The Kingmaker System
Chapter 245 - 244. Silent Misery (3)

Chapter 245: 244. Silent Misery (3)

The High Priest led the group, his expression grave as he guided us through the dense woods. The knights flanked our sides, their vigilance heightened, their swords drawn and ready. Every step we took felt like a deliberate choice, each one leading us deeper into the forest’s ominous embrace.

The thing I had failed to mention earlier was that this dark matter, this unholy corruption, had already tainted the creatures of the forest, twisting them into something far darker than their natural forms. It was as if the land itself had been infected by this malignant force, and it was only a matter of time before its tendrils reached out to claim us as well.

I could feel them lurking—dozens, maybe hundreds of presences hidden within the thicket. Watching us. Waiting for the slightest opening, the smallest weakness. Every rustle in the bushes, every creak of the trees sent a shiver up my spine. It was unnerving, knowing that we were surrounded by unseen enemies, their eyes never leaving us.

Then, without warning, a figure sprang from the underbrush, a twisted, monstrous form with eyes glowing like embers in the dark. Asher reacted instantly, his blade flashing in a swift arc through the air. The creature’s head was severed in one clean strike, and its lifeless body crumpled to the ground. I felt the young boy beside me flinch at the violence, and I instinctively wrapped an arm around his shoulders to steady him.

Asher turned his gaze toward me, his eyes narrowing slightly, trying to gauge my reaction. I looked back at him, unflinching. There was no fear in me, only a quiet focus. His frown deepened as he seemed to puzzle over my calmness. The other knights and even the Priests were visibly startled by the swift, unprovoked attack. But they knew better than to question the reality of this situation. There was no time for hesitation.

The boy clung to my side, his small hand trembling against my arm. I could feel his fear, but I didn’t have time to comfort him with words. The creatures began to emerge from the shadows once more—more twisted animals, their fur matted with corruption. But the knights were quick, cutting them down one by one with precision. I didn’t need to lift a finger as the soldiers moved with practiced ease, their blades flashing in the dim light of the forest.

We pressed on, our pace steady but cautious. The forest began to change. The trees grew taller, their trunks thick with age, their branches reaching high above us like silent sentinels. The breeze that passed through them was thick with an ancient power, a breath from a time long past. It carried with it a strange sensation—one that prickled at my skin and made my blood stir in response.

There was something familiar about this place, something that seemed to reach deep into my very soul. A deep, nostalgic feeling washed over me, as if I had walked this path before, though I knew that was impossible. Was this place merely the site of a long-forgotten battle, or was there something more hidden beneath its surface?

Something that was waiting for me.

Yet beneath the sense of welcome, I could feel the darkness closing in, the weight of a malevolent presence itching to take hold. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched, not just by the corrupted beasts, but by something far older, more powerful, and more dangerous.

Suddenly, a voice echoed within my mind, faint but unmistakable.

[Giver of Gifts has assigned you a task.]

I frowned, the words reverberating through my thoughts.

"What now?" I muttered under my breath, feeling the weight of the voice settle over me.

[Cleanse the Holy place and free the one who is trapped here.]

I paused, a sense of confusion washing over me. "The one who’s trapped here? Who?"

[Giver of Gifts says you shall know with time.]

[Reward: Assimilation with the Dragon’s bloodline by 10%.]

[Failure: None.]

I narrowed my eyes, a skeptical feeling gnawing at my insides. "Hm? So, I have a choice of rejecting this, right?"

[Giver of Gifts knows that you will accept her request.]

I scoffed, though it was more out of habit than actual annoyance. "What makes you so sure about it?"

[Giver of Gifts says that you have a kind heart, and that you help others. That is why you will also accept her request.]

I couldn’t help but let out a small, resigned sigh. That was true enough. I couldn’t just ignore someone in need. It was a part of me, ingrained so deeply I didn’t even question it anymore.

We continued forward, the trees parting as we reached the edge of a clearing. At the far end, the remnants of an old structure stood, broken and worn by time. The ruins were not just weathered by age but had clearly suffered destruction, as if the temple had been caught in the crossfire of some great battle.

"The lake is inside," Benedict said as he led us all inside the temple.

The structure was in a bad state but there was a statue there which was intact. The statue of Saintess Miella and the Dragon.

Benedict and the Priests bowed in prayer before the statue while I stared at it, it looked old but not as old as the Temple.

Benedict further led us out of the opening from behind the statue. There was a door which opened outside facing the large, clear lake that was reflecting the rays of sun like a mirror.

There was a strange air around the lake, it almost made my heart skip a beat as I felt my blood surging. I wanted to take a dive in that lake.

"You will have to go into that lake and pray, Saintess," I heard Benedict speak faintly in the background before I felt the whispers echoing in my ears.

For a moment, I wasn’t thinking, I was only letting my instincts take over. I walked ahead letting go of the kid.

I could hear the fading voices of the people behind me but before they could say anything, I’d abandoned my shoes and stepped into the water.

The water at once reacted with my mana. It felt as if I was becoming one with the water.

There was a quaint voice which seemed to be beckoning me, I walked deeper and deeper until I was partially submerged into the water.

Then I dove right in.

The water seemed to have come alive around me as it swirled and twisted into a form hazy form but I knew it was there. I could feel its presence embrace me, assessing me. I swayed with the water’s current and looked at the hazy presence which seemed to be observing me.

"I sense Aqua Dragon’s Presence here..." I almost gasped as I heard its voice in my head.

"Is that you..."

The quaint and ancient voice which seemed like it belonged to an old sage spoke to me and I responded.

"I am the Supreme Aqua Dragon’s Scion..."

"Scion? ... But you are a human..."

"Yes, but he blessed me with his Mana Heart."

"Then is he...?"

"Unfortunately, yes. He is no more."

"How unfortunate... Did he return to the Heavens?"

"Probably,"

"He loved humans..."

How ironic! The ones who were responsible for his death and suffering were also humans. I couldn’t tell him this, this Dragon was probably also trapped here like the Supreme Aqua Dragon. I wanted to help him if I could.

"Did you know him?"

"Yes... He was an acquaintance... I didn’t think I’d be able to see him again since I am... Here."

"How did you get here though?"

"I’ve been trapped here since the very beginning after my death in the war... A long time has passed by I suppose."

"It is,"

"I want to be free but I also have to protect this place..."

"If I cleanse this place then would you be able to be free?"

"Why yes! I’d be grateful to you if you were able to do it... But even for his scion. You don’t seem to have that much power to cleanse the darkness in this place.".

"Don’t be worried, you are an acquaintance of my predecessor and he would have helped you if he would have seen you in this state so, it’s like my duty to do this,"

"Such a kind child... Speaking of which, there was another child who came here too..."

Another child? Maybe he was talking about the Saint kid.

"Poor thing... Seemed like he was suffering... I wanted to help but I couldn’t..."

"Don’t worry, he’s under my protection now."

"Is that so? Then it’s a relief..."

I felt the mana around me swirl and the cool, refreshing feeling surge through me before I felt someone gripping my arm.

I was so much into the moment of interacting with the Dragon’s essence that I didn’t even realise that someone had dived into the lake after me.

[Dragon Bloodline assimilation completed by 58%.]

My eyes widened as I saw the notification flashing before my eyes and I couldn’t help

I felt him tug me away and I looked at the remnants of the Dragon’s Presence.

"Wait for me, I’ll surely be back."

"Yes, Supreme Aqua Dragon’s scion."

I heard the loud gasp of the person who had pulled us out of the water’s surface. It was Asher.

He dragged me out of the water and till the banks of the lake making me heave a deep breath. Asher was coughing and taking ragged breaths before he turned and gripped my shoulder.

"Miss Mirielle, are you all right?"

Worry and fear were flashing in his eyes as he looked at me and I nodded.

Water dripped from my clothes and hair as I stood up, the priests handed me the thick towel and the Saint child ran up to me. His eyes wide with shock and face carried an expression of worry.

"Are you all right? The water- The water was swirling and you weren’t coming up." He stuttered and I gently brushed my fingers over his cheek.

"I’m fine, calm down." I spoke in a gently tone and he stared up at me with the tears glistening in his eyes.

"What were you doing underwater for so long?" Benedict asked as he approached me.

I narrowed my eyes and replied in a defiant tone, "Praying, as you’d instructed."