Quest with Laura and Seraphina: Starlight Blossom (3/4)

Somewhere deep within a grand temple, the air was thick with the scent of incense. A priest, robed in deep purple and gold, knelt before an idol that resembled a god with the head of a jackal. The figure was ancient, its stone face cold and aloof, but the priest's hands trembled as he murmured a prayer.

"Lord Wepwaet, the Great Wolf Deity, hear my plea," the priest whispered, his voice barely audible over the soft echoes of the temple's hollowed halls. "Grant me your power... I will see it through."

His eyes were closed in devotion when a figure stepped from the shadows. A man dressed in a dark hood, his face concealed, approached with purpose. He was silent for a moment before speaking.

"It's a failure, Father," the hooded man said quietly. "The 'Clown' was defeated."

The priest's lips turned into a thin, disdainful smile. He stood and turned slowly, facing the hooded figure. "Of course they were. Rank-2 clowns are hardly fit for the task."

He turned away, pacing as he spoke, muttering to himself. "No, this is too important. I will not let it slip away because of their incompetence."

"Shall we send a few more elites then?" the subordinate asked.

"No, Send a King clown," the priest replied, his voice sharp and commanding. "A Rank-1 will get the job done. Do not fail me again."

As the man turned to leave, the priest paused, his hand touching the scar that damaged his left eye. His fingers lingered over it, and he muttered a name under his breath, "Cynthia."

"I promised I wouldn't touch your son… but Kael is my only option now. If I want to convince your Moonstone heiress to help me, Kael is the key," the priest murmured, his words tinged with determination.

At the same time, in an underground dim-lit cellar, a frail young woman was lying on the stone bed, her limbs were chained. She slowly curled up and mumbled in a hoarse tone, "Kael… I…"

Back in Darkwood Forest, Kael blinked as he slowly regained consciousness. He felt a soft weight under his head, and when his eyes focused, he realized he was lying in Laura's lap, resting against the base of a large tree.

"Laura…"

He saw her face—a worried, tear-streaked expression framed by her long, dark hair. Her arms were wrapped tightly around him as she sobbed quietly.

"Kael… Kael, you're awake!" Laura cried out, her voice breaking as she hugged him fiercely. "I was so scared! I thought I lost you!"

Kael groaned slightly, rubbing his head. "What happened?" His voice was hoarse, and he glanced around as if he was trying to make sense of the situation.

"You were struck by that mage's icy blast… you fell unconscious," Laura explained, her voice thick with emotion. "After that, we were attacked. The Clowns of Ark, they tried to take you, but they—" She paused, taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Seraphina and I fought them off. But… you were out for so long, and I didn't know if you'd wake up."

Seraphina, who had been standing nearby, observing them both with a stoic expression, spoke up. "It was strange. That mage wasn't the only threat. There was Assassin K too. Thankfully, he only took care of the mage, but… I feel like something is missing."

Kael blinked, looking between Laura and Seraphina. "Assassin K? That Noble Assassin saved me?" he repeated, making a face of disbelief. "Why? Didn't he hate nobles?"

"Who knows…" Seraphina shrugged. "What matters is that you are safe."

"Yes." Laura nodded, wiping her tears away. "It doesn't matter. You are safe and all that matters to me.

Kael frowned slightly, "Seems strange. But I'm glad the situation was sorted out."

After a brief exchange of worried looks and concerns, the group debated whether they should continue or head back. Kael, still uncertain but resolved, stood up slowly and brushed the dirt off his clothes.

"We can't stay here," he said, his voice steadying. "We're on a mission. We need to get to the Blossom Valley."

Laura hesitated but nodded. "You're right. We can't let this delay us any longer. But… be careful. We don't know what's out there."

After sparing a final glance at the corpse of the clown, Kael pressed forward.

They made their way back to the root bridge, where the adventurers were still recovering, lying unconscious on the forest floor.

"We'll wait until they wake up," Kael said, looking down at the fallen adventurers.

He then faced his wives and bowed in apology, "I'm sorry. I should have spent more money hiring a stronger team. Because of me, both of you were put in danger."

Seraphina, watching him, smiled gently. "No one could anticipate such an incident. You are not at fault here."

Laura hugged him hurriedly. "Don't speak like that. We are husband and wife. Whether it is life or death, I'll always be on your side. It's my duty to protect you, whoever it might be."

Kael felt touched but didn't comment further. He could only smile and caress her hair in a smile. "Thank you."

After a while, the group of seven continued onward, crossing the bridge and heading deeper into the forest. The air grew thicker as they ventured further, the trees closing in on them and casting the path in shadow.

With Seraphina leading the way, the group navigated the dense woods with careful precision. Every now and then, she'd stop to warn them of hidden traps or poisonous plants. The group followed her lead, trusting her expertise.

"This plant here," Seraphina pointed to a delicate flower growing near the base of a tree, "is highly toxic. It might look harmless, but one touch can leave you paralyzed for hours."

"Why are there so many dangerous plants in these woods?" one of the adventurers asked, wary as they stepped around the plant.

"Darkwood Forest is known for its poisonous flora," Seraphina explained, her voice calm but authoritative. "You need to be cautious of everything—plants, animals, and even the air you breathe. Sometimes, some plants release toxic substances into the air, giving you hallucinations if you are careless."

They continued on, stepping carefully through the underbrush, avoiding thick vines and the occasional wild boar that crossed their path. Kael found himself impressed with Seraphina's extensive knowledge of the forest. She seemed to know every inch of the woods, guiding them safely through its many hazards.

Laura, however, puffed her cheeks in frustration when she saw Kael giving Seraphina constant praise every now and then. "You always give her all the credit," she couldn't help but mutter at some point, crossing her arms.

Kael chuckled, glancing at Laura. "It's just that she knows so much about the forest. It's impressive."

Seraphina, overhearing, gave them both a look of mild amusement. "Focus on the task at hand, will you?"

The group pressed on until, after what felt like hours, they finally reached an open space in the woods. The air here smelled sweet, and the ground was covered in colorful blooms.

"We are here."

It was the famed Blossom Valley.

Seraphina halted them before they could rush forward. "Hold on," she cautioned. "Not all of these flowers are safe. Some look just like the Starlight Blossom, but they're poisonous."

"Poisonous?" Laura raised an eyebrow. "But they're so beautiful."

"They are," Seraphina agreed. "But there's no time to admire them. We'll wait until nightfall. That's when the Starlight Blossom's true form will reveal itself."

Kael glanced at the vast sea of flowers. "Understood. We'll wait."

As the group settled down in the clearing, the day grew quieter. The faint glow of the flowers seemed to pulse in time with the rhythm of the forest itself.

The sun dipped low, casting a warm golden hue across the forest as the group set up camp. The sounds of rustling leaves and the occasional bird call filled the air as they worked in sync, preparing for the night ahead.

Just as the last rays of the sun began to fade, a group of five adventurers emerged from the woodland boundary. They were a mix of men and women, their faces grim as they approached the camp. Upon spotting the princesses, their expressions changed instantly—eyes widening, their gazes shifting between the group of women with a mix of awe and wariness.

One of the men, taller and with a scar over his right cheek, stepped forward with a cautious smile. "Well, well," he said, his tone laced with a touch of respect. "Seems like we're not the only ones with a vested interest in the special flower."

Kael glanced at Seraphina, who raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" he asked, his confusion evident.

The adventurers exchanged glances before the leader spoke again. "You're here for the Crescent Starlight flower, aren't you?"

Seraphina's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting this. "The Crescent Starlight?" she echoed as if confirming what she had heard.

The rest of the group stood in confusion. Laura tilted her head, whispering, "What's that?"

Seraphina took a deep breath, her gaze settling on Kael as she explained. "Every decade or so, a special Starlight flower blooms here. It's said to have extraordinary properties. Not only is it incredibly valuable for its use in potions, but… in rare cases, it's even been known to revive the dead."

Kael's eyes lit up at the mention of revival. "Revive the dead? That could mean a lot of merits for me! The rewards would be huge!" He grinned at the thought of the possibilities.

Seraphina nodded, but there was a note of concern in her voice. "I didn't expect the flower to bloom this time. It's a rare event, and we have to be cautious. We're not the only ones after it."

A female warrior of the group smacked the leader on the back of the head. "You idiot! Because of your slip, we now have to fight unnecessarily," she snapped. The leader who had made the mistake winced but didn't respond, shifting uncomfortably under the scolding.

The air immediately thickened with tension. The five adventurers drew their weapons, their eyes narrowing as they pointed their blades toward Kael's group. "We don't care who you are. We're not here for a friendly chat," the leader growled. "Leave now, or there'll be trouble."

Kael's group instinctively reached for their own weapons, their bodies poised for a fight. But Seraphina, calm as ever, held out a hand to stop them. "It's Kael's decision whether we stay or go," she said quietly, her voice a calm authority that still held the weight of command.

Kael looked at the group of adventurers, weighing his options. The tension was thick, the air crackling with unspoken threats. He smiled then, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"How about a little competition?" Kael said, his voice confident. "We'll settle this the old-fashioned way. I and my four teammates over here challenge to a pure arm wrestling match. No equipment, no mana, or any skills. Whoever wins three out of five matches takes the special flower."

The rival adventurers stared at him in shock, clearly not expecting the challenge. The leader's eyes narrowed, sizing Kael up. "Arm wrestling? You?" he repeated, skepticism in his voice. "A measly Tier-1?"

Kael nodded firmly. "Absolutely. I may be a Tier-1, but I have muscles to compete." He rolled up his sleeves to show off his impossibly smooth skin. It almost made the rival adventurers laugh but they managed to hold it.

"Uhh, Dear, that is not wise. You are definitely not a match for…" Seraphina tried to interrupt, but Kael waved his hand, dismissing her. "Trust me." He said, shifting his gaze to the leader of the rival party. "And mister, I dare to challenge you to arm wrestle with me."

"Eh?" The rival adventurers were once again taken aback by his bold claim. Seraphina wondered whether he had injured his head during the earlier battle or something.

The leader's face flushed in embarrassment and anger. "You… I'll crush your hand to the point that you won't be able to use it anymore."

Kael smiled, crossing his arms. "We'll see about that."

The adventurers and his wives almost had their mouths agape by Kael's words. Laura became worried. "You don't need to participate. We have enough numbers."

Kael looked at her, and his smile widened. "Just trust me." She went into a daze for a moment and nodded.

Seraphina glanced at Kael who was brimming with confidence, shaking her head slightly, but then she stepped forward. "You heard him. We'll take you on. One match at a time."

Laura, standing by Kael's side, puffed out her cheeks. "I'll do it, too. No one messes with my husband."

The rival adventurers, still in disbelief, agreed in the end. The group quickly set up the competition, and they squared off in arm wrestling matches.

The first to sit before each other were Kael and the leader of the rival party. The latter was named Davon, a Tier-6 adventurer of Radiant Swords Guild and the leader of Team Blackswan. Radiant Swords Guild might not even be in the top 10, but it isn't because they are weak. It is because the guild is made up of sword practitioners. No mages, no healers, no support groups at all. As a result, they lag behind other guilds in accomplishing the quests, but in battle, especially one-on-one, they are quite skilled.

Such warriors naturally have high physiques, and Kael was facing the one who seemed to have the best physical strength of all.

As Emily, a mage from Kael's team, created the stone platform for them for the challenge, both of them sat down and Davon placed his arm on the flat surface, inviting his opponent to the battle.

Kael, however, stared at him in silence for a few seconds and made the announcement. "I give up." His tone was loud and clear.

The entire clearing fell silent at once. The rival adventurers were stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The leader blinked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "You… gave up?"

Kael nodded, his expression casual. "Yeah, I figured I would contribute something to my team. After all, you're the leader and the strongest here. Regardless of your opponent, you would win anyway." He shrugged his shoulders.

Laura and Seraphina exchanged glances. The rival adventurers were speechless for a moment, unsure whether to be insulted or impressed.

"Guess we're done with the first battle. 1-0. Now, let's move on to the next match," Kael said, his grin wide as he looked back at the leader, who now appeared both irritated and humiliated.

"You…"