Chapter 9: Escape Part 1_Crucis

Athos winced in pain on the cobbled ground, his hands gripped his chest, and the bonds he shared with his parents were violently beating down on his heart. He felt the bonds constrict and pull his insides and his breathing became labored.

*THUMP*

"Haaah…"

*THUMP*

"...Haaah"

*THUMP*

"Ugh… It hurts…"

Athos struggled to catch his breath, the pain on his chest was so intense, he lost track of the dreadful event that was unfolding before him.

[No…No! Their majesties!]

The sound of Omri's telepathy snapped Athos back to his senses. He immediately looked up at Omri who was standing beside him.

Omri's face had gotten pale, his eyes reflected despair, his mouth quivered with shock, and his fists trembled with anger. This was the first time that Athos saw Omri in an agitated state.

A feeling of dread slowly crept Athos' body, he took a deep breath, and gradually got back up. He followed Omri's gaze towards the center of the plaza.

At the platform, a man and a woman were bound tightly on a stake. Surrounding the couple was a platoon of heavily armed men, all of which wore a set of black armor and blackened swords attached to their waists.

The heads of the bound man and the woman were covered by a black cloth, their hands and feet were shackled by heavy chains, their bodies showed signs of torture as their limbs and arms were littered by cuts and bruises, their wounds were fresh and was oozing blood, which stained the white robes that they were wearing.

*THUMP*

Athos squirmed as his bonds throbbed violently. He recognized the robes that the pitiful couple was wearing. It was no doubt, the ones his parents wore last night. His eyes dilated in shock and an overwhelming rage started to fill his thoughts.

"Let us start the trial of these treacherous creatures!" Docere grabbed the headcovers of the two pitiful beings, exposing their bruised and bleeding faces.

It was Emperor Lucis and Empress Florestella, the couple was unconscious and their heads limped when Docere uncovered them.

"It's not that dramatic if both of you are asleep." Docere scratched his head and sighed at the unresponsive prisoners. "Hey, wake up you fuckers! Help me entertain the audience!" Docere slapped both Lucis and Florestella on the cheeks. "Come on!" He repetitively smacked the couple until their mouths and noses drew blood.

The audience laughed and admired the display, to think they would see Anima's powerful leaders fall from grace and be manhandled by one of the Brothers.

Seeing Docere's attitude towards his parents, angered Athos, while Omri winced as he witnessed Seditio's cruelty. Both men found it difficult to restrain their emotions, it wasn't wise to be swayed by Docere's taunts. They were surrounded and were clearly outnumbered by their enemies, blowing their cover would surely lead to their demise.

Irritated by their unresponsiveness, Docere raised his staff and cast an electrocution spell towards Florestella and Lucis.

"I said wake up!"

"AAaaaahhhhh!"

"Aaarrggghhhh!"

The couple was violently woken up, blood dripped from their nose and mouths as they coughed and gasped for air.

"Good! Still alive and kicking, it's too early to lose you both so soon." Docere chuckled with a satisfied expression on his face.

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Something snapped inside Athos, seeing his parents being helpless and being tortured by a deranged man triggered his rage further. He then started to gather mana around him.

[This bastard dares to…!] Athos clenched his fists in anger and his irises slowly turned to gold.

Athos was about to cast a spell towards the platform area when suddenly, Omri reinforced his illusion barrier with a repelling enchantment, dispersing the mana surrounding Athos.

[Prince Athos, please calm yourself!] Omri firmly gripped Athos' arm. [We are surrounded by our enemies, we can't risk getting caught here! Do not lose yourself!] Omri's hand tightened as he held onto Athos.

Docere felt a faint divine presence lingering from the audience before him.

"Hmmm, looks like we have some troublemakers here… we can't afford to have this festive day ruined!" Docere snapped his fingers, and half of the armored men from the platform knelt before him. "Find the intruders, and put them to their rightful places."

The armored men then scattered and started to roam around the plaza and into the crowd. Some of the Church of Arbor's sorcerers also joined in on the hunt.

Docere had a wicked smile etched on his face, and slowly the smile turned into chuckles as he thought of an idea that would bring additional entertainment.

"Everyone! Listen up, before we continue with The Great Judgement, let's play a game."

The audience before Docere was getting impatient, they were looking forward to the bloody fall of Anima's leaders, however, the schedule of events had been delayed by an impromptu game.

"Now, now, settle down my brothers and sisters! This is no ordinary game." Docere cackled maniacally. "It seems we have pretenders hiding in the crowd." Docere then took out a heavy coin pouch and shook it, the sound of coins grabbed the crowd's attention.

"I will provide a handsome reward to anyone who will be able to bring these pretenders to the stage… I really want to see them, dead or alive either way is fine!"

Docere then threw the contents of the pouch towards the crowd. "Consider this my downpayment."

The audience near the platform scurried towards the coins, one of the onlookers managed to pick up one of the coins and inspected it.

"A-a… a platinum coin!! I'm rich, I'm rich!"

Coins were the universal currency of Jumana, there are four types of coins that are being circulated throughout the continent. Copper, silver, gold, and platinum.

One platinum coin was equal to a million gold coins.

The crowd was stunned, greed started to encroach the onlookers, and slowly, most of the attendees gathered in the plaza started to scrutinize each other.

A man raised his sleeve, exposing a scar on his left forearm.

An older man showed his scabbing scar on his left forearm.