181 ASSEMBLY AND DEPARTURE (1/2)

AURUM was walking back and forth, her heart full of dread and worry.  He and Clay were now at the agreed meeting point.  It was at the outskirts of Victoria City, behind a big boulder that was in between the official road and the forest.  It was big enough to hide a lot of people at the same time.  That's why when her brother saw this on their way to the city, she chose it as their meeting point once they're done with the plan.

When the fake goddess disappeared and she and Clay were done with their part of the plan, they decided that it's time to go to their meeting point and just leave all the clean-up to popsicle.  Which should be the case.  It would amplify his image as a hero in the people's hearts.  Since he was the one who would mostly reap all the rewards after this incident, it's only right for him to work hard for it.

But now that their part was done, all of Aurum's thoughts were now focused on her brother and mother.  Even if Lynx and that snake were with Argent, she couldn't help but feel that something would go wrong and that her brother and mother would fall into some kind of danger.  As time passed by, her anxiety just continued to heighten and she couldn't calm down.

Her brother would be facing that devious Pope after all.  He was projecting a gentle and kind image in front of people.  He was doing it so perfectly that he could easily move the hearts of the countless followers of the Temple of Gaia.  Who would have thought that behind his warm smile was a black heart?  Using those minions of his to kidnap her mother just to force them to look for those artifacts was an act only a nefarious person would do.

How hateful.

She was about to step forwards when both her shoulders were suddenly held.  Aurum looked up and saw Clay in front of her.  ”What?”

”Calm down.  Your brother will be alright.  He will definitely save your mother and come back safely.  This is your brother we're talking about.  The same guy who could literally turn the impossible into possible.  It would be bad if your burn out from stress before they could even return.  Wouldn't you want to welcome them with a smile?” Clay said, looking straight at Aurum's currently disguised black eyes.

Surprisingly enough, Aurum did calm down.  She's still worried, of course, but he's not drowning from it anymore.  She took a deep breath.  ”You're right.”

Instead of worrying, she should believe on her brother.  Worrying tirelessly like this only seemed like she didn't have any faith in her.

Seeing Aurum's expression get a little bit better, Clay let out a sigh of relief.  He didn't quite understand but he didn't like seeing Aurum this way.  In his opinion, a carefree smile on her face suited her best.  He'd rather see her with her usual proud and stubborn look than this.

They suddenly felt some kind of wind current from above.  They both looked up but didn't see anything.  The wind current felt like it was coming closer and closer, then they noticed that the grass area in front of them seemed to be flattened.  But before they could think of what exactly was happening, an opening suddenly appeared and someone walked out from it.

”Aurum!” Black called who just stepped out of the flying shuttle.

”Black?” Aurum said, a bit surprised suddenly seeing him.  So that wind current was just from the flying shuttle that was about to land.  She immediately walked towards him.  ”Is it safe to land here?”

”Don't worry, White checked for any sign of humans around before landing here.” Black then turned to Clay.  ”Hi Clay!”

”Hey Black,” Clay returned who already walked near them.

”Oh that's right, Aurum come here quickly.”

After saying that, Black suddenly pulled Aurum inside the flying shuttle that was still currently invisible to them.  Clay, of course, followed.

The first thing Aurum noticed was White sitting at the very center with wires attached to her nape.  Then there was that elf sitting at one corner.  Then her gaze finally landed on the figure lying on the make-shift bed.  It was a woman with golden brown hair that slightly passed her shoulder.  Her bronze skin looked like it was kissed by the sun itself.

”Mother!”

She immediately ran and knelt beside her mother.  She observed her mother from head to toe, looking for any signs of injuries.  After not seeing one, she was still not relieved.  After all, if she remembered correctly, one of those Apostles put her under their Gift.  Her mother might be okay outward, but there's a possibility that something was wrong inside.

Clay looked on at the unconscious woman lying on the makeshift bed.  So this was the Duchess?

”She's fine, she's only unconscious,” a voice suddenly said.

Aurum turned towards the voice and saw Lynx standing just beside her.  She didn't even notice him because all her attention was focused on her mother.  ”Are you certain?”

Lynx nodded.  He was secretly hanging around that cottage, so he practically heard most of the things the duke and the Pope talked about.