Arcana

Chapter 14

The pace they had started with, was now long gone. Fatigue and stress accumulated rapidly within their bodies. Blisters began to surface on their bare feet after walking without any breaks, through such an undeveloped terrain. Even so, they didn't lose hope since her highness and Geraint was with them. The both of them would always give them encouragement whenever they felt down, consequently maintaining a steady level of morale.

"We're near."

As the leader announced the words they were all waiting for, their expressions lightened up almost at the same time. Nonetheless, it was too early to celebrate. Her highness and Geraint, instead of being relieved, had their faces became even more tensed.

Catching a glimpse of it even though they were still quite far away from it, her highness could feel her heartbeat ran amok. An unusual looking house or maybe a mansion due to its sheer size, located so deep within the forest.

Both its walls and roof were ivory white in color. Windows were non existent and only a door could be seen from the outside. As they neared the building, the cluster of trees became thinner which allowed others to see the building much more clearly.

"Geraint and I will go first, everyone else should stay here."

Her highness, who saw that the land surrounding the building couldn't possibly provide them any sort of cover, decided to halt the march at a safe distance. A circle of land unreached by the forest's influence, her highness could easily imagine that something dangerous had caused it. And considering that only her highness and Geraint had the capability to fight back, the other members of the group should just hide and wait for the outcome.

"Be ready to cast a spell if the owner is hostile."

Nervous tension erupted between the two as they discussed the plan. Straightforward but dangerous, her highness would be the one to make contact while Geraint would quietly chant an offensive magic spell.

"Yes your highness."

After being bound by a curse that not only shackled them into place but also prevented any use of magic, Geraint was worried that his skills had already rusted. Even so, since her highness had entrusted him with such an important task, he accepted the plan with the maximum amount of confidence he could muster right now.

"......."

Silence prevailed as they walked side by side, suspense intensified with each step they took. The land around the structure was surprisingly comfortable to the surface of their feet. Soft and sandy, not a single piece of rock could be felt. With only a few steps remaining, the both of them looked eye to eye.

Her highness nodded at Geraint, signalling him to start the process of chanting. Geraint responded to her expectations by choosing the deadliest spell he could possibly cast. His mouth began to move, chanting verses without any audible noise.

Knock knock knock.....

She knocked on the door in a relaxed manner but exerted enough strength to create a powerful sound that reverberated throughout the inside of the building.

"Is anybody home?!"

Forcing out all the air inside her lungs, her highness shouted at the top her voice.

".........................."

Nevertheless, only silence answered her inquiry that was full of desperation.

Knock knock knock knock knock knock..........

She became impatient and started to knock on the door more forcefully. Her highness repeatedly banged the door that was made of reinforced metal, not giving any care for her hands that reddened with each impact.