78 Ruby Enchantress (1/2)
Several minutes prior to Alexander's arrival...
Back in the camp, the head of the Alexander's soldier's, a sturdy man at the Late Stage of Spirit Rank has been on his night watch duty for a few hours now. He feels the cold wind brushing against the little areas of skin that is exposed through his thick armour.
Taking a big yawn, a sudden feeling of unease takes over him. Something feels off. Looking into the darkness of the Thistle Forest however, he sees nothing of note beyond a few harmless animals resting and crawling in the night.
Seeing nothing with his normal sight, he decides to enhance his vision by using the technique one gains at the Spirit Rank, the Conscious Eye!
With this enhanced vision however, he still sees no signs of aura in a several mile radius in front of him. Nearly giving up, he suddenly thinks of another possibility for this uneasy feeling bubbling up inside him and turns his vision towards the camp itself.
He sees no intruders thankfully and is just about to finally give up when he notices something shocking in his peripheral vision. There is no sign of auras in his Young Miss' tent!!
A deep feeling of shock and despair rushes over him, a frigid cold burning up in his chest colder than the night's shiver inducing breeze. His eyes are wide as dash left and right madly, checking for any semblance of the Young Miss, and her newly gained partner, the kitten, for that matter.
But to his utter dismay, he cannot find them anywhere and a surge of worry, anger and despair overtake him for a moment. But having been in this business for most of his life and having a strong soul at his level, he doesn't allow himself to be overcome too long before his worn brown boots are dashing towards the largest and most grand tent in the encampment.
”SIR WILDERWOLF!!!” The man shouts, a scream filled with anguish and haste. ”IT'S AN EMERGENCY!!!”
Seconds later, a hand reached out from the entrance of the tent and pulled apart the opening, revealing Alexander as he walked out the tent with narrowed eyes. His hair was a mess, obviously having been just woke up and his eyes were slightly hunched despite his best efforts.
”Do we have intruders?” Alexander inquired, his eyes darting about the encampment, but seeing nothing obviously wrong he turned to look at the head of the Wilderwolf Soldier's dubiously.
”Sir, Andria is missing!!” His voice came out croaky and anxious but clear.
Upon hearing those words, Alexander's face paled and his hazy eyes widened as a turbulent emotion surged over him as his his nails clenched painfully into his palm. If his mortal body weren't so tough, his nails would definitely have pierced deep into those palms, drawing blood.
”WHAT?!” Alexander finally exclaimed with bloodshot eyes.
The man opposite winced but didn't dare tarry as he explained all that he knew. Alexander used his own search using his own Conscious Eye and studied the area in a several mile radius but also came up with nothing to his utter devastation.
”Alright... Wake up everyone and have them prepare. I'll find them!” Alexander ordered the soldier and he ran off without delay to follow them.
Alexander meanwhile fished his hand into the collar of his shirt before he pulled out a chain necklace that held a particularly beautiful platinum rose jewel hanging delicately. At the center of the rose, a red jewel was shaped into the intricate form of an eye, looking both beautiful and enchanting.
'How did these intruders get passed my 'Ruby Enchantress'... I know my senses weaken greatly when I sleep, but I should have been able to detect someone at least at the Spirit Rank or below still with the added benefits of this necklace... Was it a Sky Magician or Beast?!... Or maybe, a Magical Item. Either way, these b*stards are not simple! My dear Little An...' These thoughts came to Alexander like turbulent waves, one after the other until he finally shook his head of all unnecessary and unwanted thoughts. 'I only have one choice. It may use up its dose for this month, but if there's ever a time to use it, it is now when my beloved daughter is awaiting for me!!'
Hands clenched shakily around the 'Ruby Enchantress' necklace, Alexander gritted his teeth and directed a surge of his own aura into the Magical Item until it began to glow brighter and bright of a deep azure colour.