Chapter 206: Chapter 206 - The Horror, The Horror...
After the introductions, I put Ingela up to speed with what’s happening.
"So High Priestess Swanhildi here can cast light magic? That’s awesome. I would like to study it some time..."
Ingela’s voice trails off as she looks panicky at me.
"If that isn’t a blasphemy or something, of course."
Ledda opens a beatifically charming smile as she addresses Ingela’s worries.
"Oh, one of the main tenets of Saint Lily’s faith is to always strive for knowledge and for improving oneself. So, of course, researching anything is not a blasphemy. That includes researching the Saint herself."
Whoa, that’s a religion that I could adhere to. Though it seems that I wouldn’t need to convert, as I am already something of a very holy status within the religion.
"Ingela, I think that I have an idea about that, but we can discuss it after we deal with the current crisis. Lovelace, how is the status of the thing that’s coming?"
"It has already passed Amapytu and seems to be aiming to reach East Rising. It is draining the environmental mana on the way.
"How fast is it going?"
"If it maintains the pace, it will reach the capital tomorrow."
"That’s fast... Well, we have no time for hesitating. We’re going to intercept it right now. Maria, when Yaci comes back, tell her that she’s in charge until we return. And also that I’m borrowing Ingela, but I’ll bring her back sound and safe."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid bows as I stand up and conjure a portal to the hidden army’s office.
Even though the war ended and the hidden army theoretically ceased to exist, the office still exists. That’s because it became the heart of a network of portals that became the core transport medium for officials and messengers.
As soon as we step on the other side, the officers there get to their feet, startled.
"Your Highness!"
"Relax, everyone. We just need a portal to Alderbury. Oh, and please notify the king that we’re going."
Alderbury is the second town south of Amapytu, on the highway that leads to East Rising. I chose it because I calculated that if we go straight to the first town, Evergrove, we risk the monster having already passed it.
The officer quickly creates the portal, and we step forth.
:::
The moment I crossed the portal, I was hit by the presence of the monster. Even though we are inside the government office, I can feel its oppressive weight over the land.
"How could I not feel it when I was living in the Barrens?"
"Well, part of it is because of how much you’ve grown your senses over the last seven years. But another part is because it is not trying to conceal itself this time. So it’s going lower. And it’s also siphoning mana a lot harder because of how much is available here."
I see... it makes sense.
This is a secluded room inside the government building, dedicated to the portal. The spatial mage and the guards are used to the comings and goings, but they weren’t expecting a princess to come at this moment.
"Your Highness! Welcome to the town of Alderbury!"
The spatial mage does a military salute, while the guards fall to one knee.
"No need for that, we’re in a crisis. We’re going to the north gate. Call a curfew because things might get chaotic."
I notice that while everyone treats me with the same deference, the most Swanhildi gets is some curious looks. I guess that’s to be expected, as even the position didn’t even exist two weeks ago, when I left the royal capital.
Just as we are about to exit the room, a man runs inside, panting.
"Julius, a portal to the capital, ple... oh, Your Highness. Thank the Saint you’re here. We have a crisis. Something is draining the life out of the plants!"
"We’re aware, and we came specifically to deal with that. Still, report to the capital anyway. We’re on our way."
I run outside, followed by Lovelace and the priestesses.
Right in front of the building there’s a cozy plaza with trees that I remember from my first time visiting the town. The trees are colorless and withered.
That sight shocked me, as I didn’t expect the effects of the draining to be so dramatic in so little time. Because of how there are still plants in the Barrens, even with a millennia of draining.
But there’s no time to dwell on it. I note it to ask Lovelace later and keep running towards the northern wall.
We see several townspeople in the way. Their worried expressions alleviate the moment they see me and the priestesses, and they cheer us all.
It seems that the average populace has an easier time recognizing a priestess of the Saint than the officers in the army, huh? Well, the officers didn’t have time to see stuff outside of the war since Mom became a goddess, so it’s understandable.
When we reach the top of the northern wall, I see it.
It’s so powerful that I don’t even need to focus on my mana senses to be able to see it. A blob of dark goo, floating over the landscape. Its tentacles are pulsing with all the mana it’s chewing, and mouths and eyes keep appearing and disappearing on its form.
"So disgusting..."
Ledda’s voice snaps me back.
"Yeah. Disgusting indeed. So you can see it, good. Who else is able to?"
Ingela doesn’t say a word, but the expression on her face conveys all that I need to know. She definitely saw a horror beyond any normal nightmares.
The High Priestess’ acolytes, on the other hand, are looking at the sky and at us with puzzled expressions. So they aren’t able to.
"What do you see, Your Highness?"
Oh, the garrisoned guards on the wall. Well, his question already tells me that they aren’t able to see it.
And now that I think about it, the man that was going to report to the capital also couldn’t. If he could, the report wouldn’t be about the life of the plants being sucked out of them. The focus would have been that thing.
Below us, several people were hurrying into the city, as the bells signaled the evacuation order.
The fight against this thing won’t be easy, and it risks harming bystanders. Ugh, coming to the city was the wrong call.
"Let’s hurry ahead and put some distance between us and the city. If we don’t do it now, then we’ll have to try to catch it up again after it passes the town southwards."
"Right."
I cast the weight-reducing spell while Lovelace casts her strengthening aria. Then I jump from the wall, without waiting for the others.
We have little time to work.