The Conquerors Path
chapter-709

'It's true there is nothing to place my trust upon.'

Carmel and Carmelia, both having now faced the third type of betrayal from Nix and Melvin, could only feel their mental status keep taking a dive. Her eyes gazed upon the memory where Carmel seemed curled up on the ground, lying there fully exhausted to death, the memories playing against this being simple.

She survived in that place alone for a few days until she was found and helped by Melvin and Nix, the two of them seemingly having searched all around, and at the last moment before she faced death, they seemingly saved her along with all the knights and servants around, which led to the catalyst of her opening up her heart to them and becoming best friends.

'But why? Why do I feel like something is missing?'

As a headache started to hit Carmel and Carmelia, the two of them holding their heads tightly, the image in front of them twisted and turned, changing its form. Soon in front of Carmel and Carmelia, a new image started to play, a powerful one as the truth came out.

'What is this?'

The two of them asked themselves as they saw a cloaked person appearing right beside her, the size of the person pointing to the fact that it might be a child or someone of lesser height. Before she could do anything or even respond, all the two girls could do was watch as if being possessed, as if the truth was slowly being knocked out of her mind.

"What's this? Princess Carmel?"

The cloaked figure asked back in doubt, his soft voice showing off his age. Above that, the voice she heard before rang some bells in Carmel's mind, as if she had heard it before, but before she could react to anything, the boy spoke.

"Just what is happening to the world?"

As the boy mused at the question, he seemingly picked Carmel up. The whole space surrounding her looked like a maze, all around her being dilapidated walls, all of them looking old and almost broken, yet their height reached to the skies. This was one of the dangerous lands, the maze of forgotten walls, a place of treasures, one that isn't easily gained at all.

The laws within the place were a mix of several different laws: no flight magic could be used, and no one could even fly there. Even beyond all that, several restrictions of magic and power were also placed here, along with dangers all around. Thus, the boy fully covered first held up the girl Carmel in his arms as he started to run around the place.

He moved with familiar movements as he soon reached up on a wall, with a wave revealing a hidden small entrance to hide. The growls and cries of monsters all around could be heard as he safely placed little Carmel in while he too entered, closing off the entrance. The space inside was small, yet for now, it did as the boy started to inspect Carmel.

"Looks like she is just exhausted."

The boy sighed as he comfortably placed Carmel around and then seemingly made her drink a potion, which was no easy task, after which he seemed to take some rest, possibly waiting for little Carmel to wake up.

.....

'No, what is this? When did this all happen?'

A certain premonition started to hit the hearts of the two girls as Carmel asked herself this question, to which Carmelia replied with a hardened tone.

'I don't remember, I can't remember, it's seemingly blocked.'

The two of them came to understand something about themselves, the path of their blocked memory slowly opening up. Scenes of the memory in her mind played perfectly along with the scene in front of her as it continued, and so did the pain and guilt in Carmel and Carmelia's minds.

......

"Urgh..."

Making such sounds of pain, little Carmel slowly woke up from her sleep, her eyes taking time to get used to the darkened light all around her. As her mind slowly started to regain its worth, Carmelia too saw everything through the light as the memories of what happened played through Carmel's mind, the pain being shared by Carmelia too as Carmel started to cry.

"Why?...why am I being betrayed like this? What did I do?......."

The tears raining down Carmel's face at the thought of being betrayed by her own nanny, the last words of hers playing in her mind, the pain of betrayal burning in her body, as the second trauma placed its mark. The cries of the girl, not minding her situation around, filling the place, taking her time, and just as she was rid of her tears, a voice sounded out.

"Wow, I didn't know you were such a crybaby."

The words sounded rough, seemingly as if the person was trying to hide his voice. As the shocked Carmel quickly being replaced by Carmelia took control, the girl's burning eyes focused on the hooded figure before her, his body fully hidden from sight as he sat there leaning against the open entry with his face covered by a mask.

"Who are you?"

Carmelia asked, her voice being colder than she intended as she too was in pain. Her actions were being watched by Carmel inside as they faced the new situation, to which the hidden figure spoke.

"Well, you just entered here and I saved your life, that's all."

His curt reply, along with the fact that there wasn't anything wrong with her, made Carmelia back down a bit, her gaze looking through the person who seemed to match her height as holding the pain asked.

"Where is this?"

"It's the maze of forgotten walls."

The words of the boy made Carmelia's eyes widen, the same passing through Carmel, as the face of Carmelia turned serious, her mind running at full speed as she asked.

"Who are you?"

"A traveler looking for treasures."

His words not giving much as Carmelia asked.

"Are you an imp or a dwarf or something?"

To this the voice replied.

"Once again, none of your concern, princess."

His words made Carmelia's vigilance even higher, but she kept her cold face as she asked again.

"Quit the arrogance towards perhaps the next Empress."

"What are you going to do? Dig through the whole world for a person my height with a white mask on?"

At his words, Carmelia shut her mouth, the whole situation being confusing to her. First being betrayed by her most trusted person, next ends up waking up with a weird guy who seems to have no fear towards her or her power and now is trapped in an extremely dangerous place that wishes for her death. Overall, everything was pounding at her mental health.

Thus, Carmelia closed her eyes, the two of them within having a small talk after which Carmelia, still in control, spoke out to the masked savior of hers.

"Help me get out of here and any riches you wish for will be yours."

To this the masked person turned to look at her, his eyes not being able to be seen as he responded.

"Sure, I will help you, but I don't want anything. Let's just go our separate ways after this."

At his words, Carmelia frowned, her mind already thinking of the fact that perhaps the person is just trying to get more in her good side, his power of Origin level 3 being on display. She just nodded her head, too tired to even go for any political talk. Seeing so, the masked guy in front of her forwarded her a snack.

"Here, it's better to fill your stomach and keep you energetic. We have a long way ahead of us, one with dangers."

To this Carmelia looked at the food with wary eyes, the tasty, glittering piece of meat in front of her being something she couldn't trust easily, especially being wary. Seeing so, the masked figure making a certain gap took a bite of the food, savoring it as he spoke.

"Is this enough?"

To his words, she, holding in her disgust at the whole situation, took the piece and she placed it in her mouth. The flavor exploded forth in her tongue as her eyes widened. Soon she finished the piece, small oil being around her lips which made the person chuckle and Carmelia blush a bit.

.......

'Yes, this is where it all began....'

The older Carmel watching upon spoke, her heart-wrenching as Carmelia chimed in.

'This is where our desire for adventure and good food grew......'