BXBX NOVEL Chapter 158 - Calamity Is Here
Nikolai found himself in a pinch after hearing the voice. Something within the darkness called out for him, but Nikolai did not want to go into dangerous areas without reason. It was idiotic.
However, something was staring at him from within the darkness. It was also trying to surround him to force him into venturing into the valley.
"That is a bit suspicious, man. That is the same strategy that predators use to lure in their prey. I am out of here."
Nikolai ran away from the valley as fast as possible, reaching the cabin after several minutes. The person sitting outside the cabin was no other than Lucas.
"You are out of breath," he said as Nikolai appeared from behind a tree. "Are you running away from something?"
"I am not," he replied. "However, I think that we need to change hideouts again. This place is not safe."
"This is the only place that is away from the kingdom," Lucas shook his head. "There is a strict lockdown on the city now because of the upcoming ritual. Anyone who tries to enter the city is forced to turn away and leave."
"We can sneak into the city," Nikolai did not care for his warning. "There is always a way. If things go south, then we can call for the princess."
"We are not getting her involved in this mess," Lucas shook his head. "There is no need for us to..." he was talking but suddenly stopped. Lucas waved his arm, and a blade of wind flew away to strike down a tree.
"Young Master found out about me," a voice appeared from within the tree before it morphed into a different creature. Nikolai heavily frowned when he heard the voice.
"Master Edward Ver Rosia," bowed Lucas. "I did not mean to attack you. I am only paranoid of unknown enemies."
"I am quite amazed that you found me," Master Edward looked offended before he turned toward Nikolai. "Yay, Lyle is here!"
"I know that you followed me here, Master," Nikolai said before he bowed. "I apologize that I did not ask for your permission before going away."
\'What kind of rotten luck is this?\' Nikolai inwardly screamed. \'The Fairy Queen appeared, and now it is this psychopath. I should have destroyed the tattoo a long time ago.\'
"I was worried about you, Lyle. This forest is a dangerous place at the moment, and coming here is unwise. However, I overheard your conversation," he shamelessly announced. "It seems you have an issue going back. I can help you with that."
"There is no need, Master Edward," Nikolai shook his head. "You can go back ahead of us. We still have some training to do. This is the reason that Princess Maria allowed me to skip on work."
"Ah yes," Master Edward played with his long hair. "A special technique that you can teach to Young Master Griffin. I am quite curious about it, but I can feel something else over there."
Master Edward pointed toward the cabin. A smile appeared on his face as he started walking toward it.
"We are using a monster to aid in our training, that is all. You do not need to waste your time on this," Nikolai had to come up with the bullshit that not even he believes. Master Edward stopped in front of him with a smile on his face.
"It seems you made yourself comfortable here, Lyle. First of all, you avoid me like the plague. Now, you hide secrets from me. Maria is not here, so I can stop pretending that you are anything more than my prisoner."
"Master Edward," frowned Lucas as he took a step forward. "Please stop joking. Your words are quite offensive to my friend."
"A friend, even?" Master Edward raised his brows. "You are pretty smooth with people, Lyle. I thought better of you. Yet, here you are, indulging in nonsense like friends.
Nikolai found himself sweating because of the similarities between this man and the person who traumatized him. They were the same in this aspect: treating Nikolai like he was their possession.
"I have yet to disobey you, Master Edward," Nikolai forced a smile. "We are still on the same page. I will make the princess less naive. There is no change in our plans."
"Oho, I see," smiled the strategist. "However, you forget one thing. I am far smarter than you are. I know what you did in the past few days, and I know what happened with the Fairy Queen."
\'This is bad,\' Nikolai could feel himself sinking into an inescapable pit. \'I need to find a way out of this mess too. However, what do I have?\'
"Are you trying to scheme against me too?" smiled Master Edward. "I was kind to you, Lyle, or whatever your name is. I introduced you to Miss Aya. You have no idea the future that she can give you, but here you are like a wounded dog, too scared to choose anything. So you ran away just like you always do."
Lucas glanced at Nikolai, and he could tell that his friend was falling into the abyss. There were people out there in the world where you could not escape from the moment they set their eyes on you.
"This is enough, Edward Ver Rosia," Lucas dropped all titles with the Master. "As the representative of House of Griffin, I ask you to stand back and leave."
"Do not be too arrogant, Young Master. Your father might have been the strongest, but this kingdom will fall without me," the strategist threw his hand with a laugh, showing his canines. "Stay out of this, or I will make you suffer."
Nikolai was confused because, in the vision, Master Edward kept some respect toward Lucas. However, he was different now for some reason. Something has changed in the past two days after the vision took place.
After the interference of Lucas, Nikolai had time to think for a bit. There was something off about Master Edward because he did not look at Nikolai the same way that he did. He had one more emotion, but it was unfamiliar to Nikolai.
Their eyes met, and there was a gleam in the strategist\'s eyes that Nikolai had seen only in the mirror. There was jealousy.
\'This man is jealous of Lucas? It cannot be jealous of me.\'
However, it still did not make sense if it was jealousy toward Lucas because he treated Lucas with courtesy in the vision. Therefore, Nikolai could only assume that it was jealousy toward him.
"What did Miss Aya say about me?" Nikolai suddenly asked as Lucas was about to unsheathe his rapier. Then, for the first time since they met, Master Edward flinched, and Nikolai got his confirmation.
This man was jealous because Lilith was interested in Nikolai. As he looked at the man\'s face turn frosty, Nikolai felt pity because this man had also fallen into her trap.
"You know something, Lyle," smiled Edward coldly as blood began to spill from his wrists. "It seems you are aware of her identity. Unfortunately, this cannot do, as I need to kill you now."
"You are simply trying to get rid of me because you are jealous," Nikolai laughed heartily. "You are an idiot."
"Lyle?" confusion was written on Lucas\'s face. "You are not helping defuse this situation. I am not sure I can take him on for you, and not sure if I should."
"You arrogant brats need to be taught a lesson," Master Edward fumed. "I cannot believe that she saw something in you. You were only meant as a present to be discarded, but she saw something more in you, and I need to have it."
"The act of sanity is slipping, Edward Ver Rosia," smiled Nikolai. "You have lost yourself to the countless victims you devoured and to that woman."
"Do not dare disrespect her. Tell me what you know immediately."
"I will take your invitation now, dear friend. Consider this a debt to be repaid," Nikolai suddenly called out, and the two were confused. However, the answer came a moment later.
"You knew I was watching," a voice came from within the forest as the darkness exploded to seal the light from the world. "This is fun. This is fun. This is... fun."
The chants were not the sanity that Nikolai wanted to rely on, but Master Edward was not an easy opponent. This will also help him understand what was inside the valley.
"What is this?" Master Edward frowned as his blood turned into a spear, which he gripped tightly. "What kind of trick is this, Lyle?"
"This is a friend I made a few moments ago, it seems?" asked Nikolai without any certainty. "I just hope that I did not summon a calamity."
The darkness filled the world, and the trees began to wither. Finally, a figure appeared in front of Nikolai, and it was a familiar one. A pool of blood gathered on the ground in front of the newcomer as it grinned.
"Pleased to meet you.. The calamity is here."