Chapter 173: The Madame (1/2)
With a loud creaking noise, the adorned, lavishly decorated room of the study room opened up. A pillar of light quickly slid in through the rapidly widening crack from the brightly lit hallway. A moment later, a long shadow revealed itself, a feminine figure donned in a dusty, black silk cloak stepped inside from the hallway.
The figure looked inside, its eyes that were safely hidden under the dark shadows of the cloak's hood spotted the masked figure standing in front of the window, it took a deep gasp of air. As it slowly exhaled the accumulated air, it could feel its tense nerves slowly calming down.
Once it felt ready, it opened its eyes, and from it, a heavenly, melodious tune disrupted the serene peace and quiet of the place.
”Mother… *khm* Mistress, I am back.” The figure spoke. From the void of the hood, a pair of purple glow abruptly lit up, adding that mystical aftereffect of its voice.
The masked woman simply hummed in response, not sparing even a single glance at the newcomer.
Although the response was within her expectations, it was still not an easy thing to hear. Regardless, the hooded figure could only grit her teeth to hide her pain, and with a solemn expression, stepped inside the room.
Promptly closing the door behind her, she took a few steps forward, stopping a few feet away from her Mother and Mistress. Taking one last look at the back of her head, she knelt down.
”You called for me, Mistress?”
”You sent me information about this new fellow that caught your eyes.” The masked woman insipidly spoke. Her attention seemed to be looking into the distance, towards the direction of the Guild's Hall.
”Yes, Mistress. I did. He is called Aiden. I believe he would be a good choice. Much better than-” Sarah, the hooded figure and leader of the Guild's Examiners began but she was promptly silenced by the Mistress with her right palm raised up high.
”Enough. I know what you want to say. Tolerate that buffoon, we need a figure like him for now. You should also know that we have to stay hidden, we can't show ourselves, we can't step out into the light.” The masked woman replied with a stern tone, not giving any room to the kneeling girl behind her.
”But…” Sarah wanted to speak up and voice her concerns, but feeling her Mistress' tone, she could only keep it to herself. She sighed, then changed the subject.
”I understand, I apologize, my Mistress. As for Aiden, he…” She wanted to go into details about her findings, but was once again, silenced.
”I read your report, Sarah.” The mistress spoke. ”Are you sure you can control him?”
”Yes, Mistress. I am sure.” Sarah nodded.
The masked woman did not respond to the question immediately. The small holes that gave way to her charcoal black irises kept piercing towards the distance. As if her all-seeing eyes would be able to scan every minute detail of the landscape and there would be nothing that could hide from her.
After about a minute of silence, she broke the agonizing silence that followed the girl's words.
”Do not lie to me. You failed multiple times already. How do you plan on controlling him?”
”I…” Sarah didn't dare to raise her head, she kept her eyes plastered on the floor. Small beads of sweat perspired on her forehead. Trepidation noticeable in her voice, she answered.
”We have come to an agreement, Mistress. He agreed to help me, no, help us, and in return, I promised him to gather information about a place he was looking for.”
For the first time since she came into the room, the masked milady turned around and looked at the kneeling woman. Although her expressions were hidden behind the silver mask, her tone betrayed her. For the first time, it carried a tinge of surprise.
”What place was he looking for?”
Feeling her Mistress' gaze on her, Sarah, nervously looked up slightly, not daring to match her eyes.
”He… Aiden was looking to find a place called the Demon Grotto, Mistress.”
A microscopic jolt could be seen pass through the masked woman's body upon hearing the name. With a stern tone, she continued with her questions.
”And what did you say to him?”
”I pointed him towards that cursed place in the forest. The one with the strange, mystical aura surrounding it, which we could never explore because every team that was sent in has disappeared. I…”