Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 177 - 168: The True Gathering

Heinz fumbled through the lush grass, the lifted lantern igniting a white flame. Plants within its range of light all toppled over. He moved around their roots and stems until he found a patch of deep black soil.

An array, a talisman, and a falling white spark. The surrounding vegetation withered, black dust fell to the ground, blending into the cracked earth, turning it into dark brown, moist soil.

Fannila surveyed the area for potential threats, while William stood silently, stationed at the spot farthest from the Elves’ maiden.

Kevin turned slightly and muttered to Lyle at his side, "Plague Doctor, this Elf’s weed removal technique is quite impressive. Do you think I could also take him to my estate to clear the weeds, and maybe destroy the violet garden my father loves so much? I got a severe beating when I picked a few violets as a child."

Heinz just happened to stand up, his Elven ears twitching as he evidently heard the recent conversation.

"Only when plants exhibit disease will I intervene to correct it. Every normal creature in nature has the right to struggle for survival. Humans, even if you are the victors of the age, should still respect other beings."

"Mr. Heinz, what are you doing?"

"This land has been corrupted, I am purifying it."

"How effective is it?"

"Temporary. Until the root cause of contamination is solved, all work is but a temporary fix," Heinz lifted his head, gazing towards the castle that had already retreated into darkness on the mountainside.

"The day is getting late; we should head for rest."

————————

The inn was shabby, with only a rope swinging in the air where the sign should be, most of the building was stone, but the floors were made of roughly hewn planks that creaked with each step.

Two heavy doors, one nailed shut from the inside, while the other was left ajar. All the windows were nailed shut like the rest of the building, and all that could be heard inside was the howling wind from outside.

The old counter looked empty, devoid of drinks or chunks of cheese for decoration. The surface appeared often wiped, very clean except for the fact there was no one standing behind it.

Five lonely keys lay neatly on the counter, as if prepared in advance. A talisman-like piece of bark sat under one of them, bearing hastily scrawled writing.

"Fifty Yule a night, bring your own food and water, leave the money on the counter. If you don’t, I will come to your room at night to find you."

Well, it seemed no one was willing to take the risk. Honestly placing the coins on the counter, forming a small mountain, Lyle and company took the keys and entered their rooms.

Lyle and two others entered one room, and the two Elves entered another; after all, who would choose to be alone in this forsaken place?

Nia climbed onto the ceiling, and her tendrils formed a large network in the air, inserting small devices made of bandit parts into various parts of the room, flesh-and-blood contraptions serving as alarms and barricades.

William etched an array onto the walls. As the azure pattern of the large perception array was completed, and filled with Magic Power, Lyle and the others heard a faint sound.

"A perception array. It amplifies the sounds of living beings."

Lyle heard the Elves’ conversation.

"Fannila, during the upcoming mission, never be alone. You must stay by my side at all times."

"Is there danger, Uncle Heinz?"

"More dangerous than you might imagine, this place..."

Startled footsteps interrupted the conversation between the Elves, and they fell silent, listening to the noise coming from the direction of the counter.

Lyle glanced at his friends.

"Someone else has arrived."

"Maybe it’s the inn owner; there’s a pile of coins on his desk."

"Should we go check it out?"

"Of course, we can’t do anything staying in the room. But be careful, let’s quietly open the door..."

Lyle and his two companions tiptoed as they pushed the door open, with Nia’s help, making not a single sound. They crouched, their gazes passing through the second-floor railing, eyeing the position of the counter.

The small mountain of coins that had been there had disappeared, and on the counter lay four keys, just as before, each corresponding to one of the four people in the inn’s hallway.

The petite nun, the Silver Armored Figure, the lady in black, and the elegant white-clad woman with a covered face.

"Plague Doctor, that looks like your sheriff colleague’s Paladin, right?"

"Yes." Lyle swallowed hard; he recognized all four figures, "William, Kevin, remember, I’m the Plague Doctor, not Lyle."

"Understood."

"So, shall we meet with them?" Kevin asked.

Lyle was still in a dilemma, his gaze fixed on the ethereal-looking woman in white, unable to help himself, he called out her name.

"Alianna."

With a voice almost imperceptible, so faint that even Kevin close beside him couldn’t make it out, elicited an incredible response.

She lifted her head, the swaying veil reminiscent of a jellyfish dancing in the ocean, and she looked in that direction. Her soft, otherworldly voice uttered the name.

"Plague Doctor."

"Plague Doctor?" Beatrice was the first to react, her gaze finding Lyle and his two companions hiding on the second floor, a trace of disgust swept through her eyes before it turned into a mocking smile.

"Didn’t expect to see you here, brother-in-law~"

Call softly parted; three parts delicate affectation, seven parts soul-seducing. Coupled with Beatrice’s naturally alluring beauty, William and Kevin were momentarily dazed.

It was Kevin who snapped out of it first.

"Brother-in-law?" He looked at his best friend, whom he had known for nearly five years. This was the first time he felt like he couldn’t see through Lyle.

"Just a friend’s joke," Lyle responded coldly, the bird-beaked mask of the Plague Doctor fogging up on the transparent lenses, concealing the eyes behind it.

"Ah, it’s Baron Borey’s son from Cassandra!" Karen immediately recognized Kevin’s appearance. The fact that a woman he had never met knew him pleased Kevin for a moment. Just as he was about to respond with a courtesy and display some aristocratic grace.

"My sheriff colleague, isn’t the Purifier with you? Aren’t you good friends?"

Kevin felt he needn’t concern himself with aristocratic grace, which didn’t quite suit him.

He glanced at Lyle, who stood silently beside him.

"No, I have important matters today, and am accompanied by two other friends."

Karen’s tone carried a hint of dismay, "What a pity, if the Purifier were here, he would surely be able to proclaim the justice of the holy light!" Saying this, Karen also sneakily glared at Beatrice, who was smiling.

Lyle covered his face, Karen really knew how to stir things up.

Now, within this inn, there gathered Necromancers, Mages, Elves, vampires, and various other enemies of the holy light. Karen, you’re about to be attacked by all sides, yet you still provoke them.

Really, is it ignorance that breeds fearlessness?