Chapter 38

Sealing. That was what he had decided to call his Legacy. The word wasn't a perfect descriptor of the ability, but it was a functional one.

The maid, who entered the room began to be even more anxious.

"My lady, you don't need to be so nervous." Locke chuckled. "I'm only fourteen."

Indeed, the maid was actually the Duke's daughter, Selestia, costuming as a maid to hide her identity.

"You can imagine the tense situation right now." Locke said. "This will offer us an opportunity to lead you out of the Palace safely in case something really goes awry." Locke explained.

He then walked over to the armchair and began reading his book again. He pointed to the bed to the Duke's daughter. "You can rest, lady."

However she looked at him with suspicion. This was the first time she was alone with someone of the opposite sex in a room at night. It was natural to be nervous.

Locke realized that, so he lifted the beautiful red Hibiscus from his breast pocket before muttering. "You can unwind for a bit." To the flower in his hand, confusing Selestia.

However, in front of her horrified eyes, the Hibiscus grew into a beautiful green haired teen girl. Her body was covered with leaves and flowers as clothes.

"I much prefered sleeping in your pocket." The Dryad, Hibiscus said angrily. Staying away from the forest makes transformation a headache." Then she turned and looked at Selestia.

"How many women are you helping smuggle. First me, now this Duke's daughter? I still don't understand how he noticed my transformation." Hibiscus continued yapping.

"It is about to be midnight. Stop talking so much. There's a flowerpot here, you can use it to replenish yourself." Locke muttered as he returned to his book.

"That's not how Dryads work, dummy!" She retorted in a part whisper and part scream. Her words finally brought Selestia out of her reverie.

"You...are a Dryad?" Selestia asked.

"Um Hm. I'll look over you, now you can go sleep without worry." Hibiscus said with a sneer. Obviously she had seen and understood why Locke made her transform. Hibiscus thought that this girl thought too highly about herself.

Embarrassed, she nodded and went to bed, but couldn't sleep.

"What are you doing Dryad?" Locke asked in irritation when he saw her trying to sneak into the bed as well.

"Just mind your own business, stupid lad. This girl doesn't mind, what is your problem?" Hibiscus yapped back. Meanwhile, Selestia was flushing red, her face turned towards the wall.

"Shh." Locke said. He heard Ghost in his mind saying something was wrong. He magically tossed the book into his pocket, before heading to the window. He had already used his ability to Seal the window. He observed as the lights in the Palace were slowly turning off.

The room was silent, but he was mentally communicating with Ghost, whose perceptions were blowing him away at the moment. She could describe from vibrations how many people were moving about.

"A hundred people!" Locke thought in shock. "That's just what I can detect. My range is limited." Ghost replied.

"What are they doing?" Locke asked.

"They seem to be...invading the palace." Ghost struggled to describe what she perceived.

Right then a huge explosion rang out. Locke turned his gaze through the window. The roof of one corner of the palace was crumbling under the weight of an explosion. A lady with fire for hair, fire fire in her eyes, and fire erupting from various joints of her body and huge flame bowls on her fists was hysterically laughing. Locke was immediately reminded of Ghost rider back from earth, but the lady didn't have a skull for a face.

She was too far to make clear distinguishing identification, however, Locke soon gave up. Because, behind her, Locke observed a legion of similar fire clad people rushing in like troops. He immediately recollected about a description he had read in a book as kid.

"Pyromaniacs." Locke muttered. They were the Templars of the Fire God Temple, and considered heretics in the Sun Kingdom which only recognised the Sun God. "Looks like the Fire Nation is involved in the matter."

Unlike the Sun Kingdom, where the country was governed by a nobility with a loose association with the Sun Temple, the Fire Nation was a full blown theocracy. The Fire Pope ruled the nation directly and the Pyromaniacs were the footsoldiers.

"The Archmage is acting now." Ghost mentally projected to Locke.

The entire distant section of the palace was now littered in colorful lights and explosions. The vibrations seemed to have woken everyone up, as chaos was already ensuing.

"I can smell Flames." The Dryad mumbled amidst severe yawns.

Selestia had been too embarrassed by the Dryad's touchy behavior to notice anything till now but when she woke up, she saw Locke observing out of the window in utmost seriousness.

"Hibiscus, return to flower form. Lady Selestia, please act like a maid. We need to move out, now. The Palace is being invaded by the Fire Nation's Templars." Locke ordered.

---

In the corridors of the Palace, a protracted battle was taking place between Lum City guards led by the Archmage, against a horde of Pyromaniacs.

"Claithe, where are you?" Duke Lum used his magically elevated voice to request for reinforcements of the Great Knight.

"Right here." Duke Claithe had already arrived with his diamond crusted sword, slashing away at the the flame exploding opponents.

However, he soon had a serious expression. "Something's very wrong!" He yelled at the Archmage.

"It's the bastard Gainsbraith. He's commanding them telepathically!" Duke Lum sneered in rage.

Claithe understood. It was no wonder that their tactics were immediately seen through and negated. However, Claithe was still a Great Knight. He continued to trick his opponents and slash them to death. The Archmage was waving complex spells of water that were leaving the frontline of the opponent's powerless.

At that moment, the lady Pyromaniac that Locke had observed earlier directly clashed with the Archmage while cackling like a hen.