CHAPTER 72 #7
"I will also issue a decree that will remove certain laws enforced by the Holy Cathedral, especially those that have caused unnecessary suffering among our citizens. If there are laws that are hurting the people instead of protecting them, then they have no place in my empire.
I will not allow the Crown to remain silent while our citizens are suffering. Whatever is happening behind these disappearances, whatever is happening with House Quentin, and whoever is manipulating the situation, we will deal with them. But first,
we need to show the people that their Emperor is willing to stand before them and listen."
Kumunot ang noo ni Pope Roque, halatang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ni Lurtheron.
He slowly tightened his grip on the armrest, clearly displeased by the Emperor's decision to remove some of the laws enforced by the Holy Cathedral.
Para sa kaniya, hindi lamang simpleng batas ang mga iyon, kundi mga kautusang matagal nang nagbibigay ng impluwensya at kapangyarihan sa Cathedral.
"Your Majesty..." maingat niyang sambit, his voice carrying a hint of disapproval.
"I understand that you wish to calm the people, but removing the laws of the Holy Cathedral is not something we can simply decide overnight. Those laws have existed for years, and abolishing them could weaken the authority of the Cathedral."
Agad namang napatingin sakanya si Lurtheron.
"Your Holiness, I know. Ngunit wala tayong ibang pagpipilian sa ngayon. The people have already lost their patience, and if we continue refusing to listen to their concerns, this situation will only grow worse. Hindi ko sinasabing aalisin natin ang lahat ng batas ng Holy Cathedral.
I am only removing those that have caused unnecessary suffering among our citizens. If we want the people to continue trusting the Crown, then we need to show them that their Emperor is willing to act when those laws are hurting them."
"But, Your Majesty-"
"Are you questioning my authority, Cardinal Asphodel?" malamig na tanong ni Lurtheron. His gaze immediately turned colder as he looked directly at Asphodel, making the atmosphere inside the room suddenly tense.
"I have already made my decision. You may disagree with it, but you will not undermine my authority in front of this council. I am the Emperor of Erenhal Sartorias, and as long as I sit on this throne, I will decide what is necessary for the empire."
After the council's meeting, Lurtheron began preparing himself to finally show himself to the people gathered outside the Imperial Palace.
Dalawang araw nang naghihintay ang mga mamamayan sa labas, kaya napagpasyahan niyang harapin sila mismo at kausapin nang maayos. The atmosphere inside the palace remained tense as the Emperor made his final preparations, fully aware that thousands of citizens were waiting beyond the barriers.
Nasa loob din ng Imperial Palace ang 13 Guardians, na pinamumunuan ni Caspian. They remained on standby, ready to protect the Emperor and the palace if anything unexpected happen.
Samantala, ang iba pang mga squad ay nakakalat na sa iba't ibang lungsod at teritoryo ng Vermeleyon upang imbestigahan ang patuloy na pagkawala ng mga mamamayan.
They were searching for any information or clues that could lead them to the missing people and uncover whoever was behind the disappearances.
Kabilang dito ang Crimson Vanguard, na pinamumunuan naman ni Russel. Unlike the other squads, their current orders were not limited to investigation.
Naghahanda ang kanilang grupo para sa posibilidad ng isang biglaang labanan. They knew that the investigation could suddenly turn into a battle at any moment.
Mabilis na tumatakbo sina Russel at ang kaniyang animal spirit na si Fenris, moving at a speed that no ordinary mage could easily keep up with.
Halos hindi na mahabol ng ibang kasamahan nila ang kanilang kinaroroonan habang patuloy silang sumusulong patungo sa dulo ng Sartores.
Sa kanilang likuran ay naroon si Keisha, ang lieutenant ng Crimson Vanguard, na pilit silang hinahabol.
She was already falling behind, struggling to keep up with Russel and Fenris's pace.
Russel was wearing the uniform assigned to the Crimson Vanguard, neatly fitted with the insignia of his squad displayed on his chest.
A ruby brooch was pinned over his uniform, with a small gold emblem at its center representing House Quentin.
The insignia served as a clear symbol of both his noble bloodline and his position within the Crimson Vanguard.
Hawak niya ang kaniyang espada habang patuloy niyang sinusundan ang kaniyang animal spirit na lobo.
"Fenris, it's been almost six hours, and you continue to follow this scent. Papalapit na ba tayo sa lugar na iyon? I think we're already at the edge of Sartores..."
Russel maintained his usual cold expression as he ran forward, his face revealing almost no emotion. His eyes were blank and empty, giving him an unreadable presence as he silently followed Fenris.
Patuloy lamang sa pag-amoy si Fenris habang nauuna sa pagtakbo. Bigla itong huminto at bahagyang itinaas ang kaniyang ulo, as if he had finally caught something different in the air.
"Master... I smell an unusual scent. Hindi ito galing sa mga tao o sa mga salamangkero..." ani Fenris habang inaamoy ang paligid.
"It's more... unusual than that."
Napakunot ang noo ni Russel.
"What do you mean?"
Fenris slowly looked toward the dark forest ahead of them.
"Master... whatever I'm smelling, it's not something I've encountered before."
Russel employed his mana and manipulated the air around him, using it to trace the scent that Fenris had been following.
Natigilan siya nang makita niya kung ano ang sinusundan ng kaniyang animal spirit. Russel could now see the scent Fenris had been sensing, and it appeared completely different from anything he had encountered before.
Tila naging itim ang hangin habang ang kakaibang aura ay patuloy na gumagalaw sa iisang direksyon.
Bahagyang sumikip ang mga mata ni Russel habang tahimik niyang sinusundan ng tingin ang itim na hangin.
I... have a bad feeling about this. I can already feel several heavy presences from here, but I can't even tell if they're coming from mages....
It's impossible for another creature to be here... this is the continent of Vermeleyon...
Biglang huminto si Fenris, forcing Russel to stop as well.
Mabilis itong lumikha ng isang malaking air barrier sa harapan nila, shielding Russel and the others who were following behind them.
The sudden movement immediately caught everyone off guard, and for a moment, no one understood why Fenris had stopped.
Nagbago ang blankong ekspresyon ni Russel nang makita niya kung ano ang nasa harapan nila. His eyes widened, and his lips slowly parted as he stared at the scene before him. For the first time, the emptiness in his eyes was replaced by genuine shock.
And for the first time, Russel felt something he rarely allowed himself to feel.
Fear.
"W-What... w-what is happening here?" nanginginig na sambit ni Keisha nang tuluyan na siyang makasabay at tumigil sa tabi ni Russel. Her breathing became unsteady as she looked past the air barrier. Tila namutla siya habang iniikot ang kaniyang paningin sa paligid.
Nakatayo sila sa malayo, ngunit kitang-kita pa rin nila ang abandonadong cathedral na nasa harapan nila.
Its once-grand structure had been left to decay, with broken walls, shattered windows, and dark vines slowly covering parts of the building.
Ngunit higit pa sa itsura nito ang nagbigay sa kanila ng kakaibang kaba.
?It was so eerie, looking as if no one had stepped foot near it for years. Nagkalat ang dugong tuyo at sariwa sa bawat pader nito. From where he stood, Russel could clearly smell the thick, iron scent of blood hanging in the air.
?At hindi lang iyon, nagkalat din sa mismong harapan ng cathedral ang mga pira-pirasong laman ng tao. Putol na kamay, daliri, paa, at mga pugot na ulo na nakakalat sa lupa.
And a heavy and unfamiliar presences seemed to linger around the abandoned cathedral, making the air feel strangely cold despite the absence of any wind. Even from a distance, they could feel that something was deeply wrong with the place.
"A-anong klaseng nilalang a-ang kayang gumawa nito?" ani Ethan. One of the members of Crimson Vanguard.
"N-no way... ibig sabihin ba nito... ay rito rin dinadala... a-ang mga taong matagal nang n-nawawala?" napapalunok na sambit ni Keisha habang hindi inaalis ang kaniyang tingin sa mga hiwa-hiwalay na katawan. Her voice trembled as the realization slowly sank in.
"It seems so..." mahinahong sagot ni Russel. Despite what they had discovered, nanatiling kalmado ang kaniyang ekspresyon, though his eyes remained fixed on the abandoned cathedral.
"We will go there. We will find out what's inside."
Agad na tumango si Keisha.
"Ethan," tawag ni Russel sa isa sa kanilang mga kasamahan.
Agad namang lumapit si Ethan.
"Go to the others. Stay with them and don't let anyone approach this place until I give you the signal. You will know when I do. I will use my air mana to send it. Magkalat kayo. I already sensed creatures lurking throughout the area, not just inside that abandoned cathedral.
Don't stay in one formation. Keep enough distance to cover the surroundings, but stay close enough to reinforce one another if necessary."
Ethan carefully listened to his captain, taking in every instruction Russel had given without interrupting.
"Your priority is to observe the area, secure our escape route, and make sure nothing gets close to this place while we're inside. If you sense a presence stronger than you can handle, retreat immediately and wait for my signal."
"Copy, Captain."
Ethan didn't question his captain's orders. He immediately turned around and went to the others, making sure that no one would move toward the abandoned cathedral until Russel gave the signal.
Napatingin si Keisha kay Russel.