"Ahhh!!" Neal moaned out in agony as the acrid scent of burnt flesh filled his nostrils. The pain overwhelmed him, eventually pushing him into unconsciousness.
Watching this scene unfold, Orion smiled with satisfaction as he withdrew his hand and deactivated his gift.
He turned and walked in the direction of Queen Selene and the others.
Coming to a stop in front of them, Orion glanced at the shattered carriage door and the numerous lifeless bodies strewn about, including the royal guards, the fallen Starforged Knights, and their attackers. His gaze finally settled on Queen Selene, who appeared poised, waiting for him to speak first.
"Considering we're the only ones left, why don't we all ride together in one carriage to ensure safety until we reach the castle?" Orion suggested, his eyes briefly flicking toward Princess Crystalia, who held a strange intense glint in her eyes.
Hearing his proposal, Queen Selene nodded in agreement.
Orion was currently their best hope for protection until they returned to the castle. It seemed wise to heed his advice, at least until she could figure out a way to remove the artefact from around her neck.
Queen Selene swiftly turned toward the last remaining Starforged Knight and instructed him to bring along the unconscious cloaked figure as they made preparations to board a carriage and begin their journey back to the castle.
….......…
The Quartzwraith clan's manor
"Are you absolutely certain about what you witnessed?" Olivia asked, her gaze fixed on one of her clan's low-ranked elites who had been dispatched to investigate the source of the sounds and vibrations emanating from a distance.
She wanted confirmation that these disturbances were indeed originating from the direction the royal family had departed.
"Yes, Clan Mistress. I distinctly heard voices, the descendants of the forgotten clans, openly calling for the death of the royal family and the Queen herself. Furthermore, there was the unmistakable use of the Crystalforge's distinctive clan specialty, 'Barrier Stance.' It was impossible to overlook," assured a cloaked figure in ashen grey, bowing respectfully on one knee as they relayed their observations.
Olivia Quartzwraith nodded in solemn understanding. "Indeed, this is an unexpected and disconcerting occurrence," she remarked.
Although she had her suspicions about those who might have orchestrated such a plot, Olivia refrained from leaping to conclusions. She knew that a thorough investigation was required.
"Clan Mistress, what course of action should we take? Given our close ties with the royal family and the Crystalforge Clan, as one of the five other Major Clans, wouldn't it be prudent for us to intervene in this matter, especially since it's happening so near to our Clan's manor?"
"We will do nothing," Olivia interrupted firmly. "Our proximity to the royal family does not entail risking our lives needlessly. Our connections are purely political, and we must not forget that. Now, relay a message to the rest of your team to continue monitoring the situation for any significant developments."
"While I don't expect any major disruptions, the fact that this full-scale attack occurred indicates the other party's confidence in their plan. Rather than recklessly rushing in to play the hero, endangering our lives for a few accolades, we shall remain cautious. If their plan does fail, it's best to appear late and unaware." Olivia's voice held a tone of shrewd calculation.
The woman nodded solemnly, comprehending the instructions. She then straightened her posture and prepared to exit the room.
However, just as she was about to turn, the door abruptly burst open. Strangely, no one entered immediately; instead, a figure materialized out of thin air, taking a kneeling position much like the woman's.
"Clan Mistress!" the figure exclaimed urgently, removing a wooden mask adorned with dimmed crystals arranged in intricate patterns.
"What is it?" Olivia Quartzwraith inquired with a curious smile, intrigued by the unexpected turn of events and wondering if any developments had occurred regarding the ambush.
"Clan Mistress, all the descendants of the forgotten clans who ambushed the royal carriages are dead. The royal guards have also died, and part of what appears to be one of the Crystalforge's top-ranked elites is down, with only a few left standing," the figure reported, regaining his composure as he continued, "Furthermore, it seems highly likely that the attackers were a top-ranked elite group from the Gemheart Clan. They employed a few of the Gemheart Clan's signature techniques and defeated the Queen, rendering her powerless.
Olivia's thoughts ground to a halt, shock sweeping across her features.
"They defeated the Queen," she said, her mind spinning with a whirlwind of questions. She fought to regain her composure, though her heart raced incessantly.
"How?" she managed to ask, her frown deepening.
Noticing the Clan Mistress's impatient expression, the figure immediately launched into his explanation.
After he finished speaking, Olivia remained stunned and silent for several minutes, her mind processing the startling information. Finally, she opened her mouth and asked, "Ar... Are you absolutely certain that all of this occurred?"
"Yes, Clan Mistress. While it was unexpected to witness a foreigner of such extraordinary strength, suggesting that he held back significantly when confronting the various Clan Heirs, his intervention on behalf of the royal family signifies that, despite any initial success the Gemheart Clan may have had, their plan has essentially failed."
"Now, they must contend with an opponent nearly as powerful as the Queen herself. Given these circumstances, and the consequences of their audacious ambush, it appears that the Gemheart Clan's days may be numbered," the figure replied.
Olivia nodded in understanding, her brows furrowed deeply as she fixated her gaze on the two figures before her.
"Summon the second and third-rank elite teams, the Mystic Dawn Assembly and the Sentinel's Embrace. Instruct them to proceed to the castle, fake their lateness, and then pretend to urgently rush towards the castle to assess the situation," she directed, gesturing for them to leave.
After they exited the room and closed the door behind them, Olivia found herself struggling to maintain composure as her thoughts spiralled into chaos.
