Rise of the Legendary Emperor

Chapter 21: Destiny begins II

Having heard Arwen and Uncle Dior's explanation, it became clear to Amaryll why Don went to kill Minister Bryan, and why he brought the half-elf girl here.

Amaryll felt pretty ashamed of herself for acting like that, she heard about the mysterious mage from the bandit leader while Don was interrogating him but she neglected to admit the mysterious mage's existence due to fear.

She turned to look at Don who was still talking with Knight, she looked at him with guilty eyes.

"You should apologize to him Amaryll" Arwen said.

Amaryll sighed and said "Yes"

Amaryll walked towards Don just as Don and Knight halted their conversation and looked at the guilty-looking elf.

Arwen and Uncle Dior didn't follow her, they just gave her and Don some space.

Don looked at Amaryll without saying anything, she was unable to look into his eyes and speak, her face showed the expression of something stuck in her throat that she couldn't get it out after a few breaths of time, finally she mustered her courage

"Don I'm sorry for talking like that"

"Ok, from now on you'll know everything they do" Amaryll was confused when she heard him as Don gestured at Uncle Dior and Arwen to come nearer.

"I'm going to let you know what Bryan told me before his death"

"But Don...." before Arwen say anything further Don just signaled him to stop with his hand,

"She needs to hear this too, you can't protect her forever from the reality Arwen"

Arwen knew sooner or later Amaryll was going to learn about the harsh reality that is worse than the bandit attack she faced, he also knew he wasn't much different from Amaryll in experience but he spent more time with their grandfather than Amaryll, as a result, he learned more about the world than Amaryll.

"Before Minister Bryan die he said extermination is coming" he never planned to hide this from the elves, the more they know about the threat the better.

"Wha...what did he mean by that?" Arwen had a bad feeling about what he heard from Don he knew these simple words held more weight.

"If I have to guess I say something big going to happen not only to elves for all the races"

Amaryll's heart jumped out when she heard Don, she was trembling, everything she wanted was peace but now it's becoming a dream, she was struggling to find a way to disagree with Don but she couldn't.

"How do you know?" Uncle Dior asked.

"I don't but I dealt with people like the mysterious mage before they always operate in shadows and as a group. "

"But it's all your guess right what if he works alone or a madman?"

"Madman? He teleported more than twenty people from slave city to here if he's a madman, he sure is a powerful one in that and he himself said extermination is coming" Don looked at everyone sharply and said

"It's a threat... at least we have to treat it as one"

"Don's right people operate from shadows and using others to do their jobs are dangerous, don't forget he purchased the service of a Minister, a nobody can't do something like that no matter which world it is"

Knight explained his point of view to everyone loud and clear, they faced this type of cult people in Divine Lands, you cant find who is your real enemy with these people anybody could be your enemy.

"After we safely settle somewhere we need to find the other races"

Nobody questioned or said anything as they knew if Don's guess is right they need to unite and stand together or they will be exterminated.

Don could see the worried and stressed faces of the elves while he was walking away, Amaryll was practically sweating like she is in middle of the desert, Arwen was trying his best to keep the anxiety from showing on his face while Uncle Dior was acting like he is calm but Don could see the panicked eyes of Uncle Dior.

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"Where am I?" the half-elf girl slowly opened her eyes and saw a crudely made roof suddenly her memories came flooding back as she clutched her aching head tightly.

She recalled the things happened to her, she was born in a noble family but because of the war in her country she fled her homeland and lived years in hiding and fearing and she was captured by slave traders and sold as a slave to Avelon continent and saw her first owner/master get killed in the hands of a stranger a human.

"Don" she remembered the young man who saved her those brown eyes that looked at her an equal not like a creature, she lived alone and suffered enough to know about this cruel world, nobody in a long time helped her except her parents.

"Ah you are awake" she turned to look at the direction that voice was coming.

The half-elf saw a beautiful green dressed elf looking at her with a worried face, she had green eyes and golden hair, pointy ears.

"Who are you" she slowly asked the elf in fear,

"Don't worry you are safe here" as the elf said she stepped forward and sat before her.

"I am Amaryll you are now safe we don't treat you like those despicable humans did" Amaryll reassuringly patted the half-elf girl's back.

"Don" she said again.

"Don yeah he is there in his hut I should get something for you to eat" Amaryll wanted to get something for the half-elf girl but her hands were grabbed in the midway

"What is this place why did he save me?" the half-elf girl asked with a worried face

Amaryll sighed.

"Just like you, a group of bandits attacked us" the half-elf girl started to shiver

"Relax fortunately we were saved by Don and Knight and they escorted us to this place from our tribe"

"But how? me?" the half-elf girl mumbled and searched for words.

"One of the bandits said he was sent here to capture us by Minister Bryan so Don went to kill him in order to keep him from sending more bandits, after that, you know what happened right?"

"Ye...yes" the half-elf girl slowly nodded.

"Alright, you rested enough I'll bring you to see Don and Knight they should know you are awake" while she said Amaryll felt that the half-elf still has some reservation towards them.

"What's your name?"

"Ar...Arrora" the half-elf girl said in a low pitched voice.

"I know you are afraid but you don't have to be. I know Don could be how'd you say cold-blooded but he's a kind of a good guy and he saved you right?"

Arrora recalled the scene him killing Minister Bryan and giving his robe to cover herself and carrying her in his arms and nodded

"He also saved me and my brother although he won't talk too much, you can trust him he's not like other humans" Amaryll started to trust and viewed him differently.

"Come on let's go" Amaryll reached her hands out towards Arrora gesturing her to take her hands.

Arrora hesitated for a moment but eventually, she took her hands and stood up and followed Amaryll outside, The stars hung above them as if strung in the air by invisible strings and the half-moon shined like a pearl on the beautiful dark blue starry night sky.

"That's Don's hut he made it himself cool, isn't it? He probably is there with Uncle Dior and my Brother and Knight"

Amaryll pointed to a sturdy hut made of mud, Arrora could vaguely see some figures standing in front of a small fire pit but as they walked towards them she started to see them more clearly.

Arrora saw an elf with the bow on his back, he resembled Amaryll a little and a half-elf besides him he was a bit older than the elf but he was taller and wore a brown robe and looked at the figure opposite to the half-elf as Aurora's eyes went wide the figure was a white Lion with two big feathery wings what shocked her more was this lion was talking and smiling like a person.

Besides the lion was either a youth or a man, seeing him she felt

if she blinked she might miss him. Tall, lean and cloaked in shadow, he wore long black robes reinforced with ornate steel plating that glinted in the half moonlight. A deep cowl hid his face behind him, she could see something on his back formed a shape of 'X'.

Everyone looked at the newcomers especially Arrora,

"Girl are you fine?" just while she was looking at the man in a black robe, the half-elf man came before her with a concerned look,

Before Arrora could answer Amaryll said

"She is fine Uncle Dior since she was awake I thought she should meet you"

"Arrora this is Uncle Dior and this is my brother Arwen" Amaryll pointed the elf behind Uncle Dior.

"And this is Knight" Arrora said looking at the white Lions as Knight made his signature move, ruffled his mane in a kingly manner.

"You already met Don right" she pointed at the black-robed man when he removed his hood and revealed his expressionless handsome face, he had dark black eyes and raven-colored hair and she could see the toned body hiding beneath the robe.

Arrora stared his face carefully but she could not see any resemblance to the brown-haired human who saved her, she was confused

"Ah you have seen his Mike face, this is his real face" Uncle Dior exclaimed.

"Mi...Mike's face" but before she could think about anything Don took his magical mask out and put it on his face.

At the moment he did that, Arrora's eyes went wide in shock and surprise while his face transformed into the face she saw before and when he took off that mask, that face has gone,

"Don" Arrora said.

"That's amazing right? It's called a magical mask. He could change his face anytime but don't get confused. This is his real face, isn't it Don?"

Don nodded and put his hood on again.

"Did you eat anything?" Knight asked Arrora but before she could say anything her stomach growled answered that question, Arrora's face slightly turned red in embarrassment.

"Right I'll go bring her something" Amaryll turned away and ran towards her hut.

She awkwardly stood among the group

"Here drink this you feel better" Don gave her the healing potion to her.

"This ...is this a healing potion?" She looked puzzled.

"Yes you will feel better drinking it" Arwen said.

Eventually, she started to pour the potion into her mouth under the gaze of everyone as soon as she did that the pain she felt was lessened and felt invigorated.

"So do you have anyone we could take you to?" Uncle Dior asked but when he asked Arrora's eyes turned watery and two teardrops flowed on her cheeks.

"No my parents...they were killed I have no one" her voice was full of sadness, they felt her pain in the heart from the voice alone.

"I am sorry if you want we can take you to your homeland"

Arrora shook her head while wiped the tears from her face,

"My kingdom my home it's all gone they took it away"

Her sadness turned into anger and the red blood vassals in her eyes became visible.

"Who? Where is your home?"

"Ve...The Venus Kingdom in Elvenor Continent" at the moment she mentioned the Venus kingdom the wind started to blow violently around them the fire before they started to go out, the trees began to bent like they were being pushed by an invisible force, simply they felt a mini storm without rain.

"Don" Knight shouted and Arrora looked at Don to see he was clenching his fists tightly and his body trembled, there were some fire sparks coming out of his clenched fists, and an immense killing intent radiated from him it made them hard to even breath.

She was certain that only after she mentioned her kingdom's name he became like this but she had no idea why?