The Demon Queen's Disciple
Chapter 5 - A New Beginning
Leaning behind this collapsed castle wall, Lucius looked at the crystal-lighted cave ceiling while asking.
"So.... Whoareyou? And what exactly are you? Why did you show up in place of the wolf I was supposed to call?" lucius asked curiously to himself.
In his mind, there was a reply with a voice that was as sweet as what he had previously heard.
'Carmilla Bloodthorne, that's my name. In short, demons. Let's just say my soul was trapped inside that necklace, so it's only natural that I showed up because you used it.'
"Devil.... Other than fairy tales to frighten the children, I never heard that the demon race actually existed."
Lucius' reply slightly confused Carmilla.
'You never heard of the demon race before? You sure?'
Looking at his hands and feet that gradually regenerated, Lucius replied.
"Yes, I'm sure. Never mentioned anything about the demon race or anything in the academy."
'By the way, what year is this?'
"1407, Dragon calendar."
'Dragon calendars? What does that mean?'
"The point is 1407 years since the greatest disaster in the world, the slaying of the ancient dragon Ashenflare."
At that moment, Lucius had not expected at all the answer he would hear from the figure claiming to be the demon.
'Well, the yellow lizard with the deformed tail?'
"Eh?"
Ashenflare, described as the bearer of world doom and destruction. With golden scales so hard, and a tail that split in two at the end, making anyone who saw his figure bend their knees.
Its destructive power and power completely surpassed the natural limits of humans, even for races with high magic like Elves.
Knowing that....
"Yellow lizard?" ask Lucius again.
'Yes, that's right. He was a sacred animal of my time, where many demons worshipped and offered him offerings.
Despite the fact, he was just a weak lizard. But I didn't think he caused a disaster? Haha.... What the fuck?' reply Carmilla while laughing lightly.
It was as if what he had just talked about was indeed a funny thing.
But anyway, Carmilla was able to tell quite accurately the physical features of Ashenflare. In other words....
"You ever see her? That terrible dragon?"
'I even once stroked him. True too.... Back then he was probably only the size of a small house.'
Carmilla's reply further left Lucius wondering. But for now, Lucius chose to be silent. No further questions about what he really wants to know.
After all, Carmilla had completely healed the badly injured body of Lucius.
A few hours passed....
Lucius' body was finally fully recovered. Simultaneously, the Mana crystal contained in the previous necklace had dried up completely. Leaving only empty glass.
'Then, now it just needs to get out of here right?' carmilla asked in Lucius's mind.
"Well, but before that.... There's someone I need to save. He's the reason I can walk all the way here."
'Show me the direction.'
"Hmm, but the problem is.." Lucius replied hesitantly as he pointed towards the river outside this city.
'I just need to follow this river, right? Leave me.'
Lucius did not expect it. That the word 'leave it to me' really has a real meaning.
Right now, his body was moving by itself. Even Lucius could not control his own body.
'Eeeh?! Miss Carmilla?! What the hell is going on?! Why is my body moving by itself?!' asked Lucius in a panic.
This time Lucius' voice did not come out of his lips. It was as if he had exchanged positions completely with that demon.
With a smile, Carmilla who used Lucius' body retaliated.
"Just relax, I just borrowed it for a little while. How long do you think I haven't been able to move so freely?" he replied while laughing lightly.
There was not much change in Lucius' body. His physical and magical abilities had not changed at all.
It's just that, the look in his eyes is slightly different from the presence of a thin tinge of reddish color in his eyeballs.
Quickly, Carmilla ran along this river using Lucius' body.
Occasionally he was forced to climb through difficult terrain, including a waterfall that had previously eliminated Lucius' consciousness.
The movements made by Carmilla were so beautiful and efficient. Even Lucius himself could not believe that this was his body, which was only controlled by different people.
'Am I really this strong?' lucius asked in his own heart.
It's just....
It's only been about 10 minutes....
"Well.... Huh.... Huh.... Damn, am I out of energy? What kind of body is this? Why so weak?! Huh uh?!" carmilla asked annoyed while trying hard to regulate her breathing.
'Sorry-sorry.'
Only that one word was capable of being issued by Lucius, because in reality his body was really very weak.
...........
'Krettakk! Kreettakk! Kreibyat!'
The sound of the footsteps of the city's army could be heard echoing in the middle of this narrow cave. They were all wearing complete light iron armor equipment. Including sharp weapons.
A total of 20 city soldiers were deployed for this search mission.
Two soldiers were seen walking on the side carrying a fire torch. Light up this dark cave.
"Report, captain. Just now we made sure, the 27 Goblins that attacked us have been cleared. Not a single tail lives."
"Good, stay alert if there's a surprise attack like that just now" the captain replied.
"Ready-done!"
For well-trained soldiers with adequate equipment, fighting Goblins is like fighting children with toy weapons.
After clearing the blood that had soiled his armor, the captain asked the young man who was walking next to him.
"So, you guys were playing around here and then all of a sudden the Goblins came charging in? After trying to fight back and nearly losing, you realize one of your friends is missing?"
"That's right, our friend Lucius disappeared during the fight with the 8 Goblins." replied the student who was none other than Edward Goldencrest.
The face of the soldier captain was hardened. He supported his chin with his left hand while thinking.
"Hmm, this is bad. Tell me, is your friend a boy or a girl?" asked the captain once more while slightly glancing at Edward.
"Male. He should be okay, right? Goblins usually target women for...."
"Just the opposite." the captain's reply cut off Edward's words.
"Eh?"
Edward's face was confused. Of the many pieces of information he had learned, he knew that Goblins often targeted women for their toys.
Every now and then, the women they kidnap are also used as tools to increase their numbers.
At least that's what he knows. But these?
"Women will probably be greatly tormented by the Goblin's treatment, that's for sure. But at least, they will keep the woman alive. If it is a man...."
The soldier captain stopped talking for a moment, as if he was thinking of the right word to say to this young man next to him.
"In short, they will be eaten" he continued.
"What?! Eaten-up?! Ja-so my friend...."
"Sorry to say it but, the big chances are he's dead."
The cold enough reply was piercing right in Edward's heart. It is true that he hated Lucius because he belonged to the lowest nobility.
But that's all.
Edward just wanted himself to be a little more respected for having a higher degree.
Knowing that his actions cost someone his life....
'Forget punishment, if Lucius really died for what I did....'
While Edward was still thinking about the various bad possibilities that had happened to him about this incident, some of the soldiers were seen returning from one of the cave hallways.
"Captain! We found someone!" his yell.
Without a doubt, everything immediately ran in its intended direction.
They found a large cave behind an old wooden door, where in the cave it smelled a very pungent smell.
The smell of blood and dirt filled the cave that was like this simple room. On some sides, wooden shelves filled with a variety of simple iron and wood equipment.
On the other hand, the light from the fire torch revealed dozens of simple wooden and cloth beds that were quite messy.
"Captain! Right here!" shouted one of the soldiers.
Quickly, the captain of the squad began to approach the woman who was only wrapped in a piece of clothing. His body looked so weak with the many wounds he had suffered.
"Miss, take it easy. We'll save you soon. Do you remember your name?" said the captain.
"Aeryl.." she went limp.
Edward on the other hand, his eyes focused on just one thing. That is the clothes worn by the woman, which is none other than the uniform of the academy where she studied.
"Thank God.... Thanks, Goddess.... So the boy managed to get out and call you guys, right?" said the woman while crying.
"Babies? Is there a boy of his age here?" ask the Captain.
"Well, he managed to escape and gave me these clothes. Ah, right, isn't this uniform the same as hers? He's safe too, right?" she asked, pointing to Edward.
'Deg! The deg!!'
Edward's heart thumped after hearing the woman's words.
How not?
"I'm sorry, Miss. But we've been through almost the whole cave and met no one at all despite finding traces of blood.
And let's be honest, we're also looking for a boy who's the same age as this kid." the captain replied, lightly patting Edward on the shoulder.
"But.... But he managed to escape! I-I helped him escape myself! He has black hair and dark brown eyes! It's just...."
The woman seemed unable to finish her words.
"Just?" ask the captain curiously.
"left hand.... Been.... Eaten up.... His right foot...."
Given the figure of the boy who was with her in this hell, the woman was no longer able to withstand her growing cries.
With a heavy heart, the captain finally understood the situation.
"Miss, sorry. But maybe the boy didn't survive. Because when we walked here, there were a lot of goblins waiting to ambush, so...."
'End is over.' thought Edward in his heart.
After hearing and seeing all of that, Edward was convinced as well. That the odds were great, Lucius was killed by a herd of Goblins while trying to escape with such a badly injured body.
'Because me.... Lucius.... Really dead?'
In the end, the search team returned from the cave with only the woman named Aeryl. Upon arrival in the city, Lucius's figure is still declared missing.
Even so, everyone who took part in the search knew. Including Edward. That Lucius, in fact, was dead.