13- Secret of the Bell Temple (5)

His dark eyes were fixed on Raihle and didn't give the slightest attention to the other two.

"What's wrong, Your highness? You look rather pale."

Raihle was pale and stiff, and his eyes didn't stop shaking.

The terrible smell got trapped in his chest and choked him.

They weren't older than ten or nine years old. They were all too small and fragile.

And At some point, their faces weren't theirs but his students. The orphans he picked up and taught.

'Why?'

Why is something like this happening here?

His younger brother, Saihe’s voice came into his ears.

'Why don't we make a place for the children? Somewhere, we can keep them safe in dangerous world like this.' He pointed at himself and said, "I will be taking care of them, and Jiha will protect them, and you can teach them to defend themselves." He had a wide grin as he pointed at Hyun Wa at last.

Hyun Wa frowned. "Why am I the one who gets the hardest job?"

"What What are you talking about? The role suits you perfectly. Jiha said and Saihe agreed.

"You already learned half a dozen ways to kill people."

"How many times, I have to say that it's called martial arts, not 'ways to kill people'?" Hyun Wa grumbled and raised his brow. "And I don't know how to teach."

He shrugged. "And I don't know how take care of children but I'm sure we can figure it out. I mean, how hard could it be if it's the three of us?"

Hyun We thought he was joking at the time but they actually did it and opened a private school for orphans.

A place where special children will be safe and taken care of.

This sight right now reminded him exactly of what he fears.

No one knew about these children down here while they prayed in the temple above.

They were screaming, crying as sharp blades cut through their skin but no voice left This is a dirty place, they were a secret buried under the ground.

His chest was heavy and swollen, and his lungs were bleeding as he breathed.

"Your highness seemed very bothered by them," the High priest sounded nonchalant "But you shouldn't be. They were all failures anyway."

'Failures?'

"They failed to be sorcerers." The high priest added on.

"What?" Raihle instantly frowned.

What the hell is this man is saying now?

Raihle eyes were turned at him, he couldn't see him as a human, he felt like he was seeing both greed and disgust wearing human skin.

"Bastard, sorcerers are born sorcerers. You can't make them." Hugo's voice echoed in the closed cellar, even though when he glanced at the rotten children, he wasn’t too sure of himself.

"Not really," he didn't mind the anger or the stares of disbelief at all. looked rather comfortable. "we all know sorcerers are like mages but the magic in their veins is corrupted, making their blood and spells poisonous. deadly to even monsters." He raised hand and bit the tip of his finger. red bead of blood appeared. "Just with a drop like this, the whole city can turn into a mess, isn't that fascinating?"

No No matter how Raihle tried, he couldn't bare this old man's nonsense.

"Is Why are you trying to create them? To use their blood to turn everything into chaos?"

"You see, your highness," the old man ignored him and wore a horrific grin. "As a priest, I'm supposed to disapprove and despise the dirty kind. But I simply couldn't, not when I got enlightened." 

He raised his arms in the air. "To obtain the deadliest weapon in the world! A poison than can even kill the Ancient Dragon!" He looked though Raihle disbelieved eyes and smiled softly. "...and all you have to do is drown a young one’s blood in despair_"

"Are you done?"

His smiley face slightly flinched, despite what he thought Raihle was stoic and cold face was the same.

But he couldn't see beyond his eyes; he couldn't see the blood boiling underneath his skin, and he couldn't imagine how hard he was holding into his patience to this moment.

"I said, are you done?" 

He walked a step closer.

"Do you have more sick, disgusting thoughts you care to share?"

He took another step.

Loka mumbled when he realized Raihle's voice was changing every time he spoke. "Your highness..."

 He sounded more and more lifeless; every step he took, he felt like he was taking out a piece from his humanity.

He will do something, and both Loka and Hugo shared a feeling that even if they tried, they wouldn't be able to stop him.

So, Hugo stayed in his place and held Loka's wrist tightly so he wouldn't interfere either.

"There is one more thing." The High priest regained his smile.

Raihle stood right above his head. "What is it?"

"I succeeded." 

His teeth shone as he admired Raihle's widening eyes.

"I made a sorcerer on my own."

He turned his face to the side.

"Wouldn't you come out now, my dear Raven?"

Raihle's Wide eyes followed his gaze, and he saw the boy in the shadows.

A few steps ahead and the light of the lanterns exposed his face.

He looked as he just rolled out of his grave; his hair was tousled grossly, fresh blood on his stained, bruised skin.

Raihle eyes focused on the boy's pale blue irises.

His gaze was dark, lifeless, and full of exhaustion, but there was a small gleam of cold fury.

Raihle was glad; he was so relieved and didn't notice how his shoulders slumbered all of sudden.

He I was glad that, through all that this kid has been through, there was a very slight string of emotions.

He was still alive, but not just because his heart was beating.

He ignored the priest talking and took his steps towards the kid.

The priest was already lost in his series of thoughts.

His words and his blurry eyes made him look like a drunk, senseless man.

"He's our pride, the one survivor, and the greatest success!"

He continued to speak like making an announcement, ignoring Hugo and Loka's faces, and Raihle's complete ignorance.

"I I didn't know he was a mage when I picked him up from the street, and miraculously, he balance both nature and corrupted magic within himself. A mage and a sorcerer, the very opposite in the same body." He started to giggle, filling up the basement with his senseless voice. "He's Our miracle!" He covered his eyes and continued, "We had him under supervision but he somehow managed to kill that woman. And then that stupid girl came here for revenge and caused the others to die. The good thing is that it’s solid proof that we succeeded, Hahaha!"

Hugo turned instantly at Raihle; he was one foot away from the child.

"Raihle, Don't! _"

"Is that's true?" Raihle asked calmly.

He looked directly into the deep blue eyes; he didn't blink even when Raihle approached him.

"Your highness, please consider it an honor. You, me and all of us will be killed by my creation. "

Raihle ignored the priest's delighted claim; he looked at the child as if only he and him in this place.

"Did you kill those people who tortured you?"

The boy gazed at Raihle; he didn't seem to be planning in opening his mouth, but Raihle’s settled eyes made him speak eventually.

"Yes."

"You're lying." Raihle said instantly.

Raven's eyebrows twitched.

"What makes you say that?"

Raihle bent down to his level and looked directly at his eyes, as someone who hadn't the slightest change in his face, his words sounded quite different than the expression he had.

"Because I'm someone who knows very well when children lie."

Raven was taken aback; he opened his jaw and stuttered.

"W ..What are you saying?"

The priest's smile disappeared. "Yes, what exactly do you mean by that, your highness?" 

"Do you see another sorcerer other than Ravne who might have done these horrible crimes?"

"No," Raihle stood up and turned at him. "but this kid didn't do it, even though it wouldn't be too bad if he did."

"Huh?"

He heard Raven's confused voice from behind him.

"Being Being killed as a consequence of your terrible action is a good way to die. At least, that's my opinion."

'What the hell is wrong with him?' Hugo wished he had misheard.

"So, do you want to do it? Or should I?" He asked Raven while pointing at the priest.

"...Do what?"

"Kill him."