Chapter 34: The hidden truth

###Chapter 34: The hidden Truth

"They're buying time… to free Mondryn," Eldren said, his voice low and steady, each word laced with an ominous certainty that sent chills through the air.

Everyone around him gasped audibly, the sheer weight of his words settling over them like a suffocating fog.

"You think that's their real goal?" Lea asked, her tone trembling slightly as her wide eyes searched his face for any hint of doubt.

Eldren nodded grimly, his expression unwavering. "There's no other explanation that makes sense."

Icelyn gritted her teeth, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Wait, are we absolutely sure about this? What if—"

"There's no doubt," Eldren interrupted firmly, his voice cutting through her hesitation like a blade. "Everything they've done so far... every move they've made… it all points to this one plan."

A tense silence followed his declaration, hanging heavily over the group. The distant crackling of fires and the faint echoes of chaos in the ruins around them were the only sounds to break the stillness.

"Grrr," Icelyn growled, clenching her fists tightly, the veins on her hands visible as her frustration boiled over. "Then we need to—"

Her words were abruptly interrupted by the sound of footsteps echoing in the distance. The sudden noise sliced through the quiet, and the group instinctively turned toward the source.

A figure began to emerge from the swirling dust and smoke that blanketed the ruined landscape.

And then, they saw him.

It was their teacher.

Icelyn's eyes widened in disbelief as she staggered back a step.

"Huh? What—how—" she stammered, her voice unsteady.

"I saw you get cleaved in half in the dungeon! How are you still alive?"

The man smirked coldly, his expression sharp and calculating.

"Tsk tsk tsk," he said, wagging a finger as if scolding a child. "How very naïve for a Celestial hero to assume so much."

Icelyn's shock quickly melted away, replaced by a fiery anger. Her hand shot to her weapon, her grip tightening around its hilt. Her jaw set, and her eyes narrowed as she glared at him.

"Hmph. Now you've done it," she said, her voice low and dangerous, practically vibrating with restrained fury.

She turned to the group, her gaze hard and commanding.

"Go now. Stop Mondryn. I'll deal with him and catch up with you later."

"Are you sure?" Liana asked hesitantly, her voice betraying her worry.

"Yes," Icelyn replied, her tone sharp and resolute. "I'm very sure. Now go."

Lea hesitated for a brief moment, her concern evident in the way she lingered, but then she nodded.

"Alright… let's go!" she said, her voice firm as she motioned for the others to follow her.

Without wasting another second, the group turned and sprinted off, their footsteps pounding against the ground, fading into the distance as they left Icelyn behind.

As they ran, the air around them seemed to grow heavier with every step, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on their chests like a weight. Lea couldn't help but steal glances at Arie, who ran alongside her. His pace was steady, but his posture and expression betrayed his inner turmoil.

He looked downcast—no, worse than that. He looked scared.

Lea's gaze lingered on him, her mind racing with questions. What was wrong with him? Why does he look so hopeless? She wanted to say something, to reach out and pull him out of whatever darkness he was trapped in, but now wasn't the time.

There were far more pressing matters at hand.

Shaking her head, she pushed the thought aside and focused on the path ahead. The prison holding Mondryn was close, and every second they wasted brought the enemy closer to achieving their goal.

The charred remains of the kingdom blurred past them as they sprinted, weaving between debris and rubble. Suddenly, they came to an abrupt halt, their path blocked by two figures standing in their way.

The two knights were an imposing sight.

One of them radiated an odd, almost suffocating aura—a dark, sinister energy that Eldren could feel pulsing in the air like invisible waves. It wrapped around the knight like a shroud, threatening to choke anyone who dared to come close.

The other knight was a stark contrast. His demeanor was calm, serene even, and his stance exuded an air of unshakable confidence. Yet, there was something deeply unsettling about him. His mana was completely undetectable, as if he were a void, a blank space in the flow of energy.

Agin and Eldren exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.

"We'll handle this," Agin said firmly, his voice steady and resolute.

"Go on ahead," Eldren added, stepping forward with purpose, his gaze locked onto the two knights with an intensity that made the air seem colder.

Lea hesitated, her brow furrowed with concern.

"But—"

Eldren turned to face her, his expression dark and chilling. His eyes suddenly flared with an otherworldly purple light, their glow casting eerie shadows on his face. The sight sent a shiver down her spine.

"I'm a hero," he said, his voice low and cold, yet filled with a weight that left no room for argument. "Don't forget that."

Lea swallowed her protests, nodding reluctantly. "Alright… just stay alive," she said softly before turning away.

Without another word, Lea, Liana, and Arie resumed their sprint, their hearts pounding in their chests as fear and determination warred within them.

The air grew heavier and colder the closer they got to their destination. The crumbling ruins of the kingdom gradually gave way to the foreboding presence of Mondryn's prison. Their pace slowed to a cautious walk, the oppressive silence amplifying the sound of their footsteps.

Each step echoed in the cavernous space, their breathing shallow as the tension mounted.

Finally, they arrived at Mondryn's cage.

And what they saw stopped them dead in their tracks.

Their eyes widened in shock, their breath catching in their throats as the realization hit them like a hammer.

"What the—" "Why—" Lea whispered, her voice breaking as she staggered back, her mind refusing to accept the horrifying reality before her.

The final battle was about to begin...

To be continued...