NOT ONLY does the inner barrier shield the palace from view, but it also kept any noise away from it. As soon as the crack appeared, the clamor resounded in the library.

Elise had drowned herself with books after Amaranth left. Unbeknownst to her, a fight had already broken outside but no one had informed her. It was all thanks to Aricson that no one could easily come inside and disturb her.

She got up from her seat and slid the curtains to the side. It was not even an hour since she came here but the autumn-tinted clouds had almost disappeared and were now cloaked with dark fumes.

Her mouth hung open from the sight and quickly went down, just in time Aya had arrived.

"What's happening?" she asked. "Is the castle on fire?"

"We're under attack, Miss. We have to leave as soon as possible."

Aya, who always carried herself formally, was in throes of panic and grabbed her wrist without waiting for her consent. Aya hauled her outside and they headed in an unfamiliar direction until only their footfalls resonated with the uproar.

"Where are the rest of the servants?" Elise inquired as they tread the stairs.

They had run all the way here but had not crossed anyone. When they went out earlier, even the knights guarding the door were not there.

"They had already evacuated, Miss. Sir Gerald asked me to take you there."

Another eruption echoed and Elise contemplated if she should offer her help without being a burden. It was the least she could do after all their care here in the castle. She might not stand a chance with their kind of fight but she could tend to the injured.

"How about the knights? How worse is the situation?"

"The knights are already positioned to their station but I don't know about the current situation, Miss."

"I think you should lead me to them. They must have set a camp, right?"

"Pardon my impudence, Miss, but I can't bring you there. We have to hurry." Urgency laced in her voice but stubbornness reigned over Elise.

"No, I want to help."

Aya ignored her until they reached the exit in just several minutes. There were only trees surrounding them and she tugged her hand away.

"Bring me to them, Aya. I can help," she appealed once more but they were suddenly surrounded. 

The newly arrived people wore hoods over their heads and their presence rang the warning bells in her head. There were several of them and both of them were defenseless. She pushed Aya on her back as the men moved closer.

"Just give up. You don't even have magic."

Elise snapped her head towards Aya's direction from her abrupt biting tone. She was about to speak but apprehended something when Aya's words sunk. She immediately stepped back.

Aricson told her that no one knew that she could not use magic unless they were Enchanters but, according to Gerald, all servants in the castle were Mundrans except for him. How could Aya know she was not able to use magic? Did she give herself away?

A mocking curl pushed the corners of Aya's lips. Goosebumps slowly crept on Elise's neck down to her spine with that uncharacteristic expression of her maid.

"W-who are you?" Elise's lips quivered as she spoke.

"Your maid, of course."

Aya's gaze focused on her, no more politeness as she looked down with those brown irises that were much darker under the murky haze. However, those same eyes slowly turned to that of a feline with a cerulean shade. The paltry skin was now tinted with a healthy color of bronze while Elise could only go paler and paler with her eyeballs almost popping out of the sockets.

That once black hair became blonde and her whole face had completely morphed into someone else. Elise's jaw totally dropped to the floor after she watched the last part of the transformation.

Several tails sprouted on Aya's back with a pair of ears that resembled a cat or a dog sitting on the crown of her head.

Elise stood there, speechless and unable to move with shock coursing in her veins.

'Oh my god! What on earth is this?!'

"Now, be a good girl and come with us, Harbinger." Even her voice raised a pitch from the usual tone of Aya and she was even calling her that term.

Elise's mind was still not able to cope with earlier and another problem was added.

"Take her," the woman stated and Elise was surrounded in an instant.

She had no way of escape and nothing to use as those men drew nearer. She squeezed her brain to come up with something but it was an impossible one.

Nevertheless, she pushed through with her idea. The only thing she could do was run. She studied the people around her. She had no way to tell who was the lightest that she could push with their similar build caused by their uniformed black robes.

There were almost ten of them and no gap to penetrate as they circled her. She dropped down on her knees, the grass wadded on her fingers.

"That's right, Harbinger. Surrender yourself and it'll be easier for all of us."

She disregarded the pompous statement and took a handful of soil. Their shadows were looming nearer and she prepared herself. If only she had her sword or any sort of weapon.

Aricson mentioned she could summon it but that was out of the question since she didn't know its name. At the present, she could only come up with this abject tactic.

'I won't die here. I'm still going back!' She resolved herself and waited for a few more seconds.

Elise rose up and swung her arm, letting the soil blow in their faces but with their hood on, it was nothing but a moment of distraction, and at the present that was the only thing she needed.

She ran, ran, and ran, never daring to look back from the horrors behind her. Cold winds clammed on her face, her whole body perspiring, whether be it from the thumping nerves or the rushing adrenaline.

Whoosh.

A pointed silver dart plunged into her arm. Elise caught her breath but she did not pause. She could not afford it. She numbed her brain and pursued the endless forest while her heart thundered on her ribcage.

Traces of blood surged on her arm until it stained the bracelet and a drop seeped on the crystal bead.

"Blade of Purity." A voice hummed right on her ear amidst the chaotic chase behind her. She twisted her neck but there was still a little bit of distance between those men.

Her line of sight met one of them and the evening sky was not able to hide the crazed look on his eyes under the hem of his hood.

It was almost similar to the man who attacked her before. She quickly turned away, her teeth biting her trembling lips. She did not want to remember that nightmare but her knees were slowly giving up.

It did not take much longer before she slowed down from the tiredness and they flocked around her.

"Enjoyed the chase, Harbinger? I hope you liked your last taste of freedom," the woman uttered with amusement.

Elise's body quivered, her heart pounding louder than ever when she realized she was being played with.

"Say it, child. Trust me," that voice whispered in her ear again.

No one should trust the people who said 'trust me' in the first place but she was becoming frantic that the sensible part of her brain had become nonexistent and repeated his word.

"Blade of Purity."

As soon as those words left her mouth, the sword that was the reason for all of this appeared in her hands.

"Oh, you have a sacred artifact but it's a futile attempt. Get her and don't waste any more seconds," the woman ordered and the men abided.

She unsheathed her sword and defended herself, desperately wishing they would not use magic but of course, the heavens were not on her side.

All their weapons were glowing with bizarre magic while hers was just a plain old sword. It might be a sacred artifact but she had no idea how to use it and the voice earlier was gone.

"Do it quick but keep her alive," the woman added as she spectated the ongoing clash.

Elise was swinging her weapon back and forth, barely following the things she learned when she could not even perceive the number of attacks with all of them doing offense.

Fortunately, a few backed up but it was too soon to relax because it only became worse. Those men who stepped away were now casting a spell.

The paved floor rapidly sprouted enormous vines. She cut every approaching plant but it had already wrapped her feet. To slash it off would also mean slicing her limbs.

The vines traveled from her waist up to her arms and wrapped her body in a matter of minutes.

Those same vines covered her vision and she was trapped in an ink-colored space.

"Let us leave now. The barrier's almost fixed."

She heard the woman and footsteps became nearer.

'Dang it! Will I really die this young?' Elise's eyes moistened. She was not ready to resign to her fate but she was powerless to defy it.

A series of recurring memories brimmed her brain. Countless thoughts about all her regrets and what-ifs that she should have done. She had yet things to accomplish but she could only picture the worst that could happen after this.

The blaring of metals awakened her from her trance.

'Someone's here!' She wanted to jump in glee upon learning there was someone who could save her but her body was still constricted. Elise merely listened and hoped those guys were defeated.

"Damn it, you wretched human!" the woman shrieked. "Put down your weapon or I'll kill her."

There was no response but the shifting actions continued, followed by a continuous string of profanities.

"I'll remember this, human! Argh!"

Silence transpired and light burst through at last. Elise's eyes adjusted, her gaze locking on Aricson. She did not even heed the piles of corpses around them as her attention was on the deep color of blood soaking through his clothes.

It was as vibrant as his red hair, indicating that it was freshly spilled fluids, and paired with his whole demeanor rivaling the frost of winter.

Elise's body stilled. A sense of fright was crawling in her heart, truth to be told. She had never seen him like this, all bloody and hostile. However, all fear vanished as he tended her carefully and cut through the remaining plants.

Relief had now washed through her upon realizing he saved her once again.

Aricson kneeled and yanked the vines away from her feet while she watched him. She did not even notice the waters forming from the corners of her eyes until the droplets plopped on Aricson's face when he looked up.

He set her free from the binding and crushed her to his embrace. Both the hammering beats of their chest mingled as the tears had become a broken dam that could not be controlled.

"It's fine now." His fingers skimmed on her tresses. "I told you, you just have to hold on and I will arrive and you exactly did that. Thank you for surviving, Elise."

Her cries became louder as she clutched his neck and hugged him tighter. Knowing that it was him who single-handedly fought earlier, the incessant agitation grew while she recalled what just happened.

If he was a step too late, she could have been gone but if he made a mistake while rescuing her, his life would be on the line. Her fingers trembled as her grip on him loosened.

She could not comprehend how could they survive in this world where lives were in the hands of others. In her world, it could be said the same but at least there was a sense of security and she could defend herself but here, her survival was close to impossible if she was alone and this whole event just proved that once more.

Taking heavy breaths and wiping the tears away, she finally calmed herself and managed to croak a thank you for Arcison before drawing away from him to examine his body. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

"I should be the one asking you that. I shouldn't have left you here alone. I should've come here right away. I—"

"It's okay, Aricson," she interjected as soon as she sensed he was going through self-blame. He had been silent all this time but her questions probably undid him. It was as if all her anxiousness transferred to him.

But now that her emotions had settled down, it was clear this was an accident nobody could predict so there was no use imputing somebody to justify what happened but if there was, those men and that woman disguised as Aya would be liable.

All of a sudden, Arcison stiffened before all his weight slumped to her. She was not able to balance herself and both of them tumbled to the ground with his body on top of hers.

"Aricson?" she called.

She tried again and again but nothing. Aricson was as heavy a block and she tried to move him with all her force.

Elise immediately inspected his pulse and it was beating at a fast rate. With no room for indecision, she took off his robe. The damaged shirt was easy to rip with all its rips. A gasp of air escaped her mouth as soon as she saw his body.

Gashes after gashes overlapped each other with varying sizes. The flesh peeked through the skin with the blood coating his whole upper body. This was the first time she had seen such gore injuries.

'How can he even stand up with this?' She thought and new waves of tears were ready to erupt but she had to pull herself together.

She had to tend to him as soon as possible but she could not just drag him around with all those injuries. Leaving him alone in such a weakened state while there were still enemies was not an option either.

Her eyes blurred as she was helpless sitting there cradling his body.

Maybe finally someone heard her plea and a Vermilion descended. It was Brennan who came rushing towards them.

"What happened here?" Brennan questioned, his eyes analyzing as they traveled between them.

"A-Aricson's w-w-wounded all o-over," she tried to say as waterworks flowed relentlessly. Her tear ducts were probably broken when she could not refrain from crying.

"I understand but you have to calm down first," Brennan advised and it was followed by a spell.

Several orbs levitated from the ground.

"Send Lord Gustavious to the castle right now and finish the cleanup. Don't let anyone escape. Those fvckers will suffer."

Elise was never that happy to hear Brennan's chilling voice till that moment.