Charmed [✔]

20.3 ▌Abyss Faction

NOT ONLY does the inner barrier shield the palace from view, but it also kept any noise away from it. As soon as the crack appeared, the clamor resounded in the library.

Elise had drowned herself with books after Amaranth left. Unbeknownst to her, a fight had already broken outside but no one had informed her. It was all thanks to Aricson that no one could easily come inside and disturb her.

She got up from her seat and slid the curtains to the side. It was not even an hour since she came here but the autumn-tinted clouds had almost disappeared and were now cloaked with dark fumes.

Her mouth hung open from the sight and quickly went down, just in time Aya had arrived.

"What's happening?" she asked. "Is the castle on fire?"

"We're under attack, Miss. We have to leave as soon as possible."

Aya, who always carried herself formally, was in throes of panic and grabbed her wrist without waiting for her consent. Aya hauled her outside and they headed in an unfamiliar direction until only their footfalls resonated with the uproar.

"Where are the rest of the servants?" Elise inquired as they tread the stairs.

They had run all the way here but had not crossed anyone. When they went out earlier, even the knights guarding the door were not there.

"They had already evacuated, Miss. Sir Gerald asked me to take you there."

Another eruption echoed and Elise contemplated if she should offer her help without being a burden. It was the least she could do after all their care here in the castle. She might not stand a chance with their kind of fight but she could tend to the injured.

"How about the knights? How worse is the situation?"

"The knights are already positioned to their station but I don't know about the current situation, Miss."

"I think you should lead me to them. They must have set a camp, right?"

"Pardon my impudence, Miss, but I can't bring you there. We have to hurry." Urgency laced in her voice but stubbornness reigned over Elise.

"No, I want to help."

Aya ignored her until they reached the exit in just several minutes. There were only trees surrounding them and she tugged her hand away.

"Bring me to them, Aya. I can help," she appealed once more but they were suddenly surrounded. 

The newly arrived people wore hoods over their heads and their presence rang the warning bells in her head. There were several of them and both of them were defenseless. She pushed Aya on her back as the men moved closer.

"Just give up. You don't even have magic."

Elise snapped her head towards Aya's direction from her abrupt biting tone. She was about to speak but apprehended something when Aya's words sunk. She immediately stepped back.

Aricson told her that no one knew that she could not use magic unless they were Enchanters but, according to Gerald, all servants in the castle were mundanes. How could Aya know she was not able to use magic? Did she give herself away?

A mocking curl pushed the corners of Aya's lips. Goosebumps slowly crept on Elise's neck down to her spine with that uncharacteristic expression of her maid.

"W-who are you?" Elise's lips quivered as she spoke.

"Your maid, of course."

Aya's gaze focused on her, no more politeness as she looked down with those brown irises that were much darker under the murky haze. However, those same eyes slowly turned to that of a feline with a cerulean shade. The paltry skin was now tinted with a healthy color of bronze while Elise could only go paler and paler with her eyeballs almost popping out of the sockets.