The Princess is in Danger

In the distance calling out for me is Arin. Behind him is Felaris, Elvina, and what seemed like a battalion of elven soldiers.

The soldiers with them wore a different armor compared to the soldiers I’ve seen here in Glimmerholm. Their armor reminded me more of the guards from Hollowspire. Could it be?

“Naoki! Good job in leading us here.” Arin called out to me.

“Arin?! Everyone!” I exclaimed in surprise.

The door behind me opens up all the way. Elzara and some of the lieutenants quickly came out. It seems Elzara has rallied them to catch me. It won’t be that simple though.

I quickly run towards Arin as fast as I could. Behind me, I hear chanting—I look back and I see Elzara casting a spell.

Electricity came out of Elzara’s palms—a bolt of electricity came hurling towards me. All I could do at that moment is to block it with my arms, like it would even do anything.

I close my eyes in anticipation. Electricity coursing through my body would probably hurt like hell—it could even kill me. I waited and waited but it never came.

I open my eyes and rest my arms. Elzara wore a shocked expression like he just got hit by his own spell.

Did I… stop it?

Arin starts talking behind me.

“You can’t hurt him with your magic, Elzara.”

“You! What did you do, you bastard?!”

“Let’s just say that Naoki here is protected by a lucky charm.”

Lucky charm? I remember the necklace that Arin gave me right before I got taken away. I took it out and it seemed to be glowing. Does the glowing mean that it just activated?

“I also imbued it with my magic—letting me track it down wherever it may be.”

Wow. I guess Arin being the former court mage isn’t just for show.

“Surrender now, traitor!. Arin demanded.

“You scum! Stop interfering with my plans!”

Elzara quickly casted a spell towards me once more. This time, having faith in Arin, I didn’t flinch or reacted to the spell at all.

The necklace’s effect activates again. It absorbs the magic like it’s some kind of vacuum, as if the spell hadn’t been casted at all.

This is amazing! I’m practically invincible against magic as long as I have this.

“Tch! All of you! Don’t just watch. Do something!” Elzara yelled at the human army.

They unsheathed their weapons and with the command of their lieutenants, they charge forward.

Being in the midst of all this chaos, I run back towards Arin.

The elven army Arin brought also charged forward and met their enemies head on. A bloody battle ensues.

Reconvening with Arin and the others really puts me at ease.

Elvina casts a healing spell on me—I didn’t really need it but it made me feel good.

“You’re safe now, Naoki. Just stand back and let us fight. This’ll be over quick.” Arin confidently said.

“But I can fight too!”

I felt a kick on my shins from behind. I turn around and see Felaris looking straight through my soul. Crap! I forgot him teaching me sword fighting was supposed to be a secret, but is it really the time for that?

Arin starts chanting a spell of some kind whilst the two readies their weapons to defend him. Meanwhile, I look at the other side and notice that Elzara has gone missing.

I look some more and Captain Lipton and some of his knights are nowhere to be seen. This is bad!

“Arin!” He doesn’t notice me. “Hey, Arin!” I shout at him again. The battlefield has gotten quite booming that you’d have to shout just for someone to hear you.

“He’s casting a spell Naoki—he has to focus.” Elvina interjected.

This isn’t the time for this though! The princess is in danger.

“Elzara and the knight captain are gone! They said something about abducting the princess!” I shouted the loudest I’ve ever had, hoping that it would make them act on it faster.

“What?! Are you sure, Naoki?!” Arin loses his concentration, effectively ending his spell.

“Yes! I’ve overheard them talk about it earlier. I think the rumor of Elzara selling out Princess Thalia to the humans is true as well!”

The three of them are visibly surprised with what they’ve just heard. Without even uttering another word, they start running towards the palace—I guess they know where Princess Rhiannon is at.

Without much choice, I follow the three, leaving the elvish warriors fight the Knights of the Sacred Flame. I only have to hope that they triumph over their enemies.

The distance from our starting point to the palace is far. As always, Arin sends Felaris ahead—his role of a scout and tracker is no joke as well. He practically disappeared from sight the moment Arin gave the order.

I managed to catch up to the two who are uncharacteristically quiet. After a while, Arin breaks the silence.

“Naoki… Are you really sure about what you’ve heard?”

Honestly, while I only heard bits and pieces of their plans, I can attest of Elzara’s betrayal by colluding with the knights. Still, what if I’m wrong though? No. It’s best to be cautious with these kinds of things.

“Yes, Arin. I’m sure.” I decided to lie.

I caught Elvina staring at my face—like she’s determining if I was lying. All I could do is stare back at her and give her a helpless look.

“This is worse than I thought then. With Elzara’s magic, I would guess that they’re already back at the palace.” Arin angrily stated.

“But how? Wasn’t he just at that building earlier?”

“Elzara is able to use rare magic that allows him and others to be transported to another place instantaneously.”

“Teleportation? That’s one hell of a spell especially for a villain like him.”

“Yes, it definitely is. It’s unfortunate to have such a rare and valuable spell fall to such a scoundrel like him.” Elvina chimed in.

“All we can do now is get to the palace as fast as we can. Hopefully, Felaris’s interference there could at least buy us a bit more time. Princess Rhia can defend herself—her guards are there as well.”

We hurried our pace. Talking with each other slowed us down so the rest of the way was silent.

Eventually, we reach the palace—signs of battle is apparent as dead bodies scattered all over the entrance.

“Felaris and the palace guards has done a good job. Let’s proceed.” Arin led the way, I’m in the middle, and Elvina covered the rear.

Dead bodies decorated the halls as we went towards the princess’s room—both humans and elves—a terrible thing.

The palace guards are battle-hardened, to have killed a lot of the knights in such a closed space—it seemed this time, they used their spells. I only wish I could say the same for the rest of the elven army.

Still no sign of Felaris though.

“One last corner and we should be at the princess’s room.” Elvina announced.

We’re so close. Hopefully, we make it just in time.

As we make our turn at the corner, a gruesome sight befalls us that it made my, and probably the others’ stomach churn.