Chapter 142: War
Elaine was trekking through the Whistling Woods with a few others. The soft tunes of the oblong cones were more than a little nostalgic. They made her think back fondly to that time with Percy all those years ago. She hadn’t been here all that much since then…
‘Those were some peaceful times…’ she sighed.
Sadly, she wasn’t in the mood to appreciate the forest’s serene beauty today. Unlike that day’s pilgrimage, their current mission was far more dangerous, a palpable tension settling between the members of their small group. There were only four of them, each being an elite of the family.
“Uncle, do you think they will really attack?” she asked.
Elaine was certain Galahad had heard her, but the man didn’t bother replying, focused on scanning the area ahead with his Mana Sense. Instead, it was his son who answered.
“You worry too much cousin.” Mordred’s lips parted in his usual grin. “There’s no way those Tantalus bastards will pass this opportunity to strike.”
While Elaine had never liked the boy much – he was an arrogant asshole like his father – she nodded, concentrating on the substance of his words. They were currently tasked with meeting a group of relatives at the other end of the forest, to escort them back to the mansion.
One of House Avalon’s most lucrative businesses was lending some of their life users to other affiliated families, to serve as healers for some time. After all, their near monopoly on the affinity was much sought after, letting them earn most of their revenue this way.
As for the hunting missions the rest of them – like Elaine – undertook, they only made peanuts by comparison. Those were mostly meant for their members to gain combat experience, not to make money. And, given House Tantalus’s aggression over the past couple of years, there was no doubt in Archibald’s mind the rival family would try targeting those very healers, to deal a major blow to their coffers.