Butler Han's mission

The old, damaged enormous mansion stood still with its outstanding might even after its weak appearance. Dark mist, around the mansion, seemingly having a life of its own, appeared feisty as if to devour every prey that come near it, without showing any mercy.

However, someone had already crossed the dark mist and even went into the mansion.

And now that someone was ensnared by the dry, thick vines, struggling to move and with every minute movement came an excruciating pain of his bones getting crushed by that relentless grip around his whole body. A low, guttural groan escaped his lips, as he tried to lift his hand to cast a spell.

'Uhh...It's a trap. How did I miss that trap? Have my...hah... skills got rusty with time?' Butler Han questioning his misstep inwardly while on outside he slipped out his hands from the merciless vines' grips, and as soon as he got his hand free, he performed some intricate patterns on thin air as if there was an invisible sheet of paper, before clasping his hands together.

Faint amber dot forming before Butler Han's clasped fingers as he concentrated his mana into the tiny dot and once that dot turned into huge amber sphere, he throws that sphere at the person like figure in front of it.

Not even a second after that, the person like figure standing some distance away vanished, and the vines turned into ashes, finally leaving Butler Han from its merciless grip. Butler Han, panting heavily, wiped the beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.

The whole process of him being ensnared and freeing himself from that vines' grip didn't even take more than a minute's time. Nevertheless, in the world outside of the mansion, a day has passed. Unknown of that, Butler Han walked forward, and this time he was ten times more vigilant than the first time.

'It was her. She was really here.' Butler Han stated, sensing the mana that he just felt for a split second, despite being a little injured from the previous surprise attack, he felt relieved because the purpose for which he had come here, would likely to be done. He went further into the mansion, searching every corner of the mansion to encounter that person again.

In his search, Butler Han arrived at a room that was different from others, the rooms before he went in were covered in dirt and in them there was nothing except for some furniture but in this room, it was completely empty.

But before he could even think something, a sudden attack was launched at him, however, this time he was ready, he dodged the sneak attack rapidly and swiftly chase towards the attacker.

'She's sure fast.' Butler Han speeding his chase to catch her, however, at that moment a sudden thought struck him. He halted his movement to confirm his doubt. Before his eyes, at some distance stood a figure, still as tree. 

That was the same figure, he saw earlier and was chasing after. He cursed after getting fooled again, 'Shit! she is playing with me.' 

From Butler Han's face the calm with which he entered the mansion has vanished and, in its place, there was a frustration, making him look scary.

Forsaking his internal frustration, he turned back, speeding back to that room, the room that contains nothing. In his mind, a grave thought concerning him. 'My powers has drastically decreased since I entered the mansion. No, it was even before that...it was mist and the air around this mansion that affected my mana. If this continues to go on, I will die here even before getting anything.'

Butler Han has checked all the rooms in the mansion, but that room never appeared again, like it was not even a part of this mansion.

Accumulated failed attempts, disheartened Butler Han, and at last he sat hunched forward, on a couch of the great room. His elbows resting heavily on his thighs, his brows furrowed deeply, a frown decorating his face. His head was cradled in both hands and fingers pressing firmly against his temples. 

'She is the only one that can answer the question, yet I didn't get a single sight of her, more so about asking her the question.' Butler Han sitting dejected, his thoughts unknown.

Not a minute later, he stood up, his eyes determined, his earlier calm reappearing on his face. "My Lord, I hope you could forgive this old butler, however, to complete the mission this is the only way I have left."

When those words escaped Butler's Han's lips, a glint of sorrow appeared in his eyes, his features softening for a while, recalling about the time he spent in Wurttemberg family, especially with Sigurd.

However, he closed his eyes and clenched his fist, diverting his mind from the painful thoughts and focusing on executing the plan that he prepared.

Meanwhile in the outer world, ten days have been passed since Butler Han went on a mission.

The Palace, where emperor live, was a place of great luxury, wealth and power. Those high and mighty walls, overwhelming to everyone whose gaze wander on it, and also threatening. Guards placed at every entry and exit, carrying their shiny weapons, shield and sword. Their whole body covered in armor, providing no way of looking at their true appearance.

In the large training ground of the Palace, knights were combating with each other, testing each other's strength. 

And in a place far from that training ground, a man stood still, his posture that of a swordsman, preparing to attack, his slender hands gripped the sword with utmost precise. As if the sky itself staring at you, the man's blue eyes look at his target, the straw dummy. 

Dew's expressionless face at this moment carried a hint of seriousness, his brows furrowed in intense focus, a bead of sweat slowly tracing down his forehead, catching the light just enough to shimmer before disappearing into the white fabric of his practice attire.

A gentle breath of wind stirred the air, causing his hair to flutter softly against his forehead. His appearance majestic and mesmerizing, however, it was unfortunate that no one was here to appreciate his enthrall image, otherwise they would have been bewitched by Dew.

Dew tightened his grip around his sword handle and dashed towards the target, leaping into the air with a ruthless precision that split the straw dummy clean in half with a single, powerful strike.

A smug smile tugging his lips upward at the sight in front of him. As he run his right hand through his soft hair, he turned around, and what appeared was multiple straw dummies split in halves.

'That old geezer 'precious medicinal drink' really seems to be affective, but can't he do something of its disgusting taste?' He thought, appreciating the same drink, however, he didn't have the gut to drink any more of it.

While thinking of that, he made his way to his room, but all of a sudden, Dew started feeling a heavy pain in his heart, he unconsciously put his left hand on his chest, trying to soothe the pain, however, it was a vain struggle. 

'What is happening? My heart...uhh...it feels like it will burst any moment. Is this because I drink that awful 'precious medicinal drink' of that old geezer. Ahh...I knew it! That drink could make anyone die!....Am I finally going to my world now? Marie...we will meet soon.' He said in his mind, while clutching his chest, sweating heavily as his face lost all colors.

If Eberhardt teacher heard what his student saying about his drink now, he would probably kill his student himself, saving his 'precious medicinal drink' reputation from getting ruined by his own student. 

Dew fell on the ground, his consciousness losing his mind, his eyes struggling to keep them open, but before they shut down, he saw that translucent blue light again. 

'You, okay...human?'

And this time he also heard something, but before he could register what was it, he fainted.