Chapter 305: Chapter 302: You Are Welcome Nowhere

"Why couldn’t it be me?" For some reason, Rorschach felt a little pleased seeing Benedict in such a sorry state. The Elf’s effortless confidence back in the real world had been incredibly grating.

He continued to needle Benedict. "See? You wanted me to enter the Shadow City, so here I am. You did say we’d meet again."

"That’s right, but... I didn’t expect you to find Lady Caroline’s... home."

Caroline was still washing up in the attic, and as a guest, Rorschach didn’t feel it was his place to let someone in on his own authority. He turned and shouted upstairs, "An Elf gentleman named Benedict is here to visit. Should I let him in?"

"Okay, ah, but don’t let him come upstairs. I’m not ready yet."

"You hear that? Want some tea?" Rorschach stepped aside to let Benedict in. Without waiting for a reply, he took the initiative and used Spell Hand to grab a cup and a tea bag for the Elf.

"One moment." He didn’t know where the kettle was, but that didn’t matter. Rorschach cast a spell, filling the cup with a SPLASH of water before attempting to heat it.

When the output of the Molten Beam was kept to a minuscule level, the red glow was almost invisible, but it easily brought the small cup of water to a boil.

Caroline happened to see this as she came downstairs. "Your casting has really improved a lot since your academy days. The old Rorschach would have just used Fireball Skill and destroyed the table along with the cup."

"You and Master Kano taught me well..."

Benedict wore a strange expression. Though his mouth was parched, the tea in front of him was still boiling, so all he could do was inhale the fragrant aroma wafting up with the steam.

Time was short. He had to interrupt the teacher and student’s reminiscing. He said directly, "Caroline, it’s wonderful to see you. I have good news for you both..."

Benedict had heard news about the Reconstruction Council, but that was several days ago. With the Kingdom blockading El Island’s ports and cutting off information, he could only pick up fragments from resistance members back in Storm City.

He was skeptical of this kind of news. It wasn’t that he was a pessimist, but that the other members were overly optimistic and habitually exaggerated their achievements. However, today’s massive manhunt made him realize that something major must have happened on El Island, something that had the Queen and the Knight Order in a panic.

’The Gray Elves have rebelled?’ Rorschach was thrilled to arrive just in time for such juicy drama. ’Awesome!’

Caroline looked a little confused. "Ah, congratulations. So, you came rushing to find us because...?"

"You are both Mages from the Empire, correct? Oh, and Mr. Rorschach has even studied at the Tower of Stars. We desperately hope you two can carry this news to the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, so they can get in touch with our organization and, when the time comes, provide moral support for the great cause of El Island.

"We believe the two great nations won’t pass up this chance to weaken Istani. If you can build a bridge for us, you will become eternal friends of El..."

’So they want international intervention... or aid.’ Caroline shook her head. "We’re Mages; we can’t represent any nation... I’m more concerned with the Earth Sect’s plot and finding out exactly what kind of deal the Kingdom has made with the Sect."

’Actually, Rorschach really wanted to pull Benedict aside and tell him, ’Hey man, I’ve got connections.’’

But right now, he was more focused on wrapping up this mess in Istani. ’The investigation into the Sect is done, I have found Teacher Caroline, and, best of all, she witnessed the deal between the Sect and the Knight Order. Add to that the materials recovered from the shipwreck, and we have both a witness and physical evidence. Let the Church and the other agencies deal with the headache that follows.’

So Rorschach offered a "compromise." "Teacher, we’re too weak on our own. Why don’t we hand over what you witnessed and the evidence I’ve gathered, and let the Guild or another organization handle it? That way, the information can get out instead of being stuck here in the Shadow Land."

"Actually, I find this place quite interesting. You should see the deeper ruins. I haven’t even finished exploring the Ancient Ruins Area..." Caroline didn’t press the issue, though. She agreed with Rorschach’s suggestion:

"Of course, you’re right. Since we’re not making any progress down here, we can head back to the Empire... The problem is, the moment I step outside, I’ll be a wanted person again. Getting away won’t be easy..."

"We can contact Master Kano. With his help, we should be able to use the Guild’s Teleportation System to leave." Whatever tricks Istani’s Mages were up to, they wouldn’t dare cross a Great Mage.

"That could work."

Just when Benedict and Rorschach thought everything was settled, the door knocked again. It was another Elf, this one supporting a human. Both were bleeding.

"Connor? And Jeff..."

"Benedict, I knew you’d be here! Quick, Jeff needs healing..."

Rorschach was the one who performed the healing. As a fluorescent light began to glow, the blood-soaked Elf looked surprised, but he quickly composed himself and started telling Benedict what had happened.

Apparently, a Knight Order’s attempt at a swift takeover of Belanster had failed, throwing the entire island into chaos. The resistance in Storm City was being hunted and cornered by the Iron Crown Knight Order, and many, even without Benedict’s special ability to cross between worlds, had fled into the Shadow Land as a last resort.

Having entered the Shadow Land later than Benedict, the two knew more details about the battle on El Island.

However, upon hearing the description of the battle, the faces of Rorschach and Caroline darkened. Rorschach demanded, "Why does it sound like the power of Mother Earth has appeared on El Island?"

"No, the ancestors of the Elves were originally..." Benedict tried to explain, but a spherical orb on Rorschach’s chest began to glow. It felt as if his tongue had been seized, and he could only speak the truth:

"Yes, the Sect has contacted us as well. Some approached us under the banner of the Elf King, while others posed as returning Druids..."

Caroline’s eyes were filled with shock, but she did more than just stare. The Ether in the room instantly solidified into three emerald daggers, pressing them against the necks of Benedict and the two wounded men.

"Don’t move! They’ll explode even if you dodge the blades," she warned, her gaze fixed on Benedict in disbelief. "You’ve been lying to me this whole time! I was waiting, hoping you and your comrades would be the ones to expose the Kingdom’s conspiracy..."

Benedict was crestfallen. He didn’t know why, but what should have been a glorious day marking the success of their uprising had been filled with an overwhelming sense of defeat ever since he’d knocked on this door. "Caroline, you have to understand. We’re too weak compared to the Kingdom. We need to borrow strength from other powers—the other great nations, and the Sect..."

"The Sect uses Gray Elves as sacrifices to power the ships traveling to and from the Shadow Land. Or is it that you don’t care because you’re not a Gray Elf?" Rorschach goaded him. Benedict was fairer-skinned and more slender, and the fact that he could move about freely in Stormwind City proved he wasn’t native to El Island.

"Is that true?" Connor turned to his companion, his eyes wide with shock and inquiry.

"No, it’s a necessary sacrifice..."

’How can I defend this?’ Benedict wondered. ’What could I possibly say to make my comrade and these two Mages accept it... No, this is an impossible task...’

Just as despair and indignation consumed the proud Elf, the house’s Protective Array suddenly activated.

A rust-spotted longspear burst through the door. It was the Marquis’s Guard.