Chapter 84: Paths and hopes

[What do you want to do?] asked Fenrir.

Edward smiled wryly. “Do you think I know? I can’t kill her, can I? She’s been protecting me from the shadows. She even saved Violet.”

“Convince her to forget about it? She’s terrified of Yggdrasil’s prophecy.”

“Accept her feelings? Not even mentioning I barely have the time to spend with Violet, I don’t even know her…”

Sighing, he took a seat on the cracked ground next to Minx and looked at the dragon egg: “I never thought all the shit I’ve had to deal with on earth would look so trivial…”

Edward then rubbed Minx’s head as she was silently licking her fur. “Aren’t you hungry, Minx? You’ve been in here for so long.”

“Minx eating cores.”

“Guess that works too…”

Edward just lay there thinking about what to do until, about ten minutes later, Kara woke up again. Seeing her opening her eyes, Edward threw her the bow and said: “Go back, Kara.”

Kara was taken by surprise and looked at the bow in front of her as she asked: “Aren’t you going to kill me?”

“Why should I? I still owe you. Too bad it had to go like this.” Said Edward indifferently.

“But what if I tell others about you? About this place..”

“I’m hoping you wouldn’t do that. Just as you didn’t want to kill me, I also don’t want to end up having to kill you. Just go back and enjoy your life like you did before we met. That would be the best for everyone.”

Kara bit her lip and picked up the bow before walking toward the exit. As she was about to jump out, Edward said: “Just so you know, I never planned on ever consuming this world and I still don’t. I think we’ve been together enough for you to understand that. I am just getting stronger so I can leave this world, but.”

“Kara, if you ever decide to tell others, remember that Violet is my reverse scale. If I found out anything happened to her when I decide to return to the City of Ashes, I will bury this entire world with her.”

“I won’t say anything. Goodbye, Edward.”, whispered Kara before jumping out of the room.

[Are you sure that’s wise?] asked Fenrir once Kara was gone.

“I don’t think she would tell. It’s not her fault the god which her entire race believed in turned out to be a bitch.”

[What about the party?]

“What party? We’re all a group of liars, even Mya. Who knows what secrets she might hold as well? We’ll just be only you, me, and Minx. Just like it was in the beginning.”

Fenrir sighed and said nothing else.

“I finally found you.” A voice Edward hasn’t heard in a long time came from above and he looked up to see Circe slowly floating towards him.

Chucking Edward said: “I could say the same thing. People in the city have already declared you missing.”

Circe snorted and landed next to Edward. Patting Minx’s head, she said: “Besides the half that would not care, the other half would be glad I’m gone. What happened with the elf princess?”

“You knew?” asked Edward.

“Of course I did. Only an idiot like you would think humans would choose to live in a tree. So what did you do? She was crying like a baby while walking out of here.”

“She followed me here to declare her love and I had to decline her feelings. What can I do if I’m already taken? Did you find your sister?” Said Edward with a wry smile.

“No. I searched the entire way from Ashes to Oasis and find no trace of her. I beat up some assassins from there and they said that she used some talisman to flee a fight with a dragon. Do you know anything? Those brats from your party said they left her with you.”

“No. Only about the fight and that she escaped. I also didn’t see a single trace of her.”

Circe sighed before her eyes landed on the dragon egg.

“I can only hope she’s fine. Speaking about dragons. What’s with the egg? Don’t you know they are illegal?”

Edward’s expression became slightly downcast as he replied: “Its mother did me a huge favor. She even ended up sacrificing herself for me to live, and I promised I’ll take care of her child. What can I do now? A man’s only as good as his word.”

“That’s a lot of trouble. The dragons would not give up on finding this egg. Also, I don’t know about that brat whose heart you broke, but the elves might be after it too. Oh, and Oasis. They love their beasts and would probably kill for a dragon egg to tame.”

“What about you?” asked Edward, knowing full well that he couldn’t do anything if Circe took an interest in the dragon as well.

“Why would I want such a hot potato? All yours if you want to keep it. But if you give me this good girl here, I will gladly accept her.” Said Circe with a chuckle.

“Dream on. Get your own wolf if you want one. By the way, how did you find me here?”

“I was walking back when I saw the entire forest shake. I looked around, hoping to find a trace of Ena when I saw that elf jumping out of the ground. Great place. It even comes with a dungeon. How did you find it?”

“It came with the egg. Master, you said you were going back to the city?”

“Yeah. I’ve already been gone for quite a lot and searching any more would be pointless. Who knows where that talisman took her? Why are you asking?”

“I don’t know when I’ll return to the city and wanted to ask you for a favor.”

“Wait. What about the competition?”

“What competition?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot about the bet we made?” asked Circe, raising an eyebrow.

Edward smiled wryly: “I’ve been running from one trouble into the other. Where would I find the time to think about a stupid competition?”

Circe sighed and muttered: “You will make this master of yours die of shame… I even told everyone I’m going to showcase my disciple at this year’s competition. I hope it’s not because you argued with the elf girl or I’ll drag you back right now.”

Edward looked towards the dungeon gate and shook his head. “No. I just need to get strong as fast as I can. As you said, I’m in quite a lot of trouble, and if I don’t get stronger before that trouble catches up to me...”

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“Do you want to go in there alone? You’ll get yourself killed.”

“Who said I’m going by myself? I have Minx.”, said Edward with a smile.

“Still, you won’t be able to progress past level 20 inside. Minx will probably be fine since she’s a magic beast, but your strength will fall behind if you don’t advance to the intermediate water mage class.”

“I’ll see how deep I can go. If I really can’t proceed further, I’ll just return to the city and promote.”

“Show me your status board.”

Edward handed his status board, and Circe raised an eyebrow when she saw the maximum mana. “Why do you have so much mana?”

“Empty numbers. I had no choice but to use a spell to summon Azure using mana from the atmosphere to escape the beast tide. Passing all that mana through my body increased my maximum mana capacity, but according to Azure, it also brought about a lot of impurities, so I can only use about half of it.”

“Makes sense.” Said Circe before throwing the tablet back to him. “Fine. You’ll do whatever you want anyway. So what was that favor?”

“Can you keep an eye on Violet while I’m gone? The innkeeper of the Violet Flower Inn. I think nothing would happen to her, but I would be more reassured if I knew she was in your care while I’m hunting in the dungeon.”

“Do I look like a babysitter to you?”

“Please. There are a few people I can rely on right now. I’ll make it up to you when I return. For this and the competition as well.”

Circe sighed and rubbed Minx’s head one more time before standing up: “I’ll see what I can do. If you want to make it up to me, don’t die, Edward.”

Edward nodded and watched as Circe flew out of the room as well.

[She might know of the prophecy as well.]

“Maybe, but I would be dead if she wanted to me. With her strength, it wouldn’t take more than a wave of her hand.”

“Minx trusts Circe too.”, said Minx from the side, making a chuckle escape both Edward and Fenrir.

“Fenrir, should we take the dragon egg with us? We can leave it in the safe zone so we don’t have to come out every time to check on it.”

[You should have thought about that before that master of yours left. How are you going to break the surrounding protection?]

“Do we need to?” said Edward with a smile.

[Then how are you going to move it?]

“Isn’t there a downwards slope all the way to the safe zone?”

[….]

——————————

Kara was dashing at full speed from tree to tree in the city's direction, her mind on her conversation with Edward and his indifferent attitude.

His words kept resounding in her ears and she felt like every word would stab even a deeper hole in her heart. Suddenly, she missed the branch she was aiming for. Her body plunged from the tree and she rolled on the ground for over twenty feet before stopping as she hit another tree.

“Argh.” A grunt escaped her lips as she remained there, unmoving.

She felt like she had no power to stand up again and started crying silently.

“I don’t think this image would suit a princess of the elven race.”

Hearing the unknown voice, Kara looked up, only to see Circe sitting atop a branch, looking at her with a frosty smile on her lips.

“What do you want?”

“Nothing. Don’t mind me. Continue weeping in self-pity. Maybe he will somehow feel it from inside the dungeon and feel bad. He might ride on his mighty wolf and save you from your own misery.”

“Winterhope, you cursed family of heretics…”

“Watch your words, little girl, or you might really die in this random forest. Even Faelyn knows better than to provoke me.” Said Circe in a dark tone as the entire surrounding area started getting covered in a layer of ice.

“So what? Do you think I’m afraid of you? You… Argh.” before she could finish her words, she found herself grabbed by the neck and pressed against the tree.

Kara’s body started freezing slowly from the hand pressing against her neck. Her heartbeat started slowing down and life was slowly leaving her. Looking into the unfeeling frozen eyes in front of her, she remembered the way Edward looked at her just before she left and tears started forming in her eyes again.

“Edward…” she muttered as two ice crystals fell atop Circe’s hand.

Circe suddenly released her and let her fall back to the ground. The ice that had formed on Kara’s neck disappeared like it was just a mirage.

“What a pathetic waste of mana…”, said Circe as she turned around to leave.

Looking at her back, Kara stood up and yelled with eyes full of anger: “Aren’t you going to kill me? Weren’t you talking big just now?”

Circe turned around and looked at her with disgust.

“Why should I? Isn’t that what you want as well? To die and be rid of your miserable existence?”

Seeing Kara’s body shake at her words, Circe continued: “You’re not even worth the mana it would take to end your life. A pathetic being who would choose a god she has never seen over the one who she loves. And you wonder why he doesn’t love you back? What is there to love?”

“Let me tell you something, little girl. When not knowing whose side to pick, remember the name that left your lips just as you thought you were about to die.”

Seeing Kara fall lifelessly to her knees, Circe didn’t spare her another look and just took off toward the City of Ashes.

Once high in the sky, a smile appeared on Circe’s lips as she muttered: “Hehe, Yggdrasil, you dug your own grave this time.”

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