423: || Chapter 412 || Going Underground

|| Chapter 412 || Going Underground

The afternoon came within Jagra's humble abode, and the boisterous noise finally weakened as the little innocent children had their fill of fun and were taken to a separate room where they could nap comfortably. The caretaker's always look forward to these times where the little ones were too tired to make noise or even stand up. Their pitiful sleepy eyes would always turn to them, reaching out their small arms in need. Under Ghana's strict cerulean eyes, the sentinels each picked up a child, making sure they were as quiet as the night as to not wake up these little slumbering demons. 

Jagra watched in amusement, leaning against the wall with folded arms. To house lunch for almost twenty people was a tiring feat for him who wasn't very good at receiving that many guests. But despite the hundreds of unwashed dishes, a few broken furniture, and stickiness of his floors, Jagra was able to overcome these troubles with the help of the sentinels within his home.

" All finished?" A voice from behind him asked making Jagra turn his head slightly. 

He replied to Ghana," Fortunately, yes. Excellent work, Captain." 

The female maeruthan raised an intimidating brow while Jagra only chuckled. Meanwhile, the sentinels behind him all looked at him incredulously. Ah, this man has no fears... 

The sound of soft footsteps joined the noise in the hallway. Multiple gazes turned to approaching white-haired maeruthan. In his arms was a little girl, wrapping her arms around his slender neck, leaning on the youth's shoulder. 

Moulin internally sighed as she held Nara. Honestly, he'd rather fight demons and malibreeds than carry and play with children for hours. Although, he enjoyed seeing the children's laughter and bright smiles, he could not resist agreeing to every request when they put on those bright adorable eyes. Ah, this is all Snow's fault...

" Moulin..." When Ghana met Moulin's gaze, she called in a serious but calm tone. 

She tilted her head briefly towards the door at her right then sent a silent order to the sentinels surrounding the hallways. Receiving the command, the warriors dispersed, gradually vacating the area.

" Come now, little girl." Jagra awkwardly called, reaching out his arms to her. 

Reluctant, Nara held Moulin tighter. However, the youth turned to her and whispered reassuring words until she finally conceded. Moulin slowly put her down before following Ghana towards the room.

" Let's go." Jagra spoke softly and took Nara away. 

Reluctant eyes stared as the door of the room closed and Moulin's figure disappeared from her eyes. 

Jagra furrowed his brows. An odd feeling suddenly entered his chest. He felt nothing but discomfort and suspicion. 'Strange...'

"Oh!" 

The door to Erthyl's room abruptly opened revealing a young woman with positive eyes. She greeted Jagra with a smile, conveying wonderful news of Erthyl's recovery. 

She didn't immediately close the door which allowed the little girl at Jagra's side, a glimpse of the vulnerable figure on the bed. A boy with curly brown hair, milky pale, a stunning beauty, sat upright on the mattress hesitantly glancing at the people barely concealed by the door. 

Nara met the boy's gaze. Their eyes widened in surprise. A soft smile instantly filled the little girl's innocent face. 

Erthyl, "...?"

Creak! 

The nurse closed the door and happily accompanied Jagra and Nara toward the nap room. 

...

The afternoon sky began to draw towards sunset. The lively districts of Helios weakened as day businesses closes for the night and allow evening stalls to open and thrive. People hurried to end their tasks for the day, looking forward to the rest they deserve. Thus, the streets remained a bit cramped. 

The wet market, however, was suspiciously silent and deserted. Only the splashing sound of the river brought a bit of life to its dreary atmosphere. The lamps were extinguished and removed beforehand. Water drips from the moist tables of the stalls and a pungent smell surrounded the entire vast area. There on the uneven ground was a layer of fish scales and remnants of fish organs. The maeruthan health division ought to adjust some things, a certain female captain thought. 

Ghana scrunched up her face, evidently annoyed by the strong smell. However, her face returned to its normal stoic state as she assessed the entire area. Her team consists of ten people including her dear friend, Moulin. The fish market has located, right beside Helios's wide river, a distance from the nearest town. With a good alibi, the market was closed early, saving them from suspicion. 

Near the riverbank, Moulin stared at his reflection in the water. Wisps of his silver hair peeked out from under his hood. This time, he wasn't trying to hide his face. 

Moulin had told Ghana about his findings from Erthyl's memories. Together, they conveyed the information to his brother, Maxille, who immediately called an emergency meeting for all the teams involved in the mission. Some adjustments were to be made. The team was divided into two groups, one would carry an assault underground and the other would prepare to apprehend the enemy aboveground. Moulin was included in one of the three teams sent to sabotage the demonic ritual that should commence tonight. They were to be discreet and quick in completing their tasks. 

Rescue the children, capture the leader, and destroy the ritual. The cultists were men and women, civilians who did not possess an internal core. However, it seems their leader found a way to acquire and exploit mana. A way to corrupt it and possess it, to use it for sinful means. 

The earth-wielders went to work once Ghana and the others found a hollow space underneath the ground. Most of them were veresyahs, centaurs, beautiful large beings, masters of earth combat. However, they were to be stationed aboveground for they were too big to fit within the tunnels underground.

The earth-wielders manage to turn a portion of the ground into sand, creating a hole before their feet. 

Ghana's eyes narrowed as she stood before the hole. The deep cavern was pitch-black. Water streamed through the tiny crevices on the rocky walls and the sound of droplets echoed further within the darkness. It felt eerie.

Moulin and Ghana exchanged gazes. They found a tunnel. 

Before Ghana could command the sentinels to assess the tunnel for life or traps, Moulin jumped down startling the sentinels surrounding the hole. 

Wind wailed past Moulin's ears as gravity pulled him down, hindering the shouts from aboveground. Not long after, his feet collided with the ground. The ground was hard and wet making Moulin slip.

He cursed loudly as his buttocks hit the rocky slope. Within the darkness, his figure swiftly slid downwards. 

In a split second, Moulin hastily conjured a glowing ice crystal to illuminate his surroundings. What came into view was a rocky wall embedded with sharp rocks. 

"...!"

In an instant, Moulin raised a hand and blasted his mana ahead of him. 

Boom!

Large blocks of ice materialized, encasing the sharp wall surface like a secondary wall. Not only did the technique lessen his speed a bit but also stopped him from smashing into the wall. 

Slowly, Moulin slid to the ice wall while a delicate glowing crystal hovered above his palm. His knees tenderly touched the cold wall surface and he panted while gazing incredulously at large ice wall. 

"That was close..." He whispered. 

"Moulin! Are you alright?!" Ghana shouted from above. Her words echoed endlessly as they reached the youth's ears. 

"I'm alright..." Moulin replied while he carefully stood up from the uneven ground. His clothes were wet from the water when he slid down. Droplets fell from the end of his sleeves. Moulin narrowed his eyes while he scanned the sloping tunnel. It seems it was a failed attempt when they were constructing the tunnel underground. No traps. 

Moulin explained the situation including the wall obstructing the tunnel to Ghana and suggested an earth-wielder be sent down with him to remove the wall. 

For a moment. Moulin heard Ghana scold him while she commanded someone to go down. A chuckle escaped the youth's lips and the echoes didn't help him conceal his laughter at all. 

"This fool..." The female maeruthan shook her head helplessly.

It did not take long for the maeruthan earth wielder to remove the wall obstructing the tunnel. The earthen wall was a few meters thick before they finally sensed a hollow within the soil behind. The sentinels had long entered the slippery tunnel, preparing themselves for the enemies they were about to face. The team was divided into two. One would proceed to search for the children held captive by the cultists and the rest would search for the leader. 

"Wouldn't it is great if we could end this without shedding blood?" Ghana spoke as gazed at her soldiers' determined expressions.

"You know it would be difficult to accomplish that if they'd resist us," Moulin smirked. "And I believe they'd prefer it better if chaos is ensued."

"Well, they do deserve a beating. Knock them back to their senses." 

The earth wielder closed his fists and the wall dissolved into sand. 

A striking terrible smell assaulted their noses.  They are welcomed in a tunnel with a line of torches placed on the tunnel walls. The ground remained damp as droplets leaked from the rocks. 

The team separated, each traveling in the opposite direction. Moulin joined the team with the task of searching for the leader while Ghana joined the opposite team. 

"Report when you sight anything suspicious." Ghana's voice reminded Moulin through the communication device on his ear. 

With a hum, Moulin responded. Silver eyes cautiously observe the tunnel ahead of them as they travel through the dim path. The smell seemed to grow stronger as though they were approaching the source of it. Unease began to grow within the men behind Moulin, uncertain of what they would find... Or what would find them.

Rocks crunched softly under their footsteps as incoherent sounds reached their ears. Voices like whispers. They seemed to come from the deeper part of the tunnels. Although it was difficult to know where exactly.

Moulin stopped at a corner, raising his hand. They arrived in a room. The smell pricked their noses. It was almost unbearable.

Moulin stole a glimpse of the room. When he found no signs of life within, he signaled the others to investigate. 

The smell could make one dizzy and faint and the sight was not the least appalling.

Strung up on hooks from the ceiling were several human-sized bags painted in red. Ropes are coiled tightly around each hooked wrap, squeezing out red liquid from the fabric. Blood dripped into a puddle underneath spreading into the soil. It is like a scene from a slaughterhouse.0

Moulin didn't need to investigate what was inside those bags. 

The sentinels were horrified. They counted thirteen bodies hanged. Their blood was drained. One sentinel peeled open a wrap only to see a bloodless face gaping at him lifelessly. A mark is burned unto their forehead. A cultist. Their eyes are gouged out and their tongue are cut. Their lips are sewn shut as though to keep the horrific screams in their place. The sentinel scrambled back, terrified.

What in the world is this? 

Why would they do these on their own?

Moulin tries to remain calm. His fists clenched as he informed Ghana of what they'd found. 

Suddenly, the maeruthan guarding the entryway sent them a signal.

Footsteps echoed closer to the room. Silver eyes narrowed. He calls for the earth wielder with them to seal the doorway. 

The sentinel breathes rapidly as he hurries. However, his boot slipped on a puddle of blood and a giant bang noised throughout the room. The sound echoes endlessly through the tunnel.

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