[BL] Guardians of Fate
Chapter 60 - 17: The Calamity of the Planet [5]

Chapter 60: Chapter 17: The Calamity of the Planet [5]

The air inside the church was heavy with an eerie stillness, the only sound being the distant roar of the Calamity wreaking havoc outside.

Looking back at the open doors, Ardyn could see the beautiful garden on the other side. It was bizarre, to say the least. Such a sight seemed out of place in the otherwise dreary surroundings.

"Hello?" Ardyn called again, his voice trembling as his eyes darted around for any sign of life. He thought the man might answer his call, but the silence remained heavy, almost scary. Especially since he was all alone.

Do I have to go up all those floors? he wondered in dismay.

There was no time to waste. He explored the hall first, opening each door and examining every suspicious area.

Who knows? There might be a secret door here, just like in all those movies...

Ardyn’s steps quickened as he moved around the entirety of the first floor, even going so far as to check every wardrobe just in case.

Damn. It doesn’t look like he’s here. Should I go up to the second floor?

He returned to the main hall and was approaching the stairs when he suddenly caught sight of something. A glint of metal on the floor, just a few inches from the stairs.

He walked over and knelt down to pick it up.

It was a familiar clasp.

Silver-blue butterfly wings.

Ardyn’s eyes widened. When the weight of the realization settled, a mixture of relief and concern instantly washed over him.

So he managed to get out, he deduced.

Since this is in the main hall, and there’s a path directly towards those open doors...

There’s no mistake about it. He must’ve escaped.

But was it long before I arrived?

Ardyn felt a sudden urgency. He pressed the palm of his hand to his chest and tried to calm himself. For some reason, his heart was beating irregularly again.

And now there was this strange pulsing somewhere on his forehead.

I don’t think he exited that long ago.

That means... he must be somewhere in town!

Ardyn groaned and collapsed to the floor, rubbing his face with his hand.

Looks like I have to go out there again. Darn!

Why hadn’t we crossed paths with each other on the way though? What the hell?

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Meanwhile, Luke was still huddled behind the fountain, his breathing shallow and rapid. Glancing around, he could see the once-bustling town square in ruins, and the sounds coming from the fountain were the only normal ones that helped him calm down a bit.

The Calamity’s roar continued to echo through the air, a constant reminder of the danger lurking beyond. The demonic creature approached relentlessly, and Luke could only hope that the Summoner stationed there would succeed in his mission.

He took another deep breath and waited. Timing was crucial in a situation like this.

When the root arms retreated and the monster’s attention seemed to be focused elsewhere, Luke took that opportunity to dash to one of the nearby houses that were still intact. When he reached the door, he turned the knob and almost collapsed with relief when he realized it was unlocked.

He quickly slipped inside and locked the door before falling to the ground, his heartbeat constantly pounding in his ears.

I should be safe for now. At least, I hope.

While he was catching his breath, Luke surveyed the surroundings. The room was modestly furnished, and the air had a subtle scent of wood, incense, and a hint of candle wax. He couldn’t see very clearly though due to the darkness.

It seems that I’m in the living room.

Luke slowly got up and decided to explore the place. Maybe there was something here he could use to survive.

He felt a little guilty about touching other people’s things, but if this town was going to be destroyed anyway, he might as well make use of what was available. Being in here made him feel much safer than being out there.

There may be a basement or cellar where I can hide for a while. Even if the roof collapses, I’ll be safe underground.

He began to explore the place carefully. First, he closed all the windows in the living room and pulled down the blinds. Then he turned on the lights, flooding the room with brightness.

Luke blinked.

The furniture was simple but well-kept. There was a worn but comfortable-looking chair near the magical fireplace and an empty plate on the wooden table. The walls, on the other hand, were lined with sturdy-looking bookshelves containing various tomes. As he approached and inspected some of them, he saw that most of them contained religious textbooks.

Not only that, but now that he looked around closely, he could spot several religious symbols adorning the room. Symbols that clearly represented the blessings of the gods.

Ah, he thought in realization. This must be a priest’s home.

Now I feel even more guilty.

At that moment, his stomach growled.

...And now I’m hungry.

Now that he thought about it, it made sense. He had only arrived in this city last night. He had eaten before he started his journey, but he hadn’t been able to explore the food stalls during the festival. Instead, he fell through a trapdoor and was unconscious for hours.

When he woke up the next moment, his body was sore, and the Calamity had broken out of its seal.

Needless to say, he had no time to think about his hunger and thirst the entire time.

To the owner of this house, I sincerely apologize for trespassing.

He ventured into the kitchen area and opened the refrigerator. Fortunately, there was some food left. He took it out and began to eat ravenously. After that, he poured himself a glass of water from the sink and gulped it down.

I feel so much better now.

He took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind.

Okay. Now that I’m fed, what should I do next?

Right. Find somewhere to hide for a while.

Luke continued his search until he came to a narrow hallway in the other part of the house. The door at the end of the corridor stood out from the rest, perhaps because of the magical aura he could feel emanating from it. It was subtle, but also very familiar.

He approached it cautiously and held the palm of his hand in front of it.

Suddenly, several magic symbols appeared on the surface, each of them glowing a bright green.

As I thought.

It’s locked with magic.