Chapter 23 & 24: Baptized By Fire (Part I & Ii) (2/2)

*BANG*

The old man fell on his knees and bowed to the floor, his forehead pressed to the floor and a crack appeared on the floor beneath his head.

[Sol'ixus Hyperius... has fallen in battle!] -Nightmaster Duke

[W-What? Lieren is here...how could he have died?] -King Ironspine

The entire room became silent, a voice then interrupted them.

[He had to change his original plans for the sake of me and my daughter...and he lost his life in return...I am truly sorry and that young man is probably the most outstanding person I have ever seen] -Aereis

Even though Aereis said this, deep in his heart he felt like Sol was alive. When he had first seen Sol, those eyes of his made Aereis feel insignificant. The beast like eyes of Sol had left a burning impression deep inside his heart and he felt that sort of fire couldn't be extinguished. He believed Sol was still alive and the only reason he came here to see the King was to ask for aid and gather a few earth mages.

[Who are you?] -King Ironspine

The King subconsciously spoke coldly and released his aura as he heard those words and already didn't have a good impression of Aereis. The rest of the gazes fell upon him as the King asked the question they all wanted to know. Aereis didn't back down towards the King's aura and spoke to him calmly.

[Please forgive my rudeness King Ironspine, My name is Aereis Valdyr Vulcanis, King of Infernal Blaze Mountains and Lord Ruler over the Kingsblood Alliance] -Aereis

Aereis spoke calmly and as his aura released it suppressed the entire room and the aura surpa.s.sed the King and was comparable to the aura released by the Former King. If Sol felt this released aura he would be absolutely shocked, he knew Aereis was powerful he just didn't know how much so. King Aereis had already long recuperated on the ride to Earthernvale.

[I thought you looked familiar. No wonder, No wonder] -Former King

[Y-You are the ”Lost King”..? How is this possible? Didn't you die 10 years ago in a Mutated Beast raid?] -King Ironspine

[No, I was captured by Bloodmana Wasps and was saved along with my daughter by your friend Sol] -Aereis

[I see....] -King Ironspine

The King seemed to be lost in thought and he couldn't help but rub his temples as his expression hardened. Aereis seemed quite impatient and said what he came here for

[Well...Can you lend me a few Earth mages to go save him?] -Aereis

[What? Did he not die?] -King Ironspine

[There are many people that die Lord Ironspine, He is not one of them. You should know more about him than me, I don't think he would die from something like that in my short time of knowing him. Therefore, I'd like you to lend me a few Earth mages to find him. The hive is destroyed and there is no danger there] -Aereis

The King Aereis spoke in a complete contradiction which stunned the room, but this was his true a.n.a.lysis of Sol. He could tell Sol had a great will to live that maybe even surpa.s.sed his own and he was quite sure how terrifying that sort of thing can be.

[Then let us depart at once! Nightmaster rally the Earth mages..All of them] -King Ironspine

[Yes Milord!] -Nightmaster Duke

The old man turned around and left swiftly through the doors. After about fifteen minutes he returned with a group of people dressed in black robes patterned similarly to the under armor Sol wore before. They waited outside the Royal Palace with fresh horses and shortly afterward they were joined by the Royal Family.

The King, Former King, Nightmaster Duke and Aereis climbed up on top of fresh horses, behind them the Earth Mages similarly prepared themselves. Aereis handed his daughter over to Renissa to take care of her as he wanted to go find Sol and she was in no condition to travel around.

Surprisingly enough Liore climbed on top of a horse but said nothing, she was going to go regardless of who told her not too. Sol entered a Bloodmana Wasp hive to save her mother and had not returned, how could she just sit there? To her the Bloodmana Wasp hive was a terrible fear and everyone present knew such, even though it was terribly demolished she still feared it.

The King gave her a slight gaze but said nothing, he knew she wanted to face her fears especially for Sol and before you know it, the entire royal family had climbed on top of a horse and their gazes were steeled showing their resolve. As they were about to leave a weak and exhausted voice join in -

[*cough* Father...I'm coming too...] -???

[Mina....Fine but stay behind me and if you feel ill, I will have someone escort you back here] -Aereis

[Okay] -Mina

The veiled girl said nothing more and after being helped to a horse by a female knight  she quietly sat on the horse and gently guided it toward her father. Liore shot her a quick glance but then ignored it and maintained her indifferent appearance.

The group then took off and made haste to the city gates! The Royal Family leaving the city caused quite a commotion and the people were wondering what would cause such an occasion.

[Oye! Isn't that the King?] -Curious citizen

[Well I'll be d.a.m.ned...it really is the King!] -Obvious citizen

[Not just the King...look at the people being s.h.i.+elded behind him by the knights] -Observant citizen

[Oye! Isn't that the Royal Family?] -Curious citizen

[Well I'll be d.a.m.ned...it really is the Royal Family!] - Obvious citizen

[Not just the Royal family...look at the cute babes in the knight platoon!] -Observant citizen

[Oye! Isn't that the cute babe from--] -Curious citizen

**

Sol's unconscious body flowed along the single water cave with the current in a single direction. Who knows how long had pa.s.sed until Sol's body fell out of the water way and with a splash ended up in a river amongst the forest. Several Beasts raised their heads out of the water and looked coldly at Sol's direction.

Some immediately kicked off and went after his unmoving body.

*BOOM*

A powerful shockwave rung out underwater creating a huge splash. All the beasts were completely blown into pieces and destroyed, along with the splash of water raining body parts of all kinds fell into the water around Sol's body but not a single one touched him.

A woman's arm wrapped around Sol's body and after sniffing him for a while, she immediately pulled him underwater and with an incredible speed she carried him off underwater.

The strangest thing about this woman, was that her lower body was serpent-like and her eyes had slits like a serpent. She had Dark Red hair and red eyes and her fingernails were incredibly sharp, and she was incredibly beautiful. Her curvaceous body and ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s were above any beauty Sol had ever encountered before, but her cold face showed she barely had any compa.s.sion  or none at all.

This woman was a Lamia, or Serpent-woman. One of the secret races that live amongst beasts and humans, hated by both these hidden races despise both humans and beasts and deem them inferior.

Strangely enough for hidden races, the only exception for their hatred besides their own kind, seemed to be their relative species. For example, Lamias had no enmity towards serpent-race beasts and were on rather good terms.

Wolven-men or Werewolves seemed to have some sort of kins.h.i.+p towards the wolf or canine species of any kind. Sometimes there would be blood battles between the two because of individual reasons, like stealing one's prey, crossing territorial boundaries or offending one.

Still, these cases were considered rare but normal as no matter what race their would always be fights among families, it's the same reason why some humans can kill other humans.

**

After a few hours Sol had finally awoken, he was surprised to notice he wasn't in the hive. Then he placed his hand on his head as if he had finally remembered something and recalled falling through a water way of some sort. As he regained his senses, he noticed he was in a cave of some sort and from where he was positioned he was obviously placed here by someone-

*Hiss* *Hiss*

His thoughts were interrupted by the twin basilisks in his arms that seemed to be enraged for some reason, their heads were already out of Sol's arms and stared at a figure hidden in the shadows. His Fanged Blades in his runic ring seemed to be enraged as well as it hissed uncontrollably and he could feel the agitation of the Queen Basilisk.

He didn't draw his Fanged Blades as he wasn't impulsive and knew he could have been killed long ago, he stood on his feet staring at the slit red-eyed silhouette who stared back at him. The red-eyes reminded him of the Queen and he let out a laugh which stumped the silhouette, however her eyes didn't flicker in the slightest and calmly stared at Sol.

(This feeling is quite familiar...feels like back when I met the Queen Basilisk for the first time) -Sol

[Whoever you are, thank you for saving my life...but if you hide in the shadows how can I repay you?] -Sol

[What are you?] -Lamia

A cold and detached voice asked indifferently, a tinge of curiosity could be heard but it's overall frostiness hid any desire.

[What...am I? I'm a human of course] -Sol

Sol didn't know what to make of this weird question, the woman hissed in a low tone every now and then and seem to pondering his words.

[No...you are not. Speak the truth or die] -Lamia

Sol could tell she was not joking, the coldness and detachness of that voice was evidence of her ruthless nature.

[...I am speaking the truth. Can you not see it yourself?] -Sol

The Lamia still coldly watched him as she seemed to think of something, it seemed she expected Sol to answer like that again as if she could tell if he was lying.

[Where did you come from?] -Lamia

Sol wanted to see if she could detect lies and spoke calmly and without a single change in heart beat.

[A place city called Mount Earthenvale] -Sol

*BANG*

Sol was instantly hit across the room, when he looked at his chest there were 5 needle like holes inside of his chest. Sol stood up as a bit of blood leaked from his mouth and stared at the Lamia calmly.

The Lamia showed an astonished expression as if it expected him to die from the blow. Sol's wound lit up with a golden light and it repaired itself after about a minute, Sol looked at the wounds astonished and the Lamia did not miss that.

(This thing, what is he? He doesn't even know what he is..) -Lamia

[Next time you lie, you will die] -Lamia

[Where did you come from?] -Lamia

[Outer s.p.a.ce] -Sol

*BANG*

Sol was once more sent flying to the back of the room, this time there were no holes inside his chest. As Sol scrambled to get up he spat out a mouthful of blood.

[I..wasn't..lying] -Sol

A bit of blood leaked from his mouth as he got up.

[...I know, that's why I retracted my claws] -Lamia

[....But you still hit me?] -Sol

[....You humans focus on the small things in life] -Lamia

(...Is she embarra.s.sed?) -Sol

Sol noticed the Lamia had turned her head away and it was the first time they broke eye contact. But he couldn't tell as her face was hidden in darkness. Naturally she didn't believe the words when it left his mouth but she knew for a fact he wasn't lying...after she hit him.

[I saved your life, you owe me one in return. Next year come to this place or I will kill you] -Lamia

(Master, she's not joking. She's a Lamia, Lamia's are very vengeful. If you do not keep your promise she will hunt you down no matter where you are and kill you in a sort of way a male shouldn't be killed) -Mitra

Mitra's voice was very serious, as he spoke both paws blocked between his legs and Sol took note of it.

[I owe you one?...how exactly do I give you one in return?] -Sol

As Sol asked these questions, he realized she had long left.

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