MERCIA
67. Cursed Cave.

The red beam hit Aruna, he bounced to make the three trees behind him crumble and then fell rolling.

Seeing that Aruna was already motionless, Elda took off his face cover, inhaling free air, but his inner feelings remained the same, he still felt empty, he still felt something missing from him, he still felt something missing, he put his face on again and left the place.

Amidst the remnants of her consciousness, Aruna was shocked when she saw Phoenix unfold her face, a figure she was very familiar with.

"Julia.." in a soft voice, then his eyes closed and did not move.

**

Meanwhile August saw in front of him a very wide hill, he watched slowly and finally he found an area that had cliffs and rocks that look clear from a distance reflecting the sunlight very beautifully.

'Hmm. it turns out that the cliffs and rocks here are made of crystal stone.' thought August who continued to observe around the place trying to find the existence of the cave in question. he then began to walk looking for the cave, which is the cave, but just wanted to step some arrows shot against his steps.

wut. wut.. wut. tap..

August is shocked to find himself surrounded by dozens of soldiers and dozens of people who look like fighters.One of the leaders of the soldiers approached August with his horse, which is seen as a fighter, he pointed his long spear towards August.

"i've brought what you asked, now tell Lazarus to release queen Janessa!" the man said and then gave a signal.

Two other soldiers approached with a large chest, they opened the chest, all eyes looking at the chest with a pile of gold coins. August only glanced for a moment then looked back at the man.

"What are you talking about? who's Lazarus? who's queen Janessa?" August says.

"Don't beat around the bush.quick free our queen asshole..!" the man said it was emotion.

"Are you deaf? I don't know what you're talking about?" August also began to feel a little emotional, he wanted to immediately find the mirror cave but these people actually inhibited it.

The man grew angry and wanted to throw his spear at August, but the voice of a woman held him back.

"Wait..!"

The woman approached with her horse, she was a female soldier, her face covered in a veil. August observes the woman. 'this woman is quite strong, but not as strong as the man, but enough to make the man follow his words, hmm?' think August.

"Are you Lazarus' men?" ask the woman.

"i don't know, I just heard that name now?" answer August.

"What was your purpose here for following the competition?"

"Listen, I don't know who you are, Lazarus or anyone else who exists or lives in this area, I just want to find a mirror cave" August said.

"Crew mirror?" the man and woman were surprised to see each other.

"Why do you want to find that cursed cave?" ask the man.

"It's none of your business, if you tell me where the cave is, I'm very grateful, otherwise you shouldn't get in my way" August said.

The man laughed.

"Hahaha. don't you know who you're talking to?"

"Mr Drake you want us to teach him a lesson?" one of the fighters spoke.

But again the veiled woman made August surprised, he just raised his hand the fighter immediately fell silent.

"Help us free queen Janessa, after that I'll drive you to the cave and you can get another reward" she said.

The man named Drake glanced at the woman as if he did not agree, but he just silently did not dare to refute.

"No. You tell me first where the cave is after my business is done I'll come back to help you."

Drake was not happy to hear August's words, he pointed to August with the spear he was holding.

"Speak politely to her."

August catches the spear pointed at him, he lifts the spear powerfully making Drake lift, float and fall slamming behind him, now the captured spear he threw a few inches from Drake's neck.

Tap. wut. bruk. jleb..

Drake quietly lay on the ground, his mouth bleeding, he was still alive his back felt broken, the very fast incident made everyone dumbfounded, and they began to prepare to attack August.

"Hold it all, no one acts stupid anymore" the woman said.

"Who are you really?" ask the woman.

The woman opened the hood and cover her face, looking as a beautiful face full of dignity.

"My name is Jasmine the daughter of king Forthus of the kingdom of Gavaria, we want to free my mother's queen Janessa from the hands of Lazarus."

Everyone knelt down, except August.

"The person you hurt was my brother Drake" Jasmine said.

"The mirror cave is behind the biggest cliff there, but you can't find the cave door at night, the cave was protected by magic spells and sentry creatures around the cave, no one dared and made it out of the territory alive, according to the information the cave is a place to store the soul of a black witch named Gessora."

August was shocked to hear Jasmine's words. 'hmm so Helena asked me to destroy the soul of the black witch named Gessora.'

"Now tell me who are you? and why do you want to find that cave?" ask Jasmine.

"My name is Mercia, a black dome appeared in the city of Innodale, I wanted to destroy the dome, but my friend asked me to look for a mirror cave and destroy something inside the cave before destroying the dome."

"The innodale? it's the land of witches, are you a witch?"

"I'm not a witch, but my friend, she's a white witch."

Jasmine pondered for a moment.

"Now, you come with us for the night, tomorrow you can go to the cave, but if Lazarus shows up before you go help us, after that I and the others will go with you to the cave, but before that heal my brother."

"Agreed." August gives Jasmine a bottle of healing-energized water.

"Give him half, and the rest you drink."

Jasmine got off her horse, received August's gift, gave Drake the water, and drank the rest without asking much.

Drake began to feel his wounds gradually heal, his strength recovering. Jasmine was shocked not only by seeing Drake, she also felt his strength increase.

"How is it possible, it's just a bottle of water?" said Jasmine.

"Maybe this bottle has healing powers" Drake said.

Jasmine and Drake glanced at August, who seemed to be looking towards the large cliff in the distance.

"Hey Mercia.. You want this bottle back?" ask Jasmine.

"Of course, after you change the contents."

"How dare he have the king's daughter fill the water" Drake said.

"If you don't want to be slammed again by him, you better watch your words" Jasmine said.

Drake just smiled wryly.

They finally found a place to spend the night, the soldiers put up a tent, August was given a tent for him to rest, he just put himself in the tent, he just put himself in the tent, he did not care what the people did or thought, he thought about camping last time with Julia.

'Julia.if you knew how much I miss you all the time.' The shadow of Julia's death suddenly reappeared in her eyes.

'Javelyn, you'll pay.' August clenched his hand.he took a deep breath, tried to calm himself, the turmoil of his anger subsided again, before long he fell asleep.

Meanwhile in a sizable tent Jasmine, Drake and the other fighters gathered.

"Sorry princess Jasmine why do you trust her so much?" ask one of the fighters.

"Did any of you see how he appeared in this place?" ask Jasmine.

"We just saw him come out of the woods."

"Jasmine what do you want to say? what do you see and we all don't know?" ask Drake curiously.

"Son, when I was in the river I saw him flying through this forest, I followed him and saw him land slowly before coming out of that forest, do you know how many people can do that?"

Drake and the others were shocked.

"Only a man of great power, not even Lazarus, is capable of such a thing, and have you all heard that he wants to destroy something in that cursed cave?"

"Let me guess, you want him to join Gavaria?" said Drake.

"Of course I want that, but he looks like someone who can't be bought, I don't underestimate you all, but right now I just hope tomorrow we find Lazarus soon when that guy's still with us."