"Hello."
Zeline smiled, waving her hand.
I frowned, looking at her.
How does she hide her presence without getting noticed?
'Is that her ability?' I wondered.
Shyamal took a step forward as if trying to protect .
"What do you want?" Shyamal asked, pointing the scythe at her.
Zeline smiled gently as she glanced at .
Instead of answering, she questioned, "I wasn't aware Heir Himl had such a... relationship with a nobody."
"...."
My lips twitched at her words.
Shyamal blinked. "...Nobody?"
Zeline clasped her hands behind her back as she walked towards us.
"Am I wrong though?" she whispered softly, looking at us. "I haven't heard anything about you other than being a vessel."
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
What's with this girl?
Shyamal took another step forward, making Zeline halt.
"You should watch your words," she said, her voice eerily calm. "It would be a sha if that sharp tongue of yours got cut out."
Zeline let out a soft laugh, completely unbothered.
"How adorable," she murmured. "I wonder, is it your power that gives you confidence, or is it the goddess you are a slave of?"
Shyamal glared at her. "I am nobody's slave."
With a mocking smile, she replied, "I believe you."
'What is she trying to do?' I wondered, looking at the girl.
Why is she even here?
Zeline quickly shifted her attention towards . "Dear Heir Himl, why don't you leave her for —."
Her words cut off as Shyamal's scythe rushed towards her.
The scythe arced to decapitate her head.
But—.
She vanished from her place.
Huh?
A presence behind made turn around.
Zeline stood there with the sa smile on her face.
Did she teleport?
"That's quite barbaric—."
"Say that again." Shyamal interrupted her words, her face contorted with anger. "And I will chase you till I have your head."
Zeline turned silent, but her smile remained the sa.
"You're awfully bold," I said, my voice even. "Walking up to us just to start a fight."
Zeline's eyes flicked toward , amusent gleaming in them.
"Oh, but I didn't start anything," she said smoothly. "I simply made an offer."
Shyamal's grip on her scythe tightened until her knuckles turned white.
"I don't recall asking for one." My voice remained calm, but I let the warning slip through.
Zeline tilted her head, watching closely. Then she let out a quiet laugh. "A sha. I do so enjoy collecting rare things."
Still smiling, she turned to look at Shyamal. "You must really love him."
"...."
Shyamal kept her silence.
Zeline's smile widened as she looked at both of us. "Makes wonder, why are you a virgin and he isn't?"
"...."
Shyamal's grip on her scythe twitched. Just barely.
I blinked slowly, my jaw tightening. "Excuse ?"
Zeline let out a soft hum, tilting her head as if she had no idea what she had just said.
"Oh? Did I say sothing wrong?"
Shyamal didn't move.
She didn't breathe.
I could feel the heat of her anger pressing against my skin, like a blade hovering just inches away.
But it wasn't just anger.
It was sothing deeper. Darker.
She just stood there, silent.
Zeline watched her reaction closely. "Hm…? Was she not aware?"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Zeline."
She turned to , still smiling.
"I really hope I don't have to kill you today," I muttered, voice low.
Zeline's lips curled further.
She tapped a finger against her chin. "I think I want to live a little longer."
Shyamal finally moved.
She reached out—not for her weapon.
But for my wrist.
Her grip was firm and... cold.
I looked at her, but she didn't et my gaze.
Instead, she only said one thing.
"Let's go."
I sighed.
Following without a word.
But just as we left, I heard Zeline murmur behind us—so quietly it was almost lost in the wind.
"Good luck."
I glanced back, but she wasn't there.
Gone, just like that.
Shyamal continued to drag without a word.
I exhaled softly. "Shyamal."
"Was she telling the truth?"
"You don't—."
"Answer , Azariah."
I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them. "Yes."
Her steps halted, and she let go of my wrist.
Slowly, she crouched down, letting her dress pool around her.
I sat down beside her. "...Are you alright?"
She hid her face within her knees.
'She is hurt.' I patted her head gently.
There wasn't anything that I could say to make her feel better.
Nor was I a sweet talker.
Her muffled voice echoed. "I don't feel good."
I nodded softly. "Let's go back to the palace."
"...No. Too many people there." She whispered, shaking her head. "Take sowhere else."
I thought for a mont before standing up, offering her my hand. "Co on."
She slowly lifted her head, her moist crimson eyes peeking up at .
She grabbed my hand gently.
-----
It only took us a few minutes to reach a nearby hotel.
I would have rather avoided being here but—.
'I can't run away forever.' Was I against being alone with her? No.
There was sothing else that worried .
A soft sniffing made turn to look at the girl lying on the bed.
Shyamal curled herself like a cat with her back against .
Ever since we arrived here, she hasn't said a single word.
"…I don't understand," Shyamal murmured.
I turned my head slightly, waiting for her to continue.
Her fingers clenched into the fabric of her dress. "I don't care about things like that. I never have."
I stared at her. At the way her shoulders trembled just slightly.
"…Do you think I'm weak?" she whispered.
The question caught off guard.
I frowned. "No."
"Then.....Why does it feel like I lost sothing?"
"..."
How am I supposed to answer that?
Just when I was about to answer.
Sothing dark and sinister oozed out of her body.
Instinctively, I whispered, "Rejection of Ti."
The world turned grey, and I slowed ti around her.
I frowned. "Inna?"
[]
My face imdiately tensed.
Taishareth! I quickly stood up. "Why!?"
[]
I forcefully took a deep breath. "What should I do?"
Instead of replying, Inna did sothing else.
Her body materialized beside as she looked at .
"Isn't she your lover?" she said, glancing at Shyamal, whose body was already covered in darkness. "Do your thing."
"Is that your answer—."
"And you two."
Ignoring , Inna pinched the air and pulled her hand back.
Three clusters of hue escaped my body, turning into three children.
"....What?"
Wills was sleeping, but the other two had popcorn in their hands.
"Inna." Iffa grumbled, looking at her. "Let us watch her suffer more."
"No." She shook her head. "You're coming with ."
"Aw. Just when it was getting good."
"..."
They really don't like her, do they?
"Wait, where are you going?" I asked, looking at Inna.
"To et soone close to ."
Inna replied with a light smile.
Then—.
Her body vanished along with the children.
Leaving us alone.
I quickly focused back on Shyamal.
"Ah, fuck."
****
His gaze solely on Edel.
"How have you been, brother-in-law?"
Ragnar asked with a cocky smile on his face.
Edel glared at the man with bloodshot eyes.
A silent snarl escaped his lips. "Ragnar."
Two seats materialized beside them.
"Have a seat."
Edwin looked around, noticing the complete darkness they were in.
Had it not been his senses that assured him, Edwin would have believed he wasn't even in the palace.
'Is this Avatar's power?' He wondered, sliding the chair closer. Edwin sat down.
Edel clenched his jaw as he kept on standing.
"Suit yourself." Ragnar shrugged as he placed his legs on the table before leaning back.
It was disrespectful.
But both demigods chose to ignore it.
"What do you want?" Edwin asked, his voice cautious.
Ragnar glanced at him. "Nothing much, just want to give you so orders."
Edel growled. "....Orders?"
"Yes, brother-in-law." Ragnar replied, looking at him. "Don't we order soone who is lower than us?"
Edwin drew in a deep breath.
He was well known for his racial behavior, and listening to Ragnar made his blood boil.
Still.... he did not rebuke.
Edwin swallowed his pride. "...What is it?"
Ragnar smiled. "Nothing much, just keep yourself out of tomorrow's matter."
Edwin frowned. "The eting?"
"No." Ragnar said, his voice calm. "From my hunting."
"...."
Edel's heartbeat rose as he heard his words.
He could guess what Ragnar ant.
"....W-who?" Edel asked, trying to keep his composure. "Who are you going to kill?"
Ragnar's smile turned brighter. "I heard Mortis claims to be the strongest."
Both Edwin and Edel turned silent.
Their blank gaze kept on gazing at Ragnar.
"You can't kill him." Edwin said, glaring at him. "That's impossible."
"That's for to decide." Ragnar stood up as he looked down at them.
"And just to make it clear, I don't fear you joining hands with him. I fear Akasha will collapse ahead of its ti."
Edel glared at him.
The man who stood like a ticking bomb in his life.
"What would we gain from it?" Edel asked, looking at him.
"I am letting you live." Ragnar replied, his voice cold. "Is it not enough?"
Edel could only glare at him without a word.
On the other hand.
Edwin fell into deep thought.
"You will destroy this city—no, this country." He whispered softly, looking at him. "A fight between demigods won't leave any civilians alive."
"You think I care about them?" Ragnar turned, vanishing in the dark. "Heed my orders, that's all."
Edel and Edwin sat quietly for a long ti.
No one said a word.
But—.
Both were aware.
The world will bleed tomorrow.
User Comments
0 comments from readers