The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 115: The thirteenth prince

Chapter 115: The thirteenth prince

’Sacrifice?’

Hex became warry when he heard the Witch. Although he knew he couldn’t trust his Witch mother, her words resurfaced his skepticism towards the baron’s plan and intentions.

He believed wholeheartedly that the baron could have stopped some of the tragedy of Grindeston. But he hadn’t.

Hex knew the Witch’s resurrection occurred with the baron’s silent consent. The baroness had confirmed that. For that, he had willingly put the people at the castle at risk. If he could do all that who was to say that he wouldn’t sacrifice Hex to kill his hated foe and free his beloved?

’You are not the object of the sacrifice,’ the baroness said, seemingly understanding his thoughts. ’Opening the door requires a sacrifice worth a soul. And not just any soul. It should be Blessed soul.’

’I am a Blessed,’ Hex thought defiantly.

"I know’, replied his mother. ’But based on your story, I don’t think your sacrifice will matter to the baron, diminishing your worth in Heaven’s scale.’

Before Hex could understand what she meant by that, the dark clouds formed again in the sky.

"If you think I will allow you to lock me up, you are mistaken, Mikhael." Hex heard the Witch cackle. Immediately after shouting, she dove towards Hex.

Hex tried to remain calm. The wheels in his spun rapidly, trying to think how to defend himself. He saw the baron behind the Witch but would he come to his rescue?

As he looked around to see if he had anything near him, his eyes fell on the golden glow in the corner.

’The deity child,’ Hex thought. He had nearly forgotten about it, having experienced so many things in such a short time.

Without losing a breath, he set off.

’If I destroy it, the Witch will be out of power source and the baron can kill her, once and for all.’ Hex used his Second Blessing, applying burst energy to his feet, reaching the infant within a blink. He had to hurry.

Despite being far closer to the infant than the Witch had been to him, he saw her reach him almost at the same time as he had reached the infant. Hex held a broken piece of tile with a sharp edge.

The glyph on the back of his hand shone brightly as the phantom of a dragon bear appeared behind him. Hex didn’t know how much power was required to kill a deity but he didn’t wish to leave it to chance. He was going all out.

In his peripheral vision, he saw the slender fingers of the Witch reach him. Simultaneously, Hex’s hand struck, his killing intent. The Witch would reach her goal at the same moment he would his. He just hoped the baron would take care of the rest after that.

The fingers touched his hair. His tile point reached the infant’s chest.

"Khe Khe."

In that second the sound of a baby’s fussing reached his ear. It was soft and unfamiliar but Hex’s hand halted. He missed his chance.

BAM!

Hex felt his body fly. The pain followed a fraction later. Hex couldn’t even cry out, the pain stunned his senses and brain into silence.

The Witch had brushed her fingers against him and he had nearly died. He crashed into the wall and then slid to the floor. Hex’s eyes were wide open but he couldn’t see or think anything. The pain made him delirious. His heartbeat was faint, almost like it didn’t belong to him.

"My my," the Witch cackled. "You are still alive? I guess my maternal instincts caused me to go soft on you, my dear son."

She lifted her hand, a dark sphere spiraling in it, her attack, however, was interrupted. The baron had reached her once more. She had to move, evading the baron’s attacks.

"If you hadn’t stolen His heart back then, I would have killed you by now," the Witch snarled at the baron, flying into the air. "You are just like your master. If you two hadn’t intervened, the Divine Lord would have taken His throne by now."

A cold glint passed through the baron’s eyes when the Witch mentioned his master. His hold on his sword tightened and he unleashed a frenzy of attacks at her.

"You should rejoice. You will join him soon inside the Vault." The baron’s tone remained as apathetic as always.

"You really think so?" The Witch responded with her annoying cackle. Their battle resumed. But now it was a race to see whether she could kill Hex faster than the baron could save him.

’My son,’ the baroness called softly. She knew if she did nothing, Hex truly would die. His heart was beating slower and slower.

’No one can kill my son. Not while I am here,’ the baroness said angrily. Being in his inner space, she had access to his heart. She floated toward it. The restriction Hex faced when trying to reach, didn’t seem to deter her. She gritted her teeth and passed through the resistance.

When she finally reached his heart, she put her hand on it. Her ethereal form started to glow. The light seeped into Hex’s heart. Hex wasn’t aware of this. He only felt something soothe his pain, little by little. The figure of the baroness was shrinking but she wasn’t stopping.

No one noticed her actions. Same as no one saw the weak regular human boy in the corner of the tower. He was trembling and unable to walk. Determined to reach the infant, Gorge crawled slowly toward it.

...

"Is that really the entrance to the Vault where all Sinners and Taboo are locked up?" Briella asked in awe, gazing at the bright light from afar.

"Yes," groaned Elron, laying on a cart, which his hooded partner was pulling. The battle against Wallen had destroyed a large part of his body. He needed time to heal from it. "Stop gawking at it. We need to leave, right now."

Briella pouted but followed behind them. "If we need to leave why are we descending into the hill’s chasm?" She asked with annoyance.

Elron had not been paying attention to the road. Hearing Briella, he looked up. He was surprised that she was right. They were descending toward the wrong place.

"What are you doing, partner?" He asked warily. Briella, hearing his growl, became cautious too. She had just betrayed her team. She didn’t want to suffer something similar.

The hooded figure didn’t reply. He just stopped suddenly.

"If you don’t answer me now, I will kill you," Elron said in an even voice. He meant what he said.

"Don’t be so hasty, Sir Elron."

Elron heard a melodious voice travel from behind his hooded figure. Soon, the owner appeared. She was a beautiful lady. Briella and Elron recognized Ella at once.

"What is the meaning of this, Miss Ella?" Elron asked. He was still composed. A Refined Knight like him had little to fear. The true powerhouses that could kill him were busy fighting each other at the moment.

Ella didn’t reply. She turned toward the hooded figure and bowed lightly. "Everything is ready, Majesty. As soon as the Vault opens, a new dawn will arrive."

"Majesty?" Briella blurted while Elron’s eyes narrowed. They had been partners for a while. Although the Dawnbringers didn’t know a lot about each other, Elron hadn’t expected his partner to be royalty.

The hooded figure withdrew his hood, revealing a handsome face.

"Yes, Majesty," Ella replied, lifting a chin slightly. "The thirteenth prince of Asterella, His Highness, Prince Solos Asterio."