Chapter 248: A puzzling sight (1/2)
It took quite a while before the sizable cloud of dust finally settled enough to grant just enough visibility for Roas to see the results of the clash between his young master and the animated stone figurine.
Aiden, his young master, could be seen standing over a small crater that was formed in the ground due to the dense, heavy stone gargoyle crashing into it with great momentum. Besides being a bit dusty, Aiden was unharmed, making him the clear winner of the short clash. He was standing at the edges of the small crater, looking down on it with a solemn expression.
Even though the guardian that deeply implanted into the ground was completely still, unmoving, Aiden could still see traces of the dark magic that made it come to 'life' just a few moments ago, however, it was slowly fading, as if whatever power this energy had granted to the stone figure, was completely defeated.
Still, until the very last traces of the energy left the statue he would not relax. Although the battle was over with one single strike, the enemy was still much more fearsome than most of what he had faced so far. The only reason he could win so easily was due to the fact that the gargoyle was simply being controlled via magic and had no consciousness at all. It couldn't think on the spot and analyze the changes and react to such a sudden change in the situation.
If let's say, the guardian would be truly revived and granted real life, the outcome could have been much different.
Finally, as the last strands of the dark energy left the statue, Aiden heaved a loud sigh in relief. Deactivating his transformation, his features swiftly returned to their original, Primal Goblin state.
'I haven't even stepped inside and I have already used up so much of my [Soul Power]... This is not good.' He lamented inwardly, gazing at the cracked body of the statue in a lost, hazy daze.
”[Orc] M-master… are you alright?” The familiar hoarse, raspy voice of his servant, Roas came from his right, awakening him from his momentary stupor.
Turning towards his devoted servant, he let out a slightly tired, but content, happy smile, speaking in his usual, calm tone.
”[Orc] Yeah, everything is fine. Still…” Aiden paused for a moment, sizing up the broken statue lying in the ground one last time before turning away and shifting his attention towards the still closed albeit disarmed huge, ebony double door. ”...Why did a guardian suddenly wake up? Was this some sort of extra layer of defense? And also, why are there such defensive measures put in place?”
Taking a longer sigh, he continued after a short pause before Roas could respond.
”[Orc] We are probably missing something that would recognize us as true members of the horde. What surprises me in that is the fact that you also had no information about this. Although, being an outcast and all could be the reason for you being kept in the 'dark'...” He spoke thoughtfully, measuring the door in the process.
”[Orc] I am truly sorry for my incompetence, my lord! I am just a-” Before Roas could finish apologizing for the nth time this night, Aiden raised his hand, silencing him instantly.
”[Orc] Stop. Don't apologize, it's not something you could have known. What's done is done, we just have to do our best. Most likely they are now aware of us. I did feel a strange presence just before…”
Not sure how to react or what to say, Roas just stood at the right side of his master in silence, looking at him, awaiting his next command with a pensive look on his face.
Seeing his expression, Aiden gave a light smile, breaking the previous tension that lingered in the air, and walked back towards the double door.