All of raven's clones began to circle the forest, looking for any clues about the cloaked men. In Hedin's mind, a vision quickly formed as he went over their attire.
He had read about a particular organisation that dresses like that. And as it turns out, said organisation has reason to mess with the Mathers domain, though they still would regardless of a reason.
It is because Emilia looks like their god.
"Why is the witch cult there..." Hedin lightly massaged his temple, feeling a headache quickly forming. "Roswaal really needs to work more on his security... dammit. And just at the worst time as well."
He had just had a small fight with Emilia. She might still be mad, she might not. There was no saying. And with the witch cult close at hand, it was anyone's guess when they might attack.
Hedin threw a momentary glance at Rem who stood behind him. As she caught his gaze, she smiled sweetly.
Although Roswaal is one of the strongest people in Lugunica and Emilia has a great spirit with her, not to mention Beatrice as well; there's no guarantee if they get caught off guard. The witch cult is elusive. Even if the camp survive, Arlam village might take a hit.
I must make them aware. With that in mind, Hedin guided raven to head to the mansion and tell Roswaal about everything.
Meanwhile, he looked back to Rem and spoke in a clear voice.
"Rem."
"Yes!"
"What do you feel about the small fight I had with Emilia?" He asked. He had never had such a fight before. He wasn't very good at consoling others in the first place. And so, he was unsure how to proceed.
"Fight?" Rem blinked and then adopted a thoughtful expression. "While Rem only has the surface idea of why the two of you fought... I'd say that it wasn't too bad."
"Not to bad, you say?"
"Hm." She nodded. "There are times when a friend can mess up. There are times when said friend gets mad at you. But... that's the essence of any relation.
"When you are someone's friend, you must point out both their strengths and their weaknesses. Sadly, Lady Emilia doesn't seem to understand that."
Hedin stayed quiet. Seeing that, Rem continued.
"...I think we tend to forget the thing that we have no one to tell them to."
Hedin turned to meet her eye again. Rem smiled sweetly again and spoke.
"That is why it is so important to keep supporting those you love. Lady Emilia doesn't yet understand the meaning of a true friendship. Maybe you can be the one to teach her of it?" A healthy blush crept onto her face. "And maybe... teach me something as well."
Hedin smiled wryly and turned his head again.
He looked at the sky. The lonely clouds were waddling off into the distance. Lonesome sheeps in an endless blue pasture.
Hedin's crimson eyes shone softly with a phantom light.
"The Mathers' Domain might be in trouble. Make preparations. We shall head there post haste."
"Yes!" Rem's enthusiastic reply came without wait. She did not ask what the trouble was. To her, Hedin's word was confirmation enough.
And so, both of them headed off to get the preparations done.
...
Hedin found himself amid the chattering sounds of merchants and the smell of freshly baked bread and hot steel mingled with the sweat of dozens of people. The merchant's street was as busy as he remembered it to be.
Quite a few people were still here. In fact, noon to evening was the time with the most amount of traffic. Or so his raven told him.
"What other supplies are left?" Hedin asked Rem who was walking beside him.
"Almost everything is done. Just some feed for the dragon and we shall be ready." Rem replied, looking at a list in hand.
Right. We can head off in the evening. With me and Rem, we should be able to take care of most threats. He didn't consider getting help from the Crusch camp. In the first place, there was no proof for his claim. Crusch could not move her forces without prior notice and even if she did, such a large army would take a day or more to get to the estate.
Who knew what could happen in such a time?
He had made Crusch aware of their hasty decision to leave for the Mathers Domain. The reason had of course, not been specified but Crusch did not seem to mind. She did, however, tell him that leaving now may negatively affect his further studies of healing magic. Felix may or may not be available at a later date.
Hedin wasn't too worried about that. He had already gotten the feel for healing magic. And although he would have liked to learn advanced healing techniques from him, he could make do with the forbidden library itself.
I also need to make some spirit contracts. He thought absently.
Just then, his eyes fell on something. A short commotion by the side of the road.
"What's this?" He said to no one but himself.
Walking closer, he instantly understood the reason. Towering over the others, he saw what they were gathered around - a poster showcasing the five candidates for the throne.
People didn't seem too happy with any of them, except maybe with Crusch; but they surely weren't happy with Emilia being on there.
"There's a half-elf in the selection."
"These are really the end times."
"The kingdom is done for."
"Ridiculous."
"How can they let a half devil partake in the selection!"
All kinds of whispers and shouts escaped the public's mouths.
Hedin and Rem stood in the midst of it all, silently watching.
Hedin could sway public opinion with his glory, but it was fickle. If the feeling wasn't supported by their own beliefs, it would crumble right after his ability lost effect.
Emilia had to improve her own image. Only then could Hedin do anything with his glory.
"Seems tough, eh?" A voice said from beside Hedin. He turned his head, looking at a short man with stubby legs and a pot belly.
"True enough." Hedin nodded. He was not one to lie after all.
"To think they would let such people into the selection. The only real choices seem to be Lady Karsten and the Kararagi Lady. The rest seem like they're here just to show their faces." The man shook his head.
"I can't understand why the Half-elf Lady is in the selection. She doesn't have a chance to begin with."
Hedin chose to stay quiet.
On his right side, Rem watched his expression with concern.
"Let's go." He said to her. Then, turned to the man and said, "while it was a pleasure talking to you, please excuse us."
And so, they went on their way.
Raven watched it all from above, it's empty eyes as intelligent as ever.
...
...
Mathers Domain, Noon.
Raven and its clones circled the village a few times, checking to see any anomalies that might be present. They dropped down to check any new arrivals, like the case with the wolgram attack. Luckily, they didn't spot anyone just yet.
The villagers, recognizing them, fed them some corn when they landed and they were off again.
One of the clones flew right toward the mansion as fast as it could and as it spotted Roswaal sitting in his office through the window, it crashed right through!
Crash!
Shatter!
"Hmmmm~" Roswaal raised an eyebrow as he felt the glass splinter against his back.
He turned his chair and saw the raven lying limply on the ground, one of it's wings bloodied due to the impact.
"Oh myyyyy~" He sang.
Just then, before his eyes, the raven jumped upright and with a sickening crunch, the wing snapped itself into position! A phantom light hung at his wing as it healed itself.
Roswaal narrowed his eyes, intrigued at the display.
"What do I oweeee the pleasure of having one of you come to meeeee with such haaaaste?"
"Witch cult! Witch cult!" The raven croaked, flapping it's wings and jumping onto the table.
Roswaal's smirk never faltered, though the slightest narrowing of his eyes betrayed his worries. He tilted his head.
"Witch cult? I'm aaaafraaaid you will have toooo give me moooore than that."
"Witch cult! Witch cult!" The raven croaked. "Witch cult in the forest! Witch cult in the forest! Witch cult in the forest!"
Roswaal's eyes narrowed dangerously at that. "Wiiitch cult in the foooorest you say?"
"That's right! Danger!"
He slouched back into his chair, crossing his fingers and supporting his elbows on the arm rest.
"That is a deeply conceeeerning discooovery. Are you absoluuuuutely certain?"
"Yes!" Raven flew to his head and landed atop it. Then, it softly pecked at him.
"Village in danger! Village in danger!"
"Hmm..." Roswaal scratched his chin.
Then, his heterochromia eyes looked up, meeting the empty red eyes of the bird.
"Where is Heeeedin?"
"Coming! Coming!"
He stood up and walked to the shattered window.
"It seeemsss I will have to do something about thiiis." He chuckled. "How many?"
"Dozens!"
"Oooonly that?"
"Only saw! Only saw!"
"Hmm." He held his chin in thought.
"Then I shall seeeeee what I can dooooo. Taking them on direeeeectly may give them reaaaasons to attack the villagers. I shall keep an eye on the villagers for now and evacuate them at niiiight."
As his words ended, Raven flapped it's wings and said, "Good! Good!"
With a leap, the bird flew out through the window and into the day.
Roswaal's coloured eyes smiled at the raven as it flew off.
"Interesting."
...
No image today.
...
A/N: Enjoying yourself so far?
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