Chapter 522: Forsaken
Chapter 522: Forsaken
Although he had known this fact, Adam still wanted to consult with a high-ranking Herbalist from the Brotherhood, desperately hoping that the results of his own experiments had been wrong.
But they were not.
Adam glanced at the morning sun with complicated emotions. "When the sun sets and the blood moons rise, I wonder what will happen... I wonder if the townsfolk will be safe..."
He lowered his head and glanced at the contents of the letter once again. Although there was bad news, there was also a piece of good news.
"I didn't expect that man to be so considerate," said the youth as he thought of Elrick Spence, the carefree Handler of the Twilight Brotherhood.
"This will be of great help to me. At the very least, I can ensure the safety of the townsfolk," he muttered as he burned the letter.
Watching it turn to ashes and drift away in the wind, the youth's expression turned solemn. He looked in the direction of the town square, where the majority of the people had gathered, and added, "But it all depends on just how many of them consume the antidote."
Adam then walked to a nearby abandoned house. After making sure that no one was inside, he locked himself in and began recovering his strength.
When the sun set, he would have to engage in battle once again.
Except, this time the fight would be far more difficult and life-threatening than anything he had ever experienced.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Everyone, gather around!" Art loudly announced as he drummed a metal ladle against the bucket he was carrying.
"Have some food and water that we've brought. You must not lose hope! Everything's going to be alright!"
"Y-Yeah!" Aiden chimed in awkwardly. "Everything is going to be alright. P-Please have some water by the way..."
The townsfolk huddled around the bronze statue of Magus Stratford glanced at Art, Aiden, and Eleiney suspiciously, wondering where they had come from and what they were up to.
An old man stomped toward them and roared angrily, "You stupid brats! We're surrounded by monsters from all sides and you want us to have food and water?! Are you stupid? Where did you all even come from?!"
Another person chimed in, "That's right! This is not the time to be eating! W-We must look for a way out!"
Suddenly, a middle-aged man pointed his trembling finger at the children and said with absolute shock, "Wait! I know you! Didn't you go into the Weeping Woods with the rest of the Magi? How are you here?!"
After the person had spoken, the others also began to realize that these three were in fact Magi who had been helping them fend off the wolves for a month now.
Furthermore, all the Magi in town had already gone into the depths of the dark woods. So they were dumbfounded to suddenly see three of them appear out of nowhere.
"Everyone, please let me explain!" Eleiney tried to calm the people around her. "It is true that we went to the Weeping Woods with the others. We were barely able to make it back here—"
However, before she could even finish her sentence, a young woman dashed toward her and grabbed her shoulders, asking frantically, "You made it back to town while fighting those monsters?! That means there must be a way! T-Tell me! How?!"
One by one, all the people surrounded the three kids and began asking them about how they had managed to enter the town despite all the weeping trees in the vicinity.
In their train of thought, if someone could carve a way to enter the town, could they not carve another way to leave?
Aiden, Art, and Eleiney couldn't help but panic seeing so many people surround them. They had never seen such desperation to live from others.
So much so that they felt that if they didn't answer the people immediately, they might be in serious trouble.
"HALT!!" A loud, resounding voice was suddenly heard.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was a fellow resident of the town.
"Lord Kenley!"
"You've returned!"
"When did you come back?!"
Compared to the behavior that these people displayed toward Adam's student, their behavior toward Kenley was completely different.
It wasn't hostile or intimidating at all. In fact, it was very friendly and full of concern.
This was only natural as Kenlely was someone whom they had known for a long time. Whereas, Adam's students were outsiders.
"Everyone, I understand what you're going through," Kenley began. "Please allow me to explain. My squad members and I were able to return to Stratford under the leadership of a brave Rank 2 Magus."
"Rank 2 Magus?!"
"Could it be Lord Darkmore?!"
"So he's in this town?!"
"W-We have not been forsaken!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. They believed that, if there was a Rank 2 Magus in this town then they didn't need to worry about the dangers lurking outside the walls at all.
A Mana Liquefaction Magus was an unfathomable existence to these mortals.
Kenley didn't correct them. He felt that it would take longer to convince them that there was another Rank 2 Magus other than Gore.
Thus, he nodded. "Yes, Magus Darkmore is well and alive. He is currently on the outskirts of the town preparing for a way to take everyone to safety."
For the first time since the weeping trees came alive, the townsfolk's eyes shone with hope! Their cheers became even louder, almost drowning the wailings of the trees outside.
"However!" Kenley interrupted everyone with a loud voice.
"Magus Darkmore has instructed me to make sure all of you are properly fed. This is to ensure that none of you become a hindrance on our way out of this place.
"I do not mean to be rude and offensive, but this is the truth! If you do not have the food and water that these kids have brought, you will be too weak to survive the next ordeal!"
He then clasped his hands and urged, "So, please! I request everyone to do as I say!"
Kenley's words sounded reasonable to the townsfolk. They were deeply touched that Gore
cared so much about them.
One by one, the people came forward and began drinking the water and eating the loaves of bread that Adam's students had supplied.
Seeing them get in line and drink water, Kenley nodded to himself.
Now that this is taken care of...
All that remains are the people who have holed up in the underground bunkers!
There's not much time left. We need to find them quickly!