A/N: Thank you so much for all your patience guys ~
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"Zeres!" Alex called out, swiftly making his way to Zeres' side. With a nonchalant grin, Alex playfully slung his arm around Zeres. "Did you leave Iryz all by herself?" he asked, his tone light.
"Lilith is looking after her," Zeres replied. His gaze then shifted towards Alicia. The moment his gaze settled on Zeke, a quiet rage and a deep grudge smoldered in Zeres' eyes.
Their gaze held. Time seemed to suspend, stretching out the moment as if it were reluctant to let go. Finally, breaking the silence, Zeres spoke, his voice carrying a hint of detachment, yet laced with determination. "I can assist in extending your stay," he offered, his words resonating with a quiet intensity. Despite the coldness in his tone, his sincerity was undeniable.
Zeres' words made everyone look at him with a flicker of hope and gratitude filling their eyes, except Gav, of course.
Gav's brows were slightly furrowed as he finally spoke up, his attention fixed on Zeres' hair, as if what he was seeing held some deep-seated disturbance. "And what would be the price?" he inquired. Gav was speaking in a way that told everyone he didn't trust this other silver-haired individual and suspected he would ask for a huge price in return.
Zeres locked eyes with Gav, meeting his gaze. "Save someone dear to me," he replied, his voice resonating with unwavering conviction. His silver eyes now looked desperate, and that sight alone made Gav decide not to say anything anymore because Gav just didn't like dealing with anyone this desperate.
When Zeres' gaze returned to Zeke, it gleamed even more intensely. "Rescue her, and I'll go to any lengths necessary to ensure your stay is prolonged. You know I have the capability to fulfill that promise, Kiel."
A heavy silence reigned, tension thickening in the air as everyone awaited Zeke's response. Though Zeres appeared outwardly calm, an undercurrent of animosity was still obviously emanating from him. And this animosity was clearly directed squarely at Zeke.
"It seems this dragon harbors an immense grudge and burning hatred towards you, Zeke. I can't help but wonder what you did to earn such enmity," Gav remarked nonchalantly, breaking the silence. He didn't look at Zeres again and just settled his gaze towards Zeke.
The atmosphere around Zeres grew even more oppressive, his jaws tightly clenched in barely restrained anger.
Realizing the need to diffuse the increasing tension, Alex interjected. "Oh right, Zeke," Alex sounded like he just remembered something very important. "I think it's about time for you to address the issues concerning Iryz and Elle's..." Alex's words trailed off as he glanced at Elle, worried about potentially divulging sensitive information in her presence. However, to his surprise, Elle nodded, signaling that she wanted him to continue.
Understanding that Elle clearly gave her consent, Alex continued. "I believe you have to clarify the unresolved matters surrounding the heart transplant you performed on Little Betty over a decade ago, Zeke."
In that moment, Zeke glanced at Elle. Everyone, including Elle, fell silent in anticipation. They all wanted to hear what Zeke's answer would be.
But suddenly, Zeres took a deliberate step forward, closing the distance between himself and Zeke. Then, to the astonishment of everyone present, he dropped to his knees before Zeke.
Lowering his head in a gesture of desperation, Zeres pleaded, his voice filled with raw emotion. "Please... save Iryz..."
They had realized that Zeres didn't seem to hear what Alex had just said at all. Right now, Zeres was in desperate haste.
Alicia's grip on Zeke's hand tightened, her silent plea for him to help Zeres and save Iryz resonating through the connection they shared. And Zeke didn't need Alicia to voice anything because he already understood.
"Rise, Zeres," Zeke said.
Zeres looked up, meeting Zeke's gaze once more. And as their eyes locked, Zeke assured him, "Rest assured, we will definitely find a way to save her."
Hope immediately flared in Zeres' eyes, its radiance piercing through the cloud of resentment that had consumed him. Despite the deep-rooted grudge he clearly harbored, it became obvious to all that Zeres regarded Zeke's words as an assurance. It was as if to him, anything Zeke uttered held the power to manifest, and he trusted his words above all else in this world.
However, in the midst of this exchange, an ominous breeze suddenly swept through the area. Grayish clouds coalesced, swirling in a seemingly feeble tornado above them. The surrounding trees swayed in response, as if foretelling an impending event.
It was a sign, an indication that the time for the two summoned demons to depart this world was drawing very near.
Azy unconsciously clutched the hands of both his parents, his grip tightening as if he was afraid his parents were going to be whisked away from him without any warning.
Feeling Azy's fear, Zeke turned to him and dropped to one knee before him. "Don't worry, you heard your uncle Zeres. He's going to prolong our stay, so this is not goodbye, yet."
Azy's eyes searched their surroundings. Relief visibly washed over his features as he nodded silently at his dad.
When Zeke lifted his face and looked at Zeres, Zeres immediately spoke. "I will perform the ritual now. Please come with me. It's going to be more challenging if the gate opens."
Zeke nodded at him, and Zeres disappeared after telling Zeke about the place where the ritual would happen.
Turning to Azy again, Zeke watched the boy struggle to control his demonic power that was now starting to emanate from his very pores once again. Sebastian, too, exhibited signs of being affected, though his manifestation was much more subdued compared to Azy's. Zeke knew that the two were being affected by the upcoming opening of the gates of hell once again.
Pressing his head against his son's, Zeke whispered, his voice filled with reassurance. "Stay with your mom. I'll be back."
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