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Chapter 46 - Demonic Lad
At the sound of his name, he swiftly turned his attention to me, his eyes locking onto my form.
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"We're not in Domino nor Elmir anymore, are we?" I inquired, lowering my body and grasping my knees to gain a better vantage point through the window.
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He remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he observed me.
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"Cleal?" I called out once more, my expression and gaze remaining steadfast and unreadable. "You are aware of the fact that one glance into your eyes will reveal everything," I added, my words laden with significance. The realization dawned on me that he must be cognizant of a Kiorian's power of seeing Visions by now. Recalling my conversation with mother, I understood that it wasn't his emotions I was sensing, but my own. The thing that drove him to the brink of madness when I looked into his eyes was the direct absorption of mana from him. Such a direct extraction of mana can induce immense pain, but in his case, it also seemed to push him towards insanity, I pondered.
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"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Cleal exclaimed, his frustration palpable as he tousled his hair with his right hand, the blood from my hands still visible on his wrist. His left hand rested on his hip, completing the picture of exasperation.
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"OKAY FINE. WHATEVER!" he angrily conceded. "I was sucked into some random-ass portal that dragged me here."
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"Hmmm...." I hummed, observing his palpable irritation with a stoic expression. "So it must be some holy place. A place that can be accessed by Priests like that dead one," I concluded, turning my gaze back to the window.
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"Well, mysteries aside for now, let's get out of this room. I really want to wash this blood off my hands," I declared, examining my stained fingers.
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"Alright," he acquiesced, starting to walk towards the door.
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I sprinted to the wardrobe that stood near the door. Upon opening it, I was surprised to find...........................my horse riding outfit.
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"Wow......" I exclaimed, my voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
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Cillian halted, turning to face me. "What?" he shot, his tone sharp.
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"Nothing," I replied, briefly shutting my eyes. "Just my clothes," I added, reopening them to survey the familiar attire.
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The blood on my hands wasn't entirely dry yet. "Umhh........Cleal...."
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I could sense his piercing gaze fixed upon me from across the room.
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"Haah...." He sighed, approaching the wardrobe and beginning to gather my belongings for me.
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An embarrassed, ashamed smile crept across my face. "I'm sorry," I murmured as he collected the items.
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"And you better be," he retorted, striding out of the room. I followed closely behind him.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgSBn4RyMH
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As we descended the spiral staircase, its steps dusty and cold beneath our feet,
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We emerged outside, realizing that there had only been a single room in the entire structure all along.
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We continued our silent walk, our eyes darting around to take in our surroundings,
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We finally stumbled upon a water source, accompanied by an unexpected yet welcome sight - a gazebo. The juxtaposition of this refined structure against the wild, unfamiliar landscape was both jarring and oddly comforting.
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I rushed towards the pond, eager to cleanse my bloodstained hands. However, as soon as my fingers breached the water's surface, I let out a startled cry, "SHEEESH!" and yanked them back. The water was frigid, reminiscent of melting ice. As I stood there, torn between the need for cleanliness and the discomfort of the cold, I heard Cillian's footsteps behind me.
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He approached the gazebo with measured steps, carefully placing my riding outfit and boots on its raised platform. Then, he made his way to where I stood, indecisive by the water's edge. Squatting down beside me, he began to roll up his sleeves, revealing arms that were surprisingly slender. It struck me then how thin he truly was; his arms could easily be mistaken for those of a woman in her thirties, save for the subtle definition of lean muscle.
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"Oh, you think so? That's strange. I was under the impression it was a nice warm bath," he drawled, his voice laden with sarcasm. His eyes casually surveyed the water as he grabbed my clasped my hands, and rubbing them for me beneath the surface.
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"I can wash them up myself," I protested, feeling embarrassed.
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"I know," he replied simply, continuing his ministrations without pause.
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Suddenly, I jerked my hands free from his grip and out of the water. His gaze followed the movement, and seizing this momentary distraction, I plunged my hands back into the pond. This time, I captured his hands, which were still submerged, and began to scrub away the blood that had transferred to his wrists earlier.
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As I worked, I could feel his gaze upon me, studying my face with curiosity. A smile, both enigmatic and amused, played across his lips. "Oh my," he mused, his voice carrying a hint of surprise and playfulness. "Is this your way of returning the favor?" The lightness in his tone was a stark contrast to the gravity of our situation.
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I chose to remain silent, focusing intently on my task. Time seemed to slow as I meticulously cleaned away every trace of blood from his wrists.
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Finally, satisfied with my work, I broke the silence. "All done," I announced, my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions swirling within me.
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He slowly withdrew his hands from the water, rivulets running down his arms as he raised them for inspection.
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As I observed his skin, a peculiar thought struck me. That small amount of blood had taken nearly three minutes to wash off, whereas both my fully blood-covered hands had taken the same amount of time. This observation lingered in my mind as I turned back to the water, intent on washing the blood from my face.
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"Is the blood stain gone?" I inquired, looking up at him after splashing water on my face.
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"Nope," he replied casually, using his knees as leverage to stand upright.
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I continued washing my face for a bit longer while he stood there, rolling his sleeves back down.
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"Now?" I asked, turning my face up towards him once more.
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"Yeah," he confirmed. Then, in an unexpected move, he walked behind me, squatted low, slipped his arms beneath my armpits, and yanked me up with him in one fluid motion.
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?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????A cascade of question marks flooded my mind as I watched him saunter towards the gazebo. Bewildered, I followed behind him.
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"Hey," I called out.
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"What?" he asked, picking up my riding outfit and walking towards me to hand it over.
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I accepted the clothes, and as I looked down, a question formed on my lips. "Can't you use your demonic power to get us out of here?"
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"I can't. I don't have enough Uri to teleport us," he explained, then raised an eyebrow. "But shouldn't you be able to teleport us back?"
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"I used up quite a lot of mana when I killed the bear earlier," I replied, averting my gaze to the side.
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"Haaah..........so we'll be stuck here for a while then. But I wonder why I'm not tired in the slightest," he mused, glancing around. "Anyway, go change in this dome thingy first. I'll stay by that pond. Don't worry, I won't look," he added.
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I watched as he settled himself by the pond, facing the building, while I retreated into the gazebo to change.
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*8 minutes later*
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As I uttered the words "I'm done," a sense of finality permeated the air around me. I stepped out of the gazebo, its ornate stone structure now seeming like a relic from a distant past. The cool evening breeze caressed my skin, carrying with it the faint scent of jasmine and something else............something indefinable.
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My eyes scanned the surroundings, expecting to see Cillian's familiar silhouette, but I was met with an unsettling void. The absence was palpable, as if the very fabric of reality had been altered in those few moments I'd spent inside the gazebo.
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"EH? Cillian?" I called out, my voice piercing the eerie silence. The sound reverberated through the empty garden, each echo a haunting reminder of my solitude. "Cillian?" I repeated, desperation creeping into my tone. The lack of response was deafening.
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A weary sigh slipped from my lips as I resigned myself to the mystery of the inexplicable disappearance. I made my way back to the pond, carefully washing the blood from the dress before returning to the gazebo. I laid it on the platform to dry, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered.
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Suddenly, a voice startled me from behind. “AHH! It’s you. The one they’ve been talking about.”
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I turned to see who it was. An old man stood there, his long white beard flowing down his chest, dressed in a white robe. His grey eyes were sharp and observant as he leaned on a staff for support. Beside him was Cillian, his expression a mix of jealousy and irritation that only seemed to deepen.
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He's getting irritated quiet often now. I thought to myself narrowing my eyes at this old manwho looked like a priest.
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I remained silent.
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“I kept my promise. You better spill the beans now,” Cillian shot back, hands shoved in his pockets as he glared down at the old short man.
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“Yes, yes, yes,” the elder replied, stepping closer to me. He raised his right hand, asking for mine. I hesitated but eventually placed my hand in his.
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“Yes, the awaited one,” he said with a smile. “Now, follow me.” He released my hand and turned to lead us away.
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Cillian and I exchanged glances before following him.
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As we walked around the area, Cillian’s irritation bubbled over again. "Old-timer, be kind. And tell me. No, just SPILL THE DAMN BEANS and keep your f*cking promise."
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I elbowed Cillian for his choice of words in front of an elder.
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The old man chuckled lightly, seemingly unfazed by Cillian's outburst. “Ahaha. You both were brought into the Holy Empire—a place where High Priests like myself are promoted after serving God for years. When we’re officially acknowledged by God, our holy powers allow us to enter this Holy Empire, the Land of Gods. This building belongs to me; I live here.”
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As the old man's words sank in, I felt my face settle into a blank mask, mirroring Cillian's expressionless visage. My mind, however, was racing.
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Hmm.....no wonder I haven't been able to summon Veles all along. Dragons and Holy Empires don't get along, meaning Cillian absolutely can't use his Demonic powers at it's full potential. But the fact he still was able to use it slightly means that this place....is not purely a Holy Empire where only the God's law regins.
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Cillian's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and suspicious. "And where are we going, Geezer?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing as he glared at our elderly guide.
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The old man turned back, a laugh escaping his lips. "We? Oh," he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "I'm sorry, it's just her and me." His smile widened as he delivered this bombshell.
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"Wha-" Before Cillian could protest, the old man tapped his staff on the ground. In an instant, Cillian vanished into thin air. My eyes widened in shock, but I kept my composure.
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"Now that the demonic lad is gone, let us resume," the old man said cheerfully, turning back to continue our journey.
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As I silently followed him, my mind was working overtime. Cillian was probably sent back to Elmir, I reasoned. But I couldn't shake the unease settling in my gut. My hand twitched, ready to strike if things took a turn for the worse. This smiling old man might look harmless, but I was determined to end him if he proved to be a threat.
As we continued our journey, the old man led me into an ancient, mystical underground chamber. At its center lay a serene, glowing pool that immediately caught my attention. The chamber was a sight to behold - grand, weathered arches and columns surrounded us, while broken fragments of the ceiling allowed ethereal beams of light to filter through. The pool itself emitted a soft, turquoise glow that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.
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I felt my eyes narrow slightly, a grave unease settling in my gut.
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The old man approached the water's edge, tapping his staff on the stone ground three times. He raised his left hand and began to recite what sounded like a prayer, his words echoing off the chamber walls.
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Suddenly, a tornado erupted from the center of the glowing pool. It was a spiral of blinding light, mesmerizing in its intensity and beauty.
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As I stood transfixed by this incredible sight, I felt a tap at my feet. A violent shiver ran up my spine, and before I knew what was happening, my body began to move of its own accord. I found myself standing as close to the tornado as possible, my hand raised and penetrating the swirling water.
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"Very good," the old man said, a pleasant smile on his face as he watched me. "The God will be happy," he added, his words sending another chill through me.
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Without warning, an unknown force pushed me back. The tornado receded into the pool, and a new spiral materialized above where it had stood moments before. I finally regained control of my body, my mind reeling.
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Was I hypnotized just now? I wondered, as an unbearable light from the spiral pierced my eyes.
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Then, a series of deafening sounds filled the chamber,
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*CREEEEESH*
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*CREEEEESH*
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*CREEEEESH*
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*CREEEEESH*
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*CREEEEESH*
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I swiftly turned my head back, only to be met with a chilling sight: hungry black wolves, their eyes gleaming and teeth bared as they growled menacingly.
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They must have been drawn by the light, I realized, scrambling to my feet.
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Turning back towards the old man, I saw him standing with his arms outstretched, seemingly in awe of the portal that was forming. A portal? Did he just make me open a portal? I thought as I glared at him, furious at his apparent indifference to our predicament.
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First a bear, and now this? Damn it. I thought, glancing back at the pack of wolves that had gathered. I quickly assessed my remaining mana. I can't burn this entire place, I definitely don't have enough mana to do so. Will creating a barrier do it? No, that won't be enough. NO, more importantly, where does that portal behind me lead to? Killing that man right now is more imporant than these beasts. I thought as I took slow, careful steps backward, trying to avoid provoking an immediate attack from the wolves. If only I could bind them to my will, I mused, stealing another glance at the old man.
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Letting out a resigned sigh, I made my decision. In a burst of speed, I ran back towards the old man and-
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*SHAAAA*
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Kicked him into the pool with my right leg, and with that, the wolves were triggered.
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I spun around, facing the now agitated pack. "DRAGON FLAMES!" I shouted, unleashing a torrent of fire from my right hand towards the advancing wolves.
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Behind me, I could hear the old man's panicked cries. "AHH AHH HELPP!" he shouted, thrashing in the water.
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The wolves touched by my flames began to whine and fall, but more were coming. With a practiced flick of my wrist, I summoned a blazing fire sword, the weapon materializing in my hand. Without hesitation, I launched forward.
To be Continued...
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