ALL NOVEL Chapter 18: Chapter 18 : Arrival
**Earlier**
"Hmm, I see that Mathias is still battling the remaining wolves. I wonder why? He's an expert-level mage, he should be able to take care of beasts like these in seconds, a minute maximum" Elias said as he observed his surroundings using the perception skill
"Huh? There are only two acolytes in the same area as Mathias, and judging by the information I'm getting, they're Dickson and Nigel.
Where the hell is that snake, Anias?" Elias muttered to himself as he scanned the surroundings for signs of Anias
"Got him! Huh? Why is he just standing, and why is he not with the rest of the group? What is that scum up to now?"
Elias deactivated perception and dashed toward the direction where Anias was, he did so swiftly and silently, as he didn't want Anias to know he was coming.
"Child of light my ass, how can a farmboy be the child of light. Only royalty deserves that role, my prince Oswald is the only child of light that should exist and how dare he humiliate, not once but twice, and think he can get away with it.
I'll see how that fraud fares up against a Direwolf hehe. Seeing his mangled body would bring me joy" Elias heard Anias speak to himself
'Oswald? Isn't that the NPC son of King Alaric of Eldoria? This guy works for him?'
"Is that so?" Elias said, emerging from behind Anias
"What the fu–" Anias jumped away in fear and shock.
"What?! What are you doing here? You're supposed to be—"
"To be what? Dead? Come on, it was just a wild mutt. You're going to need a lot more than that if you plan to get rid of me"
Anias eyes traced to the green crystal tucked underneath Elias' arm, "Impossible, how? You're just a dirt-eating, animal shit-shoveling, manure-loving farm boy!" He screamed in frustration as the vein on his forehead bulged visibly
"Jeez man, take it easy or you'll pop a vein. What do you have against farmers anyway, we provide your food, you should be grateful if anything" Elias shrugged
Anias gritted his teeth, and his face grew red with rage, "You!! You should have just let the Direwolf kill you because I won't give you the mercy of a quick and easy death"
Anias stretched his hands toward Elias and began chanting words of power. A red light appeared between his palms and started to take shape as he chanted.
"Die you far—" Anias hissed
Elias suddenly appeared directly in front of him, "Farmboy, yeah I know" he interrupted, as he squeezed Anias arm tightly, causing the acolyte to lose concentration and break his spell.
"Wh–what?"
"I thought you were low on mana?" Elias asked
"Tch, let go of me at once!" Anias demanded, but Elias simply looked at him with an Irritated expression and squeezed his arm even harder
Seeing Elias' expression, Anias' anger and toughness melted away, "Please let go of me?" He asked sheepishly
"Save your breath, you're going to need it to scream, and I'm glad you have recovered your mana. I haven't quite gotten the hang of Healing magic, why don't you give me more lessons, the last one helped me a lot?" Elias asked as his lips curved into a smile, but there was no warmth behind it. Instead, it was a thin line that seemed to stretch too wide, almost as if it was painted on.
Anias visibly shivered as all his hair stood on alert, "Please?"
"No"
Anias' cries pierced the air, sharp and desperate. The dull thuds of fists meeting flesh were punctuated by guttural grunts and gasps.
"Stop! Please!" he begged, his voice cracking under the strain. The relentless onslaught continued, each impact accompanied by a choked groan or a pained yelp.
A shuddering sob escaped his lips, blending with the echo of Elias' harsh breaths. "No more... please," he whimpered, his pleas drowned out by the sickening rhythm of violence.
"Heal up" Elias ordered
After a toturous cycle of healing and getting beaten back to a pulp, Elias was done with his payback. He looked at Anias's shuddering and shivering body.
'He deserved it, if he was stronger than me I would have been dead by now'
"Consider this mercy" He declared
'I need to hide the beast gem, I can't be carrying it around. It'll attract too much attention Elias pondered
Elias's face lit up, an idea had formed in his mind.
'If the system is following the game pattern, then… I should have an inventory'
"[Inventory]"
Instantly, a display labeled "Inventory" showed up in front of Elias, displaying various empty cells.
"I was right!" He exclaimed, then proceeded to feed the Inventory the beast gem and all his luggage, leaving only his sheathed sword buckled to his waist.
He walked over to Anias and tapped him on his shoulder, Anias flinched, then balled up defensively.
"Look at me" Elias ordered, and Anias slowly raised his head to look at him
"Very good. So here's what is going to happen…."
********
**Present**
The group had trekked for about an hour until they arrived at a large wooden gate.
"We're finally here, right?" Elias asked
The wooden gate of the village settlement towered at an impressive twenty meters. Made from sturdy, thick timber logs, the gate was reinforced with iron bands and heavy bolts, giving it a rugged and imposing appearance. Its surface was rough-hewn, the grain of the wood visible under a layer of protective varnish, weathered by years of exposure to the elements.
Flanking the gate, the village walls matched its height, forming a continuous barrier of formidable strength. These walls were constructed from tightly interlocked wooden beams, each one carefully fitted to ensure no gaps. They bore marks of past battles, with the occasional scorch mark or deep gouge hinting at the village's history of defending itself against intruders.
Above the gate, a wooden walkway provided a vantage point for the village guards, who kept a vigilant watch over the surrounding area.
"Yes, but the gate is closed," Mathias observed
"Is that a problem?" Elias asked
"Yes it is, the gate is never closed" Mathias answered
"Who are you, and state your reasons for approaching!" A voice demanded from the vantage point, the voice had a gravelly tone that sounded forced.
"I am Priest Mathias of the Church of Eternal Light. I am here to use your Teleportation circle to deliver an urgent package to Eldoria!" Mathias replied
"What package?" The voice pressed
"I am afraid I cannot reveal it to you!"
"Then we cannot let you in, for safety reasons"
"You would deny me access, even though you know I'm from the church and the King?!"
"Look around, do you see the king or the church anywhere? No, you don't, until we are certain you aren't a threat to our village, you can't come in, even if you're the king himself"
"Treason!" Nigel yelled out
"The king and the High luminary will have your head for this" Dickson added
"Once again, look around. Until you're ready to cooperate, no one is getting in"
"You!" Anias growled, his injuries had already greatly subsided, he only had a few bruises and scars left.
Priest Mathias signaled for his acolytes to stand down, "Tell Saida that Mathias is waiting for her outside" he requested
"What did you just say?"
"I said, tell Saida that Mathias is waiting for her?" He repeated
The person stopped responding and left the vantage point. After a while, accompanied by a loud creak, the gate slowly swung open. A person emerged from the gate, a woman.
"Well, Come on in" She ordered