Chapter 438 - Clone
The group wasted no time and rushed to the chamber Connor was talking about. Not a minute later, they arrived in a large circular hall.
Around the hall were circular colums that was attached to the wall. In between each column were paintings that aged with time, the depictions barely visible.
"This is her chamber?" Ed asked out loud. They started to explore the place and looked around for clues.
"Unlike Junko, the Ruby Maiden's powers weren't utilized by Licht or Dudu," Aquarius said. "Perhaps it's because it was well guarded with the protective spells from the ancients that they weren't able to penetrate this place."
"They have magic," Elizabeth said. "I think for them, passing through that haze outside would be easy. Plus they have their technology."
"That's where you're wrong," Kusa spoke. Although his wounds had already stopped bleeding, they were still very far from healing. All Aquarius could do from the amount of water available was to simply resupply the lost blood.
"Why would I be wrong?" Elizabeth muttered. "They have flying ships, the boost of the darkness and a lot more benefits from Malice. How could they not simply pass through the shields?"
"Because they are rather cautious and ignorant," Kusa said. "They don't know what lies inside the black liquid and the strong wind. I know both emperors and they don't take risks often. They play their fights risk free and safely."
"Oh," Elizabeth sighed. "I guess you're right. But we still need to get out of this place. Can anyone else do something?"
"What if we break the walls?" Connor suggested. "If we break the walls and dig out, we can re-enter the tunnel and release magic just like what Kusa did before we found him."
"I guess, that's possible," Aquarius rubbed his index finger on his chin. "But we don't know what lies within these walls. There were a lot of traps before. Who's to say that there aren't any after we breakt he brick walls?"
The group was filled with curiosity and questions. They were pondering amonst themselves on what do to so they could escape.
"If the Ruby Maiden got out, or if anyone else came in and took here, there must be a way out," Aquarius said. "Can we–"
He paused and looked around, his eyes lingering on the circular walls. "Connor, can you light up the entire room? I feel like the paintings hold clues."
"Okay," Connor raised his hand and waved it in the air. In a flash, wisps of red flames lit up in front of reach of the paintings. There were a total of twelve paintings and each of them represents different people.
"I think these are the Twelve Suns," Aquarius said. "These paintings depicts the Twelve Suns. We need to find the Sun of Ruby, maybe it's the way out."
The group nodded and looked around. Each of the paintings were indeed different. Most of them wore Eastern standard clothing of long robes and skirts, while some others had rather Western clothing.
One of the Western clothing they saw was of a man that had a white polo shirt and a white see-through long-sleeved shirt over it. The shirt had intricate designs embroided on it, a sun and three stars to be precise.
"Kusa, you're from the East," Aquarius called out. "Who's the Sun of Ruby?"
"I don't actually know," Kusa said. "This kingdom was under the North's domain, so we're not as close to it like the other kingdoms."
Aquarius walked up to him, "What do you mean?"
"You know that the East is divid into two regions, right? The North is a larger domain, covering eight kingdoms under their colony like the South with our four kingdoms. I was assigned to guard the kingdoms of the South, so I didn't study the North so much," Kusa said. "But what I know is that this kingdom was heavily guarded by mountains back in the day.
"The mountains were their lifeblood, the source of their protection, food, and supplies. The mountain spirits guide them and they offer peace offerings to the spirits so they could continue guiding them," Kusa said.
"I think I found it," Ed announced from the other side of the room.
Everyone walked over to him as he stared at the painting right in front of him. It was a painting of a man with an axe with Eastern clothing. Behind him was a forest that had shadows looming in the corners. In the background were mountains that was filled with mists and gloomed with clouds.
"Mountains, check," Ed said, pointing at the background. His finger pointed at the trees where the shadows were. "Spirits, check."
He then stepped to the side and gestured his hand on the corner where a small altar was drawn. The altar was a small circular golden platform and a dead sheep was laying on it. "Offerings, check."
"All of Kusa's clues checks out this painting," Aquarius said. "Maybe this is actually him."
The man placed his hand on the wall and it passed through, making everyone's eyes widen and for them to gasp. Aquarius gulped and walked past the wall, leaving everyone behind.
"Guys, I think I can see the entrance," Aquarius said from the other side. The others immediately walked past the wall to follow him. They found themselves in the tunnel they entered in. Frederick's wisps were still in the tunnel too."
"This magic is amazing," Ed cheered. He was the second one to pass through. "It's like complicated spatial magic that is sealed into a rune or something."
The two of them looked behind them where the others appeared out of thin air. It was incredible since the magic was very intricate.
When someone would walk out of the chamber and another would pass through the hall where the exit of the chamber was at, the portal would close. Ed was standing right by the exit of the portal, and when it was time for Connor to pass through, his hand wouldn't pass through.
"Is everyone here?" Aquarius said after checking the members of their group for the third time.
"We're here, Aquarius," Elizabeth said. "Wait, why are Frederick's wisps still here?"
Everyone else looked around the tunnel and realized the same thing. Curiosity had started to take over their minds, worrying as to what exactly happened.
"I don't understand," Elizabeth muttered. "Did the cave shut his communication with his magic?"
"Impossible," Aquarius said. "If it did, then these wisps would instantly vanish. The communication of the caster and the skill is what makes the skill go."
"So he can still sense it?" Connor asked, to which Aquarius answered with a nod. "Then why did he say that he didn't?"
Before anyone could say anything, the red haired man they were talking about just a minute ago appeared out of thin air. Behind him were Hope, Elliot, Lance, Guan Yin, and Kaminari.
"What–" Frederick stopped. He looked behind him, where he passed through the empty space, and then back at the people in front of him. "What's going on?"
The first group looked at each other wide eyed. It was Aquarius who stepped forward first, walking towards his guild master.
"Frederick," Aquarius said.. "I think someone had cloned you."