When I reached Utopia, I found myself hesitating. Should I head to Elyen Kiora first or deal with matters in Utopia?
It was a small dilemma, but then I rembered Alvara.
I had left her completely in the dark before my departure. No explanations, no updates—not even a simple ssage to assure her of my intentions. It had been nearly a week since then. I could have inford her at so point during my journey, but honestly, I hadn't expected things to take this long. Perhaps if I'd had Levina with for the return trip, it wouldn't have stretched out so much.
Traveling without her was slower, even with the ship I was provided. But taking her back wasn't an option. I had made her a promise, one I ant to keep, and I ensured Celeste would care for her until I returned to see it through.
With those thoughts lingering, I decided my first course of action should be to visit Alvara. At the very least, she deserved to be inford about the escape plan since she was part of it to begin with.
As I entered the towering structure, I was t with the sa influx of stares as before. However, this ti, they felt different. The admiring gazes were still there—those never seed to fade—but they were now accompanied by murmurs and sidelong glances.
"What is she doing here?"
"Shouldn't she be with the Princess?"
"Maybe she sent her?"
"No way, not with the current situation at Elyen Kiora."
What the hell were they talking about?
I furrowed my brows, brushing off the question as I pressed forward. Whatever it was, I could deal with it after I'd spoken to Alvara.
When I arrived at her door, I noticed that the guards stationed outside were different from the ones I had seen before. Their expressions shifted when they recognized , eyes widening slightly.
"Lady Loki?"
I gave them a curt nod and moved to step inside, but they blocked my path.
I fixed them with a stare.
"M-Milady…There is already soone with the Princess."
"Soone? Who?"
The guard hesitated, glancing nervously at his companion as if unsure whether to speak.
Was it Durathiel? That was the first na that ca to mind. Who else would visit her in my absence? There was the other dog but I doubted he would try anything after how he was rejected.
"That's…" He began but again hesitated.
"Let pass," I said, my tone colder now, tinged with the annoyance that I had built up since the beginning of this damn war and I no longer cared to hide it anymore
They exchanged uneasy looks but eventually stepped aside.
What the hell was that?
I had a bad feeling.
Pushing the door open, I cautiously peered inside. The living room was in complete disarray—furniture overturned, objects scattered haphazardly across the floor as if a storm had swept through. I clenched my fists, holding back the urge to curse Alvara. Do I need to clean it everyday for her?
But my irritation dissolved the mont I heard an odd noise coming from the adjacent room. The door was slightly ajar, and a strange mix of muffled groans and sothing heavier reached my ears.
I moved forward slowly.
"Don't move, or I'll do this the hard way."
My eyes widened, and I instinctively entered the room which was already open.
"..."
Lykhor was there—on Alvara's bed, looming over her. She was pinned beneath him, her face pale and drenched in sweat. Her chest rose and fell in erratic gasps as she struggled for air, her body writhing weakly beneath his grip. One of her arms was twisted awkwardly in his grasp, and her dress was torn at the shoulder, exposing a thin line of reddened skin.
A sick grin stretched across his face as he leaned closer to her.
"Good–"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Lykhor froze mid-sentence and turned his head to look at . His expression twisted from surprise to annoyance, his dark brows knitting together.
Recognition flickered in his eyes before his lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Oh, it's you—the woman who visits Alvara. I'm busy right now, so why don't you co back later?"
"..."
I said nothing, but my eyes fell on Alvara again. Her trembling hands gripped the sheets tightly, trying hard to breathe.
I felt sothing inside snap.
Slowly, I narrowed my eyes and took a step forward.
Lykhor chuckled. "What? Don't tell you want to join us—"
-BAM!
Before he could finish, my foot connected with his temple in a fluid motion, sending him flying off the bed and crashing into the wall with a satisfying thud.
"A-Arghhh!" He crumpled to the ground, clutching his head in pain. His legs wobbled as he tried to stand, his dazed eyes struggling to focus. When he finally managed to glare at . "Y-You bitch—ugh!"
I didn't give him a chance to recover. Grabbing the front of his shirt, I yanked him up and slamd him against the floor.
-BAM!
His body tilted as the impact knocked the air out of his lungs. He gasped, his mouth gaping wide, but I didn't loosen my grip. My fist tightened against his throat, cutting off his airflow. He clawed desperately at my hand, his nails scraping against my skin, but it was useless.
"Ughhh!!" With a burst of strength, he managed to reach for my chest—but instead of striking , his hand closed around the pendant hanging from my neck. Bryelle's pendant. With a violent tug, he tore it away, the chain snapping and drawing a thin line of blood across my skin.
As the pendant left my neck, I felt the familiar ripple of mana break through my disguise. My true appearance erged, and Lykhor froze beneath . His fingers went limp, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at .
Lifting him, I stared at him with my amber eyes before releasing Wrath.
"...!!!"
Particles of Wrath appeared and slithered through Lykhor's body. As soon as they did, his whole body shook, his legs kicking powerlessly and his hands gripping my arm.
Blood spurt out of his mouth and leaked of his ears and nose. I continued to send Wrath this ti to destroy his body from within. The horror and agony his eyes showed was only fueling further my desire to continue.
[
User Comments
0 comments from readers