The Taste of Seduction

The three looked at each other, trying their best to process what was happening right here and then.

Everything happened too fast! As they were about to get attacked by Austin, and it even seemed like a powerful strike, they were suddenly saved by the mysterious voice that they heard from the labyrinth where they got the Book of Spells.

So if he is one of Gwen's followers, he really made its way to protect them by being with them out of the labyrinth.

"I know everything is too confusing for all of you right now," the voice started, a faint orb glowing in in the middle as the group stared at it. "But I will be telling you everything now before the last ounce of my magic and Gwen's disappears. You three have to listen."

"But… wait…" Atlas blinked his eyes a few times, his brows furrowing together as he still remembered until now what happened back in the labyrinth. "If Marcus wasn't the traitor, then why didn't you directly say it to us?"

"And harm you three when the man senses threat?" The mysterious voice scoffed and continued talking. If it probably had his body, he would have rolled his eyes at Atlas. "If I warned you earlier, then he would harm your safety and desperately get the book."

"But—"

"Imagine, young man," the mysterious voice interrupted, lecturing them as a group as he stated his intentions. "The book can only be opened with the descendants' blood. That man is familiar to me. He is powerful. If he attacked Meredith and managed to get her blood… it's all over."

The three suddenly fell into silence. He does have a point. If he blurted out that Austin is the traitor, then with all his power, he could have attacked the three and mainly get Meredith's blood so he could get the book.

"So you spoke in riddles in hopes that we'd understand what you were trying to warn us. Also… in this way, it's also testing us for what's about to come," Meredith said almost in a murmur, but still heard by the others.

"Yes," the voice confirmed, letting out a sigh. "I had to wait for the perfect opportunity to help you and revealed everything. It led me to act right now… because he almost hurt you all."

"I… see…" she replied, letting out a sigh as she shook her head with how things went.

"But it is understandable that there were seeds of doubts planted. The man is evil and conniving, driven by his jealousy and hatred. At least you got the book, but we have to get it back from him."

"But first… Gwen, right?" Marcus said, the voice answering immediately.

"Yes. Lady Gwen first. She knows how to stop him."

Silence befell them for a few seconds more. With them trying to process what is about to be done, Meredith couldn't help but make a comment aloud about the mysterious voice.

"You… are my mother's loyal follower," she said, the voice bobbing up and down as if nodding.

"Indeed, I am. My name's Levi. She specifically asked me to guard the book in the labyrinth just in case things happen. This is the first attempt one has dared to retrieve the book. When I knew you were one of the people who stepped in… I was full of mixed emotions."

"Why?" Meredith asked, the orb of the mysterious voice levitating still.

"You… look exactly like your mother. You have her strong aura, too." The mysterious voice levitated slowly. "I have not seen her for so long but when I laid my eyes on you… it's as if I was being visited by a dear friend."

Meredith couldn't help but smile. As the three continued to listen to the orb, they learn more about Gwen.

"As one of her dear friends who looks up to her, I promised that I'll protect the book and her family at all costs. And yet here you are… in need of my help, and she, too… is in need of it."

The mysterious voice let out a sigh, further expressing his worries.

"History might repeat itself, but this time, Austin will start the new war. Your mother fought greatly for it to end. We should stop it again, even with her help. We have to wake her up before he does."

The three looked at each other. With Marcus breaking the silence first, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and made a comment about him.

"Austin is indeed a dangerous opponent. We weren't even given a single hint of what his intentions are. He completely collected our trust and made sure of that by being good to us. He's fucking two-faced."

Atlas and Meredith agreed with what he said. Atlas then put his hand on Marcus' shoulder, apologizing once more, but this time more sincere.

"I'm sorry I doubted you over and over. I should've believed you back then. I—"

"There's no time to lose, Atlas," he interrupted, acknowledging his apology. "We have to think of a way to save Gwen and wake her up right now."

"He is correct," Levi, the mysterious voice said, its glow already flickering on and off. "My magic is about to disappear. Now listen… I will no longer be here after I say what I need to say."

The three nodded and redirected their attention to Levi.

"The palace… I sense Lady Gwen's faint magic contained by a crystal coffin. Knowing Austin, he would have kept her in a hidden room near his bedroom."

Atlas, Meredith, and Marcus nodded as they continued to listen to the mysterious voice.

"Please do everything you can to look for Lady Gwen. I have done everything in my power to put his helpers in a trance while I was hiding within Meredith. The spell will trigger when I disappear. Take that into advantage in looking around the palace for Lady Gwen."

The three found it amazing that he was able to cast such a spell for being bodiless. With one last glow, he said his last words:

"Find her… tell her that I did what she asked me to—until my very last."