Chapter 17 - 13: The Essences Trial (1) (1/2)

******

This should be right. Ziro ingrained her stand with this matter. Although this was kind of a one in a million opportunity and would definitely give her tantamount of help from the pearl, yet it didn't even lift her confidence.

She firmly tucked her hand on her waist waiting for Lady Ketu's reply.

However, mere seconds had already gone, but Lady Ketu seemed caught in a trance with her jade pupils dilated instantaneously.

”Lady Ketu?”

With a short worried call from Dmitri, the sacred beast was finally pulled out from her thoughts as she shook her head a few times.

Because of this, Ziro pondered. Was Lady Ketu really surprised at what she said? Well, what could she do? Lying was definitely out of her options.

And even so, Lady Ketu would eventually discover the truth from Dmitri. Not only she hid her real feebleness, but she also doomed the risky responsibility of accepting the pearl treasure.

~I truly apologize for being an unmannered, young prince. I've never thought you were a cripple. Every single strand of your mana vessels was indeed latent.~

Warmth lingered in Ziro's ċhėst when she felt how the sacred beast's head drooped apologetically. Lady Ketu's words were short and undefended yet her rueful emotions welled upon Ziro.

”That's okay. I understand. And I hope you too, Lady Ketu. This is the reason why I absolutely refuse to accept the pearl treasure in my hand.”

~I would definitely agree with you if it's only the case…~

The Sacred Beast blew a short breath for a pause and glided her eyes towards Ziro then continued…

~…but it wasn't. You were chosen not merely on your current strength but in all aspect that resides within you… within your heart. And in any case that I can't pull you over, the pearl treasure is surely the one who can decide about your fate.~

Ziro took off her earnest expression and replaced it with creases.

”And can I ask what does it mean?”

~Dmitri.~

”Follow me.”

The swordsman took no time to waste and immediately swept his feet about the side of Lady Ketu.

The unbreakable serious visage of Dmitri gave Ziro a bad feeling.

At first, she was hesitant to follow, and her feet were already throwing her body away from where Dmitri had gone to.

But as for now, she has no other choice, she needed to find a way to get out. If it was only cooperating with Dmitri and Lady Ketu, she would at least try.

She held her ċhėst and swallowed a mouthful of courage and eventually, traipsed behind the swordsman.

Not later or two, Dmitri opened his mouth.

”As far as we know… if you are not that slow-witted…”

But he briefly paused and glanced back towards Ziro as though he wanted to emphasize the last phrase he gave.

Ziro's eyebrows faintly twitched when a pinching sensation pierced her. Clearly, Dmitri was simply teasing her but she was really affected.

Caught with the swordsman's insulting words, she pulled the corners of her lips in a moment when it was really obvious that she forced herself to smile.

”…I hope not.” She said.

Just as she expected, Dmitri's lips were hooked in a smirk, as though making her angry was Dmitri's pŀėȧsurė.

”Actually…there were seven pearl treasures guarded by seven Sacred Beasts and one of which is the Essence Pearl, safely secured by Lady Ketu.”

Keeping her ears on what Dmitri was saying, her eyes couldn't help but glance at where they going – behind Lady Ketu.

Pacing more steps, they both ended in a slate formation carved in the surface of the cavern wall stretched up to the ceiling. It looked like a Corinthian arch.

”The forest chose you, and that bond was indeed irreplaceable unless you reformed your key until the forests' gate wouldn't remember your shape.”

Amazed by the rock formation, she blinked twice when she realized what the swordsman uttered.

'Then that means there's really a chance I could renounce the verdict of the forest upon me.'

At once, she pasted a serious expression from her male visage.

”Then how can I?”

As they were standing in front of a cavern wall beneath the arch formation, Dmitri gazed her in a swift turn of his head.

”The Essence's Trial.”

Without hesitation, the swordsman replied. But before Ziro was able to ask another question, Dmitri raised his hand towards the cavern wall and touched it with his palm.

At an instant, the wall broke into ripples until it completely disappeared as though its opacity was completely dissolved out of thin air.

Ziro's mouth immediately made an 'o' shape as she saw how the wall turned into a wide cavern opening.

Jutting her eyes into the room, her face glistened when she caught a glimpse of a wide lake inside gleaming with a jade-colored vibrance.

As expected of Ziro's reaction, Dmitri's lips were stretched into a faint smile.

”Careful of your jaw.” He said teasingly and slowly entered the cavern lake without waiting for Ziro's reply.

Ziro pursed her lips at an instant and shook her head. She almost forgot how to control her facial expression. This Dmitri-guy would definitely not spare any chance of teasing her.

Though irritation quickly flooded her, she casually buried it. This might not be the best time to argue with this person. Instead, she followed the swordsman and remembered what he just said – the Essence's trial.

Of course, she didn't know it. More of a case, the former Ziro didn't even know a single word about it.