Chapter 20
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This chapter had gotten way to long so I broke off this chunk of it and are releasing it as a seperate chapter. Chapter 21 should be coming out quicker then usual since it is already half wrote.
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The Night Before the Raid
I woke up from my slumber slightly chilled winter was approaching and I had not brought a heavy blanket in my pack I went up to the campfire to warm up.
“I got into that spacial ring but I needed Reid's help to do it. There was some fancy warding magic that I hadn't encountered before. Diana mentioned you wanted something that was inside of it” It was Mason our rogue. He is actually a pretty famous member of the thieves guild but also works as an adventurer. A rogue skill set is very much a need for exploration missions such as this. You never know when there is going to be a trap or lock.
“Yes she had a journal in there I need it.” Mason went and retrieved the journal for me. This journal was definitely plain looking. I looked at the last few entries. After writing down the 3 rd letter of every 6 letter word I got this
kill the priest beware of the white one
Who is the white one? Perhaps they are a friend? I will need to ask Mabel. I spend a few minutes encoding a new message with Mabel's handwriting thanks to my forgery skill I have acquired. The message is 'priest dead raid aborted'. With this false information we will be able to sneak around the swamps and to our destination unhindered. All we need to do is dispatch the the team watching the entrance. Once we are inside Eclipse wont be able to hinder us no more.
I make my way to Diana's tent. Mabel is still sleeping I go and wake her up.
“You used a potion on me and it wasn't from my ring. I foolishly drank it, but I am curious where you acquired it. I only know one person who can craft a potion that complicated and they would not be helping you.” She sat up and looked at me.
“I will tell you if you tell me who the white one is?” I counter her inquiry.
“Ugh how much did I reveal so much? Well I don't know who the white one is and you don't need me to drink a potion to confirm that.” She was still upset how I used a truth potion on her.
“Well seeing as how you are really curious about that potion's maker. Perhaps the alchemist who made it is the white one?” I was just throwing it out there because there was a decent possibility that I was the white one since I do have pure white mana. The expression on Mabel face when I asked that though showed me that my fishing for information was well worth it.
“So does eclipse have a seer on their side? They saw a future where someone disrupted them and there energies were white?” It would explain this situation. Mabel smiled when I asked this though.
“Lara you are really clever but I am afraid all your cleverness is going to waste. Even if you were to enlist the help of the white one you guys would be hard pressed to make it all the way to the bottom of Atlus let alone without a priest.”
“You know Eclipse must not be that strong if you need an aspect of greed to do your dirty work, I will enjoy crushing your guys plans in Zyrus and then I will enjoy killing Cain for having been so willing to hurt my friends for his own selfish ambitions.”
“You speak as though you have the power to oppose what is happening, this raid is doomed it would be best if you gave up this expedition. Otherwise your friends will get hurt.” When Mabel mentioned hurting my friends the memory of my dream vision came to at me. I pulled my dagger out and dug it slightly into Mabel's throat, a small stream of blood began to flow from the wound. I looked her directly into her eye with extreme killing intent. She began to shiver from it.
“If it was my call you would be dead right now. Diana however wants you to be put on trial for treason for some idiotic reason. She is in charge of this expedition so I will play nice for now. I do however hope you give me a reason to slit your traitorous little throat you bitch. Unlike you I enjoy watching people bleed out after I slash their throats.” I sort of let my emotions of my dream vision get the better of me for a second. I left Mabel who was still in shock from my little outburst.
After meeting with Diana and explaining that we needed to avoid Jammington at all costs we agree to travel the path along side the swamps of Malia. There is a bonus of gathering herbs and we get to avoid the opposing forces in the city. Once we get close to the entrance I will personally dispatch there recon team outside keeping an eye on it. We spend the next 30 minutes briefing the raid on what has transpired overnight and the new plan that we have come up with.
“I just want to know one thing why are we keeping the traitor with us wouldn't be easier if we just kill her.” Its probably the first time I have ever agreed with Rictor.
“There is a justice system in place if we went ahead and took justice in our own hands we would be no better then them.” Diana is a good person but I feel her naivety is going to get her in trouble.
After packing up we all got ready to leave we brought out Mabel who was wearing shackles made by Oliver which made it impossible for her to cast spells while wearing them. When she noticed that Reid was still alive the expression on her was priceless.
“This is an illusion?! How is the priest still alive this is impossible?”
“Surprised? You make a lousy assassin” I tease her, to be honest her assassination attempt was really good but I just happened to foresee it ahead of time.
“Please someone save me. They want me for my blood. I don't know how long I have.”
I heard the voice again for the first time today. Grena told me to be careful but something told me this was not a trap. I try to figure out the direction of where its coming from I feel like it is coming from underneath me which is weird. For now I just have to ignore it still.
We began our day's long trek alongside the swamps of lake Malia. I got Diana to put me in the scout team which kind of got Siena salty. I wanted to be able to gather so herbs while we took this route so I could craft a few more high potions since I had already burned through a few saving Reid's life. The monster population had been really effected by Eanton's abomination and there was hardly anything we encountered. Long-fur and Melinus were both edgy for good reason, it is very odd to not run into monsters such a high level zone. Eventually we came back to give our reports.
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Diana seemed bothered by the ominous report but we just had to continue on. I saw Mabel had a slight smirk on her face. I got up real close to her and whispered in her ear.
“I wouldn't have a smile on your face your friend Eanton and his little creation is going to be unable to come to your rescue. I went ahead and took care of them.” I then showed her Eanton's grimiore from under my robe, then quickly stored it away in my spacial ring. Her smirk quickly disappeared and quickly turned to a shocked expression.
“You will regret what you are doing Lara.” She said dishearteningly. I was enjoying breaking her spirit.
The day continued without incident, as the scout team we eventually ran into a few monster but Melinus and I were able to swiftly dispatch them with our ranged weapons and spells. Long-fur was useful too. Any edible game we encountered was quickly skinned and gutted in minutes. I had collected enough herbs to brew a small batch of high potion's as well. Our destination tonight was close to the Serpent Tree, it is was the largest tree in this country and had the striking resemblance to that of a snake in structure. There was an old abandoned research facility of the mages guild not far from the serpent tree. We had permission to take shelter there. We had been given an enchant that would prevent the golem sentries from attacking us. After determining no foreign presences were in the facility, instead of returning to the group I told Melinus that I wanted to gather a few more herbs and that I would return to the mansion afterwards. He was concerned because it would soon be dark, but I assured him that I would be fine.
The real reason I wanted to separate wasn't to gather herbs it was to take out this recon team watching the entrance. I slipped into the woods towards my destination. It took me about an hour to reach the destination The entrance is hidden inside of a natural cave. The recon team would likely be observing the cave from a vantage point. When I was finally in view of the cave I looked around. I quickly noted the best 3 vantage points almost immediately. Understanding tactics and strategies is one of the benefits of my war god blessing. The best vantage point was south east on a large hill for two reasons. First the hill had many trees and shrubs to hide from, as well as a blind spot at the top of the hill which you could set up a camp. Second it gave the most coverage of the area especially from the east where likely intruders would come from. I silently approached the hill, it is now partially dark.
My intuition on where this small camp is is dead on, there is a tiny encampment at the top of the hill. It looks like there is a team of about 4 since there is only 2 tents. They have a small camp fire going heating up a cooking pot that is cleverly having the smoke get dissipated through some sort of wind magic enchant. I can see 1 person cooking, and I can hear one person lightly snoring in one of the tents. The scout cooking is only level 38, this is child's play for me. I take out my daggers and sneak up to the scout. He is sitting down on a rock stirring the pot. A quick kidney stab followed by a downward stab inside of the collarbone severing the subclavian artery, is all that is needed. I use this technique in this situation to avoid making a big mess as the blood will fill the lungs before oozing out on to the ground. After searching the body I drag it back into the woods.
The active scouts are my next target, I easily can follow the tracks from the camp to the lookout spot. After following the trail for about 5 minutes I find the lookout spot. There is two scouts are in a cleverly camouflaged outlook built out of a tree over hanging the side of the hill. At this point there is a straight 500 foot drop from the hill to the ground. I whip out Taichi its time to test how sharp the blade is. The tree is rather large and its trunk is at least 4 feet in diameter about the same length as my katana. In one quick motion I swing the blade with all my hip and arm strength in a horizontal swing. I was prepared for there to be heavy resistance as the tree was an oak tree, but Taichi was able to slide through it like it was a stick of butter.
A 'whoosh' sound is created not from hitting the tree but from the blade itself breaking the sound barrier
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“What the heck is that noise? Hey who are you?” One of the scout's finally noticed me after the noise.
“Oh I am just a lumberjack. Timber!” With a swift round house kick to the tree that was bisected already the tree started to fall forward over the cliff. By the time the two scouts had time to register what was happening it was too late. I could hear both of them scream as they plummeted to their deaths. I return to the camp and see that the sleeping scout was awakened by the scent of food and is chowing down oblivious to what just happened to his 3 buddies. I need information out of him so cant just take him out right now. I walk right up behind him, my sneak skill is truly op, he has no idea I am behind him.
“Is it good? I was thinking of having some earlier but I had to take care of a couple of loose ends first.” I say to the scout. My voice causes him to jump to his feet spilling his boil all over him self.
“Hey I don't know who you are but this no place for a little girl. Guys! We have company.” The scout said out loud but there was no one to respond.
“Guys?!” He asked again in a sort of panic.
“So I am going to need your help for a few things. The first thing I need to know is how you communicate with Eclipse. The second thing I need to know is where you guys set up booby traps in that cave about a half mile from here.” I figure I will try to ask nicely first.
After my request the scout pull out his crossbow that was already loaded and fired at me. I dodge the attack with a shadowstep making use of the shadows cast by the moonlight behind him.
“What the hell where did she go.” As he turned around in a panic looking for me I karate chop at his wrists making him drop his weapon. I follow up with a knee to the gut knocking the wind out of him.
“Well that's no way to treat a lady.” I then pull out my dagger and point it right under his chin.
“Now I asked you a couple of questions. I suggest you answer them truthfully and swiftly. I have a schedule you know.”
-------------------------------------------------Siena POV several hours later-------------------
I cant believe Lara she goes off on her own and makes us all worry. I am still mad at Melinus and Long-fur for not staying with her. We all are suppose to meet up in the research facility of the mages guild. I hear the front door open and close and rush out to see if its Lara.
When I get to the front door I see Lara. I was going to chew her out but her whole presence just makes me admire her extreme beauty and cuteness. I shake out of my trance.
“You really made me worry. You shouldn't go off and do everything by yourself you have friends who can help you.” I say to her. I notice there is a small blood stain on her cloak.
“Which one is the room I am sleeping in?” She asked so politely I cant help but point to the room assigned to us two. She quickly went up the room and entered it. I follow her in.
“So you going to tell me what you were doing? Your story was collecting herbs but that small blood stain on you cloak tells me it was something different. That's not your own blood is it?”
“Damn I got sloppy, how observant the stain was very small I am surprised you noticed it. I promise you that what I was doing was for the benefit of this raid.”
“So you are not going to tell where it came from? Lara you really need to understand that I am here for you, we are very good friends. I haven't told people your big secret, you can be honest with me.” I truthfully wish she would just open up a little more.
“Hahahaha big secret? Siena what if I told you that secret doesn't even break my top 5 of secrets? What if I told everything you know about me is a lie? What if I was in truth I am a monster?” I got Lara to open up slightly but she is starting to scare me
“Well I know that Lara being a bad person is impossible.” I try to reassure her.
“You would be wrong, I am definitely a monster. I don't deserve friendship. Being around me is only going to get you hurt. In fact it's in your own best interest to stay as far away from me as possible. There is a side of me you haven't seen before and it would scare the hell out of you as much as it scares the hell out of me.” She started to cry, I instinct-fully went up to hug her. What ever burdens she had to carry was truly weighing her down. I need to be here for my dear friend. I don't want her to feel lonely anymore. I will be her pillar for times like this. I lock eyes with her to let her know that no matter what I am here for her.
“I will be here for you no matter what. Keep your secrets if you want but if you need someone to talk to I am here and I will help share your burden.” I could feel her body that was extremely tensed up earlier loosen up.
“Promise you wont abandon me if you know the truth? You will stay my friend no matter what?” She asked me with a desperate tone.
“I promise you I will never abandon you Lara.” Our eyes have yet to separate.
“Kara ….. my real name is Kara...........Kara Rosewood. Take care of me.” Rosewood that is the royal family of Termain! Is Lara I mean Kara a princess?!
“Rosewood is that...” Before I could finish the sentence Kara answered my question.
“Yes it is as you think my father is William my mother is Ria.” She continued to cry and hug me for a while until she finally fell asleep in my arms. She would no longer have to fight the world by herself big sis Siena would take care of her.