The situation couldn’t get any worse. Before the two could even get to save the young boy that was tortured, people with white cloaks appeared right in front of them.
No one bothered to speak, even Celia and Deim were too stunned to even run from the path that they’d made. The two just covered the poor boy as their shoulders almost touched.
“What do we do now, Deim? This is your plan after all right?”
“What should we do? Didn’t I tell you to keep quiet?”
“I am quiet, for Pete’s sake, Deim!”
“By the tone of your voice just now, it sounded the opposite. You’re just as loud as you breathe, Celia”
“What then? Allow me to not breathe anymore?”
Instead of answering her previous words, Deim sighed and closed his eyes. For a moment, when he looked in front of them, he saw this seal.
It’s a white lotus, and it’s in the center of the white clothing the hooded people around them are wearing.
‘I know that seal and could it be…’ Before he could finish his words, one of the hooded men appeared to walk toward them.
He halted when he was only three feet away, however, Celia, on the other hand, couldn’t help but narrow her eyes.
“Well, well, well. What do we have in here?” The man spoke and by the tone of his deep dark voice, the two knew that he must be an old man.
Though, Deim wasn’t sure if he was one of that group or if he was accustomed to the temple. After all, that group is only a legend by the book he had read. Yet the description of the symbol they’re wearing seems surreal to be even a myth.
Deim, without any second thought, immediately held Celia’s hand and pull her closer to him enough to make her step behind. Now, Deim was already in front of the people.
Though, it is not a sight to behold from the old men since he’s only a young child in their eyes. However, the way he expresses himself seems a little too arrogant to be a child’s play
“Children should stay out of strangers’ houses. didn’t your parents tell you to not do anything dangerous?” The man spoke again but this time, the tone of his voice seemed to be soft like enticing. Perhaps to entice the children to stay out of the trouble but Deim knew better
“Well, I’m just impressed by this old man saying that staying out of some strangers’ houses when this isn't a house at all. It’s a temple you old hag!” Deim shouted and everyone seemed to gasp.
Even the old man that said some words, gritted his teeth after recovering from some words that this meager of a child said.
Celia on the other hand, had the same expression of a person that just seemed to see a ghost. She had long thought that Deim is indeed arrogant, with no respect for even elderly people, and seems to care only for himself.
That’s because she had that impression just by reading the book and right now, she can get a few of those traits from this young boy, she just didn’t see it coming that even she would be protected from behind him as if he’s protecting her by distracting the attention of these old creepy men.
Celia couldn’t help but gulp and look at how sturdy the young boy’s back even though they are merely just children.
She continued to look at him and focused on the expression of what he was doing. She knew that she have to think of a way to escape these men but then, why do her eyes seem to focus on only one boy in front of her?
That’s not all because even though she should have said anything as well, her mouth seemed to open but then there would be no words to hear rather than whispers of breathing.
It took her even a minute to look at the creepy men in front of them and avert her gazes from Deim yet, she took them back after feeling how tight Deim’s hand are holding her.
“Deim…” she finally managed to utter some words, but Deim wouldn’t even bulge to look at her. He only blinks a few times and silence runs its course.
Celia took that as an opportunity to say something.
“We’re in deep trouble now, Deim. How could we ever…”
“Shh, we aren’t, just trust me, Celia”
“What the hell now, Deim? Is this some of your pranks then again?”
“It is not, but you remember the door that we entered earlier, right?” Deim asked and now, he had already turned.
Although there was laughter around the secluded room where they were, Celia didn’t pertain to any of those, except Deim’s serious eyes.
“What are you trying to tell me now, Deim?”
“I’m trying to ask you if you trust me”
“Would I trust you if I’m not here right now?” Celia’s words, although she looks serious, got Deim to smile for the first time. A smile that was genuine as if it was a big deal for him to know that someone trusts him not for his title but for him as a person.
Just by hearing those words, he immediately pressed a stone beside the poop boy’s body and after a few more seconds, sounds of crashing stones can be heard along with the screams of the men that were following them earlier
“Hold tight to me, Celia!” Deim shouted while they were being lowered by the floor they stood and in a matter a minute, everything fell to silence.
***
“Jacob, are you sure this is where my sister is?” Nether asked Jacob while they look at this enormous building. It is cylindrical in a shape of a cone, colored white as if it was pure enough to be tainted by any colors.
Jacob looked beside him and pat Nether’s head. He smiled and nod.
“Yeah, she is here. Perhaps, she is just praying within, Nether”
“I trust you, Jacob.” By the time that Jacob heard Nether’s voice, he slowly halted patting his head, and looked directly at him.
Jacob just knew that Celia wasn’t in the temple to pray. He knew it the moment that she left her usual attire to pray whenever their family visits the temple.
Jacob narrowed his eyes and averted his gaze from Nether to look behind the little boy. He is now looking at the temple and yet, he should feel warm but then he feels cold.
It’s something to do with the puzzles he had in his mind but he had to make sure. Besides, having the wrong conclusion would lead him to serious punishments but bit only him this time since he’s already accustomed to the Crenst household.
“Jacob?” Nether asked and Jacob looked back at him. He smiled again but this time, he grabbed his hand and lead him inside.
“If for example, you lost sight of me, here take this and wait for me in the entrance of the temple, Nether. Don’t do anything that would put you in trouble, okay?”
Nether creased his eyebrows for a moment, before finally nodding. Yet, he couldn’t help but ask Jacob as he halted.
“Wait, what do you mean getting myself in trouble, Jacob? You know that I wouldn’t do anything to endanger my sister,” Nether pouted. Jacob turned around and chuckle.
“Silly, what I mean by trouble is talking to the people within for nonsense words…” Nether continued to pout but never responded as he only tightened Jacob’s hold on his hand.
On the other hand, Jacob felt the sense of attachment he had with this young boy was it because he had been obedient to him or was it more of the fact that he looks exactly like Celia, the one who made his heart skipped a beat?
Never knowing the reasons, there is only one goal on his mind, to find Celia, save her, and kill the ones that would harm her at all costs.
“Don’t worry Nether, we will find your sister in no time…”
***
*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
Celia was finding Deim through the mess that he had put them in. From the foggy surroundings, she managed to sway some while finding her way to the two.
Deim was helping the poor boy. He is untying the chains. Celia’s eyes narrowed. She had a lot of questions that Deim needs to answer but seeing him busy with the poor boy, she managed to keep her mouth shut.
She waited until they help the poor boy lean on the stones beside them. When Celia looked around, they were within a small tunnel with some water moving on either side.
“Where are we”
“We are near the exit at the back of the temple.”
“Isn’t this the route we headed earlier?”
“No, it’s different. For now, let’s help this young boy within the market’s orphanage and I will explain everything later”
“When exactly is that later when you could do now?”
Deim sighed and moved closer to where Celia was.
“When I said earlier about the door we headed earlier, I touched the same symbol from the stone and it opened the door for us. I did the same, but I never thought we would be underground by now. However, if you keep being laid back, it will take them no time to know where we are”
“Why?”
Deim halted. He looked serious toward Celia but this time, he never sighed. He put both of his hands on Celia’s shoulders.
“The empire that you knew was never normal after all. I’ve come to realize it then from the forbidden books that the empire forbids its people to read…”
That’s when Celia’s eyes widened. There was no such thing as these words she’s hearing now from Deim in the original novel’s plot or were there any second seasons at all?
The novel she thought was only one book but then, she could only blame herself for not reading the author’s note from the webnovel. Perhaps, there are book 2 and sequels to happen since there would be spin-offs that seemed to be popular in their modern world.
But this? She just couldn’t believe…
“Why---”
“Lady Celia?”
“Sister?”
