Chapter 145 Ch. 145: Rumination [4]
In the dimly lit hallway, a woman with vermillion hair cascaded down her shoulder stood, her back against the wall near a door.
Boredom was etched on her face as she examined her freshly painted nails.
"Huaaa!!"
"Justice for God Chrono!"
Upon hearing it, Annelise couldn't help but sneered wryly at the roaring chant that reverberated behind the door.
Suddenly, the door swung open and a man with long black hair emerged.
He was dressed in a flowing white robe that swept the ground with every step he took.
Annelise straightened herself and greeted him with a nod.
"Father."
The man returned her greeting with a smile.
"My daughter."
Together, they made their way down the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
As a thought kicked in, he posed a question.
"So, how is His Highness the Second Prince?"
"Mentally shaken, just as planned."
The man widened his smile in satisfaction.
"Excellent. I'm glad to hear it."
The fact that things were starting to go according to plan, there was no doubt that it brought him joy.
The man turned to her with a curious look and asked.
"So he'll eventually join us soon, right?"
Annelise confirmed his nervousness with a nod.
"He will join us if our next attack is successful."
"Ah, I see."
The man said, nodding in understanding.
"It's just a matter of time, then."
As they descended the stairs, the sound of groaning and wailing grew louder.
The man raised an eyebrow and mumbled under his breath.
"Hector still can't harness the power of the Sacred Orb, I see."
Annelise shook her head in disappointment.
"Unfortunately, yes."
The man shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well, that's understandable. No one in this world can harness it instantly. I, too, needed to suffer for years to harness its power. Well, except Chrono."
Letting out a heavy sigh, the man continued.
"Nevertheless, I just hope he can tame it before our next attack."
"I hope so too."
As they descended the stairs, the howls of pain grew more and more deafening.
Arriving in front of a door, Annelise unlocked it and they stepped inside only to be greeted by a cacophony of screams and groans.
"Aaarrghhh!!"
Emerging from behind the door, they approached a stone balcony that overlooked an arena floor surrounded by iron bars below.
A bald, muscular man knelt in the center of the arena, clutching his head with both hands.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Blood ran down his nose, and saliva dripped from his mouth.
He looked like he was losing his mind.
"Aaarrghhh!!"
Hector, the bald man, roared once again, and all the monsters behind the iron bars followed suit.
"Rooaaarr!!"
"Kiieekk!!"
"Grr!"
Annelise turned to the man in white.
"What will happen if he fails to harness the power?"
"His mind will go corrupt, or worse, he might commit suicide, but I believe Hector will be able to harness it."
Annelise furrowed her eyebrows, skepticism was written across her face as she turned toward the man beside her.
"Are you sure? He looks like he's on the brink of insanity."
"I know."
The man responded nonchalantly and resumed.
"But I have faith in him. He's endured this long, and I'm confident he will be able to persevere and control the power given by the Sacred Orb."
Annelise sighed, still not convinced.
"I hope you're right."
The two of them watched in silence as Hector continued to scream and writhe in agony.
.
.
.
The long and thick eyelashes fluttered before gradually lifting open, revealing a pair of mesmerizing cerulean eyes.
As his vision was surrounded by a soft haze, Adrian closed his eyes and blinked several times.
Gradually, the familiar decorations of his chamber came into focus, bathed in a warm, dim light.
It was night and he was lying on his own bed.
Just as Adrian began to gather his thoughts, a voice filled with surprise reached his ears, causing him to turn his head to the side.
"You're awake?"
Sitting by his bedside, he saw his mother; her face etched with worry and relief.
"Mom?"
His hoarse voice cracked in.
"Yes, mom is here."
Aerilyn leaned down and gently pressed a kiss on the back of his hand
As he became more alert, Adrian noticed the slight dampness on his hand, realizing that his mother had been waiting by his side for a considerable amount of time.
Raising her head, Aerilyn turned towards the door and called out urgently.
"Please fetch the physician quickly!"
Her Lady-in-Waiting, who had been waiting outside the chamber, immediately responded.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Returning her attention to Adrian, Aerilyn tenderly caressed his hair and offered him a reassuring smile.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Concern was evident in her voice, and Adrian shook his head.
Nevertheless, upon noticing the weariness in her eyes, he knew that she must have been consumed by worry during his unconsciousness.
With a heavy heart, he voiced his apology.
"Mom, I'm sorry for making you worry."
Aerilyn's smile remained unwavering as she leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"It's alright, my dear. I'm just glad that you're okay."
Before Adrian could respond, a series of knocks reverberated through the door.
—Knock —Knock —Knock
"Your Majesty, the Physician is here."
Straightening her back, Aerilyn commanded.
"Let her in."
Soon, an elderly lady entered the room.
She examined Adrian, checking his vital signs and asking him questions about his condition.
After carefully assessing his needs, she prescribed him some medicine and made notes for further treatment.
With a nod of gratitude, the physician left the room, leaving Adrian and his mother alone once again.
Not long after feeling medicine, Aerilyn stood up from her seat and leaned down to land another tender kiss on his son's forehead, then gently stroked his head.
"Have a good rest, my love. We'll have breakfast together in the morning. Good night."
"Good night, Mom."
With that, Aerilyn closed his bed curtain and left with her Lady-in-Waiting to return to her Palace.
As Adrian sat on his bed, he couldn't help but notice the eerie quietness that enveloped the night.
The sounds of screeching Chimeras and the wailing of innocent people were absent, replaced by a silence that felt unsettling.
"Fredinand, are you there?"
Adrian called out, and soon, the man in question entered the room, bowing respectfully.
"Your Highness, is there anything I can help with?"
"Tell me about the recent attack reports."
Reluctance etched on Fredinand's wrinkled face as he hesitated to share the grim details.
He knew that discussing such matters would only add to Adrian's burden.
Feeling the weight of his worries, Fredinand voiced his concern.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, I respectfully suggest that we postpone our discussion until tomorrow and prioritize getting some rest tonight."
"No, tell me. It's an order."
With a resigned sigh, Ferdinand eventually compelled.
"The death toll is estimated at more than 3,000 people, including civilians, tourists, and knights. The number of injured has reached 5,000 people, and the city has suffered extensive damage, with approximately 80% of it destroyed."
Adrian clenched his fist tightly, his heart heavy with grief and guilt.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself and release the haunting thoughts that plagued him.
After regaining his composure, he responded.
"Thank you. You are dismissed."
"It's my pleasure. Good night, Your Highness."
Fredinand replied respectfully.
"...good night."
Adrian murmured softly as the door closed behind Fredinand.
With a heavy sigh, he slid open the curtain of his bed and stepped out.
Walking towards the glass door, Adrian opened it, allowing the cold night breeze to rush in, brushing against his face and rustling his hair.
He made his way to the balcony, leaning against the railing as he took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs before slowly exhaling.
"Haa..."
Adrian's cerulean gaze swept across the darkened horizon.
The sky was shrouded in thick, dark clouds, obscuring the moon and stars from view.
The weight of guilt still lingered within him, but he knew that dwelling in sadness would not change the past.
"What's done is done."
Adrian thought to himself.
"No matter how hard I blame myself or cry blood over it, the past will never change."
Adrian stretched out his right hand and stared at it for a moment, contemplating the path ahead.
"Everything has a reason..."
Although he had no idea if his transmigration to this world was a mistake or not, Adrian was certain that the one responsible for it wanted him to do something.
With a resolute mindset, he activated his Telesphere and made a call.
Not long after, a familiar voice answered on the other end.
// Ian, you're awake? Thank goodness! Is something wrong? Do you need some help? //
The voice asked, laced with concern.
Without beating around the bush, he conveyed his thoughts directly.
"Nate, let's work together."
// Huh? //
Confusion filled Nathaniel's voice as he responded.
// Work together? What do you mean? Sorry, I can't seem to understand what you're trying to say. Can you be more specific? //
Adrian took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before speaking with conviction.
"Let's work together to fight that organization."
He knew that he couldn't change the past, but he was determined to shape the future and prevent further tragedies.
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End of 4th arc.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶