As Lioner strode forward, his dominating presence suffocating Helena and Oris, the lurking figure shifted slightly. Their gloved hand rested on the hilt of a blade strapped to their waist, fingers drumming softly against the metal as if contemplating whether to act.
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The moment Helena fell to her knees were they suddenly teleported to the holy temples entrance, the figure tilted their head, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Great pretender," they muttered, a trace of disdain lacing his tone. "They didn’t even put up a proper fight. Disappointing."
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But when Lioner turned to Xia, his voice softening as he addressed her, something flickered in the shadowy figure’s gaze. They stepped forward, the sound of his boot scuffing against the ground breaking the tension like a thunderclap.
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Lioner paused, his sharp senses immediately locking onto the disturbance. His golden eyes darted to the source of the sound, his expression darkening. "Who’s there?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
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From the shadows, the figure emerged, his steps deliberate and unhurried. Clad in black, his features were partially obscured by a hood, but the intensity of his crimson gaze was undeniable. The blade at his side shimmered faintly, as if reacting to the tension in the air.
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"A guardian and it's Master...," the stranger said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Quite the gathering you've got here. I couldn’t resist taking a closer look."
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Lioner's eyes narrowed, his stance shifting slightly, ready to strike if necessary. "And who are you to intrude on matters that don’t concern you?"
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The stranger smirked, his crimson eyes gleaming with unsettling amusement. When he spoke, his voice resonated with an unnatural weight—deep, commanding, and unnerving, as if the very air trembled in response. "Who am I?..hmm.. Someone you don’t need to know… for now, I’m merely a spectator." Each word echoed faintly, carrying a force that demanded attention yet dripped with chilling indifference.
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His hand rested casually on the hilt of a blade, the motion a subtle challenge. "That woman behind you..." His gaze flicked toward Xia, the tone of his voice sharpening, as though testing unseen boundaries.
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Lioner’s hand moved instinctively, gripping Xia’s wrist and pulling her behind him. His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed a growing tension. "What about her?"
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For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and foreboding. The stranger smirk softened, his expression becoming unreadable. "Nothing. He’ll be thrilled knowing you’re alive," he finally said, the words hanging in the air like an unspoken promise.
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Before Lioner could respond, shadows coiled around the stranger’s figure, twisting and writhing like living tendrils. In the blink of an eye, he was gone, swallowed by the night, leaving nothing but a faint chill in his wake.
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"I have a bad feeling about this" lioner said.
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Xia remained silent for a moment before she could speak. "Let's go back Samedi might be looking for me." She said grabbing lioner's arm.
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"I suppose so." He replied when a light magic circle emerge from the ground as they disappeared in thin air. Moments before they disappeared the stranger that they were talking to was hiding in the shadows observing. "Baron Samedi.... What are you up to this time." The stranger said.
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Meanwhile, at the Holy Temple of Lychnis, Oris and Helena found themselves abruptly teleported inside. They looked worn and defeated, their exhaustion evident in their slow movements. Helena’s apprentice and the temple priests rushed to assist them, but the two merely waved them off, pretending to be fine.
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Later, within the temple’s grand library, Helena poured over ancient tomes, her fingers trailing along dusty pages as she searched for any mention of the name Lioner. Frustration mounted as she came up empty-handed.
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Suddenly, the sound of creaking hinges broke the silence, followed by a cold gust of wind that sent a shiver down her spine.
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"You cannot find the person you’re looking for in this ordinary library," a voice echoed through the room, low and resonant. "Not unless he is ordinary."
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Helena straightened, her eyes narrowing. "Who are you?" she asked calmly, though her posture remained guarded. "Show yourself."
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"Describe him," the voice demanded, the tone sharper now.
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Helena froze, her breath hitching as she turned toward the source of the voice. Behind her stood Lethyxia, her presence commanding and otherworldly.
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"Moth— I mean, Your Highness," Helena corrected herself hastily, dipping her head in respect.
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Lethyxia’s gaze bore into her. "Speak."
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Helena took a breath, her voice steady yet tinged with reverence. "His skin is as pale as freshly fallen snow, his eyes burn with an intense, golden brilliance, like the sun itself. His long hair, a silvery cascade reminiscent of moonlight, frames his chiseled features. His muscular frame exudes an aura of divine perfection, and his angelic face… almost too beautiful to be real." She paused, her eyes flickering with hesitation. "Lioner… that’s what he said his name was."
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