Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 241 Grave News, A Prophecy's Weight And A Night of Confrontation

In the Kingdom of Almarck, one of the seven nations of the continent of Galeia. Within a sacred branch of the Holy Church, that was in the kingdom's capital, Einsworth, the crescent moon slowly emerged on the horizon. Captain Seraphim, the stalwart leader of the Holy Knights, strode slowly through the candlelit halls of the Holy Church.

His armor, had on it complex engravings, gleamed softly in the warm glow of the flickering candles. Seraphim's appearance was distinguished by a mane of silver hair that fell gracefully to his shoulders, going well his piercing blue eyes. The symbol of the Holy Church, a radiant sun, was emblazoned on his breastplate.

The candlelit halls, decorated with art pices showcasing religious scenes, cast long shadows that seemed to whisper tales of devotion. The sounds of Seraphim's footsteps echowed through the sacred space, slightly going againist the the peacefulness that surrounded the holy church.

As Seraphim made his way through the halls, his gaze fell upon a woman cloaked in black robes. This was Inquisitor Isolde, a figure known for her serious dedication to extracting information from the demonic captives. Her black hair fell down in sleek waves around her shoulders, framing a face that gave off an air of mystery.

Gray eyes, like storm clouds, reflected the depth of her personality, hiding the emotions that lurked within.

Seraphim approached her with a nod of acknowledgment. "Isolde, how fares the interrogation?"

Isolde met his gaze with an intensity that spoke of how hard the entire process was. "Not well, Captain. The Holy Inquisitor's captain sustained severe injuries during the questioning of a high-grade demon. The information is proving hard to get."@@@@

Concern etched across Seraphim's face as he processed her words. "Wounded? How bad is it?"

Isolde's response was a subtle lift of her brow, a non-verbal acknowledgment of the severity. "Bad enough, she was affected by the demon's curse, so she won't survive."

Their conversation unfolded in the candlelit halls, the dancing flames casting shadows that mirrored the complexities of their predicament. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

Seraphim, upon hearing Isolde's words, couldn't help but mumble, his eyes widening with disbelief. "Wait, so you are saying... Lilia won't survive the night?" Isolde nodded in response.

Curious and confused, Seraphim couldn't help but mumble while trying to keep his calm, "What about the holy barrier around the demon that was supposed to hold it in place?"

Hestria, hiding behind Leona, had instinctively covered her face with the scarf provided by Leona. Panic gripped her as she inwardly mused, her thoughts racing in a panicked tone. "No, no, no, this can't be happening. If we don't have the right coins, they might put us in a cell for the night for illegal migration.

And if they see my face, they'll instantly know I was one of the knights that passed through here last time, reporting back to the Capital. Then, I'll be summoned and interrogated. If I end up revealing what happened, I would have betrayed that god... I have no idea what sort of fate will befall me if I do such a thing."

Leona, normally composed and firm, found herself rendered speechless. The weight of the situation bore down on her, and uncertainty flickered in her eyes.

As the guard persisted in his inquiries, Oliver observed Leona's struggle with a mix of concern and amusement. Her usually confident demeanor now seemed replaced by a sense of helplessness. Inwardly, Oliver couldn't help but muse, "I've never seen Leona look so hopeless before. She appears like she's in need of saving, saving by the hands of a real man!"

A mischievous grin crossed Oliver's face as an idea formed in his mind. He discreetly reached into his inventory and retrieved a small pouch of gold coins. Recalling the events from the forest's edge the night before, he mused, "I saw this small bag close to one of the trees after our liege dropped us on the ground. They must be the coins of the guards who died there last night."

With a sly seriousness, Oliver prepared to intervene, armed with the mysterious pouch of gold coins as a potential solution to Leona's predicament.

Leona, still going trough the guard's accusations, noticed Hestria's distress. With a subtle yet reassuring gesture, she placed a hand on Hestria's shoulder, silently communicating a sense of solidarity in their predicament. The scarf, though serving to conceal Hestria's face, couldn't mask the tension and worry coming off from her body language.

Oliver, sensing the escalating tension, decided to take action. He stepped forward, a glint of confidence in his eyes. With a casual yet engaging demeanor, he addressed the guard. "Now, now, my good sir, there seems to be a little misunderstanding here. We're not here to cause trouble. In fact, we've got the right coins for the entry fee, just like everyone else."

While speaking, Oliver momentarily displayed the small pouch of gold coins. The glimmering gold caught the flickering light from the torches, adding a touch of intrigue to his presentation. His body language exuded a mix of charm and reassurance, as if he held the key to resolving the situation.

Leona, recognizing Oliver's attempt to defuse the situation, shot him a glance that conveyed both gratitude and caution. The stakes were high, and their fate rested on how the guard would respond to Oliver's persuasive efforts

Oliver, his eyes briefly locking with Leona's dramatic gaze, couldn't help but muse. "Damm, she doesn't have to look so dramatic about it. She's making it look like I'm about to sacrifice myself. This is not a big deal at all, so she's creeping me out with that look. She seems to have forgotten we could always just jump over the walls if we wanted to." A sigh escaped him. "Whatever."

With a nonchalant demeanor, Oliver proceeded to pull out one of the gold coins and handed it to the guard. His tone playful, he said, "Here you go, good sir. Now, if you will be so kind as to give me the other coins back."

The guard, eyeing the gold coin, erupted with a yell. "If you had the proper coins in the first place, why did you decide to waste my time?" A smug smile played on the guard's face as he added, "You know what, I'll take these silver coins and the change I would have given you from this gold one as compensation for all my time and energy wasted on your group."