Let's Train Heroine

Chapter 177: Another Horror Solve Without Heroine

The Seven Horrors had plagued the academy, closing the academy, and with two horrors already vanquished, the student council felt a responsibility to do something.

Prince Kai, the council president, had called a meeting in the council chamber, a room dimly lit by enchanted candles that flickered ominously against the stone walls.

Prince Kai stood at the head of the table, his expression serious as he addressed his fellow council members. "Teacher Lucan and Maris dealt with the Whispering Walls and the Shadow in the Library, but now we face something more... personal," he began, his voice steady.

"The Blood-Stained Portrait is tied to a tragedy that took place within these very walls, and it won't rest until we uncover the truth behind it."

Alec, leaning casually against the wall with his massive sword resting beside him, scoffed. "A haunted painting? How hard can it be? We just need to smash the thing and be done with it."

Damian, seated next to Alec and idly toying with a gold coin, raised an eyebrow. "If it were that simple, we wouldn't be dealing with it now, would we? This isn't just about destroying a painting. The horror behind it is tied to something deeper, something tragic."

Ruki, the youngest and smallest of the group, was perched on a chair, his legs swinging back and forth as he listened. His bright eyes were wide with curiosity. "So, what's the story behind it, Kai? Who's the ghost?"

Kai sighed, his gaze turning somber. "The Blood-Stained Portrait was once a symbol of pride and joy for the academy. It's a painting of Lady Elara, the most powerful and respected studen council president. She was known for her kindness, her beauty, and her dedication to the students. But there was one student in particular who adored her above all others—a young man named Alistair."

Kai paused, allowing the gravity of the story to sink in. The room was silent, the other council members listening intently.

"Alistair was infatuated with Lady Elara," Kai continued. "He was a talented artist, and when she fell ill, he poured all his love and despair into painting her portrait. But as her illness worsened, his despair turned to madness. When Lady Elara died, Alistair couldn't bear the loss. In a fit of grief, he used his own blood to complete the painting, vowing that her beauty would live on forever."

Damian frowned, leaning forward. "So, the horror is tied to Alistair's madness? What happened to him?"

Kai nodded. "Yes, after completing the portrait, Alistair disappeared. Some say he took his own life, others believe he was consumed by the portrait itself. But ever since then, strange things have happened around the painting. Students who linger too long near it are found covered in blood, their minds shattered by the whispers of a lost love."

Ruki shivered, his childlike demeanor faltering for a moment. "That's creepy. So, how do we stop it?"

Kai's expression hardened. "We need to release Alistair's spirit from the painting. The only way to do that is by confronting the source of his torment—the blood that binds his soul to the portrait. Damian, your elemental magic will be crucial in this. We need to cleanse the blood with fire, but not just any fire—divine fire. It's the only thing that can purify a soul tainted by such despair."

Damian smirked, flicking the coin into the air. "Divine fire, huh? That's not something I use every day. But if it'll get the job done, I'm in."

Alec hefted his sword onto his shoulder, his eyes glinting with determination. "Let's go, then. The sooner we deal with this, the sooner we can get back to more important things."

Kai nodded, standing up from his chair. "We don't where is painting but we go around we might find it. Even if we don't find it we might find some other horror, so let's go."

Kai and other began to go around academy, hoping to encounter horror.

When they reached The old wing of the academy. They saw walls were lined with portraits of past headmasters and founders, their eyes seeming to follow anyone who passed. At the far end of the corridor, shrouded in shadow, hung the Blood-Stained Portrait.

As the group approached, they saw panting . The painting was as beautiful as it was haunting, depicting Lady Elara in all her grace and elegance. But beneath the surface of the paint, dark stains marred the canvas—stains that seemed to pulse with a life of their own.

Ruki, despite his usual bravado, clung to Kai's side, his eyes wide with fear. "This place gives me the creeps," he muttered.

Damian stepped forward, his hand outstretched as he summoned the power of divine fire. A soft, white flame flickered into existence, hovering just above his palm. "Let's see if this does the trick," he said, his voice tinged with confidence.

As Damian approached the portrait, the air around them grew colder, and a low, mournful wail filled the corridor. The bloodstains on the painting began to spread, darkening the image of Lady Elara until her face was almost completely obscured. The whispers began, soft at first, but growing louder with each passing second.

"Why did you leave me? Why did you abandon me?" The voice was filled with sorrow and anger, the words echoing through the corridor.

Alec gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tightly. "We're not here to hurt you, Alistair," he called out, his voice firm. "We're here to free you."

But the whispers only grew more frantic, the blood spreading like wildfire across the canvas. The portrait seemed to come alive, the painted figure of Lady Elara reaching out from the frame, her eyes filled with tears of blood.

Damian's divine fire flared brighter as he channeled more power into it. "Hold on!" he shouted over the rising cacophony. "I'm going to purify it!"

With a swift motion, Damian hurled the flame at the portrait. The white fire engulfed the painting, the divine energy burning away the darkness and the blood. The wails turned to screams as the spirit of Alistair was forced from the painting, his tormented soul finally freed from the prison of his own making.

For a moment, the corridor was filled with a blinding light, and then, just as suddenly, it was over. The painting was untouched by the fire, but the bloodstains were gone, and Lady Elara's face was once again serene and beautiful.

The oppressive atmosphere lifted, replaced by a peaceful stillness. Ruki let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his shoulders relaxing as the tension melted away.

Kai stepped forward, his expression one of quiet satisfaction. "It's done," he said softly. "Alistair is at peace now but he will came back again."

Damian nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That was tougher than I expected. Divine fire takes a lot out of you. So shame we can't free him." Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e'-NovelBin.net

Alec sheathed his sword, "Good work, everyone. Let's hope the next horror would as easy as this."

Ruki, his usual cheerfulness returning, grinned up at Kai. "So, why is not totally free?"

"It's because, these Seven Horror root cause is something else, some sort of artifact or object. As long as that artifact or object exist, the seven horror wil return but we don't have to worry, when these horror will return, we be dead because of old age."

Ruki nodded as he understood.