12 Chapter 12- Checkpoin (1/2)

The party entered the swamp, and the luscious emerald grass became a musty dark green moss.

The ground became less stable, and Dubs feet made a squishing sound as he walked across the waterlogged surface.

”The good news about the swamp is that the empire has never been able to build stable tunnels underneath it, so its a good location for us resistance members to hold out.”, Ivan explained.

The wetlands became more profound as the party continued through them, and clear basins of water and land bridges separating them appeared.

Lilith seemed to be having trouble walking properly, so Dubs held out his arm for her to lean on.

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She didn't say anything, and shyly held onto it.

”Um... your name is Dubs right? Who exactly are you?” Lilith asked

”Ahaha. I wonder that myself.” Dubs sarcastically responded.

Lilith was confused but didn't ask any more.

”As far as I know, I'm no more than a test subject. I am the son of a traitor who had to pay for his fathers crimes, and I've abandoned the payment.” Dubs coldly stated.

”But you know, regardless of what my backstory is, none of that matters. What matters is what I do today, here and now. The same goes for you, right?”

Lilith smiled a bit and nodded. The two continued walking through the marsh.

”Well aren't y'all getting cozy over there. Eyes up, were almost at the manor.” Clark remarked

Dubs looked around, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He only saw the setting sun in the distance, and the orange tint of the sky.

”Where exactly is this manor, Ivan? Are we going to reach it before it becomes dark?” Dubs asked

Ivan laughed and condescendingly told Dubs, ”What, you can't see it? Ah right. You have no magical ability yet, just a whole bunch of ridiculous resistances.”

Ivan waved his hand and particles formed in his hands into the shape of a pair of glasses.

”Put these on, Dubs. You'll see”

Ivan handed the glasses to Dubs

Dubs placed them on reluctantly. ”Is this guy trying to mock me? He wasn't acting like this back at the HQ.”

Placing the glasses on, an enormous manor appeared in front of him. A black gate with pointed spearheads and a fence surrounded the manor, and the manor was three stories high. The brick walls contrasted the dark green surroundings.

Even above the 3 stories of the manor loomed a circular tower with a white dome. It had no windows, unlike the lower floors.

”Hm... I will warn the lot of you beforehand. The inhabitant of this manor is a bit of an ecstatic person”, Ivan admitted.

A crow with beady red eyes landed on a withered tree near the gate, and Dubs felt it staring at him. ”Was that my imagination?”, Dubs asked himself.

He looked over at Ivan who appeared to be deep in thought. Ivan finished thinking and began to give orders.

”Everyone, stand back. Dubs, I have a certain suspicion, and it would be best if you entered ahead of us.”

Dubs didn't like the sound of this. Was he being used as bait in case that this was a trap? He would be resistant to any magical attacks, but what if archers were hiding somewhere? This was a bit too risky for Dubs to just go along with.

”Ivan, I don't think it would be wise for a rookie like me to go first.” Dubs stated, annoyed.

”No, I can assure you that you'll be perfectly safe. I just have a suspicion about the person who lives here. She's the type to play pranks even on her allies, to the point of injuring them. She can only use magic, though. I assure you, there will be no harm done to you.”, Ivan persisted.

”Looks like I don't have a choice.” Dubs sighed and touched the gate to open it.

As Dubs touched the gate, a bolt of lightning began to engulf the gate, beginning at the two sides and making its way towards Dubs.

Annoyed, Dubs continued holding onto the gate.

The lightning caught up to Dubs, and began to repel itself from his body, as if there was a rubber stopper in the middle of an electric current.

Dubs opened the gate, unfazed by the lightning that had him surrounded on two sides.

”Come on guys. Better not touch the metal though. My body has been through electrical charges of much greater potential than this, both magical and physical.” Dubs walked into the manor.

Lilith's face was twisted with fear, and she slowly approached the gate and walked through slowly, avoiding the metal.

The other two followed. Ivan nudged Clark, and whispered. ”I told you, didn't I? That woman is always up to something. She knows that the empire will never find her here, and yet she still lays all these traps for us. If she wasn't nuts I would give her a piece of my mind, but it won't help in her case.”

Dubs walked through the yard, and a swarm of crows had gathered on the trees surrounding them. All of them had beady red eyes, and swift black feathers, and each appeared to be staring right at them.