Novels2Search

Chapter 5 Meeting

The catacombs were steeped in oppressive darkness, with roots protruding from the ceilings and the distant sound of dripping water echoing through the space. The rapid thud of Kaito’s footsteps reverberated through the narrow passageways, accompanied by the frantic fluttering of a tiny winged figure.

—I told you not to hit that wall! —Clara’s sharp voice rang out indignantly as she flew close to him, her wings casting a faint glow in the shadows—. How can you ignore the voice of experience?

Kaito barely acknowledged her, his face tense but tinged with defiance.

—If you’re expecting an apology, don’t hold your breath. —He spoke between heavy breaths, never slowing his pace—. I thought it was an exit. And besides, what was a wall doing behind that pile of dirt? There had to be treasure hidden there.

Clara folded her arms as she flitted beside him, her cheeks puffed with frustration.

—We’re underground, right beneath the city! —she snapped, her tone rising in pitch—. Of course, we’d run into something like that. That’s why I yelled at you not to destroy the wall!

Kaito rounded a corner quickly, his cloak billowing behind him.

—Well, what’s done is done. —He frowned, his eyes darting through the dim corridors—. Now I just need to retrace my steps. If more soldiers show up, I’m toast.

Clara followed, buzzing next to him like a tiny spark of light.

—Lucky for you, those soldiers were weak. —Kaito clenched his jaw, discomfort flickering across his face—. I hope I didn’t hurt them too badly.

Clara glared at him, but her concern over the situation seeped into her voice.

—That doesn’t make it any better. Any damage you caused is going to be a problem.

Kaito waved a hand dismissively, as if brushing away her words.

—Still, I would’ve liked to analyze their statuses. —His expression hardened, frustration and curiosity mingling in his gaze—. But with everything happening so fast, I didn’t get the chance.

The two continued running through the dark maze, their conversation’s echo fading into the distance.

Elizabeth’s horse thundered to a halt before the entrance to the catacombs. With a swift motion, she dismounted gracefully, her boots striking the ground with authority. Her cape fluttered in the light breeze as her sharp gaze swept over the scene.

Her eyes locked onto the broken wall and the two unconscious soldiers sprawled on the ground. Nearby, a pair of priests knelt, their hands glowing with restorative magic as murmured spells surrounded the injured in soft, radiant light.

—Where is the one responsible for this? —Elizabeth demanded, her voice firm and commanding, carrying an undeniable weight.

A nearby soldier quickly approached, bowing his head respectfully.

—My lady, the culprit fled through that hole —he explained, gesturing toward the jagged opening in the wall—. But... there was something odd. It looked like a zombie, yet it showed intelligence. It’s something we’ve never seen before.

Elizabeth’s brows knitted together, her expression hardening as she crouched briefly to inspect the unconscious soldiers. Her piercing eyes flickered with a mix of concern and irritation.

—Still unconscious? —she muttered to herself, displeasure evident in her tone.

Straightening, she turned sharply to the soldier.

—I’m going in to investigate. Don’t let anyone unauthorized enter this area. Understood?

—Yes, my lady! —the soldier responded with a sharp salute.

Without hesitation, Elizabeth stepped through the opening into the catacombs. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword as her boots echoed against the stone floor. A faint blue glow emanated from her palm as she activated her skill.

—Tracking, grade B, —she murmured softly.

Ethereal traces of mana began to shimmer in the air, forming faint trails of light. Her eyes narrowed, honing in on the glowing path that appeared before her. Without a moment’s hesitation, she sprinted forward, her agile form darting through the dim labyrinth.

—Kaito, I don’t want to alarm you, but something is approaching at an incredible speed... and it’s coming straight for us —Clara announced, her tone tinged with worry as her tiny wings fluttered rapidly to keep up.

Kaito let out an exasperated sigh, not daring to slow his pace.

—And how exactly do you know that? No, forget it—that doesn’t matter right now. What does matter is how I’m supposed to get out of this! —he said, a mix of anxiety and frustration evident in his voice as he pushed himself to run faster down the dim corridors.

Clara tilted her head, her expression turning thoughtful.

—We’ve got two minutes before it catches up to us.

—Two minutes?! But it took us like thirty to get here from the catacombs! —Kaito shouted, glancing at her in disbelief—. How can anyone be that fast? Don’t tell me it’s another pixie like you.

Clara puffed out her cheeks in indignation.

—Of course not! The mana I’m sensing is way too powerful. It’s probably... a royal knight.

The words hit Kaito like a thunderclap. His eyes widened, and he nearly stumbled.

—A royal knight? —he repeated, his voice tinged with growing panic—. And just how strong are they?

Clara crossed her arms, her face unusually stern.

—Let me put it this way: a royal knight could take down ten demons at the same time.

Kaito felt a chill run down his spine as beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.

—Why didn’t you warn me about that sooner?! —he yelled, his indignation barely covering the growing sense of doom as he pushed himself to run even faster.

Clara didn’t respond. Her worried expression, however, spoke volumes: this was not going to end well.

—Hey, old man, how much longer do I have to walk? My knees hurt, and the undead I summoned is way too close to me. Its skin is falling off, and it reeks! This is disgusting... —complained Yurei, dragging his feet with a grimace while glancing disdainfully at the shambling zombie beside him.

Francisco Falkenrath stopped abruptly, turning slowly toward the hero. His gaze was sharp, filled with both irritation and unyielding authority.

—Listen here, brat. My name is Francisco Falkenrath, not "old man." I am a great sage and mage of the kingdom. So pay attention, because I will only say this once: if you ever disrespect me again, I will use your remains for my experiments.

Yurei immediately fell silent, swallowing hard as he instinctively stepped back.

The mage nodded in approval, straightening his robes.

—That’s better. Now, we’ve arrived. I have some adversaries I captured just for you to practice on. They’re locked up right... —Francisco paused, narrowing his eyes as he noticed something was amiss—. They should be here.

The cavern was unnervingly silent, the emptiness echoing loudly in the air. With every step Francisco took, his expression grew darker.

When they reached the center, the first thing they saw was a scattering of bones—what remained of animated skeletons, now nothing more than shattered remains. Francisco gritted his teeth, his expression quickly shifting from surprise to seething anger.

—Who did this? —he growled, kneeling to inspect the bones. His hands trembled slightly with indignation—. Was it some kind of monster?

Leaning closer, he examined the marks left on the bones.

—No, that doesn’t make sense. These strikes are too clean, as if they were made with fists... not claws or pincers.

Standing upright, Francisco closed his eyes for a moment, drawing a deep breath before roaring in frustration:

—Damn it! It took me so much effort to bring these three specimens in good condition!

Yurei, who had been standing silently until now, shuffled back nervously, glancing between the furious mage and the disarray before them, clearly uneasy with the situation.

"Ten seconds, ten seconds until she arrives!" Clara shouted, flitting around Kaito in frantic circles.

Kaito’s heart was racing. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the rising panic.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

—Maybe if I try talking to the royal knight, she’ll understand my situation... —he murmured shakily.

Clara halted mid-air, her tiny figure glowing faintly as her mischievous grin widened.

—Could be... —she said, tapping her chin thoughtfully—. Or maybe she’ll just kill you for being a zombie who attacked the city and two soldiers. What do you think her answer will be?

Kaito swallowed hard, unable to respond as Clara continued her countdown.

—Oh, three seconds left. She’s here! —she chimed with a sly smile.

At that moment, Elizabeth arrived, stopping abruptly. Her imposing figure cast a long shadow, and the gleam of her lance reflected the dim light in the cavern. Her piercing gaze swept the area with precision.

—The mana trail ends here, —she said, her voice sharp as her frown deepened—. But... why can’t I see anyone? Was I deceived? Or did they use a teleportation spell? Though I doubt it... that would be a high-level spell for a mere zombie, or even its controller.

Frustration etched itself onto her face, her lips pressing into a thin line as she scanned every corner, her eyes searching for even the faintest hint of movement.

Kaito, just steps away, held his breath.

—What’s happening? Why can’t she see me? I’m right here... —he thought, frozen in place, sweat beading on his brow. His thoughts raced as he struggled to make sense of it—. Well, I’d better stay still and silent.

Then, a soft sound caught his attention. He turned his head slightly to see Clara hovering nearby, her hands covering her mouth as she stifled a silent laugh.

—Knew it... —he thought, his brow furrowing in irritation—. This must be some kind of magic trick by that damn pixie.

His jaw tightened as frustration bubbled inside him.

—She made me run all this way... And she could do this from the start? I want to hit her... but with her so close, I don’t dare move a muscle... —he thought, caught between his annoyance at Clara and the terror of the knight looming mere steps away.

Carefully, without moving an inch, Kaito slid his hand toward his analysis device.

—If I can analyze her status, maybe I’ll find something useful... —he thought, struggling to keep calm as he discreetly activated the skill.

In front of his eyes, the screen filled with data:

Elizabeth Ashborne

Level: ??? (Royal Knight)

Race: Human

State: Angry / Confused

Total Power: ???

Vitality: ???

Mana: ???

Resistance: ???

Passive Skill: ???

Skill: ???

Kaito’s brow furrowed as he studied the incomplete information.

—Now I can see more details... but it’s still not enough. —he thought with frustration. It felt as if Elizabeth’s very existence was shrouded in an impenetrable veil.

At that moment, Elizabeth tensed. Her sharp eyes turned toward another point in the terrain.

—Another presence? —she murmured to herself, her low voice carrying an air of authority.

With firm, elegant movements, she began walking in that direction, her lance radiating an intimidating aura.

Kaito let out a small sigh of relief, though his body remained stiff.

—That was close... —he whispered to himself, slightly relaxing his shoulders. But curiosity started to creep in. His eyes followed Elizabeth’s figure as she moved away.

It didn’t take long for him to notice her stopping in front of a group of three figures. Among them, one stood out: a man with grayish skin and the sluggish movements of an undead.

—Pedro? —Kaito thought, his eyes widening in surprise—. It’s him! That man I met in the prison... but what’s he doing here?

Kaito began walking almost unconsciously, his feet carrying him toward the spot where Elizabeth was standing with Pedro and the other two figures. His mind was clouded with the need to understand what was happening.

—What are you doing? Stop right there! —Clara's voice cut through the air like a whip, and her small figure zipped in front of his face, waving her arms urgently. Her wings glimmered faintly, a sign of her exhaustion—. The spiritual magic hiding you won’t last much longer, and using it on someone your size drains too much of my energy. If you keep going, you’ll be discovered!

Kaito froze. He looked at Clara and, for the first time, noticed the weariness on her face and the slight trembling of her wings.

—You’re right... I’m sorry. —he muttered, clenching his fists. His gaze returned to the scene ahead, filled with frustration and questions.

The urge to move forward still burned within him. Seeing Pedro in such a state stirred something deep, a mix of anger and sorrow.

—How did he end up like this? —he thought, closing his eyes for a moment as memories of the prison resurfaced—. Wasn’t it enough to execute him? Did they have to desecrate his body too?

His jaw tightened, and a flicker of emotions crossed his face: pain, helplessness, and restrained rage. But he knew Clara was right. Moving forward without a plan meant risking everything and likely facing something far beyond his capability.

Elizabeth scrutinized the trio before her, narrowing her eyes as she assessed the situation. Her stance was firm, and her very presence commanded authority in the dim surroundings.

—A court mage, one of the heroes... and an undead? —she asked, her tone laced with suspicion—. Are you the ones responsible for the incident in the catacombs?

Falkenrath raised an eyebrow and let out a dry chuckle.

—Oh, what’s a royal knight doing here? —he retorted with a smirk, crossing his arms—. Is the kingdom so short-staffed that they send someone of such high rank for something this trivial?

Elizabeth’s lips pressed into a thin line. Although his words irritated her, she couldn’t entirely dismiss their validity. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and kept her tone calm.

—Your observation is noted, but I’m not here under direct orders from the king. I was merely passing through. —she replied evenly, her gaze shifting to the undead figure standing behind them. Her expression hardened—. Still, I can’t ignore that you’re carrying an undead.

As Elizabeth and Falkenrath exchanged words, Yurei couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her golden hair cascaded down to her waist, shimmering faintly under the dim light. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight through him, filled with a mix of cold determination. The red cape flowing behind her armor added an air of superiority and majesty. "She’s just like that character..." he thought, his heartbeat quickening slightly.

—So, are you the one who summoned this creature? —Elizabeth asked, turning her sharp gaze to Yurei.

The young man took a step back, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

—Y-yes, that’s right. It’s... my first summoning.

Elizabeth tilted her head slightly, evaluating him.

—And is it strong? May I test it?

—Of course! I don’t mind at all. —Yurei replied eagerly, trying to mask his anxiety.

—Fool! —Falkenrath barked, slamming his staff against the ground in frustration—. If she destroys the specimen, we’ll have to wait for the next execution to get another suitable body. —His tone was sharp and full of reproach—. Specimens that have decomposed for more than five days are useless for someone as inexperienced as you.

Elizabeth held her spear firmly in front of the undead, her eyes glinting with a mix of authority and impatience. A soft golden light began to envelop her, reflecting off the polished surface of her armor.

—Wait! Don’t touch my specimen! —Falkenrath shouted, extending a hand as if to stop her but hesitating to step closer. His face twisted in frustration as he glared at Yurei—. I warned you, fool!

Yurei, uncomfortable under the mage’s furious gaze, shrugged helplessly, unable to look away from Elizabeth and her commanding presence.

Without heeding Falkenrath’s protests, Elizabeth moved her spear with precision, leaving a shallow cut on the undead’s arm. From the wound, a golden flame began to emerge, small at first, but it quickly spread across its entire body.

The undead did not react; its vacant expression remained unchanged as the flames consumed it. Finally, it collapsed backward with a dull thud, turning into ashes that scattered into the air.

—My specimen! —Falkenrath yelled, his eyes blazing with indignation as he pointed his staff at Yurei—. I told you! This is your fault!

Elizabeth, ignoring the outburst, turned her sharp gaze to the young hero. Her piercing blue eyes scrutinized him severely.

—Have you summoned any more undead? —she asked, her tone laden with disapproval.

Yurei raised his hands defensively, swallowing hard before answering.

—No! This is my first and only summoning. —he blurted out, avoiding direct eye contact—. Besides... I don’t fully understand how my ability works.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, clearly unimpressed.

—It’s just trash. —she said dismissively, sparing only a brief glance at the mage and then at Yurei—. You’ve both just wasted my time.

Without another word, she began scanning the area, searching for any trace of mana that might justify her presence there. But there was nothing—no hint or clue to follow.

With a deep scowl and tightly pressed lips, Elizabeth turned and left, her cape billowing behind her. Frustration radiated from her every step, but she did not spare them another word as she disappeared into the distance.

—What was that? Why did flames appear? —Kaito murmured, his eyes fixed on the ashes that had been the undead.

Clara, floating near his shoulder, crossed her arms and gave him a smug look.

—That’s light magic. It seems the royal knight has an affinity for that element. By the way, did you know that undead are at a huge disadvantage against users of light or fire magic? —she explained with a mix of condescension and amusement.

Kaito frowned, mulling over her words.

—Light magic... I’ll have to be careful with that. Lucky for me, those two soldiers didn’t use it.

—It’s not that they didn’t want to; they couldn’t. They didn’t have an affinity for light magic. Clearly, you got very lucky. That’s why you should listen to me. I’m the voice of experience. —Clara smirked, raising an eyebrow.

Kaito shot her a skeptical glance.

—Why are you helping me so much? Are you trying to pull a prank on me?

Clara shrugged, her expression indifferent.

—Don’t overthink it. I’m just curious about someone like you, that’s all.

Kaito wasn’t satisfied with her flimsy excuse but let it slide. His gaze wandered around the area until he noticed something odd.

—Where’s the old man? —he asked suddenly.

—He left a while ago. See? That’s why I say you’re so clueless. —Clara teased, her voice laced with mockery.

Ignoring the jab, Kaito focused on the young hero standing alone in the area. His eyes narrowed as he activated his skill to examine him more closely.

----------------------------------------

Yurei Murakami

Level: 1 (Hero)

Race: Human

Class: Apprentice Necromancer

Status: In love

Total Power: 1000

Attack Power: 200

Defense Power: 800

Vitality: 350/350

Mana: 250/3000

Stamina: 40/100

Passive Skill: Hero F

Active Skill: Summoning F, Mana Recovery F, ??? S

Kaito clenched his fists as his gaze fixated on the young hero.

—He’s definitely weaker than me —he muttered under his breath, his narrowed eyes filled with distrust. As he kept observing, his mind raced with a troubling realization—. It’s him... He’s the one who summoned Pedro’s body. And I’m sure he’s one of the thieves who broke into my apartment. The ones who tried to kill me.

His heart began pounding, not out of fear, but a mix of anger and unease.

—If they figure out I’m still here... —Kaito swallowed hard, a shiver running down his spine—, they’ll probably try to get rid of me again.

He glanced at Yurei again, noting how oblivious he seemed to Kaito’s presence.

—Now that he’s weak, this is my chance. —he thought, his eyes gleaming with resolve.

Taking a deep breath, he started to move. His steps were swift but cautious, each one carefully measured to avoid making any noise.

The stillness of the area made every sound feel amplified. Kaito even controlled his breathing, keeping his focus sharp as he closed in on his target.