Azure learned to not question Aqua's techniques. After all, they were in enemy territory and she would need to trust her abilities. But the power she sensed from the previously normal sword was insane, the seemingly ordinary steel blade was turned into a container of immense power that could be considered a national treasure.

Enchants of this magnitude were unheard of and yet her companion surprised her once again by calling them basic.

And yet she did not care, no matter what kind of monster her new friend was, all that mattered was that she was lending her power to rescue Sheira.

She looked over the blade with a satisfied look before wrapping it in a piece of cloth and loosely tying the great sword to her back.

Once both Azure and Laura got their weapons they were once again lost. They were equipped for a potential fight, and yet they had no idea where to continue looking.

While most humans that passed them paid no heed to their presence but instead went by their business some still gave them weird looks as the trio frankly looked like lost sheep.

"You Ladies are members of Golden Rose, are you not?" A raspy male voice came from behind them, getting an immediate reaction from the trio.

Laura was the first to answer, after all, she recognized this voice. It was the voice of the observer that was in their encampment. Finally, someone who recognized them is what Laura thought. If anyone would know why they couldn't find Golden Fang and why most people seemed to not even know that Golden Rose passed through the city. It would be him.

"Oh, it's you! Yes, I'm Golden Petal Laura. These girls are Golden Petals Azure and Aqua" Laura spoke while giving a slight bow.

Man looked over them with obvious suspicion in his eyes before answering, his gaze piercing through two disguised elves "I haven't seen these two girls at the encampment, but no matter. Follow me."

As the man started walking away Laura tried to ask him "Why does nobody know that Golden Rose passed through the city?"

Man cackled before answering "No. Follow me now and stop asking unnecessary questions."

Trio looked at each other before following the old man shortly after. The man leads the trio through Eastern Street, his stride slow and unsteady.

"Golden Fang is awaiting you, Laura." Man spoke as his cane hit the ground providing support for him to stand.

'Why is he pretending to be weak' That was all Aqua could say about this man, while his charade could fool lesser eyes it couldn't fool Aqua's.

The sheer power he emanated dwarfed even the statue in the city center. He has cleverly hidden his power, forcing even her to put some effort into seeing past his concealment.

Man did not use any illusions, and yet his concealment was about as effective as a master illusionist.

Whoever he was, it was almost certain he would lead them to neither Sheira nor Golden Fang.

'It is a bad idea to follow a strange old man, but I'm quite interested in what he is hiding' Aqua mused as they quietly walked behind the man.

She fully expected a trap, and yet neither Laura nor Azure expected a thing. 'Well that is expected, he concealed himself extremely well'

His apparent mastery of illusion-like magic was worrying, after all, the illusion wasn't something she had much knowledge of.

While sufficient destructive power would be enough to remove illusion, she knew she couldn't destroy the city, especially with Azure and Sheira being in this city and to some extent Laura.

While she expected Laura, who was experienced in deception to at least get a hunch that something was wrong. She couldn't say the same for Azure, who proved that she was still too naive and trusting.

Perhaps this was a good test of man's perception as she channeled power into two spells. Both Laura's and Azure's forms shimmered for a mere moment as [Heart of Phoenix] settled in them, marking them with a scar in the shape of wings in the same manner as Sheira was.

Aqua carefully observed the man, and yet it seemed like he noticed nothing.

'That is reassuring, even if it seems that not even my two companions noticed anything' She sighed as she wondered how none of them noticed a flash of color even if it was so brief that the naked eye could barely perceive it.

Following a slow old man made the travel time longer than it would have taken them alone, but eventually, they arrived at a marble building like many others. The surroundings were unusually quiet as they entered.

While the front yard was luxurious as all estates in the city were they were still eerily quiet, be it for lack of slaves working on it or for different reasons.

The man opened the heavy door of the building with no effort whatsoever before gesturing the girls to follow him, getting a surprised reaction from both Laura and Azure.

The man leads them down the intricate stairs, leading deep underground. Illuminated by Mystic Lamps as far as the eye could see.

The quiet while they were walking down was unnerving, forcing Azure to speak up despite wanting to stay quiet.

"I don't like this place, it's giving me creeps!" Azure stated as she placed her hand on the sword handle, ready to defend herself despite no danger being present, and yet a presence was gnawing at her mind.

Observer scoffed at her comment before speaking "You 3 should be the last Golden Rose members to arrive right?"

Laura was next to speak and with a suspicious tone answered "Yes, we are the last ones. Why do you ask?"

Man let out a creepy giggle as the group finally approached a door at the bottom of the stairway "Good, please enter. Honored guests." Man opened the door revealing a large basement room, with many people standing inside.

Laura gasped in shock as she recognized many people inside the room, they were the remaining thorns of Golden Rose both the ones who escorted Fang and the thorns that arrived with her, and in front, she recognized Golden Fang.

She found him, at long last. But he did not seem to be ok, his face lifeless and movement almost nonexistent.

But she did not care, she had questions to ask, and despite her better judgment she rushed towards him and hugged him tightly.

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"Kill her, Thrall!" Observer's former raspy voice was replaced by a booming voice of a demigod.

While Laura never truly confessed her feelings, she truly loved the man, a love that made her blind and deaf to Observer's voice and the dagger in her neck, a dagger that pierced her flesh by the hand of Golden Fang.

A man who betrayed everything that he built, he abandoned all as Laura's consciousness faded into the dark sea.

As her life flashed before her eyes she had only one thought 'No, I do not wish to believe that he would do this'

Laura never had a chance to even scream as her life was extinguished by the hand of a man she trusted the most.

In her last moments, she saw Azure rushing towards her while Aqua just stared at each member of Golden Rose.

"Golden Rose belongs to me. My plan only requires Golden Fang your unexpected arrival has no use, so DIE!." Said the observer as his former frail body and aura of weakness were replaced by an aura of immense power, threatening to suffocate all in its vicinity.

***

As Laura's lifeless body hit the ground Azure was first to reach for her sword, despite the terrifying presence of the man in front of her she had no choice.

As Laura said, this man was at the encampment and likely knew Sheira's location.

"Elves, are you not? Here to rescue your princess? Intriguing that nobody noticed. No matter I will have my answers from your corpses!" Man Laughed heartily as his piercing eyes swept over the duo of elves.

"Perhaps It is time. Thrall Kill them!" Man ordered as Golden Fang rushed towards Azure at insane speeds, far surpassing even her awakening.

And still, Azure was able to dodge and escape his grasp.

"Impressive display, to keep up with Golden Fang, but you stand no chance elven scum!" His laugh quaked the very walls.

Fang in his life trained with many weapons, including his fists.

As his fist collided with Azure's blade it felt like the steel would shatter, and yet it did not only endure but it enveloped Fang in Flame, burning his skin away. While the hit did no damage as it was blocked, Azure was thrown back into the wall with immense speed, making her lose balance.

Fang did not let the opportunity pass as he charged at her, and with a powerful punch made her fly into the ceiling, shattering it.

Azure coughed blood as Fang jumped back, getting ready to attack again.

Azure's blade glowed red as a slash of crimson flame was sent towards Golden Fang. Crimson Flame ate away at Fang as he pushed past it, his burns severe and yet not diminishing his power or speed.

"Impressive blade, for an elf. But a powerful weapon is nothing to someone incapable" Man scoffed as he watched his Thrall pummel the elven woman, the illusion still unbroken, and yet he could sense she was an elf.

Each punch brings her closer to death, each kick weakening her. While the elf was powerful, she had no chance against his Thrall who was powerful before he was turned into a thrall and now granted blessing by First Disciple.

And yet the blade was doing insane damage to his thrall, it cut through blessing like paper, and each wound didn't heal.

"Thrall! Stop playing and kill that insolent wench before you die!" He screamed as his eyes went to the second girl.

He could sense she was also an elf, and yet her power was non-existent. Perhaps the woman would be a good distraction.

He smirked as he appeared behind Aqua with immense speed, his fingers threatening to dig into her throat, and yet she showed no fear.

"You fools are facing First Disciple Rolan! You will die today! Same as Laura did!" He shouted, getting Azure's attention for a mere moment.

And yet that was enough for Thrall to punch a hole through Azure's abdomen, her body collapsing as the sword landed close to Thrall's feet.

Azure desperately tried to reach for the blade as she looked up at Aqua, her companion seemed unconcerned even with the enemy threatening to execute her on the spot.

Azure's last thought was about regret for not saving her duty, but perhaps she deserved such a fate. With her final breath she spoke "Aqua, please save...Sheira"

"Thrall, take that blade. It will be useful for my plan" Thrall picked up the blade as it grunted and brought the blade to the observer.

"Oh, Is that sword one of Elven treasures, I must thank you wenches for bringing it to me. It will surely serve me well." The man admired the blade as Azure lost the last sign of life, falling helplessly, an illusion finally breaking as her life was snuffed out.

While the observer was busy admiring the blade, he did not notice an orange egg forming around the two corpses.

Azure's life came to an end as both Laura's and Azure's corpses were slowly enveloped by warm orange and red flames, their corpses quickly encapsulated inside an impenetrable egg.

"So you killed both of my companions so quickly? Even Azure who was a blessed child." Aqua spoke without a hint of fear or hesitation, her tone giving a slight scare to Rolan.

"Your fighter is dead, wench. Time to die. You..." He dug his fingers into her throat, and yet he couldn't pierce the skin.

Rolan felt like he was trying to pierce a wall of blessed city, panic gripped him as he disappeared behind his thrall.

Rolan knew that his mind was his greatest weapon, while physical power was reserved for brutes like Golden Rose.

"Kill her!" Rolan shouted as Thrall charged at Aqua, shortly followed by the rest of the enthralled Golden Rose.

***

Aqua looked over the man that once was Golden Fang, like all members of Golden Rose inside this place, he had a black haze around him, similar to the slaves around the city, and yet his soul and mind were still whole.

Perhaps Rolan did not have time to fully rewrite his being.

While she hated to watch her companions die, it did not matter. After all, they will return in a mere 3 hours, death has long ago become meaningless in her presence.

Phoenix egg was something even she would struggle to break quickly. And so she had free reign to learn about this demigod in disguise.

She let herself be hit by the charging thrall as she grasped herself like she was hurt.

"I know you are too powerful for me to even hope to defeat you, but please tell me what are you before I die," Aqua said with a pleading tone.

Man laughed, shaking the very walls once again "That pathetic face suits you well, wench. I am First Disciple of Mind, Rolan. I am to inherit the will of the Great Inquisitor. And for that end, I used one of the great scientists for years to obtain the holy blood that you so graciously delivered to my pawns!"

Golden Fang hit her once again, sending her into the wall as Rolan continued speaking "I am one in charge of a great facility that makes your kind useful to God King!"

Golden fang hit her over and over again, and despite that, Rolan did not notice her not having a scratch on herself.

"I am everywhere and nowhere, I am a shadow of Inquisitors. I AM THE FIRST DISCIPLE!" He shouted, booming voice echoing.

"Alas it does not matter to you, wench. You are not worth turning into a slave, so just die!" He ordered Golden Fang to charge once again.

As the fist was about to connect with her she casually dodged out of the way of Golden Fang. Unlike Slaves, this man and his soldiers could be saved.

As she dodged Aqua jumped on his back, and with a simple cast of [Paralysis] he and his former men were out cold, letting Aqua face the observer.

"Well you at least gave me the info I wanted, After I'm done with you I will resurrect my companions and get back so so-called Holy Blood" Her smirk mocked him.

Rolan gasped as he saw the entire Golden Rose fall, perhaps the girl was a worthwhile tool. He raised his cane in the air as he cast [Psychic Chains].

Shadowy chains wrapped around Aqua, restraining her in place.

"HAH, You are a mere elven scum. With no power or blessing. You won't play with me!" With immense speed that the eye couldn't follow he appeared behind Aqua, his hand grasped the neck of the elven girl as the illusion finally disappeared.

Her mind was invaded in a similar way to what disciples on the border did but with immensely more power and technique.

Even though Rolan's Physical power and Magical powers were far above average blessed children, his strength didn't lie in those aspects but instead in the battlefield of the mind.

Nobody but the great inquisitor himself would be able to beat him as he invaded Aqua's mind.

Rolan entered the mind of the elven girl, but instead of the vault of memories, he found himself inside an unknown city, a city that was burning with the heat of the sun itself.

"Fabricated mindscape? This woman is more dangerous than I thought. But no matter Nobody will beat me in the fight of mind!" Rolan Looked around, but unlike lesser disciples, he was able to freely roam the mindscape without fear of damage.