Chapter 401 - The Portrait
Elliot, Lance, and Kaminari didn't waste any time and got to the basement. An immense amount of mana was gathered there, seemingly coming from the giant statue.
"Lance, what could they mean when it moved?" Elliot asked. "And why were they hiding in the basement when we specifically said for them to leave."
Lance shrugged, "I don't know how to answer that. But they're here, Connor and Ed must be here too."
"Maybe," Elliot muttered. "I hope they're safe here."
They just arrived at the entrance and were expecting more chaos, but it seemed rathet peaceful. All the people from Shyaka had already fled the scene, leaving the basements silent and empty. The mana had calmed down too, making the the suffocating atmosphere returned to normal.
"We'll know when we get there," Lance said. He brandished both his swords and led the way around the basement filled with wooden crates.
"I can't believe they'd hid all the supplies and food here," Kaminari growled in anger. "They left nothing for the people, yet here they are, enjoying the luxury of life."
Elliot and Lance didn't know what to respond with Kaminari's anger. He was really upset about all of this, there was no hiding it.
"They're gone now," Elliot smiled. "You can have a better life now."
"No," Kaminari said. "It's just a matter of time before they send another wave of attack. If that happens, I don't know if we can stand a chance."
"You will," Lance said, smiling to comfort the other prince. "Our friends are on their way to Avancia to seek help. I reckon they arrived there already, knowing how Hope goes."
"What vehicle are they riding?" Kaminari asked. "Did they steal one of the Pegasuses from the Central East?"
"They're riding a dragon," Elliot said. "It's a long story, but we can go to a city to another in just a couple of minutes with that dragon. It had been three hours since they left. They should be there now."
"That's good to know," Kaminari sighed. He suddenly bowed and thanked the boys, "I, as a representative of Shyako, thank you for your aid. My people will never forget your kindness and promise to help you with all our might in the future. Until then, please help us."
"You don't have to do that," Elliot chuckled. "We're doing our jobs. That's normal."
Kaminari's face lit up with joy. He nodded and grinned at the two with great admiration and gratefulness.
"Hey, get back here!"
Their heads snap to the direction of Connor's voice. The boy seemed to be in panic, making the three of them rush to his direction. He was located near them, just a couple of steps and they already felt his presence.
Elliot was the one to reach him first. He saw Connor with an unconscious woman in his arms, but had no signs of Ed around. "Why are you alone?"
"The Crystal Maiden did something to the statue. It burst with light and then became this woman," Connor said. "Why are you here already? Has Sayu been defeated?"
Kaminari's mood went down at the mention of the name. Elliot opened his mouth to say something but Kaminari beat him to it, "She's taken care of. Don't worry."
"I also felt a strong presence coming from that direction," Connor said. "Was that another enemy?"
"Yes," Kaminari replied. "But that woman. Is she alive?"
"Pretty much." Connor looked at the woman who was asleep in his arms. "It's hard to say, but I think she's the Amethyst Maiden."
Kaminari narrowed his eyes and gasped, "Connor, could you carry that woman? We need to get into the royal library and find the Amethyst Maiden's paintings. I could remember it being in the archives but I haven't seen it myself."
"Let's wait for a few minutes first," Elliot spoke. "Ed still isn't here yet. We can't just leave him alone here especially after knowing that he's chasing a Crystal Maiden."
"To which he lost," Ed's voice came from behind a crate. He walked over to them with a disappointed look in his face. "I couldn't catch up with her speed. She's too fast."
"That's not a problem," Elliot comforted. "Let's head to the library first. If this woman is the Amethyst Maiden, maybe we cam get information from her."
The five of them agreed with the plan and proceeded to the library. It was just like what Sayu said. The entire city was an illusion except for the castle. Every single thing in the castle remained even after Sayu was defeated.
"Let's look in the ancient archives," Kaminari said. "I saw that there. A portrait made by the Amethyst Maiden's human friend who also painted a lot of things including this."
Kaminari stopped in front of a large painted canvas. It had the painting of the mountain their castle was currently on, but in the painting there was no castle or city. It was just a normal looking mountain with details so clear even a single leaf of a tree was painted with precision.
"This is one of her works," Kaminari said. "Her blood, sweat, and tears are put into every single one of these paintings. The Amethyst Maiden's portrait, however, was more special than the others."
"But where is it?" Elliot asked. "And why would they hide such an item when they can place it outside. Many people would have love it."
"And that is why it's kept inside," Kaminari muttered. "What do you think will happen when people get interested in something? They steal it. The Amethyst Maiden's painting is such a valuable item that it's risky to display it.
"That does make sense," Elliot nodded in understanding. He finally stopped asking his questions to which Kaminari was grateful for.
Even when he was the crown prince and that he earned the title of Lightning Master, he lacked a lot of knowledge. Kaminari was still in the middle of his studies when they were attacked.
Kaminari stopped in front of a shelf that was attached to a wall. He looked around the rows and rows of books until his face lit up when he saw a certain book. "There we go."
He tilted a book out of the shelf and it made the entire wall shake. The shelf beside the one the book was slid back and opened a secret passage.
"A hidden room," Ed smirked. "And no one had ever discovered the book?"
"The book moves periodically, about two times a week. It also switches color depending on the time it switched places that week," Kaminari replied and led the group inside the room. "Only father and I knows the title of the book, and the color it switches into."
"Now that's more I like it," Ed chuckled. "I'll be sure to take inspiration from that idea. I also want to have a secret room of my own when I have my own house."
"And what, hide your secret stash of adult images?" Connor scoffed. "You never stopped being lewd, haven't you?"
"Oh, shut up," Ed rolled his eyes.
Kaminari only shook his head in amusement, continuing to lead the way to the painting. "There it is."
He walked to the side where a large white cloth covers the painting.. He pulled the cloth off, revealing the portrait of a woman who was exactly the same as the woman in Connor's arms.