Chapter 173 (2/2)
Even though there had been a tragedy on Jade Street not too long ago, the authorities had handled the situation very well, and everything was repaired swiftly afterwards. This, coupled with the continuing victories reported from the battlefields in the North, had helped the populace of the city recover from the shocks of the tragedy and move on with their lives.
They did more than move on, though. Link had heard people talking optimistically of the war in the North all along the way from the academy to the capital city. There was even a premature festive atmosphere in the air where people danced and celebrated the future victory of the Norton Kingdom and the seemingly assured demise of the Dark Elves.
Link looked on with slight worry at this blatant and irrational optimism of the people in Springs City. It just struck him the wrong way and made him feel more anxious at the hubris the people were showing.
Still, he had no intention to rain on their parades, so all he did was look on in silence while the town folks carried on in their merry ways.
Soon, the carriage had reached the Blue Hermit Inn of the Magician’s District where he was to meet up with Eleanor. Link put on his hooded cape and covered his face with the hood, then he bid farewell to Warter and climbed out of the carriage.
Link didn’t enter the inn straight away, though. He cast a detection magic and checked for any suspicious auras within the range of 300 feet around the inn. Only when he was sure that it was safe then he walked into the inn through its front entrance.
“I am looking for a lady by the name of Eleanor,” he said in a low, deep voice when approached the innkeeper at the counter inside. “May I know which room she’s staying in?”
The innkeeper was accustomed to people with Link’s attire because that was how Magicians liked to dress anyway, so he took notice of it.
“Miss Eleanor is indeed staying here,” he answered, “but I will have to ask you a question before I am allowed to tell you her room number.”
The Blue Hermit Inn was famous for its strict safety protection measures for its guests. This must be the reason why Eleanor had chosen this place to stay in. Link estimated that Eleanor had instructed the innkeeper to ask him a question that Link would know the answer to.
“Go ahead,” said Link.
“Which bracelet is Miss Eleanor’s favorite?” asked the innkeeper.
“The Phoenix bracelet,” answered Link without having to think about it.
“That is correct,” said the innkeeper with a nod. “Her room number is 350, it’s at the end of the corridor on the third floor. If I am not mistaken she hasn’t left the room yet today.”
So Link went up to the third floor and found the room with the number that the innkeeper had informed him of. Link hid behind the stone wall outside the room and reached out his hand to knock gently on the door, just in case someone inside might attack him as he was standing there waiting to be let in. The possibility that this might actually happen was slim, but someone who was able to terrify a Level-6 Magician like Eleanor must be formidable indeed, so it wouldn’t hurt to take every precaution he possibly could.
“Who is it?!” said a familiar voice from the inside of the room. It was definitely Eleanor.
“It’s me, Link,” he answered. “Are you safe now?”
The moment his last word was uttered, the door opened with a click. Eleanor emerged from behind the door, her face was a picture of terror and trepidation at first, but once she discovered that Link really was there she calmed down gradually.
“Oh, thank the Lord of Light!” she exclaimed. “You’re finally here! Come in!”
Link nodded and followed Eleanor into the room. He was still on full guard, though.
“What happened exactly?” he asked the moment they settled down in the sitting room.
“I was hunted down by a horrifying black shadow,” answered Eleanor, still slightly trembling in fear as she talked about it. “If it hadn’t been for the Phoenix bracelet, I would’ve died in the middle of the Girvent Forest. That’s why I’m taking refuge here in the capital city. I don’t think that…thing…would dare to follow me into Springs City.”
Eleanor’s expressions as she recounted her experience made Link feel the fear she still felt even right now of the opponent she had faced in the Girvent Forest.
“Tell me more details about what happened,” said Link.
“Sure,” nodded Eleanor. “The last time we parted ways, I went into the Girvent Forest and stayed there. Nothing happened for a while until about a month ago, when suddenly I sensed the presence of a strange soul. I was curious, so I followed the scent until I found it. I saw that soul enter the body of a dead young woman, bringing her back to life! I’ve never seen this kind of magic before and I didn’t know how it happened, so I kept following her to find out. On the third day, I saw that reborn young woman meeting secretly with a black shadow. The shadow thing was very perceptive, the moment I made a slight noise it instantly detected my presence and hunted me down. None of my magic had any effect on it, so I persisted until it let its guard down a little and attacked it with the Flame Blast in the Phoenix bracelet. That worked on it alright! It was almost blown off into the distance! I think it was quite seriously injured, so I quickly ran here to escape from it. I could still feel, though, that it was still lurking somewhere in the darkness waiting for me. I’m sure that the moment I leave this city I will be toast!”
“You mean it could resist your spells?” asked Link in surprise. “What did you mean by a black shadow? You referred to it by the word ‘it’, does that mean that you don’t think it’s human?”
“It was definitely not human,” answered Eleanor. “I don’t know what it was, but it had red eyes and a black knife-like protrusion on its arm – my head was nearly cut off by that thing!”
As she spoke, Eleanor lifted her chin to show the cut wound that mysterious ghoul had left on her skin. Link examined it and saw a very deep cut with a very strange bloodstain surrounded by black web-like scars around it. It was a truly ghastly sight.
Eleanor seemed to be in pain just by this slight movement of raising her chin as her tears began to roll soon after Link examined it. Eleanor didn’t understand why but she had become so fragile in front of Link and was ashamed of herself for crying over such a small matter.
“The wound hurts really bad, and it’s full of dark elements,” she said. “The elements seem to be alive in its own way. I should probably go to the priests and let them have a look at it, but you know that would cause some problems because of who I am. I’ve tried washing it with holy water but the wound hasn’t recovered one bit in three days—it’s even gotten worse instead.”
Link started to examine the wound even more closely now with a detection spell. Under the light of the spell, Link could clearly see the dark auras emanating from the wound. It seemed to have felt threatened by Link’s spell and recoiled even deeper into Eleanor’s skin. This made Eleanor shriek loudly in pain.
The pain must really be unbearable to cause this powerful Master Magician to cry out in such a manner. In Link’s mind, there was only one thing that could cause Eleanor such harm.
“I’m afraid you’ve been attacked by a demon,” said Link as he sat down. “Not just any demon, though, but a pureblood demon from the abyss.”
“What?!” screeched Eleanor in utter shock. “But aren’t demon creatures of a different realm of existence?” Eleanor’s face was completely drained of color now.