Chapter 96 Late comers
Metals clanged with each steps they took. People aligned on both left and right of the city as an array of drifters, shrouded in diverse can of armors reaped from their various kills.
The mundane people watched heartily as they made a way towards the end of the capital.
Pride could be seen etched across their differential faces, some rugged, some neat, some scarred.
Each and every single one of them watched the army of drifters with joy and repletion.
After so long, a move was being made to subjugate closest to the their settlement. The one that had caused their downfall.
The people were filled with nothing but excitement.
Their sons and daughters were part of this army of course but the major part was populated by the students who arrived a few months ago.
A lot had happened but their arrival culminated things for them in a good way.
And now, the end was starting.
At least that was what the people thought.
They watched as the back of the army went further and further away from them till they had disappeared into the horizon.
The route the would pass had been earlier cleared to prevent unnecessary depletion of stamina and strength. And instigate a smooth journey to the rift.
Which worked perfectly.
After a couple of hours, the legion reached a massive rod of lightning, shimmering and sparking from the ground the the sky.
From afar that was what it looked like but as they got closer, the tear in space became more evident.
Even compared to others Gilbert had encountered. This one was more atrocious and different.
He stopped in front of the rift and looked up, whispering with a frown etched on his old face.
"I have never seen a rift so big"
Beside him was the crimson eyed girl with jet black hair.
She looked at him and looked at the rift.
"Will it be tough?"
Gilbert turned his head to the young student beside him.
"Definitely, Raven."
He acknowledged her strength, she was the best amongst her pairs that was what earned her a place beside him.
Leading an entire squad of her own.
"What next Headmaster?" Annette deadpanned, making it sound more like a flak than a sincere seeking of the way forward.
Gilbert, noting the criticism in her tone, shrugged it off and turned to his right. He lowered his head slightly to the person standing beside the Raven.
"If you may… Lady Terence"
Even though she was young in her appearance and stature, Gilbert regarded her with sincere respect and no one looked bothered about it.
Not even Annette.
Instead, they all maintained a perfect decorum as this Terence lady with white hair and golden eyes stepped forward.
She was donned in a body-fitted white suit with golden embroidery running all over its edges and some specific places.
Her eyes glowed as she craned her neck to look at the rift.
A couple of seconds left and she didn't stop looking. All of them anxiously waited… in perfect silence.
Then suddenly she shuddered and almost stumbled to her feet.
But the black haired lady was quick to grab her.
"What is it? Did you see something?" Raven asked, urgency ruling her tone.
Others did not speak but clearly their faces were more than enough words.
Taking her time, the young lady regained herself from the hands of her savior and closed her eyes, taking a few seconds to breath.
But each passing second only added to the tension.
Then she finally turned to the black haired lady and looked at Gilbert also.
"The rift has been occupied…we cannot enter."
Gilbert's face crumpled into a grim frown.
The rest of the crowd all had confusions drawn upon their faces, straining their expressions in different ways but conveying the same message.
Lotheliwan like every other nation around them were embroideried by several religious culture.
They built temples and worshipped gods.
Of course, many from other continents also do them same but more people deem this act as a useless one.
Because the existence of gods in this world has been proved to be false. But this one's were acceptable by the general population.
Why?
Because they entity they deify is none other than Ul.
All countries in the continent of Starlock gave their sole heart to Ul and worshipped the voice as a goddess.
Of course, everyone that were awakened could hear her but when a temple was erected in her name, an oracle was also selected.
From generation to generation, a lady was born with golden eyes and white hair to carry the divination of Ul in her body and connect the heart of the people to their goddess.
Terence was the one for this generation, sadly, she was born in the aftermath of a catastrophe.
Although she looked kind her gentle, she had gone through her own fair share of life.
And possessed an outstanding talent.
No one knew of the details, not even Gilbert. He particularly was very careful around this young lady.
They all knew she could tell if a rift is viable to enter, she could even go as far as telling how many people were in the rift.
Terence had an immense aptitude and connection to soul essence that made her able to sense any and everything.
Amazing, yet frightening.
"What do you mean the rift has been occupied?" A green haired bow inquired rudely, his brows furrowing.
Terence turned to him wearing a fierce look on her face.
"It is as you heard Mr Bram. This gate has been occupied by one person."
Perhaps they was some of discord amongst them prior to this time, her voice rose higher than usual.
"Terence."
As a soft voice called, she turned her eyes to its owner.
"Please, can you tell us more." The black haired lady inquired… gently.
"That is only because you are asking Raven."
Raven nodded with a pretty small smile.
The white haired lady took a few seconds, closing her eyes then later she opened them.
"His soul essence is faint, what I can sense is just a little and it's rapidly disappearing, it's as though his soul is being consumed by darkness or being extinguished. I also can tell that he is at the heart of the rift. Currently so close to its core."
Silence ensued for a couple of seconds.
Then Gilbert broke it.
"Alright then. So we wait and see what happens. If the boy manages to close the rift before he dies, we can storm in and help as fast as we can and if the boy dies. The rift will open up its gateways and we will take it from where whoever is in it stopped."
Gilbert turned to the rest.
"Let us set camp around the area, we don't know how long it will take but we are willing to wait however long."
With that command, the legion scattered abroad the expanse, walking in pairs and gisting as they did thr necessary things.
Annette stood in front of the rift with her arms folded. Since they started setting up camp and till now, almost half an hour later, she was still standing and staring at the rift.
Steps gallantly arrived beside from her blind side. Yet, she didn't need to look before she knew who it was.
Immediately Gilbert stood in front of the gate, she lilted:
"Do you think… the boy could be the one here?"
Gilbert's brows creased to a frown.
"There are no certainties… but I doubt that will be possible. Wasn't he a walker? How can a walker survive in this kind of unpredictable rift. Even I would have a hard time."
A corner of Annette's lips curled up, "I know right… it's practically impossible right…"
'...and yet, I have this feeling…'