Imdiately after she gave him that answer, Jeci bolted into motion, briskly moving out of the open area.
Ellis was awestruck for a mont, thinking, *"His mother? He really is a prince of
Luinngard?!"* He raised his head and quickly called out, "Wait, wait for !" running after Jeci as fast as he could.
Jeci did not respond to him and just ran out of the shelter and into the woods.
Raven happened to be by the entrance, just coming in when Jeci bolted out, and Ellis was running towards her, shouting, "Wait. Wait!"
She stopped Ellis, grabbing his arm before he could pass her. With a frown, she asked, "What is wrong?"
Ellis exchanged glances between the now-gone Jeci and Raven, who was looking at him with a stern gaze, not entirely sure what to do.
He hesitated for a mont before answering, "Northern is missing."
Ellis didn't see any hint of surprise on her face; he didn't think that information affected her anyway.
Then he heard her say, "Instructor Annette told about it. Does anyone have an idea where he might be?"
Ellis' facial expression was puzzled. With the question Annette had asked him and the sensitivity of what Jeci had told him, he didn't want to say anything at all.
But Raven looked at him as if she was going to pull those answers out whether he was willing or not.
Moreover, he couldn't bear being disrespectful to her.
He gulped. "Jeci thinks he might have gone to Luinngard."
Raven looked down for a mont, then raised her head with a frown. "Why would he?"
Ellis shook his head. "I have no idea either."
Raven released his hand and sighed. "Thank you, Ellis."
Ellis' face radiated with the brilliant light of hope. *"She knows my na!!"* His mind scread.
He watched Raven walk away with the slender and slightly taller Helena beside her. Then he belatedly rembered he was doing sothing before he got stopped.
"Right! Jeci!!" Imdiately, he dashed out of the shelter.
anwhile,
Annette was inside the main hall of the shelter. The place had gotten quite full, with people seated here and there-even Gilbert, Myu, and Ryu.
Just as they settled in, Raven entered, attracting all the attention in the room. There was urgency in her eyes.
She stopped in front of the table, all eyes focused on her, and yet she did not shake, not in the slightest.
"We need to speed things up and begin moving into Luinngard."
Annette frowned and rose up. "Stop it right there, Raven. What is wrong with you?"
Raven looked at Annette. "I'm sorry, Instructor Annette. I didn't an any disrespect. But I think an opportunity has been granted, and we need to take it."
"Why don't you explain this opportunity before coming in here and commanding everyone like we are your damned pawns!" Her tone grew with fire.
Raven at that point was silent, calmly looking at Annette's glaring eyes.
She lowered her head, her voice ringing out. "I'm sorry, I didn't an to disrespect anyone. I
just happened to hear that Northern could be in Luinngard Empire."
Annette's eyes widened, as did every other person seated at the table.
They were all shocked, and not one of them carried an iota of doubt in Raven's words. The reasons were quite obvious.
Rather than questioning Northern's capability and craziness, all that was needed was the word from Raven's own mouth.
If she believed it, then every one of them did too.
"H-How?" Annette stamred.
"I'm not sure, but I know the lady following him was one of the knights that was sent to kill us. If she is sure that Northern is going to Luinngard, then he is... Maybe he already made it inside."
Annette felt strength leave her legs, and she slumped into her seat.
"Damn, Northern, that kid."
A spiky-haired kid with sharp teeth looked at Raven with a frown and asked,
"So, what exactly does he being in Luinngard have to do with us going there now?" His voice sounded with a grunt at every syllabic pause.
"Because he would have taken down the gaten in front of the place."
"Won't they replace them imdiately?" Annette intoned.
"Yes, they will. But those will be temporary replacents. We can take them down before they bring permanent replacents."
"Yeah, Raven, I never thought taking out the guards had ever been an issue. Did you?"
A small smile played on Raven's lips and imdiately faded. "You are right, Instructor Annette."
"So?" Annette asked with a slight frown.
"Right now, this lady is going after Northern despite knowing the place is an impenetrable fortress."
Annette's eyes widened. "Oh my Eldech, you think she might know another way in?"
Raven nodded her head at Annette's guess and said, "She'll probably not want any of us to be aware of it. That probably explains why she stord off without telling anyone. Ellis followed her, but I don't think he'll make it anyway."
Arlem interjected, "What is this lady's deal with Northern anyway?"
"That, right now, is not our business. Right now, I just feel like we need to get moving,"
Raven said sternly.
Annette looked at Arlem, noticing the offense taken in his expression. Then she addressed
everyone altogether.
"Raven is correct. Right now, we can't afford to concern ourselves with trivial matters. I, myself, have been very curious, but we can't afford such luxury."
Her eyes drifted towards Raven. "Her plan probably sucks. If Jeci finds out we are using her to enter her country, she'd probably hate us. But what choice do we have? It's either them or us,
and we need to go ho."
Everyone murmured, nodding in agreent with what Annette had said. Confidence and
resolve wafted across the room.
Annette looked at Raven and asked, "Jeci is probably halfway to Luinngard as we speak. What
exactly is your plan on that part?"
Raven smiled. "Of course, I'm tailing her already."
"Tailing her? How?" Annette's tone rang with surprise.
"I'd prefer not to share, but I have familiars around. When one of them saw her pass, I ordered
it to follow her. So, now, can we at least start moving? Five people will do."
Annette looked at Raven in disbelief and thought, 'Damn, this girl is dangerous.'
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