her car.
Xitlari and Louis entered the agency in silence and headed to deliver the capsule. Neither of them said anything, just walking until they reached the research room.
"Folks! Be very careful analyzing what's inside. I'll check it tomorrow," Xitlari mentioned, placing the capsule in a glass container that made the capsule float. Then, Xitlari left the room, followed by Louis.
"Same as always with that girl..." one of the researchers commented. Louis heard the comment before leaving and then followed Xitlari, who stopped in his tracks.
"What are you?" Xitlari asked suddenly, about to leave through the door.
Louis was surprised by the question... But he knew he couldn't hide his secret anymore. "I'm a human... half demon," he replied with relief and resignation.
Xitlari made a surprised gesture but didn't turn around. "I see. By the way... you didn't tell me your name when I met you," she mentioned, not remembering, while still walking away.
"I'm sorry, my name is Louis A. Keeper, nice to meet you," he said warmly, with a slight blush.
"Heh... Nice to meet you, Louis," she said, turning slightly and leaving through the door, heading out of the agency.
Meanwhile, Mei kept driving her car.
"Voice function."
[Voice function activated], replied the car's dashboard.
"Search for information on Louis Keeper."
[Understood], responded the dashboard.
[Louis A. Keeper, 18 years old, son of the paladin Lin Keeper... He is a paladin of the Alahead kingdom, appointed on October 6th, 3682, stands at 170 cm, possesses fire magic, and is a half-demon human.] A thunderclap echoed at the last word from the dashboard.
At Professor Maxwell's house, he stood, watching the rain fall through his window.
"You knew, didn't you?" Mei asked as she arrived, resting her hands on the desk.
"You've figured it out... Sorry, I wanted to gather enough information to tell you without you doing something rash," the professor replied, turning around.
"Why would you do that?" Mei removed her hands from the desk and stood firmly.
"Because to you... the kingdom is more important. Louis is a boy who has endured much contempt, and I want to prevent him from suffering more," he said, sitting down in his chair and pulling out a holographic device.
"You know they're dangerous, Jonathan. The fact that he has suffered so much might make him want revenge," she said seriously, and a thunderclap echoed at the end of her words.
"Do you really think that? What would Xitlari say about that comment?" he expressed with disappointment.
"You're right... I'm sorry," he said, feeling guilty as he headed for the door.
"Before you leave... I won't let Louis keep lying... I'll tell you everything at once, and I hope you let me finish before you put your scimitar to my throat," he said seriously, pressing the holographic device. The device showed information and a photo of Rei.
"Rei Fordesthmans is Louis' master and... Louis possesses lava magic." Another thunderclap resonated in the distance at the last words.
"How...? Do you want that to happen here too?" she said, surprised and upset.
"Calm down... To ease your concern, let me show you this... You know that Rei Fordesthmans is the son of Lión Fordesthmans; don't think Louis was trained by just anyone," he said, showing images of green and light blue magic.
"Still, it's dangerous..." she replied, though calming down by his words and what she was seeing on the device.
"Have you seen the blue necklace he wears on his chest? That necklace prevents him from using the full potential of his magic. Also, it was created with Lión's Celestial Sword magic, which is no small feat," the professor continued showing her images of the necklace and the sword.
"And if it stops working?" she asked, quite calm, understanding everything the professor was explaining.
"Suppressed magic is very weak magic; it will drain instantly. Louis mentioned that creating lava consumes a lot of magic, which is why he spent several years training with Rei to compress the part he can use. If the necklace stops working, though I doubt it... he won't be able to use much magic because it will mix with the suppressed magic. Louis is a well-trained boy, he... won't let anything bad happen!" he said with great certainty and confidence in his words, standing up and hitting the desk with force.
Mei was surprised by the explanation and by how it ended. "Heh... You care for him because he reminds you of Alex, right?"
The professor sat back down in his chair.
"The difference... is that Louis is trained, he's capable, and he knows the consequences of misusing his magic... Do you want me to tell you a bit... about what he's been through?"
After a while, the rain stopped, and Louis arrived at the house. Before entering, he focused his body and dried all his clothes.
"I'm back! Hanks?" he said, entering the house and closing the door. Louis headed toward the professor's office but encountered Mei, who had just come out.
"Miss Mei... What are you doing here? Oh! And about my injury... I..." Louis was interrupted by a sudden hug from Mei; she hugged him tightly, letting a few tears escape.
"Don't worry, Louis... I'll support you too," she said with her sweet, soft voice, stopping the hug and wiping her tears. "I want to see you tomorrow at the agency... Okay?" she said with a slight tilt of her head while smiling with her lips.
"Of course, I'll be there!" Louis replied excitedly, and after hearing that, Mei hugged him again, gently.
End of chapter.