Chapter10
« …What do you want from me? »
The little and small shape who was standing up in front of him didn't move under the tone he took. Even if the room was plunged into the darkness, he still could discern a smile despite the hood which covered her face. It seemed she wasn't for the least scared by his tone, and he knew that very well. Everyone knew his tone preceded the threat, but it seemed she was the only one taking a delight in. She crossed her arms.
"You should be more polite. I'm not happier than you are, being there with you."
"…And are you the one who tells that? …Only your existence is enough to make me insane."
The young form sighed. She was accustomed to his sayings but this time, she wasn't in the mood for playing with him as usual. She went on:
"I know. I know. Nevertheless, I suggest you to act warmer and more welcoming toward our guests."
Her voice had a hint of threat. She didn't want her plan to be failed for this time just because of his colleague's bad mood. She wanted everything to be perfect and ready for their arrival. If it failed by his fault…her rage could get the upper hand…While she needed him in Thule…
However, he ignored her then turned back to her.
"…I hope both Aenus and you didn't come back empty-handed…"
She slightly smirked by his lack of trust.
"Don't worry…You know there is nothing I don't know…Nothing. Even if I should have used Fu's business…It's worthy, I think…"
"You will be better off…My patience has limits too."
She wasn't afraid of his threats… She knew who was the most powerful out of them. Even if he could be dangerous, she would get the upper hand. Then she ended up by sitting down on the floor, looking up at him.
"And who told you if they will accept?" He clenched his fists out of pain.
She just shrugged.
"They will accept…You forgot who is there. I'm there, you're there and Aenus is there too. They wouldn't have any chance against all three of us."
"…You decided to play the threat?" He asked with his sinister voice.
"What did you expect of Thule?" She smiled again. "If they refused, we could still kill them then taking others candidates."
"And it would have been a waste of time…"
This time she was really bored. She just sighed loudly.
"Seriously, you should be more patient. Everything would be too simple and boring if we had the entire power easily right now." She then touched her lips, showing a smile. "The strongest are us…But Index is our last difficulty to reach. We're just three in Thule…the others two left. …And we never really decided who would be the leader of this faction."
She observed his reaction…She couldn't see his face. Actually, the iron mask which he usually wore hid his expression from her, so she couldn't guess what his thoughts about this subject. This latter just moved away toward the other corner of the room, not wanting to watch her.
"You're the most powerful…" He ended up by saying. "…Why don't you take the control of Thule?"
His answer made her laugh.
"You're so funny and I'm honored! But I told you why…I'm maybe the most powerful of Thule…But not the most powerful of the world. Others magus, a lot darker and more powerful than I am, exist in this world."
"…I would never understand you." He just said.
"And it wouldn't be definitely you…" She went on. "…You're too lazy and miserable to lead us…"
"SHUT UP!" He cried out. From where she was, she could hear a loud and sinister sound. It seemed he had punched the wall in front of him. It just made her smirk again.
"And I don't think Aenus would be able to lead either…He is too dumb and stupid. He would run away if he faced someone a bit stronger than him."
For this time, he was agreed with her about their comrade. However he clenched his fists.
"…So…Why did you send him fighting them?"
She just shrugged. "Really, you don't trust me…Everything is according to the plan after all."
Suddenly while she said these words, the door of the room where they were hastily opened up. She turned back and could watch Aenus's shape standing up in front of them.
"…Tehe. We just talked about you, Aenus." She smirked.
"…really?" Aenus asked with an unsure voice. However, his other colleague who recognized him began to raise his voice a lot louder than before.
"WHY DID YOU COME BACK?"
Aenus shivered up. "…Don't be angry…I just…"
"WEREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BRING THEM BACK? WHY ARE YOU EMPTY-HANDED?"
Aenus moved back, hesitating to enter into the room to face his anger. However, she smiled and calmed him down.
"Don't worry…I said everything was according to the plan…Aren't you agreed, Aenus?"
"…Yes, yes. Of course, of course…"
Looking away, he then pointed, watching the clock which was hook on the wall.
"…They will come soon."
Aenus was on the ground, next to the dummy, which had been thrown off earlier. He touched his chin…Some blood ran down from his mouth…He didn't know what happened but it seemed he didn't anticipate Sebastianus who passed through his defenses by an only arm…then had been sent away afterward…However, He had woken up and tried to attack again but he could have expected it…According to everyone's sayings, he wasn't as good in close combat…and had been defeated again…That's how he had been thrown on the ground…
"…And you call yourself a Thule member? Allow me to laugh!" Elaine who watched the scene just looked down on him. She had her sword at hand but she thought it wouldn't be useful…Aenus could see he wouldn't get the upper hand in two against one combat. He looked around, slightly shattered by hits he got.
"…My chin…You really hurt me!" Aenus complained out of pain…Sebastianus stayed silent. He just analyzed what just happened right earlier. Aenus was rather strong…He could just do a bit of magic but that was rather weak to prevent him to pass his defenses…
"Ow…And do you really think we'll cry over you?" Elaine sighed, crossing her arms. "…Just pathetic. You said you wanted to be strong…well you're far from it."
"..." Sebastianus frowned. It made nonsense…Even if he was the lowest one in his knowledge, he couldn'tbe a Thule member with such a weak level…
"I think if I fought you in one against one combat, Miss Sexy…You would have concluded otherwise…" Aenus, despite he was on the ground, allowed a little chuckle. The situation was maybe at a disadvantage for him…After all, he could be killed at any time…Furthermore, by Index's apostles. However he couldn't help but finding that as funny…
Elaine rolled her eyes.
"Sorry, guy. You think your dream for reality…I don't like weak men!"
Then she moved closer to him, her sword still in guard.
"Now…Could you answer us now? Is that you who thought being funny to place these kind of dummies there?"
"Tehe!" Aenus smirked again. "…Your face was priceless!"
"That was ANYTHING BUT funny!" Elaine glared at him. "If you are there, I guess there are others members too?"
Sebastianus shook his head…It didn't make any sense…He even could even swear Aenus let Sebastianus defeating him on purpose…He didn't know Aenus so…he couldn't know what he could do…
"You can't ask me!" Aenus looked up at her. "..If I tell it…The others members are very scaring when they are angry…And I don't want that!"
She raised one eyebrow and glanced at Sebastianus. "…Is he kidding or what? Seriously if all Thule is like that, there is nothing to fear of."
"…Elaine…You should move back." Sebastianus muttered.
Aenus turned back toward him then smiled.
"What's wrong? Are you still afraid even if I'm on the floor?"
"…Sebas…What do you mean?" Elaine asked him, a bit surprised.
"…Move back."
Elaine didn't understand but just obeyed then moved back…Seeing that, Aenus's face changed…His idiot smile turned into…a kind of creepy smile now. And for Elaine's view, he didn't seem to be as dumb as he seemed to be earlier anymore…Then he laughed.
"Tehe…HEHEHE….At least someone is intelligent there! Tehehe…Good job mate."
Elaine just squared up again…Something was definitely wrong with this guy…Then Aenus's smile disappeared, turning into a more serious look.
"…I hoped I won't be put into some vicious ways but…everyone is not perfect."
Then before one of the two others could do anything else…A purple light coming from Aenus's chest appeared. They didn't understand earlier but they could see very soon what's happening…A spell…and the fact that this spell was aiming at them…Sebastianus tried to move Elaine aside but unfortunately, that wasn't enough…and before they could move, the two of them were sent away out of strong spell…before falling on the ground.
"….."
Elaine didn't see that coming…her view was covered out of the shock as she had landed, the head against the wall…It hurt and had difficulties to get up…she opened one eye but she didn't see much because everything was troubled around her…she must wait for some minutes before being able to sit up…She was afraid during one moment, thinking about her baby in her womb…however she felt no pain in, just feeling a pain at the head and a slight one to the shoulder…Finally she managed to stand up then moved toward Sebastianus who was next to her, as harmed as she was…
"Sebas! Are you okay?" She cried out, moving quicker toward him.
He just growled as response then sat up, holding his head in his hands…Elaine sighed, relieved. However that was short when they realized Aenus wasn't there anymore.
"Where the hell is he?" Elaine cried out.
She helped her lover to stand up and she could see he was as surprised as she was…Then he looked around.
"…He would have used this spell to run away…"
"TEHEHE! You're right!"
Elaine goggled when she heard a loud voice calling them. They recognized the voice of Aenus but they couldn't know where it came from…They heard him everywhere in the room where they were.
"I've an idea, guys! I would like to play to a game with you."
"SHUT UP!" Elaine cried out. "…WHERE ARE YOU?"
There was a silence...until Aenus spoke again.
"That's the game…Let's play to "hide-and-seek"! If you find me, you win."
Sebastianus clenched his fists...What was he thinking about? But Elaine was downright angered then cried out.
"YOU ASSHOLE! DON'T YOU THINK WE ARE A BIT OLDER FOR THAT?"
"...Hehe. What would be the life without being caught up by childhood again? If I just gave you to the others as they wanted…it won't be really funny for you…"
"What do you mean…?" Sebastianus asked now. "…Who are the others?"
There was just a silence again…then finally they could hear Aenus sighing.
"Once again, I told a bit too much. But what does it matter? You will know only if you find me. So…see you soon!"
The two waited a bit as the room was plunged into a loud silence again…but it seemed Aenus's "game" already began. And he waited for them…Sebastianus sighed.
"What such a coward! What is his plan?"
"Sebas…" Elaine turned back toward him… "…You're wounded."
Indeed, some blood ran down from his forehead…he had been more harmed than her apparently…However he didn't care and just shrugged.
"I think it's okay…"
"…If you say so…" Elaine said, touching her womb checking if everything was alright. He then sighed.
"Listen…You should stay there…"
He didn't know what was Aenus's true powers…he just had showed his true colors now…He didn't know if it would be risked for Elaine due to her state…However Elaine frowned then shook her head, not agreed with him.
"Hey…It would be okay…" She said, showing her sword at hand. "…You forgot I'm not a nice girl…"
She tried to joke but actually she was worried. However Sebastianus just nodded.
"If you say so…"
Then he turned back toward the exit where they came from…Aenus surely went out by this. And he was hidden in this castle.
"…Let's separate us to search for him. It would be easier"
« Very well. »
Elaine nodded then ran away toward the corridor they took in order to arrive in this place. Her sword at hand, she examined each dark corner around her. More she went on; more the place became darker until being completely into the shadows. She sighed out of nervousness, holding her sword tighter against her and squared up in reaction to every sound she heard. Nevertheless she kept going on until arriving to the staircase which leaded to the trapdoor. She sighed. In order to not falling down as she saw nothing, she gripped the wall while going up. However, when she felt she reached the end of the staircase…she could do nothing but let a loud sigh out…
"…What is this joke again?"
In front of her, the trapdoor was closed up again. But to be honest, she expected it. If it had stayed opened up, others visitors would have noticed it and would have followed them…Nevertheless she could guess that at least, Aenus wasn't hidden in the visible parts of the castle…At least she hoped it. She also hoped there was another way to go outside from this darkness.
Turning around, she was about to go down again when she perceived downstairs a faint shape who stayed unmoving. She thought first that was another dummy again but while she came closer, she realized the form moved. Then she called.
"…Sebas?"
As there was no answer, she came closer…and saw the person was running away from her. This reaction was the one she wanted then, giving a faint smirk she held up her sword.
"…Found!"
And without another word, she chased after him…Even everything was black around her, she could still see barely the tall form who tried to escape from her. That guy was truly a coward! And she hated it. So she ran quicker and suddenly while she was turning a corner of the corridor, a purple ball similar to the one from earlier appeared…
"WHAT?"
…The ball aimed at her but fortunately Elaine was quick enough to hide behind the corner of the wall, letting the spell continuing its way before crashing on another wall. Elaine waited for three seconds before going out. She noticed the shape that kept running and disappeared to the other point of the corridor but Elaine already knew she won. Running faster again, she could catch him up easily before he could disappear again. Aenus, apparently feeling the danger, tried to aim at her with another spell but Elaine avoided it easily by stepping aside from its trajectory then before he could threw another spell, she threw the shape of her sword toward him. Aenus, surprised, stopped into his gesture to avoid it but unfortunately for him; Elaine handled the sword well enough in order to wrap the shape around his body, holding him tightly. Elaine wondered first if she must let him alive, but finally she recalled he attacked both Sebas as well as her unborn baby inside her. And that was a sin to her. So she stepped toward him with a little smirk.
"Sorry guy for your pitiful "hide and seek" game! Now…you're dead, meat."
Then, giving to him a last look, she pulled violently the sword toward her then in front of her eyes, she saw Aenus's body falling into pieces. Contemplating her blood-drenched shape she sighed in front of his corpse. Nevertheless, she didn't give a damn about it then turned back to warn Sebastianus.
From his side, Sebastianus had taken another corridor unknown to him, but where the staircases he took leaded to the basements, darker and vaster than the ones from earlier. He walked slowly and cautiously as the steps were small and more dangerous as everything could appear at any moments. He saw nothing but that wasn't really a problem for him as he was accustomed to the obscurity enough to discern barely obstacles in front of him. So finally when he arrived to downstairs he guessed immediately that the room was small. Nearly as small as the cabin he had on the boat. Sebastianus examined around him and came to the conclusion that there were no ways that Aenus could hide there as there weren't many things around but preferred to check.
While he was wandering around, he wondered why they had installed a room like that. He just noticed another dummy at the point of the room, but didn't pay attention to it anymore. Thule had their own unhealthy obsessions…he should have expected more of an organization of monsters. However, after having inspected with a fine-tooth comb, he discovered nothing more and was ready to go back up when he had an idea in mind. He turned back then recalled some of rooms of this castle had some secret passages. He examined the room again but nothing seemed to point another hidden door. He sighed. Aenus was certainly somewhere…even if he doubted now if he was still human.
Finally, he discovered nothing into the walls nor felt some magic power as he did in the office room. He turned back and that dummy appeared in his view again. He headed for it then faced it again, examining it. That was just a dummy, but he knew that wasn't for nothing there were a lot placed there…He ended up by grasping it by shoulders. The dummy didn't move but while he shifted it, his eyes goggled.
He felt something.
Without saying anything, he looked down on the floor. He knelt down then felt the woody ground…It sounded different there.
He got back on his feet… Now he knew. So, with an only one but fast movement, he punched the floor with all the strength he had. The floor which was very old broke under his fist but it allowed him to check a glance over it.
It was too dark that there was no way he couldn't see anything…however while he bent over again and concentrated all of his attention on it…he heard a slight crack from inside…
That was slight but it was enough for him. He didn't waste time then silently began to snatch and tear planks of wood which recovered the entire floor. By his gesture, Aenus began to panic then tried to move but Sebastianus already knew he was there. He felt his magic power…and won't let it escape. When he heard another crack he kept snatching more fiercely and when he caught in his view the shape of Aenus who tried to run away, he stopped then before he could completely disappear, gripped him by his neck and lifted him with all the strength he had. Aenus seeing that, took a feared look as if he was afraid for his life…However Sebastianus could despite all perceive in his eyes a hint of mischief as a child would have. Then, Aenus chuckled before muttering to his opponent:
"…Found!"
However, he couldn't say any other word as Sebastianus pushed his fist in his stomach. Aenus's body under the shock twisted in two. Some blood ran down from his mouth, and unable to resist to the pain, he collapsed on the floor. Sebastianus quietly watched him then his blood-wrenched fist. The blow was enough to cause a severe injury, mortal if that wasn't healed very soon… However, seeing his opponent agonizing in front of him, he regretted his act nearly immediately. Sebastianus was sure he had committed a mistake by acting like that…After all, Aenus was still a Thule member…If he had killed one of them…Thule that he knew still in activity, would likely react very badly to this…and it could lead to serious reprisals to Index…
"…"
He couldn't really be sure right now…He was however sure that there was others Thule member there. He frowned. He preferred not acting like a coward and facing his opponents for a combat but if they escaped now, maybe they had a chance that Thule wouldn't be aware of their presence. He sighed then without giving a look to Aenus, he headed for staircases.
"Ah! Sebas!"
He turned the head. While he crossed the corridors he found easily Elaine who quickly headed for him. He couldn't explain why but she had a little smirk on her face. He knew this smile meant pride to her, and she had this one every time they succeeded to a mission.
"Elaine? What's happening?" He asked her.
Elaine, as for a response, put her sword up as for showing her victory.
"This bastard finally got what he deserved!"
Sebastianus didn't understand. He just raised one eyebrow as surprise. She kept smiling warmly.
"He didn't survive to his ridiculous game of "hide and seek". Tehe!" She chuckled again, very proud.
"…That's true…" Sebastianus just said without saying anything else.
Then Elaine caressed her shape and Sebastianus realized that it was blood-wrenched…He asked her, pointing it:
"Elaine…What happened?"
Elaine gave a surprised look then just shrugged.
"I just told you. I killed this bastard! I killed him with the Dragon Skeleton sword."
Sebastianus, hearing these words, didn't understand…What did she mean? She didn't play with him so…What was she talking about?
"…You killed him?"
"Yes!" Elaine answered, slightly irritated. She then put her sword down. "And I've been pitiless toward him. He deserved it…After all, he attacked you!"
Sebastianus frowned. It was nonsense…
"Impossible." He just said.
Elaine goggled out of surprise. "What do you mean?
"There was no way you could kill him…"
In front of Elaine's stunned look, Sebastianus showed his fist which was still covered of Aenus's blood.
"…Because I just killed him earlier."
"What do you mean?" Elaine's voice rose up. "…That's me who killed him, even in this corridor. I know! I attended this scene with great pleasure!"
"…And me, I killed him in basements…" Sebastianus pointed.
Elaine stayed completely astonished by this revelation…And Sebastianus didn't lie to her. He said truth and he seemed to be as stunned as she was. So she pointed:
"…He couldn't be in two places at the same time."
"…We don't know." Sebastianus said, closing his eyes. "…Maybe its Aenus's true ability?"
"But what would it mean? Do you mean he is immortal or not?" Elaine asked him.
"…To be honest I don't know."
Elaine missed to throw her sword on the ground out of rage.
"…If that's the case…" She said, containing her anger. "…It means he may be still alive…Somewhere! This bastard is hidden somewhere!"
Sebastianus nodded. Now he thought about it, it sounded weird to him he could find him as easily. Finally, he said to Elaine:
"And I don't think he has many lives…Listen. This time, we are staying together. If we found Aenus again, it means that his game still goes on."
"…Okay so…" Elaine said, glad to be with him this time. She then took her sword out again. "…Let's go."
Sebastianus nodded. Suddenly, his look turned into a frown. Elaine didn't know why at the beginning but when he turned his head…She could know understand what he meant.
…
They heard a loud noise in the corridor…