Chapter 1354: Escaping To Sanctuary
?1354 Escaping To Sanctuary
"Eeek..."
For a moment, Serah's existence flashed before her eyes and she was certain that her life was over.
If Neron was to do anything at that moment... she was not going to survive.
Then—
"Serah! Neron!" A loud voice pulled the both of them from the intense moment that drowned them.
It was a familiar, elderly tone that they both recognized.
"A-Aldred...?" Serah nearly burst out crying as she saw the older man rush into the room.
He had beads of sweat on his face, with his lean body equipping nothing but his pajamas and a sword.
It seemed whatever happened had also taken him by surprise.
"Are you two okay? Is that...?" Aldred looked at the ground and saw shards of Blood Stones, as well as the decapitated corpse of an enemy.
"... I see."
He removed his gaze from the gory sight and returned his attention to Neron and Serah.
Serah's teary eyes and trembling body told him she was frightened, and as for Neron... he had a dark expression on his face as he tightly held Serah's hand.
They both had faces that little ones shouldn't have.
"Neron, let go of Serah's hand. You're hurting her." Was the first thing he said.
He didn't need to ask what happened since he could already tell.
It was obvious that Neron dispatched the Blood Mage and Sarah was shaken by the whole thing.
She probably hadn't killed anyone or seen anyone being killed before—a natural position for a child her age.
"A-ah... sorry." Neron loosened his grip as his intense expression broke into hesitation.
Serah finally got her hand back, and the both of them subconsciously took a few steps away from each other.
Aldred didn't know what just happened, but he could tell that tensions were high in the room.
Still... there was no time to explore that.
"We're being invaded by Mages. They were able to break through the barrier and infiltrate the mansion, so I suspect they're very strong and skilled."
Aldred also recognized the fact that they could have just had information about the Kaelid Estate, but he couldn't possibly think of anyone in the entire Manor who would betray them.
They were all like family—down to the very core.
"We'll need to leave here and hide somewhere safe."
Aldred gestured for them to get a move on.
"The Blank Room?" Neron finally spoke, his voice hoarse as he asked the question.
"Yes. Now let's go."
Neron nodded and reached out to grab Serah's hand, however, the moment he saw the expression on her face, he hesitated.
A conflicted expression played on his face, but upon hearing Aldred's commands once more, Neron grabbed her hand—a little softer this time—and they ran out of the room.
********
~WHOOSH!~
The three sped across the hallway, making their way upstairs.
As they did so, Aldred's mind was racing and piecing together countless possibilities.
'Why are they here now that Lord Mordred isn't present? Could it be a coincidence? Was it planned from the start?'
As he thought this, he saw two silhouettes rushing towards him and the two kids behind him.
"Stand back!" He commanded, swiftly brandishing the ordinary blade he wielded.
~VWUUUMMM!~
Crackles of whitish-blue energy radiated from his body that very instant, and he sped across the distance separating the trio from the duo in a moment.
In a flash of light, he tended the Blood Stone Mages before they could even do anything.
Their lips were still casting spells when their heads completely dislodged from their necks.
~SPLOOSH!~
Blood spurted out of the gaping necks of the villains, and Aldred didn't hesitate to kick the corpses out of the way as the kids ran past them.
Serah's terrified face couldn't go unnoticed, and her trembling body showed just how terrified she was of the current scene.
However, Neron didn't let go of her hand and kept running ahead, dragging her so she could follow him.
This dynamic ensured that the kids kept moving.
"Haaa..." Aldred let out misty breaths as he splashed off the blood on his blade and kept his pace with the kids.
'Whatever the situation is, I'll deal with that later.'
Right now, the important thing was taking care of the children in his care.
As long as he was alive, he wouldn't let any harm befall any of them.
They finally navigated their way further upstairs and rushed through the passageway that led to the massive double-door.
Beyond this double-door was their sanctuary.
'The Sanctuary is the safest place in the entire Estate. Once I ensure both their safety, I'll have to save as many people as I can and figure out what's going on.'
Most of the residents of the Kaelid Estate were non-combative staff.
Sure, some of them knew Magic, and a few could utilize Martial Arts, but it wasn't at a professional level.
They would be helpless in the face of the Mages that were currently attacking.
'I just hope I'm not too late!'
He still didn't know who the mole was—or if there even was one, to begin with—but Aldred was sure of what Modred would do if he was present.
He would try to save as many members of his family as possible.
That was what he would do as well.
'He saved my life back then. I'll make sure to defend his legacy at all costs!'
Gritting his teeth, the old man ignored his aching body and neared the Sanctuary with the kids.
But...
~WHUUUSHH!~
... A sudden apparition—a grand blast of destruction—stopped them in their tracks.
'W-what?!'
Shock was written on the faces of all three as they weren't expecting any opposition at this point.
Aldred noticed the ray of crimson darkness a little too late, but he swiftly put his body to action.
'[Grand Imperial Martial Arts Technique]!'
Tightly clenching his blade, he sent the roaring Mana within him soaring into the air.
With a powerful vertical slash, he practically cut through the intense blast—parting what would have been their doom at that moment.
~BOOOOM!~
The parted rays of destruction were sent to their left and right, but nothing affected them at all.
All thanks to the monolith of a man at the center.
*
*
*
Thanks for reading!
Aldred is a beast in his own right. Let's hope they survive...