[Next Day.]
[Neville Capital.]
The imposing gates of Neville Capital stood as a silent sentinel, a stark contrast to the buzzing anticipation of the crowd gathered before them. Juliet and Andrew, positioned near the front, watched as the throng of citizens murmured amongst themselves, their voices a low, restless hum.
The air was thick with speculation, fueled by rumors of a fierce battle and a demonic onslaught.
"I heard there was a ruthless battle!" a man exclaimed, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and excitement.
"Yes, I also heard the demons sent their strongest to attack Oakhavan," another chimed in, his tone grave.
"Correct! With the leader being a Rank 40 demon!!" a third voice echoed, a gasp rippling through the crowd.
"Ah!"
The collective gasp was a testament to the fear that the mere mention of such a powerful demon instilled. Juliet's face paled, her anxiety mounting with each whispered word.
"A Rank 40?" she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Andrew, sensing her unease, offered a reassuring smile. "Don't be scared, these are all rumors, none proven to be true."
Juliet nodded slowly, but her internal turmoil remained unabated. The uncertainty of the situation gnawed at her, fueling her apprehension.
"They're back!!" a man shouted, pointing towards the horizon.
The crowd turned, their eyes fixed on the approaching figures. Crown Prince Harold, Kelly, and the remaining guardians rode towards them on horseback, their expressions grim, their shoulders slumped. The planned display of grief was a stark contrast to their usual triumphant return.
"I don't remember seeing the prince yesterday... So why is he with them?" Juliet whispered, her brow furrowed in confusion.
As the riders drew closer, the cheering gradually subsided, replaced by an uneasy silence. The citizens exchanged puzzled glances, their anticipation turning to apprehension.
"Is something wrong?" a woman asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I don't think so..." a man replied, his voice hesitant.
"Yes... With the guardians' strength, nothing can defeat them," another asserted, trying to reassure himself and others.
"Or, is the rumor true?" someone muttered, their voice heavy with dread.
Harold, seizing the moment, raised his voice, commanding the attention of the crowd. "Everyone!"
The crowd fell silent, their eyes fixed on the prince. Juliet and Andrew listened intently, their hearts pounding in anticipation.
"The demons have taken over Oakhavan," Harold announced, his voice filled with feigned grief.
A wave of shock swept through the crowd, silencing the murmurs and gasps. The news was met with stunned disbelief.
"The demons had a fighter, a commander who's a Rank 40 demon. We know he's a lot stronger than us, so we asked my father, the Emperor, for assistance! He gave an order for Lord Kyle to join us!" Harold continued.
"Lord Kyle!"
The name echoed through the crowd, bringing a flicker of hope to their faces. Lord Kyle, the kingdom's strongest and youngest hunter, was a beacon of strength and protection. Even the youngest children knew of his achievements.
"With Lord Kyle, even a Rank 40 demon would be taken down easily!" a man exclaimed, his voice filled with renewed hope.
"Yes!!" the crowd echoed, their spirits lifted.
"We know, but how did Oakhavan fall?" a voice questioned, cutting through the renewed optimism.
"Good you ask!!" Harold exclaimed, seizing the opportunity to further his narrative:
"When we got to Oakhavan, Lord Kyle, who we all adore and cherish, turned against us... He attacked us!"
"What?!"
The crowd erupted in disbelief, their faces etched with shock. Even Juliet and Andrew were stunned into silence.
"Yes! He betrayed his race!! For power, wealth, and women!!" Harold declared, his voice dripping with false indignation.
The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of the prince's words hanging heavy in the air.
"No! Kyle won't betray Neville!!" Juliet yelled, her voice cutting through the silence.
The crowd parted, revealing Juliet standing defiantly before the prince. Harold fixed his gaze on her, his eyes cold and dangerous.
"You're saying I'm lying?" he asked, his voice laced with menace.
"I won't dare, my prince, but there must be a reason behind this," she replied, her voice unwavering.
"Reasons?!" Harold scoffed, turning to the crowd. "She said reasons! I already told you he betrayed us for money! Women and power! What other reasons are there?!" he demanded, turning back to Juliet.
"Okay, if there was a different reason, which will benefit us, why didn't he tell you beforehand?! Instead, he attacked us and almost killed one of the guardians!! Look at them! They're injured, and almost at the brink of death, if it hadn't been for Kelly, we wouldn't have any guardians!!" he yelled, gesturing towards the injured guardians.
"This? I still believe there's another reason, Kyle is a secretive---" Juliet began, but stopped as Harold raised his hand, silencing her.
"You're defending him, are you one of his accomplices?" he asked, his tone dark and accusatory.
"I can't be an accomplice when he did nothing wrong!" she retorted, her voice filled with defiance.
Harold was taken aback by her outburst, as were the citizens. The crowd buzzed with confusion, their loyalties divided.
"Okay..." Harold said, his eyes narrowing. "If he has a reason, why did he let the demons conquer Oakhavan?! Guards! Apprehend her!"
He commanded, and the soldiers moved forward, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.
"What?! I know you're lying!" Juliet exclaimed, her eyes darting between the prince and the approaching guards.
She turned to Andrew, seeking his support, but he had disappeared into the crowd. Realizing she was alone, she began channeling her life force, preparing for a fight.
SNAP!!
A sharp snap echoed through the air, and Juliet's life force was instantly sealed off, leaving her powerless. She turned to Carl, who sat on his horse, his hand lowered.
'This?! Life force sealing spell... I need to get out of its range,' she thought, her eyes scanning the guards.
'The guards are humans, but with years of combat, they surely know how to fight a low-rank hunter...'
"Any accomplice of that traitor will be dealt with! Don't worry, we'll send you to meet him in hell!" Harold declared, his words echoing in Juliet's ears.
The citizens, along with the guards, were momentarily stunned by the prince's words.
"What did you say?!" Juliet yelled, her voice filled with horror.
"Truly, Lord Kyle... No, Traitor Kyle, is truly powerful. We had to use all our powers, and even the treasures the Imperial Mage and Priest gave us, just to kill him! People of Neville!!" Harold announced, turning to the crowd.
"You all know we don't leave traitors alive! That's the unshakable rule in the last ten decades! So, what should we do to her?!" he asked, pointing at Juliet.
"No! It can't be," Juliet whispered, collapsing to her knees, her spirit broken by the news of Kyle's death.
"I can't believe this, so Lord Kyle is a traitor," a man muttered.
"What a snake! It's good he's dead," another chimed in.
"Yes... Unless we would have lost the five guardians, who have protected us for far too long," a woman added.
"Good he's dead!" the crowd echoed, their voices filled with venom.
The people, who had lived their entire lives within the capital, knew little of the battles fought on the borders. Their loyalty lay with the guardians, who were like protectors of the capital.
"What about her?" a woman asked, pointing at Juliet.
"She's in cahoots with the traitor. Just kill her," a man replied.
"Yes, kill!" the crowd chanted, their voices rising in unison.
Harold and the guardians exchanged satisfied smiles.
Harold drew his sword and dismounted, walking towards Juliet, who remained kneeling, tears streaming down her face.
"You bitch!" he snarled, raising his sword to strike.
But before the blade could fall, a thunderous voice echoed through the crowd.
"STOP!!"