"So…" Zenith began, her sharp gaze fixed on the long-haired man trembling before her. "Dark Trinity wants to kidnap Pasithea, is that it?"
The man nodded feverishly, sweat trickling down his temple.
"And why would they do that?" she asked, her staff's gem pulsing with light closer to his face.
"I don't know!" he stamred, his voice cracking. "They never told us the reason. We just follow orders!"
"It's not hard to guess, though," Aimar muttered, stepping to her side. His eyes briefly flicked to Zenith. "Himl did tell about the elves' current condition."
"They want to exploit the elves?" she guessed, a frown appearing on her beautiful face.
"I believe so," Aimar replied with a curt nod of his head. "We should move."
Without warning, Zenith raised her staff, gripping it like a club.
Thwack!
The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious, blood trickling from a fresh wound on his temple.
Zenith twirled her staff in her hand, the blood staining its surface flicking onto the ground.
"Yeah, we should take Pasithea sowhere safe," she replied casually while glancing at the two bodies. "What about them?"
"Leave them here," Aimar replied, already turning on his heel. "We'll notify the guards. They can handle the cleanup."
"Hmm." Zenith nodded gently as she trailed behind him. "Let's do that."
But as she moved, Zenith waved her staff, making a rune of 'light' in the front space along with a rune of 'Barrier.'
The runes seamlessly rged, half of it encasing the unconscious man before vanishing while the rest etched itself onto her hand.
"This should do," she whispered softly, flicking the switch on her handcuff on.
"Hey, Zenith." Aimar's voice pulled her attention back to him.
"Yeah?" she asked, glancing at him curiously.
He hesitated for a while before he asked, "How strong are you?"
"Strong enough," she replied with a soft smile.
Aimar nodded, not asking anything else.
---
---
---
---
"What happened?"
As soon as Zenith walked closer to them, Pasithea asked, her voice a little tense.
"You were right," Zenith said flatly, glancing at Siersha. "They're after Pasithea."
Siersha nodded stiffly, though her thoughts seed elsewhere.
"Did you learn anything else?" Elijah asked, his eyes darting between them.
"Not much," Zenith admitted, shaking her head. "Only that they're with Dark Trinity and their mission is to kidnap her."
"So what now?" Elijah asked, folding his arms. "Protect Pasithea?"
"Yes, Mr. Obvious," Zenith quipped, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "But first, we need to inform the professors about the situation."
"Yeah, that will help," Elijah said, nodding as he took out his phone. "I'll try to reach Professor Wilhelm."
"Wait," Pasithea calmly said, looking at them. "Aren't you guys overthinking this?"
"What do you an?" Elijah asked, frowning.
Pasithea's lips curled into a soft smile. "This is my kingdom. There's one place safer than any other."
"And where is that?" Aimar asked, looking at her.
"The royal palace."
*****
"Ugh, I hate this place," I muttered under my breath as I walked through the beautiful garden of the royal palace.
The place was filled with flowers of different types that I had never seen before.
So were rare enough to be placed in Mariam's garden back in Imladris.
'Should I join the rest of the students?'
I wondered as I walked to the corner from where I could clearly see the world tree.
Even though it was clear, Yggdrasil was still hundreds of kiloters away from here.
"Sigh…"
I sank onto a bench near a shaded rest area, leaning back as nostalgia hit like a tidal wave.
I despised this place, and yet... there was a strange familiarity to it, as though I'd walked these paths before.
'What the fuck is Mariam hiding from ?'
Even when I asked her again, she gave the sa vague promise: "I will explain later."
Later. Always later.
Leaning on the bench, I looked up at the clear afternoon sky.
Sotis, I couldn't help but wonder how different things might have been if the tragedy with my family hadn't happened.
Maybe I'd still be on Earth, living a quiet, happy life with my parents and Senara.
A dream life.
'Would I have t her then?'
...Delilah.
It's only been a few days since I started seeing fragnts of mories from my life after prison.
Most of my ti in prison was spent fighting—desperately trying not to let the pain inside swallow whole.
For years, I blad myself for my parents' and Senara's deaths.
Things only began to shift when I t Delilah.
Where is she now?
'I want to see her again.'
[]
'.....'
I rubbed my eyes to clear my mind, but when I opened them, I saw sothing absurd flying above .
I rubbed my eyes again, but it didn't go away.
"What the fuck?"
I groaned, standing up as the creature landed gracefully in front of .
It was massive, nearly two ters tall, its sleek body covered in long, silky black fur.
Two enormous, pitch-black wings extended elegantly from its sides.
Despite its intimidating size, the creature possessed an air of grace and beauty.
"A Pegasus?" I muttered under my breath, my brows furrowing in confusion.
The beast snorted loudly, its sharp, intelligent gaze on .
Slowly, it began to approach. Its eyes, dark as obsidian, stared at .
Cautiously, I extended a hand, and the creature leaned forward, pressing its head into my palm.
I hesitated, then gently ran my fingers through its silky mane.
"Whose Pegasus is this?" I murmured, glancing around. "A spirit, maybe?"
The Pegasus moved closer, rubbing its massive body against like a cat seeking attention.
I chuckled softly, letting it nuzzle .
[]
'What?'
[]
'Huh?'
I blinked at the creature, which seed oddly comfortable around .
The Pegasus snorted again, flapped its wings, and launched itself into the sky, vanishing as swiftly as it had appeared.
"Isn't it odd?"
A voice echoed from behind, making turn.
Nyria walked toward with her hands clasped behind her.
"What is?" I asked, straightening up.
"A dark Pegasus being so close to you," she said, her golden, spiral-filled eyes staring into mine. "She doesn't usually approach anyone."
"Is she yours?" I asked cautiously, keeping my distance.
"How did you do that?" she asked curiously, ignoring my query. "Is that related to your race? Bloodline perhaps?"
"Why does it matter?" I replied, looking into her eyes. "Or are you jealous because you can't ride her?"
"..."
It seed I hit a nerve as her smile died down.
But her smile slowly returned the next instant. "You lesser beings sure have sharp tongues."
"Yeah, whatever," I replied as I turned around, trying to walk away.
"For a lesser you are pleasant to look at," she said, making halt.
"What's that supposed to an?" I asked, turning back.
"Don't let anything happen to your face," she replied, walking past . "If I ever kill you, I'll make sure to keep your severed head with ."
"...."
Did this bitch just threaten ?
And what does she an by "pleasant to look at?"
[
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