Prologue: Encountering the Daoists of the Otherworld (part 10)

After a quiet moment, the youth realized that she was just injured and exhausted. Her wounds weren't severe enough to keep her unconscious.

"[Triple Maximize Magic: Holy Grace of Healing]"

The youth chanted while flicking his fingers. And consequently, Magic circle appeared below the girl's body. It dazzled in sky-blue light and her wounds were bathed by its radiance. Her injuries began to heal at rapid rate and the muddy stains stuck on her skin and clothes vanished in an instant.

Noy only that, under the powerful aura of holiness, the Barren land beneath their feet began to shine brightly in influence. The land was cleansed then flowers began to sprout and bloom. After what seems to be a miracle from the heavens, the magic circle disappeared and everything became darkness.

What lit the sky was the eternally beautiful, silver moon and the army of stars that became a vibrant sea.

The girl began to awake, her eyelids twitched before opening slowly, revealing dull eyes that sensed nothing before turning clear and bright, her facial muscles that were lax began to tense up and slowly, she rose up.

In her eyes, she saw the youth crouching near here. She didn't panic but got wary. With her guard up, she approached the youth and asked.

"Who... are you? A demon?"

"A demon? Ah, it's about my red-colored eyes. Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. In fact, I came to help."

The youth stood up and began to introduce himself. With a polite bow and a hand extended, he then said.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Black Stranger, Assistant Director of the World Protection Agency."

"Black Stranger? You mean you're THE Black Stranger?!"

Surprise filled her face as the girl repeated her query. She was surprise by the name, the youth standing before her, and the introduction that seem to befit the reputation of a professional.

She was surprised, for a while, then she stood up clumsily in a hurry and was flustered by the state of her tarnished clothes

But not minding that now, she hurriedly bowed with her head lowered lower than the youth and exclaimed with a bashful, forceful voice.

"It is my honor to meet your Excellency in your gracious hour! My name is Fellora Shay Qillians, daughter of..."

the girl, or Fellora, had her expression turn bitter and cut of her introduction half-way.

The youth not minding it retracted his hand and saw Fellora who still had her head bowed slowly rising up.

"I see, Ms. Qillians, can I call you that? I have some questions I would like to ask you about. Like your status when the foreigners held you captive and what is the situation like in their facilities and etcetera."

"... I'm sorry your Excellency, it is a shame but I now nothing much other than the room I was held locked up along with many other people from different countries and races."

With her back straight, Fellora responded although nervously at the youth's query. She tilted her head down, feeling ashamed and worried at the same time.

"That's okay, anything you know will serve as great assets. Even if you don't know, I won't force you. Setting that aside, do you want to go home first? It's okay if don't want to answer any questions after that."

Fellora went silent as she contemplated. The youth had given her choices, either help or go home, it's her choice.

The former choice, possessing information that was valuable for the youth, it would have been reasonable to inform him what she had seen and experienced during her time with the foreigners. After that, she can go home.

As for the latter choice, perhaps he was being very considerate, but Fellora really did want to go home. Inform her mother, the Duchess Qillians, of what happened to her and ask for her help. But considering that it was THE Black Stranger, the legendary figure of 500 years ago whom she was speaking to, it would have been wise to go with the former choice.

But what could she tell him? Although he said it was okay if it was little, perhaps he'll grow dissatisfied that she knew little or perhaps, nothing at all?

And that's not all. She didn't want to go home just yet. She had something important to do back in the prison. So, if she finished talking, would she be sent home immediately?

Would she not be able to help because he was in his way?

"... Um, your Excellency, or you going to save the other captives in the foreigners' base?"

After some hesitation, she finally queried. Then the youth calmly spoke.

"As a matter of fact, I am, Ms. Fellora. That was my objective all along and I have been meaning to question anyone related to the foreigners' base. Why do you ask?"

"... Is that so? Then, can, can I come with you?"

The youth didn't answer immediately and began thinking for a second. Why does she want to come with him?

What does she want to do? Does she know where he's going? How could she ask that without answering any of his questions properly?

Questions flashed through his mind for a second before he spoke.

"I'm not sure why you want to come with me. For where I'm going, I'm not going to approach the Foreigners' base immediately, I still have many questions to ask and gather much Intel as I could. So, I apologize if I disappoint your expectations but if you have something to do back in those facilities, then I advise you stop."

"Wait, please, your Excellency, let me come with you! I will tell you everything I know, I just wish to follow with you. I swear I won't get in the way..."

"First, tell me this, why do you want to come with me?"

Immediately cutting her off, the youth queried why she was so desperate to accompany him.

"According to my Intel just moments ago, you, Ms. Fellora, were part of a captive group being transferred to different facility along with 50 different people. You manage to escape after your group mates attempted a ruckus, stirred the crowd into a riot, taking advantage of the situation, you attempted to escape along with the crowd. However, the chances of escaping altogether were slim to none considering the power of your captors. So, the escapees lessened their numbers by sacrificing your fellows, some volunteered to hold them off while some were pushed away to gain a single step away, in the end, only you were left but your captors still chased you after running so far from those facilities.

"Tell me, Ms. Fellora, after such desperate struggle to escape from those cages, why do you desperately beg to accompany me despite knowing that I will go to those said cages?"

"..."

For a while, Fellora held her breath by the long statement spoken calmly by the youth who did not pause or flinch. After he was done, she exhaled softly and tried to form her response in her head. In the end, she only felt shame that she could only reply such brief words under the pressure.

With her head hung low, hiding the guilt she felt, she could only say these few words.

"I want to save my little sister! Please, your Excellency! I don't ask to save her for me, I only ask that I accompany you until I can save her myself!"

She bowed her head so low that her body might drop from misbalance, but she didn't mind at all as she was only desperate to accompany to save her little sister, who was being held captive just like her moments ago.

If she could accompany the youth, whose legend stated that he was as powerful as the other Champions of the Goddess, she could have a higher chance to save her little sister herself. She came to this conclusion after asking and the youth said he will go save the other prisoners after gathering enough intelligence.

Although she wanted it hurry, she also knew that the youth couldn't hurry off to save everyone without preparations. She knew that he was acting on perfect logic and was moving in action in the shadows after conversing with him, but she wanted to hurry. She wanted to save her tight now.

However, she was powerless against the mysterious forces of the foreigners. With magic and technology unknown to her, even if there were hundreds of her, she wouldn't be able to save her.