Chapter 7: The Pursuit

The guards burst through the door and witnessed the scene with deadpan expressions on their faces while remaining vigilant to any potential threats. A guard walked up to the backs of Prince Cedric and Lucius and bowed

"I await your orders."

Lucius took charge, his voice laced with determination. "Your Highness, we must act swiftly. The safety of Prince Barrett is of utmost importance. We must gather our forces and launch a thorough search throughout the palace."

Prince Cedric nodded, his expression reflecting a mixture of worry and determination. "You're right, Lucius. We cannot afford to waste a moment. Every minute counts."

The pair turned around simultaneously and with a commanding voice Cedric ordered:

"Gather all the men and search every corner of the palace."

"Yes, your highness" replied the guard.

He immediately left the room along with the other guards to carry out the prince's orders.

Silence returned to the room and the pair looked around trying to find any trace of Barret's whereabouts, but as they looked around, they realized that the culprit couldn't have gone through the window as it couldn't be opened and there were no unnatural openings sensed by either of them, which meant whoever did this was hiding in the castle somewhere, but the questions remained

"Lucius who do you think did this"

"My lord, when I attempted to leave the scene of the explosion earlier, I was stopped by a man who called himself Crowley, both his sword and the way he talked were strange. He had an accent and he wielded a nagamaki sword."

Prince Cedric's face twisted in anger causing his killing intent to escape for a second, nearly suffocating Lucius and with gritted teeth, he cursed, "F*****g Capatians"

Lucius regained his composure and said, "I assume so your highness and to think that snake Ravencroft was one of them."

Cedric took deep breaths trying to calm himself and when he did, he looked at Lucius and stated "Let's not jump to any conclusions until we know more"

At the same time outside the palace grounds Deputy Chief Rashin was patrolling the grounds in the pouring rain as was instructed, he trotted slowly on horseback with his right hand on the hilt of his sword. He remained vigilant as he was searching for anything out of the ordinary when suddenly he sensed the presence of two persons coming from an exit on the east wing.

"Hyah" he shouted as he gave his horse two kicks signaling him to speed up.

He arrived in two minutes and when he did, he wrapped himself in sword aura readying for a fight as he laid eyes on what he'd sensed but he only saw one man with a cloak spanning from head to toe walking casually.

"Stop walking now!" he shouted at the man who looked to be only 20 meters away from him

"Are you sure you want me to do that" shouted the cloaked man who continued walking.

Rashin gritted his teeth in anger and unsheathed his blade pointing it at the man.

"I told you to st-"

Rashin attempted to finish his sentence but before he said the last word a blade pierced through his adam's apple causing his eyes to widen in disbelief and his sword to fall from his hands. Rashin collapsed first onto the mane of his horse and slid onto the ground and as he did a masked man standing on the back of a now ownerless horse, watched his corpse with intrigue wiping the blood off his nagamaki at the same time.

He then jumped down and asked the cloaked man "Are you finally ready to leave this godforsaken place Dr. Ravencroft"

"I told you not to call me that"

"Whatever you wish lord shadow," Crowley replied with a hint of sarcasm.

"Hmph, let's keep moving, we have to get to get to Iztil by tomorrow" (see para comments)

Meanwhile inside the palace Lucius and Prince Cedric were walking back to Cedric's office and as they were a guard came up to them and bowed respectfully, after which he was told to speak

"Your Highness, deputy chief Rashin was found dead outside an exit at the back of the palace's east wing"

Lucius' eyes widened in shock as he heard the news.

Prince Cedric looked unfazed as he ordered: "Lucius take some men and investigate, I want results this time, my patience is running out"

"Yes Your Highness" Lucius replied obediently.

As they arrived at the scene, Lucius instructed the guards to spread out and search for any trace of the killers. The tension in the air was palpable as they combed the area, their eyes scanning the wet ground for any sign of footprints or disturbances.

One guard, named Jonas, knelt near a cluster of bushes and spotted a set of faint footprints leading away from the scene. He called out to Lucius, "Captain! I've found tracks!"

Lucius swiftly made his way to Jonas' side, his gaze focused on the trail. "Good eye, Jonas. Let's follow these tracks and be careful we must discover where they are without alerting them to our presence."

With Lucius leading the way, the group moved as the tracks led them through the dense forest surrounding the palace. Branches brushed against their faces, and the ground beneath their boots crunched softly with each careful step. The moon provided just enough light for them to navigate their way through the darkness.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached a secluded spot—a dilapidated cottage at the edge of a clearing. Hushed voices reached their ears, their urgency hinting at the gravity of the situation.

Lucius gestured for his team to take cover; their eyes trained on the cottage. They waited, patient and vigilant. The sound of footsteps approached, growing louder with each passing second.

And then, from the shadows, emerged two figures—Crowley and Shadow. And in Shadow's grip lay Prince Barrett, the guards' hearts pounded in their chests, the sight instilling both dread and relief.

Lucius held his hand up, signaling his men to wait. This was not the time for a direct confrontation, he instead shifted his gaze to Jonas and said "I want you and the rest of the men to follow them and report back to the palace where they settle, I need to report what I've found so far to Prince Cedric"

Lucius carefully made his way back to the palace concealing his presence, trying his best not to be discovered, and as he arrived, he headed straight to Prince Cedric's quarters and informed him of what he discovered.

"These men can be trusted to execute their orders?"

"Yes, Your Highness"

"I hope for your sake you're correct Lucius, your failures so far caused my son to be abducted. Find the mastermind so I can crush their skull" The prince said with a cold tone and an expressionless face

Lucius met Prince Cedric's cold gaze; his determination unwavering. "I understand your anger, Your Highness," he replied, his voice steady. "I take full responsibility for what has transpired thus far, but I swear to you, we will find the mastermind behind this and bring him to justice. I will not rest until Prince Barrett is safely returned to your side."

The prince's face remained impassive; the weight of his disappointment evident. "Your words, Lucius, hold little comfort. Actions speak louder than promises. I expect results."

Lucius nodded; his resolve unwavering. "You have my word, Your Highness. We will not fail again."

With a curt nod, Prince Cedric turned away, his attention already focused on the battle ahead. Lucius understood the weight of the prince's expectations and the urgency of their mission. Failure was not an option.

Two days later

The night only provided cold silence as the gate guards of the palace stood watch, their spears held firmly in their hands. Suddenly, the piercing sound of galloping hooves cut through the stillness, drawing their attention. Reacting swiftly, they positioned themselves, pointing their spears in the direction of the approaching rider.

"Halt! Identify yourself!" one of the guards called out, his voice laced with authority. The rider, barely visible in the darkness, continued to approach at breakneck speed, seemingly oblivious to the guards' commands.

As the horse drew nearer, the guards' eyes widened in horror. The rider slouched forward, his body limp, supported only by the horse beneath him. Blood stained his chest, and an arrow protruded from his back. The guards' faces paled as they recognized the wounded man.

"Jonas!" one of the guards exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and concern. "It's Jonas, one of our own!"

Frantically, the gate guards lowered their spears and rushed forward to intercept the rider. With careful precision, they helped Jonas down from the horse, his weak groans of pain echoing in the night. His face was pale, his breathing shallow, and his life force fading rapidly.

Gasping for air, Jonas managed to speak through gritted teeth. "Captain Lucius... bring me... to Captain Lucius," he pleaded his voice barely a whisper.

Realizing the urgency of the situation, the guards wasted no time. Two of them supported Jonas on either side, while the others mounted their own horses. Urging their steeds forward, they set off toward the heart of the palace, racing against time to deliver their wounded comrade to Captain Lucius.

Through the dimly lit corridors, they navigated with determination, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Guards stationed along the way turned their heads, concern etched on their faces as they caught sight of Jonas's pale form and the urgency in their comrades' eyes.

Finally, they reached the door of Captain Lucius's quarters. Without hesitation, one of the guards knocked forcefully, the sound echoing through the hallway.

Moments later, Captain Lucius swung open the door, his eyes widening at the sight before him. Jonas, barely clinging to life, being supported by his fellow guards.

"Captain Lucius," one of the guards gasped, his voice filled with urgency. "It's Jonas... he's been gravely wounded. He asked specifically to see you."

Lucius's expression hardened as he took in the severity of Jonas's condition. Without a word, he motioned for the guards to bring Jonas inside. With gentle care, they carried him to a nearby bed, laying him down.

Kneeling by Jonas's side, Lucius placed a hand on his comrade's shoulder. "Jonas, it's me, Lucius," he said, his voice filled with concern. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

Jonas's breaths came in shallow gasps, each word a struggle. "City... of Iztil... the lord's mansion," he managed to utter, his voice weak but determined. "Crowley... and Shadow... they took Prince Barrett there."

A flicker of anger flashed in Lucius's eyes. "Thank you, Jonas," he said softly, his voice tinged with determination. "Rest now. We will avenge you and rescue Prince Barrett. I swear it."

*Capatian- Refers to someone from the Capat Divine Kingdom the country that borders Brizia (mc's home country) to the south.

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