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Chapter 106: Test Of Courage Part Five

Phantasia: The Princess Knight

With the guard in the lead, Alicia stood outside a room where mournful cries could be heard from inside. She did not hesitate to open the door. But what she saw made her frown. "To think I let you live only to find out that you're actually part of the people doing these other horrific deeds." Alicia's eyes turned cold as she stepped forward with her sword. The guard from earlier that she had 'accidentally' dropped a fireball on was laying in his bed with his lower half uncovered, letting out pitiful cries of pain. Alicia who walked closer felt even more disgusted because she had to witness something she did not want to see! When the guard finally noticed someone had entered his room he finally cried out: "Who are you!?"

"Just the grim reaper..." Alicia's tone was very cold as her sword slid across the guard's throat.

The guard who led her to the room felt a shiver run down his spine. As he watched this young girl walk out of the room. "How many of these scum are there?"

"Including this one there are six. The rest should be in the storage room playing cards and drinking." The guard hastily answered.

"Hmmm… so only these six guards were helping her with her deeds? You and the other man never participated?" Alicia asked, her eyes locking on to the guard in front of her. Causing him to break out into a cold sweat.

"Never! The two of us only ever stood guard at the stairs leading to the third floor. We have witnessed all the deeds the Countess has done so we are willing to testify against her! Even though we witnessed these things we valued our lives and never tried to help any of the victims" The guard said truthfully.

"As long as you did not assist in any way then it's fine. As a slave, you would have no choice in having to deal with the situation. As long as you never did anything to the victims I won't punish you." Alicia knew that this man in front of her had no choice but to continue to do his job even if the dirty deeds of the Countess were being played out behind the closed doors just down the hall. As a slave who is branded, they would have no choice but to do as they were told or die. But those who actually assisted in the torture and doing the Countess's dirty work were not allowed to live their sins were beyond redemption.

Five minutes later Alicia was brought to a small storage room on the first floor. "Ahh! Don't touch me!" A female's voice sounded out in the silence of the night.

"Haha! You should be happy we chose you to service us! With the five of us we will make sure you feel, real good!" Hearing the female voice and then what the man said caused Alicia's anger to surge. The female's voice was a voice she knew all too well. Alicia kicked down the door sending it flying into the storage room causing the actions of everyone inside to stop in their tracks. Alicia looked around and saw Beth with her nightwear half ripped open cowering behind a few grain sacks as five men were surrounding her.

"Who the fuck are you!? Oh… Well, look at this boys! We got ourselves a spicy one! What's the matter? Did you get jealous because daddy here was not paying any attention to you? So you decided to serve yourse... " The guard's words were cut short when Alicia's sword pierced through his throat.

"More like you all came here to serve yourself up to me instead!" Alicia did not wait for the other guards to act as she moved quickly taking only half a minute to kill the remaining four. Alicia stood in the room blood dripping from her sword. She flicked her wrist, flinging the blood on her sword to the floor.

"Beth are you okay!?" Alicia asked as she ran over to Beth who was in the corner crying.

"Rachel! If not for you… If not for you! I would have… Thank you!" Tears streamed down Rachel's cheeks as she cried. Alicia gently hugged the poor girl doing her best to comfort her. The guard who led Alicia here took off his jacket and handed it to Alicia so she could cover Beth.

"Miss, It was a good thing you came or your friend here..." The guard's voice trailed off. He knew many of the girls in this place were ruined in the same way. Luckily this time Alicia showed up before Beth had the same ending as the rest.

"I do not understand the men of this world. All of them who commit crimes seem to only care about money and women!" Alicia thought back to all the bandits she got rid of on her way to the capital. Most of them had women that were kidnapped and brought back to be used as tools for the bandits' lust. She really hated this kind of thing the most! "You, take Beth back. If I find out you did anything indecent to her I will not hesitate to kill you where you stand!"

"I would not dare! This kind of thing is something I could never do. I at least have my own morals. I might find some of the girls here to be to my liking but I would never force myself on to any of them!" The guard was not stupid. As he said he really never had such thoughts. But even if he did he would never do it to someone who was close with this death god in front of him. This girl who was only fifteen was killing people without batting an eye and doing it as if she was a professional!

"Good, take Beth back to her room. Stand guard outside the female servant quarters and do not enter this house again. I will come out to find you soon. " Alicia stood up supporting Beth as she did. She whispered a few things into Beth's ear which made Beth's eyes go wide and stare at Alicia in disbelief. Alicia only smiled and passed Beth to the guard and sent them on their way. Only when she saw them exit the building did she make her way to the third floor.

Outside on the snowy path, Beth was supported by the guard. She looked up at the guard and asked: "What's your name?"

"Aha, it's Gram..." The guard awkwardly answered.

"Then Gram I thank you for your help." Beth was truly grateful. If this guard did not bring Alicia there at that time, she would have committed suicide. She would rather die than be used as a toy by those men.

"No, no I did not do anything that is worthy of thanks. I only led the Miss there. But I have to ask what did the Miss tell you earlier?" The guard was very curious as to what was actually said after seeing Beth's reaction earlier.

"She said our freedom will come when the clock's bell tolls."

Chapter 107: Test Of Courage Part Six

Phantasia: The Princess Knight

Alicia made her way to the third floor. Which only had a small hallway that led to a single door. Alicia used her detection magic to verify that there was only one person in the room. Once she did she quietly opened the door and walked inside. The room was wide open with no walls. In the middle of the room was a large bed that could easily fill six of the servant quarter rooms. Upon that bed was a woman who looked around twenty to thirty years old. When Alicia stood next to the bed she was actually quite stunned to see that this Countess was very beautiful. Nothing like what she was expecting. She had originally thought that maybe the Countess was disfigured in some way. But it seems her assumption was way off.

Standing not too far away was a tall clock, Alicia looked at the time that showed it was five minutes until midnight. Letting out a long sigh, Alicia formed a ball of ice water in her hand and tossed it at the sleeping beauty on the bed. "Ahhh!!! Who dares!? I will cut you to pieces!"

"You will never get that chance." Alicia's cold voice filled the room. The Countess quickly turned her head towards the sound of the voice and laughed when she saw who it was.

"Hehe! Did you think a mere slave can harm its master!?" The Countess's face became sinister as she waved her hand. But the expecting screams of pain caused by the slave brand did not echo throughout the room causing the Countess's expression to quickly change. "You!? What have you done? Why is your slave brand not working?"

"Slave brand? That bit of magic is easy to remove. Forget about the slave brand, Countess Eleanor Covett we only have a few minutes before the bell tolls so let me ask you why are you doing such atrocious acts?" Alicia asked as she patted her shoulder with her sword.

The Countess let out a laugh not fearing Alicia in the slightest. "Atrocious acts? How are they Atrocious? I bought these slaves with my own money! How I treat them and what I use them for is up to me! If I want to rip a little bitches organs out or cut her head off, what right do you have to stop me!? Just like you, I bought you as well! You belong to me! You are nothing more than property to me! Me killing a few of you is nothing! Hahaha!"

Alicia watched as the Countess expression changed over and over until it finally showed one of insanity. Alicia only shook her head before waving her hand causing a wall of fire to surround the huge bed. "You can think of slaves as personal property because you did indeed purchase them. But killing, torturing, and beating them is not okay. I will now pass judgment down on to you. For the crime of committing horrific acts against humanity your death will not be quick but a slow death by fire. You will experience the pain and fear of those you have killed before you die."

After finishing her words Alicia waved her hand causing a restriction spell to be casted on the Countess, making it so she could not cast any magic what so ever. With another wave of her hand, she turned the whole bedroom into a sea of fire before turning to leave the room. Even the ceiling was set on fire. The one spot that was not burning was the bed the Countess siting was on.

When Alicia reached the door she turned back and looked at the Countess's face. Seeing that look of disbelief, confusion, and fear, made Alicia hope that maybe this can allow those souls that suffered and died under the Countess's hands, can now rest in peace.

Alicia made her way down to the second floor and entered the room where Samantha's body was dismembered. She waved her hand and wrapped each body part in Magicules before bringing them to her side. She then turned and left the room after throwing a fireball into the room. She picked up the guard she knocked out and made her way towards the servant's door. With each step, she would set another portion of the house on fire. By the time she made it outside the entire house was engulfed in flames. She walked towards the servant quarters with her sword in one hand and the guard int he other. The light from the flames lighting her back.

Alicia walked up to the servant quarters to see about twenty young girls in dirty rags standing outside with the guard. "Who are they?"

"Miss! These girls are all from the dungeon at the back of the house. After I returned with the girl you rescued, I quickly ran over there and released them. No one ever guarded the dungeon and food was only ever sent there once a week. So I knew I could easily get them out." Gram explained.

"I see… I didn't even know that there was a dungeon here. Good job… Err.. a little late but what was your name?" Alicia felt a bit bad she had made this guard do so much but never asked his name.

"Miss My name is Gram!" The guard replied happily.

Well, Gram, my names Rachel, and I have to say thank you to you. you were a huge help. And thank you for saving those in the dungeon. The last thing I will ask of you is if you can take this guy here." Alicia said as she tossed over the knocked out guard.

"Yes, of course!" Gram quickly took his unconscious friend from Alicia. He then looked at the mass floating next to Alicia. "Umm Miss what is that next to you..." Samantha's remains were floating next to Alicia but were not very discernable in the dark with the light of the fire behind it. Making it hard to make out what exactly it was.

"This was Samantha, the girl who was last killed by the Countess. Give me a few minutes to give her a proper burial. Oh, if you would, can you go call all the servants out? Everyone should see this sight for themselves." Alicia said before turning and walking over to a large nearby tree. She waved her hand and created a three meter hole and slowly lowered Samantha's remains inside it. She then covered it up before kneeling down at the side.

"Samantha we did not know each other for very long. But the few days that I did know you, the care you gave to me really touched me. Because of you, I was able to eat more than a single meal a day. But because of that you also had to undergo unimaginable things. This is something I will remember my entire life. I will remember you and your kindness for the rest of my life." Alicia finished saying her words and closed her eyes giving a moment of silence.

"Rachel!" Beth came running over to Alicia, tossed her arms around Alicia, and hugged Alicia tightly.

"Beth listen..." Alicia said as she looked up at the tall tower that was now a fiery pillar.

*Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!*

"That is the sound of freedom!" Alicia said as she smiled at Beth. Beth looked up at the burning tower then back at Alicia, tears flooded her eyes.

As the clock rang its last, Alicia's vision went white and in an instant, she was back in the large training grounds standing outside the Illusion World. The first person she saw was King Augustus. Alicia remembered all the things that had happened and the fact that she did not get any message on the conditions to complete the task at hand. Seeing how her father was here. She pieced two and two together and knew that this damn father of hers was the cause! She walked step by step towards King Augustus with an angry expression on her face. She did not care what anyone thought of her at this time as she walked right up to King Augustus.

"Alicia, let me explain… Ow! Ouch damn, that hurts!" King Augustus was currently hopping up and down on one foot after Alicia had just ruthlessly kicked him in the shin. All those who saw this scene were rendered speechless.