Building My Guild With A Blank Scroll
Chapter 52: An Escape-5

Chapter 52: An Escape-5

"Master, just continue through here," Colin said, opening up a door covered with grass and soil, yet beneath it was a staircase. "It’s a straight descent and ascent. Do wait for Dan to open it up on the other side. There may be other paths, but Master please do not explore."

*WHACK!

"Ouch, what’s that for?!" He rubbed the back of his head, feeling a swelling up there from the hit.

"Did you forget who this Master is?" Lo-an scolded and added. " The last thing I’ll ever do is try to find out what a noble hides under a tunnel— I’ve seen quite enough already."

"That’s why I got hit?"

"Want another one then"

"Eh, no no master noo." They kept their voices low not to attract any attention, though failing to notice the knights searching around— at least Colin didn’t.

"Bastard, I’ll spare you this time round." Lo-an stepped down on the staircase. "Better protect the other bastards, especially those two around the noble, I’m starting to like that Kaleb Elmore."

Colin smiled, understanding what he meant, going on one knee and clasping his hands together with his heads down. He bid him farewell, "Take Care Master, Safe Journeys."

*THUD!

The wooden door shut as he went down the stairs, Colin stood up only to notice another guard searching around far off.

’Better get out of here.’ Walking away with the grass looking untouched, his gaze suddenly shifted up to the mansion as he got onto the garden pathways.

’Thelma.’ His cheeks reddened, recalling what he’d seen earlier however the thought of her being in that room also came to mind. Clenching his fist hard, he wished he could do something but what would that even be— he was a bastard. Of course, he could focus on rising in ranks yet among his brothers, none were as weak as he was.

"Huh?" Almost reaching the mansion building, a few meters away, something caught his eye in the nearby pruned bushes. Drawing near, it became clearer, a dark purple colour— no he recognized what it was, a scroll.

He noticed the plants were different, yet it went unnoticed as he reached into them. "Ouch!" He brought it out, something pricking him and luckily not drawing blood. The area around where he was pricked slowly turned ash, spreading out and suddenly disappearing — going unnoticed. His mind was on the object he had just found.

"It’s really a runed scroll, the structure, metals which are at its horizontal edges." He checked out the scroll, carefully holding it and not daring to open it up in case something happened. He hadn’t used one before and couldn’t with his current power level since being a First Stage Channeller was the requirement. After all, most knights abhorred the use of runed scrolls— witched scrolls as they called it— but that was most of them.

’I’ll have to ask Dan about this, he knows more about this than hunters and —’

*GALLOP– GALLOP– GALLOP!

The sounds of hooves pounding against the earth were heard, interrupting his thoughts, and immediately drawing Colin’s attention.

"What’s going on?" He mumbled, noticing one of the riders glance at him, quickly hiding the scroll at his back.

Ridding towards the front of the mansion, more than ten riders could be counted with the horses having some without unmounted. Some could be seen carrying extra weapons and armour along, with their helmet on.

’Tav?’ He recognized the rider bringing up the rear, having no helm upon his head. As if knowing he was standing right there, his gaze landed in his direction yet despite looking at him. He didn’t notice him, lost in his thoughts until Colin waved, beaming as he did.

’Colin?’ Tav thought, looking at the figure waving silly at him considering what he was bothered about. ’Master I should ask him about Master.’ He pulled the reins turning the horse towards the gardens when—

"All Knights assemble right now!!" He heard Rals voice, still heading towards the other yet halting upon hearing the next words loud and clear. "The enemy is on the move!! All mounted knights ride out immediately!!"

Tav’s eyes widened and Colin could see the fear up his face, his smile sinking into a smile.

’They are after Master already.’ Colin realized it, watching as Tav wore his helmet, his expression unfading. He turned back, galloping after the others, already being left behind.

’What do I do now? Dan should have already met up with him right?’

*GALLOP– GALLOP!

Tav emerged from the side of the mansion, and he could see the knights including Ral, Diz, Carl and Kaleb mounting the horses. Some were already riding towards the entrance gates, and hearing an approaching horse Ral looked back. Smiling as he noticed the other, his shoulder-length hair out of the helmet was a dead giveaway.

"Tav, Shattering Roar sure is looking good here." Ral held up the bow in his hands, a sliver one like his aura and quiver slung to his saddle.

"Ral, there’s som —"

"Charge!!" Carl’s hoarse voice bellowed, his horse kicking its forelegs in the air and dashing towards the entrance, taking the lead with Diz.

"Let’s ride brother! No need to keep the enemy waiting!"

’Do be farther away already Master.’

Tav thought, following after and bringing up the rear with other knights— Kaleb Elmore at the center of the party.

*GROWL!

*CLANG!

"What’s keeping him so long." Inside the dark tunnel, Lo-an paced left and right. His right eye, unhidden under the patch glowing with a golden aura. In a distance, a low guttural growl could be heard as whatever it was seemed to be caged or chained up.

Still, it didn’t matter or bother him as the other party kept its distance although he was aware it sensed his presence. Such secret tunnels with things like these were far from new to him, yet there was a need to get out of there as soon as possible. The last thing he wanted was for whoever was keeping that thing there or anyone else to also sense something was up.

*CREAK!

Something creaked above him, the dirt coming down, causing him to halt.

*CREAK!

*THUD!

The sunlight being blocked out by leaves hit his eyes, a figure popping his head in. "Master?" Lo-an waved at him.

"Hurry Master, almost everyone is on the lookout for you," Dan informed, the worry in his tone evident.

"I didn’t know I could gain popularity that fast." The old man jested, climbing up the staircase out into the open, noticing they were in the middle of a path running through the forest.

"Rae! I missed you lots." His arms wide open he went to embrace the happily snickering courser.

"Master," Dan said, his tone filled with an urge for him to leave right away.

"I know, I know. But first, there is something I have to do." Lo-an stated, his hands moving to the side of the horse, channelling his aura there, runes lit up gold. "Good to go now, Rae."

"Ah, how could I have forgotten about this—haha. Now where is it?"