The Crimson Magister Chapter 16: V1-C16: Holy Blood

Read chapter 16 of The Crimson Magister by Okram on NovelPedia.

Aqua did not even bother applying an illusion to blend in with the crowd of the city. Instead, she opted to use [Beyond The Veil], allowing her to rush through the city unseen and unnoticed. The moment Rolan escaped her black flame, she knew she was on a timer. A moment of hesitation could lead to unknown forces complicating her mission to rescue the elven princess. Because of this, she couldn't wait for Azure to complete her resurrection. While she didn't want to take away Azure's moment of redemption, she couldn't afford the delay. If her theory about the fragments of time was correct, Aqua needed to address the situation herself before something irreversible happened. If even a minor fragment like the one she found in Golden Fang's mind was enough to subdue someone stronger than a blessed Azure who had used Aqua's enchantments, then someone like Sheira would be permanently twisted. It would make saving her impossible, much like the enslaved within the city. There was only one potential solution: reversing time. Yet, it was possible that Aqua's authority wasn't enough to handle the fragments of time, minor as they were. Aqua refused to let Azure suffer a loss as she had so many times before. She wished to protect Azure's innocence. Her current power would only put her friend in danger... It's just not enough. Aqua sighed as she ascended into the air, her spell concealing her from prying eyes. She didn't like letting Azure 'die', but the enemy believed Azure had fallen in battle, making her less likely to be targeted. The only remaining target for Rolan and whoever he might bring to guard his prized prey was Aqua herself, the only one she trusted to face the dangers of the city. Although the chances were slim, an enemy might still appear at their building. But someone she trusted as much as herself was guarding their "corpses." Aqua smiled at the thought of the Sun God. Her teacher was even more formidable than herself when it came to raw destructive power. He was the strongest world-soul after all. She was confident the Sun God could handle any threat that might appear to recover the fragments of time. Now that I think about it, they're almost certain to come for the fragments, Aqua thought, shaking her head as she searched for Sheira. For now, she needed to stay as inconspicuous as possible, even though Rolan had most certainly alerted the authorities to her presence. She could only hope the Sun God wouldn't scorch the city off the map. Yet despite the turmoil beneath the surface, the city seemed tranquil. Humans lived their best lives, served by innumerable nonhuman slaves. Guards remained stationed, and life continued as it had when she first entered the city. Within moments, she found herself above the source of the spell's flicker. She's so heavily guarded... Aqua gazed through a kaleidoscope of colors. While some were shrouded in a Dark Haze, reminiscent of her earlier encounter with the Golden Rose, the vast majority seemed to be there of their own free will. The sheer number of guards told her everything she needed to know: she had found where Sheira was held. With a heavy sigh, she landed before what appeared to be the entrance. The building was unremarkable compared to the others in the city. No, that wasn't accurate; it was identical to countless others, blending seamlessly into the cityscape. And yet, it reeked of blood, death, and gore. When Aqua pushed against the heavy door, the metallic screech echoed through the hall behind it. The door was locked, designed to open only from within. Interesting... Aqua muttered, scratching her chin as her push barely budged the door. The metal bent and screeched, but it refused to yield. While breaking it down would be quick, it would also attract unwanted attention. Aqua dragged her fingers over the dented steel, examining every corner before placing her palm in the center. She glanced around to ensure no humans or enslaved humanoids were nearby before dispelling [Beyond T