Chapter 41

In the middle of crossroads, four people found each other there.

"Alex!" cried Reius as he ran to hug Alexander.

"Reius? What are you doing here?" asked Alexander as he looked at Reius in shocked. Silently wondering why everyone looked worse for wear. The same could go to Alfred who stared curiously at the final occupant, "The same could be said for you as well, Kevin."

Kevin was strangely enough here as well, much to the astonishment of everyone. His clothes and gloved hands were stained with what seemed to be green goop. A knife in his hand was stained with the same substance.

"I came here to keep the idiot safe and just so happened to meet monkey boy over there." explained Kevin as he pointed to Reius, who was still hugging Alexander.

'How the hell did he find us, never mind I need to get monkey boy off me first,' thought Alexander as he attempted to wrestle out of the hug. Taking the nickname Kevin had given Reius as his own.

"Where in the world are we?" asked Alexander as he finally escaped from the embrace.

"Or more specifically which direction should we go." said Kevin as he took a quick glance at the four paths. He found it odd though for some wonderful reasons on how the four of them would be able to meet up at the same point.

They shocked their heads. Suddenly, a wave of pain hit Alexander. Hands on his head, Alexander dropped to the floor. Teeth clenched, trying to process the sudden headache.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!"

Alfred was about to help his master up till the latter raised a hand. Informing him, not to help. Steadying himself against the wall, Alexander was once again hit with a another bout of pain however this time accompanied with a vision.

'What the heck is this' thought Alexander silently as he stared into the mist. Eventually, they parted to reveal a familiar group of people in a church hall. Bound and injured. ' William!' Alexander wanted to shout but he couldn't as he stared at the limp figure on the ground. unconscious. A voice entered his mind, one he found strangely familiar, " You must hurry! before it's too late!" however before he could say anything at all, the Vision was cleared out and he was backed to reality

(Alexander POV)

I had returned to reality.

The pain was still in my head however the first thing I noticed was Reius's face just inches away from me.

*slap!*

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?! I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU MOUTH TO MOUTH RESUSCITATION!" shouted Reius from across the room. A red slap mark across his cheek.

" I would rather have Alfred or Kevin performed that. Rather than you." I said, those words were probably but seriously, who knows what will happen.

Alfred was practically sparkling while Kevin had an utter look of disgust painted on his face.

'Ya ya, I get it. Don't worry I won't make you do it.'

As the little comedy act continued, I noticed something from the corner of my eye. A trail of blue smoke. The reminder of that voice came back again.

"Let's follow it" I whispered.

Before anyone else could say a word, I quickly followed after the trail. The rest running right behind.

(Timeskip)

Everyone was sweating, however we finally made it. Right in front of us was a large door and there was...

"WILLIAM!" shouted Kevin and I.

William in an attempt to cut off his bindings had been pushed aside by a shadowy force and attacked. Striking his neck.

Casting a spell, I sent the shadowy creature back, sending it flying against the wall.

Kevin went ahead first, crouching down. He held William in his arms. Blood continued to trickle down the open wound as he became unconscious.

"William. Stay together, please hold on." said Kevin, as he used a torn piece of cloth to clot the blood.

'Can you check if his alive, first!'

"Let us help!"

Thanks to Reius, Ross and Theo were able to get out of their bounds." We can try to William but you'll need to find Oliver and Mr fletcher. They aren't in a good state right now. ."

Mr fletcher? Looking around, I suddenly realised that he wasn't here at all.

"Reius, Alfred, Kevin. Let's go." I ordered as we quickly followed after the smoke. It's traces getting thinner. Leaving behind the injured William with Theo and Ross.

Running through the corridors, we shot arrow after arrow, knife after knife and spell after spell to the creature.

Until finally we reached the dead end.

"There's no escape." said Kevin as he readied a knife.

The shadowy figure, smiled. " Hee hee. Did you really think I wouldn't have planned ahead."

Before any of us could register those words, a figure lunged at us. Nearly stabbing Alfred before being pulled in by Reius, who quickly slashed against the unknown attacker with a dagger. As the attacker stumbled, we finally got a good look of his face.

"What the heck..."

"Mr Fletcher...."

Standing there before us was Mr Fletcher, awake. His face was contorted in a scowl. Blood was splattered all over his pristine white suit, as he stared hard at us. Ignoring the wound of his left shoulder.

"You know this guy." asked Kevin as he pointed a pistol at him. Reius and I nodded, grudgingly. It wasn't possible, right?

The scowl, Mr Fletcher-no, Alistair had turned into a sinister smile. He then started laughing, " Hahahaha! So you've finally figured out huh."

Reius had a puzzled look on his face but I deduced it already. My suspicions were right.

"You...were the one who killed all the students, weren't you. Then when you made a move on the sister's school, you had prepared everything so that William would be to the one to take the fall."

Alistair continued to smile happily, " Very clever of you, Prince Alexander. I suppose you also found out my escape plan. "

The passageways.

"Heehehee. Well what are you waiting for , Alistair. Finish them off." Called out that voice once again. It was strangely familiar, something that I dread.

Alistair's eyes turned empty as he raised his dagger. Before rushing towards us, sending a spell that caused us to fly back.

Kevin and Alfred were able to find ground before sending multiple attacks against him only to be blocked by creatures of unknown.

A flying insect and a monstrous jester.

The insect flew towards Kevin first, blasting a jet of green energy. Thankfully, he was able to dodge it before shooting a round of bullets at it. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the wall behind us. The insect simply flew around, dodging the bullets.

(3rd person POV)

As the battle continued, Reius found himself confronting none other than Alistair himself.

"Why are you doing this, Alistair?!" shouted Reius as he swung a golok Rembau at him. Only to be met with a shield spell.

"Why else. To achieve a new world, Aum Madura will grant us that very wish and everyone will finally be happy." said the manic Alistair as he kicked Reius in the stomach before stealing the golok Rembau and stabbing in the abdomen.

"Aaargh!" Reius winced as the curved blade dug its way into his flesh. Grabbing Alistair's arm, Reius kneeled him in torso. Pushing him to the floor, allowing Reius to get away, hands against the wound. Blood slipping through.

"Reius !" Supporting him, Alexander checked on the wound. Grimacing, he performed a small spell. Reius upon seeing the wound closed, widened his eyes in amazement. Even within the walls of the palace he had never seen any sort of performance as great as this.

"Don't be so happy, it's only a temporary solution. It'll reopen if you -" Alexander was cut short as a spell was sent their way. Alistair had finally gotten up, anger in his eyes as dark miasma surrounded on him.

Alexander sighed, " Never mind, let's just focus on him alright." Reius nodded in response. The two then rushed forward, weapons drawn.

Meanwhile, dealing with the unknown creatures, Kevin and Alfred had far less enjoyment. The creatures, they realised were completely immune to any sort of attack except magic but that was also difficult to pull off.

As Kevin dodged another energy blast from the flying one, he quickly attempted to devise a plan.

'This guys nimble and can fly very quickly. His strength probably lies in those energy blasts from his eyes. All in all, his strong.' thought Kevin as he strikes into the creature's appendages. Disorienting it for a while.

"Alfred! How you doing back there." asked Kevin.

Alfred rolled his eyes, he was in a state to talk lest he was to be clawed into pieces. Deflecting another attack from the clown monster, he punched it in the face. He found the creature's constant smile and laughter annoying, made even with the fact it kept jumping around.

Backing up against the other, Alfred whispered, " You have a plan?"

"Ya. In...3...2....Now dodge!"

Dropping to the ground, the creatures in their haste to eliminate the two aides, had collided with the other with their attacks out. Completely destroying each other.

"So that's what you meant" Muttered Alfred as he noted how the creature's didn't seem to leave any entrails but vanished in a trail of miasma.

Kevin nodded in response before hurrying towards the others, Alfred following close behind.

Alistair was currently fighting against Reius and Alexander. Sword against magic and vice versa. The most surprising to them was the amount of blood that was being spewed out between the three.

Grabbing the forgotten bow and arrow on the floor, Alfred quickly took aim at the teacher. Releasing it to cut through the man's shoulder, distracting him for a while.

Suddenly, the giggling arise.

'Shit. It's here again." thought Alexander, as he tried to concentrate trying to locate the shadow, a little difficult with how his left eye was now left impaired with all the blood from his cut on the forehead.

"Heehehhehee. Are you in need of help, my dear Alistair?" said the creature, as it formed into a shadowy shape. Its ever visible smile there. Alistair in that very moment, stopped in his actions before kneeling in respect.

"Of course not, after all I will sacrifice myself for all of Aum Madaura with my own will power." replied the now, most likely, unstable Alistair.

Suddenly, everyone felt a chill down their spines. Something about that person wasn't right.

"But it wouldn't be fair" giggling the shadow entangled itself on Alistair's arm " After all, as the shadow of Aum madaura I too should give my support."

Before Alistair could utter a word however, a sword made its way through his chest. Everyone stood in shock, too surprise to say anything as they stared at the clean cut that the blade had made.

Alistair in his shock, widened his eyes, turned to the shadow. Inaudible noises began to form as blood trickled out from his mouth before the sword was finally pulled out. His body falling to the ground with a ' thump'

Reius in a hurry quickly ran towards him. Checking his vitals. Fearing the worse.

However, the unexpected happened as a new voice joined in.

"Alistair?"

The voice or voices as it echoed belonged to the now, entangled was Oliver. Tears rolling down his cheeks as he saw the body of his teacher on the ground and in that moment, all hell broke loose.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"