The Crown's Fire - Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Heavenly Retribution
Ignoring Devon’s scream, Tarah saw Mineah go for the daring escape. But just as she was about to reach the safe barrier Tarah created, the demon king suddenly appeared in front of her.

“Going somewhere?!” Devon taunted.

Tarah swiftly moved and stabbed Devon again, this time through his chest, causing him to slump to the floor as she withdrew the sword.

“What are you waiting for?! Leave already!” Tarah shouted at Mineah, noticing her hesitation to leave her behind. “I can escape on my own!” she reassured.

Tarah couldn’t go to the same place as them because she had yet to receive heaven’s punishment for what she did. She didn’t even know what it could be, but she had to stay away from Ezekiel until it was done.

Mineah nodded understandingly and swiftly utilized the magical carpet to fly away, zipping Devon and Tarah straight through the portal. Tarah acted fast, closing the portal just as Devon began to rise to his feet.

With Devon roaring in anger behind her, Tarah wasted no time. She created another portal for her and Levi’s escape as Devon tried to breach the barrier she had created, his shouts of fury echoing in the air.

“You! I will not let you escape!” Devon’s enraged voice reverberated as Tarah confidently stepped backward into the portal she had conjured, meeting his gaze with a defiant smirk. “I just did escape,” she retorted before disappearing into the portal.

As the portal vanished, Tarah and Levi found themselves teleported to Mount Sorel’s Temple.

“Your Highness,” Lucrezia, the nymph of Mount Sorel and one of the founders of Sorel Guild, greeted Tarah as soon as she appeared inside the temple, which was located at the peak of the mountain.

Lucrezia received a message from Luis, ensuring that everything had been arranged. The founders of the Sorel Guild were fully aware of Tarah’s situation and the necessity for her and Levi to find refuge. The Sorel Guild was known for its commitment to justice, operating independently. Lucrezia, a close friend of Tarah’s parents and herself was prepared to assist Tarah and her brother Levi in their time of need.

The temple atop Mount Sorel was the safest sanctuary for Tarah and Levi, beyond the reach of Devon and his spies. Protected by a potent holy spell, the location remained impervious to any dark energy or power, ensuring their safety within its sacred confines.

Of course, here’s the revised part with the conversation intact:

“Please take Levi and keep him safe. I will need to seclude myself now and await heaven’s punishment,” Tarah said with a weak voice. She had almost drained all of her inner energy.

“Sister…” Levi murmured as she grabbed him down from her back.

“Be good, Levi, and listen to Lady Lucrezia while I’m gone. I won’t take long, and I’ll be with you soon. I just need to finish something,” Tarah reassured her brother.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I will take care of him, and we’ll await your return,” Lucrezia said.

“Thank you,” Tarah said with a faint smile.

“This is nothing. If only we could, then I should have helped you long ago. But we’re not allowed to participate and meddle with wars and battles between kingdoms, and that also includes helping those held in captivity. We can only help those who seek refuge and find us,” Lucrezia explained, and Tarah was well aware of it.

When Tarah first tried to escape from Devon, her immediate thought was to seek refuge at Mount Sorel and ask for their help in rescuing her brother. But she soon realized that guilds operate under strict rules, limiting their involvement in such matters.

While she could find safety for herself, she couldn’t guarantee her brother’s safety. So, she made the difficult choice to offer herself up as a sacrifice to Devon, ensuring Levi’s protection. It was a heartbreaking decision, but ultimately, she allowed Devon’s men to capture her and bring her back to the demon king.

Levi hugged Tarah tightly and whispered, “Come back soon, I’ll be waiting.” Tarah nodded, returning the hug and planting a kiss on his cheek.

Lucrezia signaled two men and said, “They will escort you to the confinement you requested.”

Following the men, Tarah walked outside the temple and mounted a horse. The men led her to the most secluded area at Mount Sorel. There, a small hut awaited her, providing complete privacy. But what caught Tarah’s attention was the exotic dragon blood tree near the hut.

She smiled, reminiscing about how Lucrezia had requested these trees from her father, which were primarily found in Mount Zion. It had been eight years since then, and the tree had grown to a height of only three feet. Tarah wondered where else Lucrezia had planted the trees she had acquired.

“Your Highness, we’ll be departing now,” the men informed her as she settled into the hut.

“Thank you,” Tarah nodded, acknowledging the men as they prepared to depart.

Once alone, Tarah found solace in the protected surroundings, shielded by both a magical barrier and a protective spell, ensuring that any heavenly retribution would not harm those nearby.

She sat on a chair, pondering Ezekiel’s current condition. Tarah felt a sense of relief knowing that Mineah, Ezekiel, and Nikolai were now safe. Yet, despite this, she couldn’t shake off her worry about Ezekiel’s well-being. She knew it would take time for the dragon’s power to integrate and stabilize within his body, especially now that Vulcan’s soul was gone.

[Khal, how is he?] Tarah attempted to connect with Khal through their bond.

[He’ll recover soon. Prepare yourself, as the life and death bond will soon be complete, and you will face heavenly retribution shortly after. Our dragon bond may also be affected. I’m uncertain if it will remain intact or if the heavens will deactivate it,] Khal responded.

Tarah smiled, comforted by the news of Ezekiel’s recovery. She was prepared to confront any consequences, as long as Ezekiel remained safe. Despite the unexpected turn of events, she clung to hope for their reunion, even though it hadn’t been foreseen in her dreams or visions.