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Chapter 17 - HERE WE GO AGAIN...

Time's words echoed within my mind for a short moment before a sharp sting practically forced my eyes open.

Felt like millions of little ants were crawling up my skin; taking a bite out of anything in its sight--always hated those little fuckers for doing that.

"High heal" A familiar voice let out with a bright lime glow quickly consuming my body right after.

The pain that had woken me up slowly got numbed down before, what felt like, a wound on my stomach quickly patched itself up.

"Haha! He sure is one tough nut to crack..." Another familiar voice seeped into my ears as the world around me finally cleared enough for me to discern where I was.

"Adelaide...Alexander..." I blurted out before examining my own body, "...is Baldwin dead?"

I was in the worst position to be asking about others, especially a foe, but it felt like the right thing to do.

Doom flare had practically obliterated all life from my body; the explosion literally splitting my soul and sending me straight to Time's domain--surely that bastard was in a far worse state. Even if it was a mere example of how devastating Doom flare was, the damage he must have earned shouldn't have been ignorable.

"Killing a high ranked demon isn't an easy feat, Prince." Adelaide worded out, slowly rising from her seat--her face covered in sweat after the heals she'd been pumping into me, "...your attack was enough to have him flee to rejuvenate, but not enough to kill him."

Of course, he's an antagonist, they don't die easily.

That being said, him recovering was both good and bad for us; first of all, this meant I had time to grow in strength before hunting down the guy himself.

He, no doubt, had incredible healing capabilities--demons were often praised for that, but after suffering a suicidal Doom flare? three months was the least I'd give him. I was lucky enough to practically have my time cut by a significant amount because of my identity as those bastards' avatar.

"You didn't kill him, but you did save a whole kingdom from his wrath. Be proud child." Adelaide responded after noticing my disappointed expression.

After taking in a short breath, she slowly approached an open window before showing a relieved smile on her face.

"Blackheart is free..." She muttered out, taking in the cool gusts of wind that blew towards her--along with the very audible cheers of Blackheart citizens who were busy celebrating their liberation.

"Now and forever, Lady Adelaide." Alexander let out, taking a respectful bow, "...your efforts within the wall paid off."

"Oh please...an old lady like myself only did it with the help of others," She let out, her smile growing as she turned to me, "...especially you lot, our heroes outside the wall."

"We faced mages, knights and hired hunters..." She continued before turning her gaze back out of the window,"...but the rest of you took care of a demon that threatened our liberation..."

"Don't thank us yet..." I let out, forcing myself to a sit as I placed a palm on my pained abdomen, "...he's out there. He might not come for months or years, but so long as his pride has been soiled, he'll probably do anything to give Blackheart back to the visitors."

My words sat for a moment, Alexander nodding in affirmative after I'd finished talking whilst Adelaide remained silent. A serious expression then flashed on her face as she turned to me.

"Let him come...I didn't get my chance to take a swing at him this time, I could use a chance to whack some manners into him."

A laugh escaped Alexander after she spoke, before slowly approaching the room's door.

"That's the spirit, Lady Adelaide." He let out, swinging the door open--exposing Lance who seemed like he was just about to knock on the door, "...the church needs to hear about this, I shall make sure I put in a good word or two for the two of you."

His words escaped him as he brushed past Lance himself, a wide smile stretching from his left ear to his right.

"My apologies, did not mean to interrupt..." He let out, bowing respectfully whilst still standing at the entrance itself.

"You interrupted nothing..." Adelaide let out, pulling out a clean white napkin before wiping the sweat on her face off as she approached the entrance itself, "I was simply healing the lad and your fellow holy knight wished to see the face of Blackheart's champion."

"Blackheart's champion?" Lance let out, a chuckle being suppressed as Adelaide walked past him, "...look who just shoved a title up his arse."

"Keep talking and I might just shove a doom flare up yours." I retorted as I finally planted my feet onto the ground itself--my body still pained as it sat on the bed's edge.

"You talk a lot of shit for a literal 'holy' knight."

"Figured you'd have gotten used to it by now." He responded, his gaze momentarily falling upon the cheerful streets beyond the room's window.

"...How does it feel, hero?"

"Like broken ribs and dislocated joints that could severely use a massage." I responded, attempting to stand.

After some few failed attempts, my body finally rose.

The condition I was in was shit, but something told me it was about to get shittier thanks to my new quest. Taking down Baldwin was going to need more than just enchanted arrows and suicidal spells--hate to say it, but maybe I was actually going to have to take things serious from now on.

Surprisingly, I only had the Architects to thank for the cheats they gave me; speeding through whatever training I'd put myself through was going to be a lot more rewarding.

It almost felt like I'd actually activated cheats on an online game I was playing--only feeling a lot less scummy for practically screwing over the people who were legitimately grinding the game for hours.

"So...came to pleasantly inform me that your suspicions have grown?" I sarcastically let out, activating a low healing spell with the little magic within me. One of the only things I could practically thank Mes for passing onto me--the brat only managed to overload my mind with information before.

"I can hear your thoughts, master." She let out.

"It might actually be the opposite..." Lance let out, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall behind him--eyes still glued outside the window for a moment before bringing his attention back to me.

"I have no reason to be suspicious of you." He let out before pausing for a moment and continuing, "...had you had evil intentions, you wouldn't have sacrificed your life fighting against a demon for the sake of others."

Correction, the bastard wanted to kill me--I was quite literally fighting for my own life up in the Exosphere of this damned planet...but whatever floats your boat, buddy.

"But I still will be bothering you with my company, Prince Aeron." He let out, an oddly respectful tone in his voice as he stared dead straight at me, "...the visitors seem to be after you, they are thorns that must be eliminated."

"Couldn't agree with you more," I let out, stretching my limbs slightly before activating another low healing spell focused on my pained parts, "...I plan on eradicating them."

"Bold, unexpectedly coming from you as well."

"They want me dead, it's only fair I send back equal hostility."

"Fair point, but you seem to be forgetting the simple obvious truth." He let out with a grin on his face, "...they are prepared, you aren't."

Valid point.

For all I knew, these guys were practically shadows that focused all their man-power on hunting me down. Who they were, where they were and how to take them down were unknown to me--they, however, knew who I was, where I was and how to take me down; or at least they thought they knew how to take me down.

"All I need to do prepare is my body and skills," I let out, clenching my fists before releasing a satisfied sigh, "...they'll bring themselves to me, and I'll take them all down."

A short silence was shared between us before Lance let out a chuckle, turning his gaze back to the world beyond the window.

"Then don't mind if I shove myself into this brutish plan of yours."

+1 member in this goal to destroy the visitors--though perhaps I should keep it as 0 since he was for sure tagging along regardless of what I'd have said.

Can't say I was against the idea of a literal holy knight helping out; my odds of winning this fight probably shot up by a tiny amount thanks to him being included. Now all I needed to do was get back on track.

My initial task was to make it to the Elven kingdom and acquire magical artefacts, stuff I'll need since drawing magic from the environment was practically impossible without these relics. It seems my plan didn't change--perhaps getting even more urgent than before. With all things set, all I had to do now was patiently wait for dawn; I wasn't wasting any more time in this liberating detour I had been forced to make.

 Three soft knocks on the door interrupted my thoughts, the knocker slowly opening the door before any response could be made.

It was Assa, still in her cloak but now with her hood pulled down. The look on her face was concerning--not in a bad way.

Well...maybe that depends on how you looked at it.

From what I could tell, she was distressed...and it was clear.

"Assa." Lance called out, turning back to me, "...even YOU came to visit this dipshit?"

If there was a remote controller or any goddamn chuckable thing near me, it would have been flying straight at Lance at the moment.

I'd let it slide though, since I realized what he was doing. Sharp eyes Lance--but an even sharper tongue.

His attempt to cheer up Assa failed, her chuckle being riddled with worry and clearly forced.

"I was the only one who hadn't visited him, I guess it was due"

"Leilatha and Grat were here too?"

"Yes, but they both left before celebrations to relay the news to their tribes."

Just as Alexander did with the church.

It seems Blackheart's liberation was a big thing...even bigger reason for me to depart from here first thing in the morning. Attention was absolutely not something I could afford--if by any chance those fuckers didn't know where I was or whether or not I lived, a grand celebration with multiple tribes and powerful organs would absolutely give them enough info.

"Fair enough, I'm guessing you've come for a short visit as well--before relaying this news to your tribe as well."

"The dragonfolk would love to hear the news, I assume." Lance chimed in, walking closer to the two of us.

After a short moment of silence, my eyes narrowed before finally letting out a sigh as I crossed my arms.

"Your expression makes me feel like that's not what you're here to talk about."

She took her time, but after fidgeting around nervously for a moment, she finally sucked in a short breath before blurting out her words with her eyes closed.

"I need your help, prince Aeron!"

Expected...

What was I? A charity site that offered fundraisers and community assistance?

Why the hell did one person after the other need my help--for fuck's sake I need my own help!

Another sigh escaped me as I glanced at Lance who was clearly forcing me to hear her out with the cold glare he was sending my way.

Being practically pushed into a corner, I plopped myself back onto the bed before shifting my gaze back to Assa herself.

"Alright, out with it already."

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