Chapter 17 – Oculan Mirror

After walking for a long time, Griffin and Isabella arrived at a room. This place is different with another place. Even though it's a bit dark and gloomy, it's very clean and everything is neatly arranged. Like a rest area that always cleaned regularly.

Isabella and Griffin had the same hunch, this might be where Barnes used to rest. That's why this place is so well made.

"It seems Barnes likes fancy things."

Griffin said so because he saw some beautiful gold and gems on the table.

"That's how he is, greedy. He wanted all the wealth just for himself regardless of anything else. It is because of that greed that now he wants Lirest."

Their eyes suddenly fell on a mirror. A large oval mirror that measures the height of a human.

"What's this?" Isabella looked curiously at the strange mirror. The shapes and decorations were too odd to be in this place.

This was indeed a mirror, but when they stood in front of it, the image reflected was blurry, dark, and not very clear. Like there are other uses for this mirror that they don't know about.

[You activated skill "Clairvoyant" Level 1]

"This is 'Oculan Mirror'." Griffin immediately said according to the information he saw.

"What kind of thing is that?"

Griffin didn't answer. Because it's faster if he shows it directly. His hand clung to the mirror, and a small amount of mana was channeled through his fingers.

Suddenly the oculan mirror flashed a light. It was too bright because they were in a dark room.

"This is, Lirest?"

The mirror showed a view of a forest and several people talking.

"They're people from Lirest." Isabella said again.

The condition of the forest, the people who were injured, then the tents that were erected, these were clearly the current conditions that had gone through the war.

"How can this show Lirest's condition?"

"Oculan mirrors are items that can clearly show the condition of a place. As long as there are Oculan Marbles in that place, the Oculan mirror can show the condition around the marbles at any time." Griffin explained according to the information he saw through the Clairvoyant.

"Then someone installed Oculan Marbles on Lirest?"

"Seeing the oculan mirror that shows Lirest's current condition, it is certain that someone deliberately installed it. Either when the war happened, or someone within Lirest was involved."

"And seeing as the position shown by this mirror is very stable, it is very likely that someone from Lirest is involved. Because if this was installed during the war just now, it is certain that the Oculan Marbles will be destroyed or fall somewhere. Like the incident in the tent, someone overheard our plan to infiltrate Lirest. It could be another Cody follower who installed it." Isabella immediately jumped to that conclusion.

Griffin nodded in agreement with Isabella's words.

"We're leaving now. Barnes was already keeping an eye on Lirest. It is possible that he will attack again soon." Griffin started to walk away. But they both stopped when they heard a greeting from a foreign voice.

"I will indeed attack Lirest immediately."

Griffin and Isabella immediately looked at the source of the sound. No one else was there, but they were sure the sound had come from a very short distance. A male voice with a deep tone.

A black smoke appeared from behind the dark shadows.

"Isabella Harriet, I can't believe you're still alive. Even though you managed to escape from the Ferocious Hound, I didn't expect you to be able to win against the wizard I sent to Lirest."

"You, Barnes Esteban?"

The moment Isabella asked, the smoke took on a human shape. He flies to and fro in his smoke form, and smiles thinking of his evil plans.

Griffin and Isabella both readied their swords. This person didn't answer, so Isabella's guess was definitely right.

"There is no need to bother attacking me. The form that meets you now is only a shadow. I can't attack you, but you can't attack me either.

[Isabella activated the skill "Ice Control" Level 2]

A single piece of ice flew towards Barnes, then just passed through the shadow, and got stuck in the wall of the room.

"I told you it won't work." Barnes laughed at Isabella's futile efforts.

"What is your purpose in coming to us?" Griffin asked.

Barnes flew over and saw Griffin's face up close.

"So, you must be Griffin Houston who saved Lirest from my witches. An outsider who likes to meddle I guess."

"That's better than a madman like you."

Barnes laughed at Griffin's words.

"Hey brat, you are so gutsy to talk to me like this. You don't know who I am?"

"Why should I care about who you are? And like you said, your current form is just a shadow. You are nothing more than the talking wind now."

"How arrogant. But that's fine, I'd rather have a wizard beside me like you."

"What do you mean?"

[Barnes shows interest in you]

Griffin looked at the screen that appeared in front of him. It was information that appeared because of the Clairvoyant passive mode. A skill that is active at any time, and can show certain information, such as how other people view him, or information when someone is using a skill.

If he saw this emerging information, Griffin could tell that Barnes was genuinely interested in him.

Barnes held out his hand.

"Griffin Houston, how if you join with Boaren."

"Hah?"

Griffin and Isabella were speechless when they heard Barnes' invitation just now.

"What crazy thing did you say just now?"

"Think carefully. Why are you siding with Lirest who is about to be destroyed? Currently, i have enough troops and strength to destroy Lirest. If you are willing to become my follower, it is possible for me to grant you a high position and treasures that you would not be able to imagine."

The more he heard it, the more Griffin felt that this person was indeed insane.

"What makes you think I would be willing to be your ally?"

"Your mana"

"What?"

"Whether you know it or not, you have very unique mana. You have the potential to use dark magic like me. If you want, I can make you much stronger than you are now."

Hearing that, Isabella became a little worried. Barnes was right, Griffin had unique mana that could be suitable for using dark magic. She had known that since they first met.

And this leader of Boaren, is one of the few who is highly skilled at using dark magic. If Griffin agreed to the invitation just now, then Isabella would be in danger. But Griffin's words dispelled the girl's worries.

"Hey you crazy and immoral. It's better for you to fix your damaged nerves first, than to play war and invite other people to play with you. I'm still pretty sane when compared to you."

Hearing Griffin's words, the smile Barnes had been showing earlier disappeared.

"Too bad, but you have potential. Well, it's up to you on whose side you want to side, but I'm sure you'll regret it. Lirest will soon be destroyed, so will you guys who dare to stop me."

Barnes slowly disappeared like a gust of wind.

"It's useless if you want to save Raymond. Even if you manage to free him, it doesn't change the fact that Lirest will be destroyed tonight." Those were his last words before disappearing without a trace.

"What's with that madman? Was he hit on the head with a rock when he was a baby?! Completely insane!" Griffin was furious with irritation from the conversation with Barnes just now.

Seeing Griffin get angry like that, Isabella couldn't help but laugh. In her heart, she was very happy that Griffin still wanted to help Lirest. Otherwise, Isabella didn't know how else to do it all by herself.

"Let's go."

Tak

As Griffin and Isabella were about to walk out, they heard something strange. He stomped his foot once again on the floor.

Tak

The voice appeared again.

Griffin see the floor and tapped a few times.

Tok tok tok

"It sounds like it's empty inside."

[You activated skill "Clairvoyant" Level 1]

[Road to sinner prison]

"Isabella, step back a bit."

Griffin focused his mana on his feet. Then with one hard kick managed to destroy the floor. A lot of mana and 22 points of strength really helps. His physique became much stronger than when he was in the human world.

From the crack in the shattered floor, one could see a grand staircase leading down. Griffin was sure that this ladder would lead them to where Raymond was sealed.

"Come on."

Isabella who didn't know anything could only follow Griffin from behind. She had no idea how this man knew there was a secret passage below, and where it would lead them.

When they descended through the stairs, the lower part was strangely bright even though there was no light source. The magic that enveloped the place made everything bright and clearly visible.

Other than the grand staircase they walked down, there were only yellow walls and ground surfaces in the entire place.

When they reached the bottom, they saw a large dark hole in the wall.

[You activated skill "Clairvoyant" Level 1]

[Sinner Prison]

"That's the 'Sinner Prison'. Raymond should be there." Griffin said while pointing ahead.

"Yes? How do you know?" Isabella, who had been holding back her curiosity, finally asked.

"There is no time to explain. Come on."

They had only taken a few steps when a voice called out to them again.

"Who said you could go in there."

When they looked back, Isabella froze at the person in front of her.

"Cody?"