Chapter 665 - 610: Heavens Mandate (2) (1/2)
Edward's timely intervention caused everything to calm down but Arthur was still laying there, half-conscious as if his soul was sucked out of him.
”This should do it.”
The serial-killer pocketed the scissors and looked at Arthur before he felt his whole body enveloped by a monstrous pressure which rendered him immobilized.
”Who are you?”
The Empress appeared before him, her eyes glaring at him with suffocating killing intent. She didn't know what he did but it didn't really look that helpful.
In response, Edward innocently raised his hand and jokingly said
”Whoa there! I just followed the frog's instruction. It told me to cut the connection.”
”What connection?!”
”I don't know.”
”Empress.”
Fariya walked to Zaarae and explained, ”He's Edward Ortberg, one of the prisoners. He's just a mortal so I don't know how he got here.”
”Edward Ortberg?” Zaarae never heard of that name but the appearance of the Frog of Destiny was an undeniable fact and something that shocked her to the core.
The man in question wasn't able to do anything but look around curiously. Despite being threatened, he looked totally calm and care-free, as if he had nothing to do with all of this.
Unable to control her anger, Zaarae's hand sn.a.k.e.d toward the man's throat, holding it tight and raising him above the air.
”What did you to Arthur?!”
Edward, still unfazed, squeezed a few words, his face totally red.
”I don't know…”
Fortunately, the succubus managed to calm down the Empress and made her let go of the human mortal, who fixed his dirty prisoner clothes and took a step back.
”You should be grateful, I think I saved him. He looks much better now.”
Edward pointed at Arthur, who sat up while heavily breathing. The parasite was checking his body and frowning, appearing a bit confused.
After a dozen seconds, he raised his head and stared at Edward, who had average facial features, long brown hair, bushy eyebrows, and a pointy nose.
”My connection with the original body was severed.”
”Severed? What do you mean?”-Fariya
”It means he's an independent clone now, for better or worse.” Zaarae sighed as she stated.
She looked at Arthur and added, ”Something must have happened to the original body. What are you going to do?”
”I'm not sure. I think I'll try to reach the Garden of Words before returning to him. I know myself, I won't go down that easily.”
Zaarae knelt down and emitted a faint violet light from her right palm, to which Arthur didn't resist at all. The light entered his body and spread a cool and refreshing feeling across his whole body, making him feel energetic.
”In any case, I'll accompany you.”
”Me too! Master!”
Fariya seductively winked while stepping closer to Arthur. Their interaction was cut short as a small figure crashed into Arthur, her tiny arms tightly hugged the surprised Arthur.
”Are you alright?”
Shen Shen appeared quite worried, she even used her Origin Water, which glistened inside this tomb as it spun around Arthur before latching itself on his back.
Arthur gently patted her back and comforted her. The little girl was strong-willed but she was particularly close with Arthur and when she saw him get hurt, she was the most anxious of them all.
”So, what's this about a Garden? I've never heard of it.” Casually said Edward as he walked around the massive coffin. He took out a small piece of paper and read its content then pocketed it again, unaware of the weird gazes he was getting from everyone in the room.
”Why are you here? How did you get here?”
Hearing Arthur's questions, the man spread his hands and replied.
”Didn't you see? That frog brought me here against my will, though I must say, it feels good to leave that gloomy place. I was about to go back to the prison, that forest brought me the creeps, I tell you!”
As he listened to the serial-killer complaining, Arthur was confused, he glanced at Zaarae, who was creasing her brows, appearing even more puzzled than him.
”Master, the Frog of Destiny, which is a mythical being, like us, just appeared here. I think his special soul is the cause.”
”The Heaven's Mandate soul?”
Radolf nodded his head and clarified,
”His first meeting with the Frog must've awakened his soul hence the current outcome. I just don't understand why he was brought here specifically.”
Arthur shifted back his focus on Edward and asked,
”What's with the scissors?”
”Ah, those?” Edward held the plastic orange scissors, which looked no different than the cheap ones found on earth. ”I found them near the frog. Since they might be useful, I kept them. So… what are we going to do? Is it time to catch the thief?”
”Thief? How do you know about the thief?”
”Hmm” The man rubbed his chin, trying to appear wise, ”The birds told m-”
Before he could finish, Arthur appeared before him like a ghost and snatched the piece of paper containing the prophecy. Unfortunately, it was totally blank, which made Arthur instinctively raise his head and stare back at Edward.
”I was about to tell you but you're so irritable.”
”This is empty?”
”Empty?” Edward glanced at the paper and still saw the small English words.
”No it's not.”
The Empress walked next to Arthur and spoke, ”Tell us what it says.”
”Ehm, alright. The past Kingdom now within reach, for the golden sand will rise, its glow full of praise.
The tomb raider now here, and the thief's identity is clear.
Since time immemorial the leaf is unshaken, it's time for it to be taken.”
After a brief silence, Edward muttered, ”Isn't it a bit corny?”
Arthur didn't reply as he memorized the said words and tried to decipher them but it wasn't that easy. The general meaning could be grasped but why was the thief mentioned and what's this about the leaf?
The tomb raider is none other than him and the said kingdom is the Ramel Kingdom but it said that the sand will rise while, in reality, the whole Fallen God Clan was massacred.
”Where did you find this paper?”
”Literally on the ground.”