The rest of the day's work was uneventful, with the lunch hours bringing in some decent coins from the usual crowds taking their breaks between works with a few rounds of honey ales and platters of steaming food.

And soon the main event of the day comes knocking on their tavern's door, announcing the arrival of their guest tonight. The barmaid near the door tensed as she hurriedly went to open the door, offering a slightly nervous but sweet smile to the small convoy of guards and well-dressed nobles.

"Welcome to our humble establishment, please come in my lord"The noble in front of the tavern gave her not more than a gaze before moving along with his company toward their seats guided by the barmaid.

He was a large man, not as burly as the few guards in his company, but every gesture and subtle gaze hinted at an unspoken sense of authority. His graying hair and full beard told of a long life hardened by trials and stress.

Percy soon came out along with Leia to greet their guest properly, his usual carefree attitude gone, replaced by a gaze full of respect and something more subtle, a rare sense of anxiety. Deep down he knows he needs to earn as much as he can from this group of nobles, his daughter cannot wait any longer for help.

"Lord Eric, please, by all means, makes yourself at home tonight, we will be standing by in case you need any assistance."As unorthodox as it perhaps was for a house of noble to fully book a tavern for dinner, the married couple could care less about any ulterior motive they might have when their child's life is on the line.

If they made a good impression perhaps a few deals can be made to further their assets in a short time."I have heard very good things about your establishment from my connections, hopefully, it will be more than rumors. Now leave us be"Lucas slowly peeks out, taking in the sights of the newcomer with narrowed eyes.

The group of nobles was seated in the center of the tavern at a long desk, other than Eric himself, there was a young man similar in age to lucas. Unlike Eric though, his gaze seems soft and almost apologetic as he eyes the tavern owners, much to his surprise.

A slightly younger girl, with a full head of light brown hair that was carefully braided and laced to perfection, her eyes a mesmerizing shade of deep green. by the time he realized he was staring at her for a bit too long and tried to duck back into the kitchen, a burly man dressed in a tattered cloak already seems to take noticed and fixed his hard gaze on lucas.

He swallowed as he sheepishly turn away, acting innocent and unknowing while he finished the last dressing for a few early course dishes. "That was bad." if the man was anyone important he would have gotten him and the others in quite a bit of trouble.

Luckily, from the look of his tattered cloak and well-used hardened leather armor beneath it, he was much more likely to be another guard than anything else. Still, he felt as if he was prey in the eyes of a predator when their eyes met for a brief moment, that man was dangerous.

"......Lord Rodney, perhaps we can talk about the arrangement while the food is being served.....it would be greatly beneficial for both of us if we can move forward with the plan before the start of Cynthia's academy entry."As Lucas moved along with the barmaid to serve the plates, a small part of the conversation between the nobles was heard by him.

".....yes lord Eric, and lady Allison, for what it is worth I do feel apologetic for rushing this ahead of time. I had planned to spare time in the summer to let us get to know each other first, but it seems my family was all very eager to have a new addition to join us."

The girl who Lucas assumed was Allison politely nodded, her smile was wide and sweet as she regard him and it almost manages to reach her eyes as well,"Please don't worry about such a trivial matter lord Rodney, it would be an honor to join your family either way."

Before his curiosity had gotten the better of him he scurried off to join his family's side, chewing his lower lips as he wonder about the information he had gotten from that conversation.

A forced marriage, what a classic play by the powerful and influential to use their own child's future for some gain of power. But to see such a practice happening before his eyes,it seems just that much more barbaric and repulsive.A tinge of pity toward the young noblewoman slowly arises before it was snuffed out by him, he can't afford to be distracted now, not when his sister is depending on him.

Besides, Allison will probably have an even more luxurious life than before.

A guardsman caught his attention as he slowly moved up toward the upper floor of the lodging area, looking out toward the window to see if he can spot any suspicious individuals.

when suddenly Lucas felt a pair of intense gazes burning into his face, almost like they were trying to drill into his brain and unravel whatever secrets he had tucked away in his feeble mind.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Lucas slowly turn his eyes toward the front of the tavern room without moving his head, where a pair......two pairs of hard eyes met his own for a brief second before he nearly cursed as he move them back in haste.

"Now I seem even more suspicious, great. Why am I even afraid of them, it's not like I did anything."He grumbles under his breath when his eyes went back to wandering around the room while he waited until they finished the first course.

As the night drew on, Lucas was getting more and more agitated. The burly man's gaze seems to be drilling into him at every chance, he was almost half tempted to confront the annoying guard but his instinct screams at him that it is the last thing he should be doing.

He was thankful when the next course came and he was asked to serve them forward again, at the very least it was something to distract himself with. As he laid the plates of steaks down in front of the nobles, taking care to avoid any eye contact with them. And it is at that moment when a faint emerald tint slowly crept up and consume the edge of his vision, he nearly cursed when the familiar sharp stab of pain pierce through his eyes.

"no.....no Not now! What in the name of the eight deities is going on?!"gritting his teeth, he turns around to flee the scene before the nobles took notice of his odd behavior, only to find a flash of violet gleam on the upper floor catching his attention.

The guardsman that has been taking watch on the upper floor is pointing a small and well-concealed crossbow at them.....or rather at Allison who is just sitting behind his back. The world once again appeared to be moving at snail's pace, the violet gleam reflecting off the bolt's metallic point became larger and most definitely closer at a far faster rate than everything else.

He could see one of the guards, a woman dressed in a dark green cloak rushing desperately to intercept the threats. Moving surprisingly fast even in Lucas's sight. Unfortunately, it will be too late, the bolt is barely a few inches away from burying itself into the back of Allison's head when the woman has barely made half the distance.

"For the love of all that is righteous and holy.....I better not get into trouble for doing this."There was no time to think and lucas is not inclined to push the high-ranking noble women off her chair so that only left one option.

Moving his arms in front of his face and positioning himself before Allison took seemingly forever in his slow-down perception of time, but he just manage to make it.

At that moment, his body felt like it was being pierced by a hot steel rod as the bolt slowly punch through and lodged itself in his shoulder. He spasms as the pain rush through his body and soul in a Symphony of agony and fear.

As screams and yelling erupt around him in waves, he stood still as the blinding pain slowly fades and is replaced by a heavy dose of drowsiness. He could barely feel his leg crumbling below him as his world quickly plunge into complete darkness.

before his consciousness blinked out, he felt a pair of soft hands catching his shoulder and gem-like emerald eyes staring into his own, startled and alarmed.

____________

"How in the eighth hell did this happen?"Eric bellowed, his face red with rage and anxiety as he glared at his convoy of guards now subdued by jade and Kul for the moment except for the captain who they are currently questioning."L.....Lord Eric, I have made sure to check the team before we depar__ "

"I could care less about your excuse captain, If my daughter died because you were too lazy to check the face of your team member regularly, trust me losing your head is the least of your concern!!"The Captain's complexion became paler as his employer's anger grew, besides them kul quickly went to check on Allison and the strange boy.

"Don't... I am unharmed just go check on the boy, please."Allison waves him off as he approaches her, nodding at the boy whose wound is being hastily bandaged and cleaned by the pair of tavern owners, fear and dread apparent in their wet eyes.

He nodded as he moved toward them, gathering ether around his fist. The brilliant shine of emerald green erupts and immediately alarmed the worried couple. Percy hides his family behind his back as he stares at him wearily, his eyes tracing his every step.

"Leave us, I won't let you do any more than this."Kul frowns as he drew to a stop before him." if you would please move aside, I will do my best to treat his injury, I am a certififed healer and he needs someone to get those poisons out before there is nothing I can do for him."

"Let him pass, Percy, please he is losing so much blood!"Hearing his wife's plead Percy let the strange man shoulder past him as kul kneels next to the unconscious boy, checking for his vital and unwrapping the bandage swiftly with practiced ease.

He grimace as he took in the sight of the wound, if there was any doubt that the assassin isn't from the underground circle, there is none now for sure. The skin around the wound was already rotting away and the complexion of the boy's skin was paling further with every labored breath he took. Imp dust, he thought, a nasty mixture that kills before most healers can do anything about it.

Kul eyed the boy's prone form with a stone face,his thoughts runs rapidly as he sluggishly raised his armored hand and chanted."Yevrium Centlia Angueiea(Cleansing flame)"

The air in front of his palm warped and rippled as a lush green sigil came into being, pulsing with power. Runic words contained in a circular layered formation surrounds the central sigil as they shift in place.

As the runic words swift and changed into their designated forms and position. A pale green flame erupts and soon covers his hands,kul pressed them onto the wound, a soft hiss can be heard as the flame enter and burn away the poison in Lucas's body.

At the spell's current output,It wouldn't be enough,he can tell the posion has already runs deep into his heart.At the same time he wouldn't be a professor if this was too much of a challenge for him.

He frowned as the boy's breath became shallow and slower.Finnaly with a sigh,the sigil frozen infront of his palm grew much brighter than it was just a moment ago.Slowly but surely,Lucas's face regain some of its colour as his breath grow stronger.

"As I thought......"Kul frowns as he finally confirms the source of his early alarm in the woods.He rubs his temple,as a massive headache slowly forms as he Wonders what he is supposed to do about the squirming boy laying in his arms.