Chapter 41

Oliver halted, his breath coming out hard. He ran to where she was and he carried her in a bridal style. She's still breathing but she has lost a lot of Blood.
“We need to return to the lower Isle, she has lost a lot of blood already”, Sebastian declared.
Oliver said.“I have an idea”. “Remember how Venus got to us. She used water to form a portal. I think we can do the same since we can't teleport”,
Oliver formed a water ball and tossed it in his hand. Gradually, the water ball increases in size until it reaches the size of a dwarf planet. It's rotating faster than before.

Slowly, it formed into a portal. The portal grew wide. Wide enough to accommodate the two of them at the same time.
“Let's go”, Oliver said and he entered the portal. Sebastian also entered and the portal disappeared.
The portal opened at the palace of the lower isle. Oliver dashed into the palace.
When King McLean saw Oliver, he ordered the messenger to bring the Royal physician to the palace.
“She's hurt badly”, Said Oliver.
“Everything will be fine”, King McLean said.
The royal physician entered and took Noella to a room to treat her.
Minutes later
“Will she be okay?”Oliver asked the physician.
“Her healing power is quite strong but she has been poisoned. That's why she is not healing but don't worry she'll get better” The royal physician replied to him.
“I hope so”, Oliver said and he left the physician to do his work.
*************
*************
-The Next Day-
The first sunlight Infiltrated the widow's veil, shining on his face, He gasped back to reality. At first, his vision was blurry. He closed his eyes, shook his head, and opened them again. Finally, he can see properly.
He examined the room, wondering where he was, and his brain ransacking how and when he got there. He was inside a big room with a single but big window.
He is lying on top of a big bed. He's still wearing the clothes from when they started the journey.
He shakes his head again, and the past events come rushing into his brain. It overflows his brain like the Nile river, causing him a great headache in the process.
Oh no, Noella. He stood up from the bed and exited the room, rushing to where Noella was being treated. Just as he was about to enter the room, a guard stopped him, telling him that the king said no one must enter the room.
“But my friend is in there”, He said angrily. I don't know why but I am having a bad feeling about this. He thought in his head.
Sebastian walked in sweating profusely
“Sebastian what's happening?”, he asked Sebastian but the latter did not reply to him. “I asked what was happening!”, he yelled. Before Sebastian could answer him, he punched the guard in the face and kicked the door open.
What he saw made his heart fall and his knees went weak. There is Noella on the bed, her face is pale and her eyes are lifeless. Oliver fell to his knees and his scream echoed throughout the palace. He rushed to the edge of the bed and he held her body, which was already cold, as cold as ice.
Oliver felt lost and devastated, and grief consumed his heart. He left like committing suicide. He felt like piercing his blade into his heart.

He felt like drowning himself in the water. He felt like licking Lady Venus' poisoned claws. Yet, it was impossible.

Behind him, he heard the approaching footsteps of Sebastian. However, he didn't turn back.
He thought of asking Sebastian to end his life with his claw. Yet, he couldn't.

Moreover, he knew it would be a futile effort. Sebastian won't do so. It will just be a waste of time.
He clenched his fist in anger. He had lost the only precious and invaluable friend he had and ever had. There's no need to do the right thing again.

There's no need to act according to the law or follow orders. He would just keep doing what he thought was best. No one would dare challenge him.

He felt the strong grip of Sebastian on his shoulder, and he halted in his step. Sebastian squeezed his shoulder, trying to make Oliver face him.
However, he won't budge.

He had suddenly gained weight. He had become immovable. He had become a boulder.

“Let go of me!”, he growled in anger. Thunder rumbles in the sky and lightning flashes in the sky.
Seeing that he wasn't going to turn, “Just listen to what I want to say” He said. He wants to tell him the truth but he's not listening.

What the hell did he want to say? He thought.

He didn't kill Noella, did he?

No! She was killed by Alistair.

Alistair!. That bitch. I am going to make her suffer. I'll ruin her. He thought.
“I said let go of me!”. His voice was so deep and guttural, and it carried venom.
Finally, he couldn't contain his rage again.

He turned back to face him like a possessed being. His eyes were bloodshot. They were red.
Even In the morning, it was visible and brighter than an Alpha's eyes.

Seeing this, Sebastian shifted back a little. He put a gap between him and Oliver. He did this to avoid his acrimony.

Even with the distance between him and Oliver, he could feel the heat that was radiating from his body.

“Take it easy, Oliver”, Sebastian said. “You will give room for your dark side if you continue like this. Anger is a demon. Be careful and don't end up making the wrong decision.” He cautioned.
Sebastian took in a deep breath and dropped the bombshell “She's not dead”

Oliver looked straight into his eyes. He listened to his heartbeat and it was beating normally.
He asked “How is she still alive? She's not breathing, her body is pale and as cold as ice. Her heart is not beating and you're telling me she's not dead, How the hell is that possible?”
“Just calm down and listen to me”, he said and Oliver listened with rapt attention. “Just like I said earlier, she's not dead. The poison has spread in her body but she's not dead. She's a shapeshifter and with the ability to turn into different creatures, her healing power is quite strong. She's not dead and neither is she alive. When she died, her power surfaced and her soul was immediately rejected in the underworld but instead of returning to the land of the living, her soul was transported to Soul Realm. She's trapped there”, He explained.
“So she's not dead?", he asked and Oliver nodded. “How can we rescue her from that place?", he asked.
“Good question. The only way to rescue her from the soul realm is if we find the heart of Raj. The heart of Raj Is a gem in the shape of a heart. The gem can allow its user to bring back any soul from any place. Whether from the underworld or the soul realm. And the only place we can find the heart of Raj is Appolyon located in the eastern area of mount horeb across the wasteland”, Sebastiann elaborated and Oliver's face lit up in excitement.
“That's great news. Let's go Appolyon right now”, Oliver said.
“Not so fast Oliver. Last night, a letter came from the royal family of Xander. They said your father wanted you to find him. Only if you find him can you save the world”, Sebastian declared. “That means we've got two tasks on our hands.
“What are we gonna do now?"Oliver asked Sebastian.
“We'll have to divide ourselves into two teams. I and Skylar can go look for the heart of Raj while you'll go look for your father”, Sebastian answered.
“Where am I going to look for him?", he asked.
“They said you should follow the compass. We'll keep Noella's body here for safekeeping till we find the heart of Raj. Are you ready?".
“Always ready”.