An Owl's Rise-Chapter 457 - Mission Accomplished (2)
Holding up her hands, Evelyn told all but the strongest of the owls to wait to speak with her.
Instead of having to deal with seventeen voices bombarding her with questions at once, she figured it would be easier to talk to a single representative and then have them relay information to the others.
Once the large owl that had colorful yellow and green plumage connected to Evelyn, she immediately asked the question that had been at the forefront of her mind since Evelyn showed herself to be an owl.
"Did the Roost send you?"
There was a hopeful look in her eyes as she asked this. For nearly two years she and the others had been captives. During that time their blood was periodically drained to the point where they could barely survive, their feathers were plucked until their skin was nearly completely exposed, and their magical energy was constantly being siphoned off.
And sadly, this horrid fate made them the lucky ones. Many other owls that had been taken by the Miris Sect were already long gone. Killed for their beast cores and other materials or subjected to cruel experiments that broke them.
For so long each of the owls being held here had dreamed of the Roost send a squad to rescue them. They had to put their faith in something or else their wills would shatter.
"No, I'm not here on behalf of the Roost. I'd snuck into this place for another reason and learned that there were owls being kept captive. It didn't sit right with me to let you continue to rot in this place." Evelyn responded truthfully.
She had considered lying to keep the other owls calm, but her deception would be discovered in short order. Even if it was not what they wanted to hear, she gave them the truth.
As expected, the owls listening to her looked despondent when they learned that their home had not sent help.
Now all manner of questions were racing through their minds. Would this strange owl be able to actually help them? Certainly, they were out of their cages, but they had no clue exactly where they were. How would they escape? There were an unknown number of enemies all around them.
Evelyn could see anxiety on all of the freed owls' faces. Their uncertainty was causing fear. The possibility of being caught and forced into even more horrifying conditions crossed their minds.
"Calm yourselves. It is true that I don't currently have a connection to the Roost, but I am a member. Like all of you I got separated during the human invasion."
This explanation from Evelyn helped to settle down some of the owls, but their worries were not abated. How could a single ally help them escape when surrounded by so many enemies?
At the very least Evelyn had them willing to listen to her again, and she explained how she was going to get them out of the Miris Sect.
"Through a series of fortunate events, I've obtained a teleportation magic item. With it I'll be able to send all for you far away. It will not be taking you to the Roost though. Again, I've been unable to contact them since the attack two years ago. You'll all be transported to the depths of the Forest of Giants. I understand that this is not the safest of locations and that there are tyrant rank beasts lurking about, but it certainly beats staying here. Stay cautious and resourceful, and you all should be able to get to safety."
After Evelyn's explanation, several of the owls asked her questions that were eating way at them, and she did her best to answer them.
Of course, she avoided mentioning the Verdant Warlord's Domain.
There was a nonzero chance that one of them would discover it, but that was a risk Evelyn was willing to take in order to rescue these unfortunate owls that had ended up in their current predicament in large part due to her.
"I know that you all have more you want to ask, but we've spent too much time talking. There's no telling when someone will come down here to check on the situation. I need all of you to gather around and make sure that you are touching." Evelyn instructed.
Feeling the looming danger that could strike at any moment, the seventeen owls hastily formed up as Evelyn ordered.
She then handed the mass return ticket that Bylur had obtained.
However, when she stepped away from the group, all of the owls looked at her with confused and concerned expressions.
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"Are you not coming with us?" The leader of the owls that Evelyn was connected to asked.
"Sorry, I've got some unfinished business to take care of here. Don't worry, I've already managed to blend in, and the humans here don't suspect anything. Just go ahead and escape. I'll be fine."
While some of the owls looked reluctant to leave without Evelyn, they nevertheless voiced no objections. Staying with her would only cause problems, and it would be impossible to convince or force her to accompany them.
"Thank you for all that you've done for us. I'll never forget it. Ah, and I just realized I never introduced myself. I'm Zirre. Would you mind telling me your name?"
Wanting to know the name of her savoir before she was whisked away, the owl Zirre asked for Evelyn's name.
"You can call me Evelyn. Now go ahead and activate that teleportation item." Evelyn said, hurrying the owls along.
A few of them cooed at her thankfully, and then Zirre channeled her magical energy into the return ticket.
In an instant the seventeen owls were surrounded by a bright light, and the next they were gone.
With her objective complete, Evelyn flew back up the large shaft leading into the basement and stealthily left the area.
The giant blaze she had started was close to being contained, but it still provided enough of a diversion for her to get away unseen.
