The Prince Of Magic

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Arturia stilled, then looked over her shoulder with narrowed green eyes.

"Is there something wrong?" A familiar voice asked nearby.

Arturia turned to face the source and saw Arash standing a couple of steps ahead of her, looking back at her with a curious expression.

The two of them were on their way to their destination, which was in the south of the island that somewhere close to the center.

At first, they started their venture by running, but when Arturia's instincts began to act up, she suggested for the both of them to proceed to their destination by walking.

Something told her that by venturing ahead without exerting proper caution would bring them trouble later on. Her instincts have yet to prove her wrong even now, so Arturia had no complaints in being extra cautious.

It was something that their Master had suggested for them, to begin with.

Therefore, they proceeded deep into the island with their guards up and their senses at the ready.

The former King of Knights looked down at her feet, a pensive expression upon her beautiful and elegant countenance.

"Hmm… no." Arturia eventually said, tilting her head up to look at her companion. "I merely felt that the others are probably fighting the enemies right about now."

"Ah, well, that just leaves us then." Arash said with a smile. "Why don't we go along and meet our target? Don't want whoever it is to become too bored now."

Used to his carefree behavior, Arturia smiled slightly at her companions words.

"Then, let us be off." She agreed, following after the servant of the bow's lead.

Despite her calm and poise, Arturia couldn't help but feel on edge.

Having been in tune with her magical energy, Arturia felt a disturbance in the air earlier.

Hence, the reason she paused and looked over her shoulder before. It was a quick spike of foreign magical essence, so quick that she almost thought that she had imagined it.

But then, her instincts began sending signs of danger, slowly and steadily, as she followed Arash deep into a valley of crystals.

Speaking of her companion, Arturia glanced at Arash with her usual stoic and regal expression, noting the lack of a smile on the bowman's face.

Her companion would normally have a smile on his face, no matter where he is. The tan skinned bowman was simply a cheerful man in mind, body and soul.

Therefore, it was rather surprising for her to see him acting serious and wary the moment they began their trek deep into the valley of crystals.

Then again, Arturia could hardly blame him, given their current situation.

The eerie quiet that permeated the area as they ventured deeper was enough to make a cheerful man such as Arash wipe the smile off his smile.

The level of danger that they both sensed was simply on a different note than anything that they had encountered before, which caused for them to put their guards up.

The way the dark clouds and the rumblings of thunder in the distance only made the situation grimmer and made them wary of anything that might come at their way.

Ironically, the tenseness in the air and grim outlook of the area reminded Arturia of that one memory from long ago.

That certain moment when she looked up at the dark skies of Britain while standing on top of a pile of corpses, Excalibur held in her hands, taking a few moments to compose herself before she had to go into the castle and meet her dear old uncle Vortigern to kill him, to claim what was rightfully hers and free her people from his terrible reign.

'No…'

Arturia closed her eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath before exhaling through her nose.

Recalling that moment of her life while venturing on a dangerous territory was not good, she scolded herself. Arturia could even argue that being on this island was affecting her way of thinking, but not to the point that she felt like panicking.

Instead, it was as if the dreadful atmosphere surrounding the island was causing her mind to think of negative things.

There was something in the air, and Arturia would bet her sword that it was the Spider's magical energy that was the source of it.

Speaking of which, their current destination was towards the crimson light that kept blinking from a far distance.

They had been informed that it was where the intruder was last seen, and so they are now on their way to reach the designated location.

Although, they were also warned by the Chief Director, Edward Miles, that it was where the Spider had made its dwelling before it went to its hibernation.

If anyone had told her that she would heading towards the territory of one of the most powerful beings in the world, Arturia would have thought of them as crazy.

But then, here she was, wary yet willing to venture into the depths of a powerful alien, all at the behest of her master.

Fortunately, the various colors of light within the crystals were bright enough to clear their way, at the very least.

Although, the crimson light flashing from a far distance and above their heads made the shadows of the crystals eerie as they loomed over her, making her heart thump nervously against her c.h.e.s.t.

The former King of Britain gripped handle of wind covered Excalibur, feeling her restless heart calm by the assurance of her sacred weapon at her side.

By the time Arturia regained her poise, she saw Arash suddenly held up his hand the moment she looked up. The gesture held a simple meaning, and that was to stop moving.

Without questioning him, Arturia stopped, but her gaze followed Arash, who kept on moving but at a slower pace this time.

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