”Where are you staying?” When Michael was about to stand up from his seat, Eve asked.
”I assume the guild booked a place for us,”
”Forgive these old bones for forgetting. Here, the key to your accommodation. You will be escorted by our guards when we reach outside,” Atian flicked his wrist, taking out a golden card from his space ring that had the words ‘Green leaves’ embossed in beautiful calligraphy,
”Wonderful,” Michael responded with a smile as Even also stood to follow Atian and the other judges. Instead of leaving, Edith flew to the ground level to meet Noah.
Michael noticed Edith but didn’t mind her. The last thing he needed was to meddle in Noah’s harem.
As the judges walked out of the door and stepped into the hall behind the VIP seatings lit brightly with a giant chandelier, they were welcomed by the armed guards of the Aqua clan.
In addition to the Aqua clan, the guards wearing blue robes stood in a neat line waiting for Eve and Jennifer.
”Lady Eve,” the guards quickly bowed when they saw Eve. There was a hint of shock within their eyes, because they had never seen Ever walk so closer to a guy before.
”Now I have to find my friend,” Michael said,
”Who?”
”Teacher,” just as Michael was about to answer Eve, Olivia entered the hall from the other side escorted by a couple of armed guards of the Aqua clan,
”Her,” The Aqua clan guards didn’t let her approach the judges so she kept waving her hand at Michael,
”Let her in,” Michael signaled to the guards,
As soon as the guards stepped away from Olivia’s path, she came running toward Michael. Then when she saw Hendrix, she was flustered,
”Lord Hendrix Gardner. I…I am a big admirer of yours” she stuttered, kneading her hands,
Looking at Olivia, Hendrix warmly smiled,
”I am glad, young lady. So you’re learning from Ghost?”
Olivia bobbed her head up and down,
”Yes,”
”You are a fortunate young lady to have a teacher like him,” with a nod and a pat on Olivia’s shoulder, Hendrix walked away from them with Atian, Alred, and Gabriel before Olivia could talk to the others. At the moment, only five Aqua clan guards, Eve, Olivia, Ghost, and Eve’s guards remained in the hall.
”Lady Eve,” turning her gaze away from Hendrix and the other Grandmasters, Olivia slightly bent her waist,
”Lady Eve,” Olivia greeted Eve with a respectful tone,
”Eve, Olivia” Michael simply pointed at Olivia,
”Pleasure to meet you Olivia,” Eve surprised the guards yet again by extending her hand toward Olivia.
”Pleasure is all mine Lady Eve,” Olivia shook her hand,
”Please, call me Eve” Even gently smiled and said,
”I think we should leave. I have to find accommodation for you,”
”What? You have no place to stay?” Eve was slightly surprised,
”We just arrived at Oxshore this morning, and it’s my fault for not finding a place,” Olivia scratched her head.
”You’re coming with me,” Eve quickly said, shocking Michael and Olivia,
”But-“
”Don’t make me call my guards,” Edith coldly chuckled, but Michale could tell if they disagreed, she would really use the guards,
”I have literally no choice then,” Olivia chuckled back as they began to walk out of the giant hall. When they stepped outside, the streets were still full of people. Along with the full moon in the sky, the street lights powered with runes and chandelier light peeking through the glass windows lit up the city and gave the city a festive charm.
Michael felt the cold breeze brushing past him and noticed a couple of carriages, including Eve’s, waiting on the street.
”You go ahead. I have to wait for my sister,”
Since Michael had something to do alone, he did not linger around any longer,
”See you tomorrow then,” He nodded before following the armed guards to the brown carriage,
As the guards noticed Michael approaching, they opened the carriage door to reveal the red cushioned interior. Michael stepped into the carriage to see a mini table with various beverages set on it. Additionally, he noticed a golden orb hanging above, lighting the interior. There was nothing else in the carriage besides the table and the orb.
Sitting comfortably in the cushion seat, Michael leaned back. Then, he closed his eyes, focusing on the Spycams in Alpha Guardian Tanulia’s warship.
****************************
Currently, in a brightly lit room, several figures who were dressed fancily stood surrounding a bed on which Tiriana curled up into a ball. Those who were close to her could hear her sob and see her reddened face,
Tanulia sat beside Tiriana, brushing her head gently,
”Tell me, what’s wrong with her?” The moment Tanulia’s face turned away from Tiriana, her motherly looked transformed into an enraged predator,
The rest of them in the room shuddered just by looking at the killing intent in her eyes. Noticing the silence, Tanulia trembled,
”She’s been vomiting blood nonstop and crying in pain. There’s definitely something wrong with her. Yet, you idiots found nothing?!” she snarled at the healers in front of her,
”We thoroughly examined her and everything she came into contact with Alpha Guardian. But-” the leading healer, who was a blonde elf in golden robes, shivered while talking and didn’t finish his sentence,
”Incompetent idiots. Go to Awor and bring me the heavenly alchemists before I lose my patience,” Tanulia threatened them with gritted teeth. Hearing her threat, they all trembled. Soon, they quickly ran away from the room leaving Tanulia and Tiriana in the room,
”Just bear the pain, Tiri. The alchemists will be here shortly,” Tanulia kept brushing Tiriana’s head like a mother,
”lots…of …work…vampires,” Tiriana blurted out a few words fighting through the pain,
”Shh, we are taking care of it,” Tanulia said with a smile to calm Tiriana down. Unfortunately, the outside situation wasn’t good at all. The existence of vampires and the news spread across the continent that Guardians tried to hide vampires’ existence brought a storm down on the guild. Currently, they were facing pressure from every direction.
Her team was still investigating who leaked the information about the vampires to the Royal news. She suspected Peyton but she had no proof to back her doubts. As far as Tanulia could tell, Peyton worshiped the guild and stood to gain nothing by abolishing the guild’s reputation.
Kreech!
Suddenly, Tanulia heard something from behind. She turned back with lightning-quick speed to see a piece of paper on the ground beneath a stool,
She stood up from the bed, walked to the paper, and picked it up. Her brows furrowed when her gaze swept across the piece of yellow paper. Then, she put the piece of paper back on the stool and opened the wooden door nearby to leave the room.
As soon as she stepped out of the room, she made her way to hall, where she saw several guardians and a girl sitting behind a crescent-shaped marble table,
”Did I receive any packages today?” Tanulia asked the silver-haired elf,
”Yes, Alpha Guardian. We sent the package to the runemasters and waiting for them to finish checking it,”
”Bring me the package now” Tanulia slightly raised her voice as the girl shuddered,
”yes…yes…Alpha Guardian,” the girl didn’t dare to remind the Alpha guardian of the protocols. Instead, she just bobbed her head, opened the door behind her, and disappeared to bring the package to Tanulia.
Several minutes later, the girl returned carrying a wooden box.
”Everyone leave,” Tanulia’s voice reverberated in the hall, attracting the guardians’ attention.
They gawked at each other and the stoic face of Tanulia for a moment before leaving the hall. After they left the hall, Tanulia slowly opened the box to see a parchment and a vial with sparkling silver liquid on crimson red cloth,
Tanulia picked up the parchment. For a few moments, she scanned the parchment and the box with her senses until she found no threats. Only then did she open the parchment.
Greetings Alpha Guardian,
We remained in darkness, harming no one. But you and your guardians decided to expose us to the light. You shouldn’t have done that. Because of you, your best friend is now suffering. Suppose you don’t personally come to apologize to us ALONE at the location marked down below. In that case, your friend will experience the most excruciating death the elves have ever seen.
P.S. The vial contains something that will lessen her pain. Consider this a courtesy of our great nation of nightwalkers AKA vampires, as you named us.
Your friend has two days to live. So your clock is ticking, Alpha Guardian.
Tanulia’s body trembled as she read the parchment.
”ARRRRRGHHHHH!” just as she finished reading the letter, Tiriana’s scream echoed through the warship.
Immediately, Tanulia hurried to the room and when she reached the room, she saw Tiriana puking blood, rolling on the floor while screaming in agony.
Subconsciously, Tanulia picked up the potion before leaving the hall.
”TIRI!” Tanulia dashed at Tiriana,
”ARGGHHHH!” Tiriana kept screaming in agony when Tanulia sat beside her and put her head on her lap. Without Tanulia’s control, her eyes watered,
”TANU!” Tiriana screamed as blood gushed out of her nostrils, eyes, and ears.
At that moment, many guardians who heard Tiriana’s scream flocked into the room,
”Alpha Guardian!”
Among those who entered the room were the healers who had previously left the room,
They quickly rushed to her side and knelt beside Tiriana. The blonde healer quickly retrieved a sparkling blue potion from his space ring and forced it down Tiriana’s throat,
Since it was the Healing potion brewed by Ghost, Tanulia allowed the healer to give the potion. It was the only thing that lessened Tiriana’s pain.
”ARRRRGGHHHHH!” however, unlike before, Tiriana didn’t stop screaming. Ever after the blonde elf chugged an entire bottle of healing potion down her throat, they couldn’t stop Tiriana from screaming,
”It’s…it’s not working…” the healer stuttered as Tanulia saw Tiriana’s eyes closing.
The healer immediately placed his hand on Tiriana’s throat only to sense her pulses slowing down,
”Alpha guardian, her pulse… it’s dropping”
When Tanulia heard his words, her heart skipped a beat. She held Tiriana tightly,
”She is dying Alpha Guardian,” the healer gravely said. All the guardians broke into a sweat while Tanulia’s muscles went rigid. She couldn’t even move a muscle because of the overwhelming grief. Finally, tears broke out of her eyes and rolled out on her rosy cheeks,
”The potion,” Tanulia remembered the potion in her hand,
”Alpha Guardian, if we don’t find a cure to whatever is happening to her, she will die within a few minutes. We don’t have enough time,” the healer swallowed his fear and explained the situation to Tanulia,
”Tiri,” Tanulia’s hand shivered, bringing the potion to Tiriana’s mouth.
As an Alpha Guardian, she was trained to make quick decisions because a second delay would cost lives in her position. Hence, she decided to give the potion she received rather than gambling with Tiriana’s life. However, if she didn’t give the potion, it was inevitable that Tiriana would die.
”Alpha Guardian, what is that?” the healer asked Tanulia. Instead of answering him, she just opened the vial and gently poured the liquid into her mouth.
Surprisingly, the moment the potion touched Tiriria’s tongue, the healer noticed her pulse speed up,
”Alpha Guardian, her pulse is improving,” Tanulia heaved a sigh of relief as she emptied the potion into Tiriana’s mouth.