Way of the Knights

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"Alright, we're done here. You guys can release them, it's time that we return home."

Raven told the Elites who readily obeyed his order and released the captives. 

Not all of Lucy's puppets died when she lost consciousness, some managed to live through the ordeal but became too weak to resist afterwards. To this, Raven was struck with a wonderful idea. One by one, he planted a slave seal to each of them, effectively increasing the numbers of his spies inside the Black Curtain Guild. 

Since they were reduced to a very weakened state due to Lucy's Poison Laws, they couldn't resist Raven's will at all, resulting to them being branded by a Slave Seal. 

There were at least 20 people who survived, counting the prior slave Raven had, he now have a total of 21 people who will serve as his spies from now on. After making sure that they were properly branded and briefed about the plan, the slaves were released and started making their way back to the guild. 

Raven and the team had already squeezed out information from the slaves but failed to discover nothing, the same goes upon inspecting the deepest parts of the underground cave. In the end, they could only take their time and return back to the kingdom so that they could squeeze out information from Lucy herself. 

The way back to the Kingdom was relatively peaceful. Aside from a few injured, they didn't lose anyone from the team of Elites which is a cause for celebration. The group took their time, resting properly on their way back since there is no reason to be in a hurry after all. 

It took them a day to get back, their return was welcomed by the Golden Knights, who immediately summoned the team back at the palace to complete the report. 

Of course, thanks to the Skynet Array, the King and the rest already knew the results of the battle were but still they have to meet the person they brought back. 

On their way to the palace, Old Lee noticed that Raven appeared to be in a deep thought. The old man was puzzled so he decided to ask him: "Is there something wrong, Young Raven?" 

Raven was of course, surprised by this sudden question as he himself didn't realize that he was locked on a deep thought. He gave the old man a smile and said: "It's nothing, Professor Lee. I guess I'm just shocked that this mission was easier than I initially thought. I guess I was worried for nothing and underestimate our strength together, everything went well in the end." 

'Yes…' Raven's thoughts continued inside his mind, 'Everything went well…too well in fact that it's so uncomfortable." The old man knew nothing of his inner thoughts, but knew that Raven has his own worries. 

"One cannot be too prepared when it comes to a decisive battle, Young Raven." Old Lee stated, "In fact, it's better that it ended up this way, at least this shows just how much you care about the people around you."

Raven smiled and nodded towards the Old Lee's words. He then decided to throw this matter on the back of his head for now since there are more pressing matters to attend to.

***

After finishing up the reports of the battle and securing Lucy's imprisonment. The team and the Elites were released and were allowed to return to their homes. The Elites were rewarded due to their performance, the team didn't receive any since they don't need any. 

Resting on their respective homes, a day went by and Raven returned to the palace along with Luis since Lucy's interrogation will happen today. 

Due to the restrictions that Raven placed on her, Lucy was effectively reduced into a mere mortal. Raven watched as the interrogation went and by using all means possible, they managed to squeeze out important details from her. 

According to what she said, the reason why they want to build a camp near the Kingdom is due to Lucy's talent in Poison Laws. She has a special poison that could supersede one's very consciousness, allowing her to push her will and desires for them to follow. All she had to do is to catch a few people who wandered to close to the camp, poison them and have them return. 

Those who were poisoned will become predators that will attack whenever Lucy decided, each of their victims would get infected and a cycle will repeat until they could effectively create a pseudo organization inside, and then it will be the Mort Family all over again. 

Due to the reports of the battle against her, the interrogators knew that what she said was the truth. Fortunately, the guild didn't account on Raven and his team's existence at all. They underestimated the growth of these kids, who crushed their plans before it even bore fruit. 

Still, even after all this, Raven wasn't satisfied. 

Something was nagging at him. Something was wrong - is what is his instincts told him. Yet he couldn't place a finger on it. 

Even after Lucy's interrogation over, Raven still didn't feel at ease. Yes, he himself knew that Lucy told them the truth but for some reason, there is something missing in this situation which made Raven really uncomfortable. 

'Was that really it?' Raven asked himself, 'It can't be right? If that was really it, then it doesn't make sense why I'm feeling this way. But, she told the truth and she even said that what she said was everything she knew.'

'But what is this uneasy feeling?' Raven frowned, 'Heavens, I hope I'm just tired.'

Since Raven couldn't find any answers, he shook the thought out of his head and decided to spend the remaining time of his day with Luna in the Palace.

It was when he was planning on returning home, that Raven's hidden worries emerged and finally happened. 

As he was making his exit from the palace, Raven suddenly felt chills all over his body. Alarm bells rang in his mind, screaming danger at him and telling him to hurry. 

Raven felt a strange type of energy in the air, this made him even more apprehensive since he never felt this energy present inside this place before, he visited this place regularly so he knows. 

Without any hesitations, Raven raced towards the source of the energy fluctuations. It was also at this moment that he finally remembered something that he had forgotten earlier. 

'Damn it! Is this what Luna felt before? What is this energy? Did it follow us all the way here?' 

On his way towards the source of the energy, Raven also noticed the trail he was following. The path he took towards the source was familiar to him, in fact it was quite fresh in his memories since it was the same path he took towards Lucy's prison earlier.

'Damn! Damn! Damn!' Raven repeatedly cursed inwardly, 'I should've trusted my god damned instincts! I KNEW something was wrong! I KNEW something was missing! Damn it! I'm an idiot!'

Raven practically ran in desperation towards the source. He pleaded to the heavens that no one gets hurt for his carelessness, yet it seems that it was his destiny to cause yet another mistake that might possibly doom all that he cared about. 

Upon arriving at Lucy's prison where the strange energy was concentrated. He saw two people present. 

It was Lucy, who's skull mask were nowhere to be seen, revealing her peerless looks as she appeared to be slumbering in peace whilst few tears flowed on her face. 

And the other one, was none other than King Alexander. He had his back resting against the walls of her cell, clearly in pain showed by his pale face and frowning expression. Green smoke oozed out of his body as he clutched his right arm. 

Raven was livid. His killing intent soared as rationality threatened to cease. At the last wisps of his consciousness, he touched the mark connecting him with Richard and Jacob. 

He sent them a message: 'You two! Get up and hurry to the palace! The King needs treatment!'

Raven practically roared this order to them. After that, his hammer materialized on his hand and Silver Fist started condensing on top of Lucy's slumbering body. Gripping his hammer tightly, he was about to send the hammer down when it was intercepted by a golden sword of none other than the King himself.

"Don't…" Alexander said with so much difficulty, allowing Raven to regain some of his rationality back.

With his face pale, he raised his sword and prevented Raven from killing Lucy. The Silver Fist crumbled into nothingness which relieved the King but his current condition acted up, causing him to cough blood repeatedly, making Raven worry to no end. 

Raven knelt by his side and started performing some necessary aid to him to at least prevent the poison from spreading even further. He pushed his hands against his chest and started the initial treatment while he wait for Richard and Jacob. It was then he heard Alexander talk once more, and his words baffled him to no end.

"Don't hurt my Beloved Queen."

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