The Villain Who Fell Chapter 68: The Journey VI: The Tower

Chapter 68: The Journey VI: The Tower

"We’ve arrived in the dark woods forest. Princess, what is our next move?" Asked Argus.

The dark woods forest, just like its na. The bark of the trees was all in a dark shade of brown, making the forest look unlighted. Not a single ray of sun entered through the leaves, making Elia and the others see. What made it worse was the fog, gently covering their vision.

Elia looked around the tall trees, finding a mark. What she rembered from her mories, there is a mark pointing in the direction of the tower.

"What’s this? A drawing?" Asked Elliot, tracing a drawing with his hand. That looked like an arrow with a cross. Elia squinted, and her eyes widen, knowing what that drawing is. It’s not a drawing but the mark she was looking for.

"It’s not a drawing rather a mark. I rember seeing this when I was younger," Said Elia, walking towards the mark. She traced the mark with her finger and looks in the direction the arrow was pointing, "Where the arrow is pointing will lead us to the tower."

"How long will it take us to reach the tower?" Alan asked Elia. While he looked around, being cautious of any danger that might bring to them.

"Minutes," Answered Elia as she walks to where the arrow was, pointing, and as she walked a bit further from the first mark, she sees another mark, "We won’t get lost in the forest. Not to ntion the mark looks re-engraved recently."

Elliot carefully looks at the mark, and she wasn’t wrong, "We should move before the fog becos grows thicker," suggested Elliot, to which everyone agreed.

The fog continued, spreading into the forest, making it chiller than usual. But this didn’t stop them when they reached their final destination, the tower.

Elia removed her hood and looks up at the tower. The tower was high, built with cobblestones. It didn’t look maintained at all where mosses were visible along with vines covering the windows.

Nothing changed except there was a new building beside the tower. Beside the tower was a small wooden cabin. Smoke was coming out of the chimney, giving them an idea they weren’t the only ones in this dark wood forest.

"Was there ever a gatekeeper?" Elliot whispered to Elia. A gatekeeper? Why would the original crown need a gatekeeper when anyone could beco the next ruler? Elia shook her head as she observes the shadows moving by the window.

"It’s weird. Wouldn’t anyone want the power to rule? Unless the gatekeeper is guarding it for soone?" Elliot pondered, but when he heard the door open, he hid behind the bushes.

The others went into hiding quickly. Elia, who hid in a spot that could see the gatekeeper took a closer look at him. Her eyes grew open when she saw the so-called gatekeeper. Rather than a gatekeeper, that man is a murder.

His appearance and style of clothing never changed—old ragged brown shirt, shoes that had holes, and a black beard. In one hand, he held a butcher’s knife, walking as if he had no energy at all. Elia gulped as she continued watching him.

"Should we get him?" Asked Argus, watching the man walking to where they were. Elia nodded her head but then when another person ca out of the cabin, she stopped Argus.

Not just one ca out but two more, making them four in total. From their body build, they looked like trained soldiers, or all those muscles are just for show?

For now, they couldn’t make a single noise because the man was coming closer to them, but his footsteps stopped. Elia felt her heart pounding every second. It felt so thrilling, as if she was reading a mystery novel.

"I swear I saw shadows in this direction," The man spoke, following a sneeze. He sniffs and wipes his hands on his ragged shirt. He turns his back, "Hey, what are you three doing? Quit dreaming on wearing the crown."

One of them answered, "Boss, but then whoever wears the crown can beco the next emperor, right? Then why won’t I just wear it and have a great rich life?" The man sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Are you an idiot? We’re being paid to guard this tower. If you wear it, we’re all going to die," The man yelled at him, "Young people these days just don’t know." He rolled his eyes after, "Let’s get hunting. Unless you want to be the at for tonight’s dinner." The man walked to where the others were, and Elia watches them disappear into the dark forest.

"It looks like we’re in luck today. We should get the crown before they get back, " Said Elliot, to which Elia agreed, "Argus and Alan will stay here. We have our ssenger here, right?" The ssenger Elliot was pertaining to was a small, innocent-looking bird but, in fact, is a trained, fierce one.

"I insist. I should go with the princess," Said Argus, but then Elliot didn’t allow it. It’s not he wanted to be with Elia, but if those n ca back to find out, they were getting the original crown. It would be better if Argus and Alan are both down there to beat them.

"I cannot allow that. If those n ca back, who would protect us? I trust Alan can trounce them. However, we can’t let our guards down," said Elliot.

"I agree with him. Rember, we’re not in the Vivan territory. I know you just want to do your job as a knight, but I forbid that," Elia looked at Argus, "Rember his orders are also my orders."

"I apologize for my rudeness," Argus bowed his head, and Elia forgave him.

Elia wore her hood back and walked behind Elliot, who lead the way to where to crown is. The tower had six floors, and the original crown is located on the highest floor. Elia took each step carefully due to the moss that covered the stairs.

"We’re finally here," Said Elliot, turning the knob, showing the original crown, caged into a glass cover. Elliot walked into the room, carefully checking for traps, while Elia stood one step behind the door. She couldn’t walk into the room when it still scared her.

When Elliot saw the erald sticking on the crown, it reminded him of Elia’s eyes. Elliot turned his back, "What’s wrong? Co in." But Elia shook her head and insisted on going in, "Elia?" He called, but this ti she didn’t respond.

Elia hid her trembling hands in her cloak and continued shaking her head. The mories of her ti here reminded the horror she had to live through.

It was around the ti her mother was announced dead. She clearly rembers being brought here as a form of distraction. How can she forget this important detail? The day she was forced to this tower was the day she was supposed to et her mother.

The more she thinks about this, the more her heart ached. She wanted to stop and run out of the tower. Elia knew it. It wasn’t a coincidence that they brought her to this tower. All this ti, they never wanted Elia to et her mother. It might be because her mother knew sothing that would expose the emperor.

It wasn’t ti to run. She needed to face her fear. Elia hesitated to step in. She shuts her eyes tightly and walks into the room. Before she knew it, she stood in front of the original crown. Her heart was pounding quickly, but at the sa ti, she felt relieved.

"Co, let’s get going," Said Elliot as he removed the class casing while Elia took the crown and placed it into the bag. "I’m bothered with the crates by the corner," Said Elia, taking a step closer to the crates.

Elia opened the crates and sees a journal, along with a purple dress that looked just like her size. As she scoops deeper in the crates, she sees a necklace lying on the bottom and went to grab it. She traced her fingers on the necklace which she had a feeling there was a picture in it.

"Try opening it, " Elliot said, which Elia did, and what he saw shook him. The necklace had a picture of a girl who looked exactly like Elia. His eyes grew wide to realize the girl in the picture was Elia’s mother. The only difference was the hair. It was like Elia in light brown hair color.

Elliot knew it was Elia’s mother because he rembers what his parents had told him. She was described as a gentle, caring woman. Whose beauty was envied not just by the noblewon but also the commoners.

Any man who saw her thought she was an angel, ascending from the skies. That is how unbelievable her beauty is.

"It’s a locket," Said Elia as she continues to stare at the picture of her mother. Then looks at the journal. Then it ans this owner was her mother’s. If so, this could answer her questions about her own mother.

As Elliot was about to say a word, a bird flew in his direction, landing on his shoulder. Elliot’s brows furrowed, not expecting them to co back when they went hunting, "We should leave."

"Your Imperial Majesty, please leave the tower now! We weren’t the only ones here," Yelled Alan, where his voice echoed through the forest.

"Let’s go," Said Elliot, grabbing Elia by her wrist.