176 Ch. 176: Memories [10]
On their way, they encountered a few monsters along the way, but none posed a significant threat. After half an hour, they finally caught sight of a faint flickering light amidst the dense foliage in the distance. With each gallop, the light grew brighter, revealing a picturesque scene of numerous quaint cottages within the village. Black-robed men moved about, some engaged in conversations while others tended to the wounded.
Entering the village, all eyes fixated on them. Unfazed by the attention, Adrian guided his horse toward a woman with vermillion hair, engrossed in a conversation with Graham in the village square. However, Adrian furrowed his brow as he surveyed his surroundings. It was then that he noticed only the lifeless bodies of the black-robed men strewn across the ground, devoid of any signs of deceased villagers. 'What the hell are they?'
Dismounting from his horse, Adrian approached Annelise. As her gaze fell upon him, drenched in the blood of the monsters, she couldn't help but roll her eyes in boredom, 'Look at him. He chose not to partake in the massacre, yet he ventured into the forest to slay some monsters. What's the difference here?'
Shaking her head to dismiss the useless thoughts, Annelise beckoned him to follow her and Adrian obediently complied. They moved deeper into the village, where the number of people dwindled, until they reached a cottage. The soft glow of a single candle welcomed them as they stepped inside. The interior of the cottage held little to captivate the eye. The small room was adorned with simple wooden furniture, and the floor was made of compacted earth. Adrian closed the door behind him, and Annelise's voice resonated through the room. "I have found the Sacred Orb you were searching for, however—" Glancing towards the source of the sound, Adrian found Annelise seated on a chair, her legs crossed. "You must fulfill your promise; you must officially join the Chronoites Religion. This entails attending a meeting and embarking on a mission assigned by the Pope—Our Holy Father."
Adrian shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't see a problem with it." His sole focus was on reviving his mother, and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve that goal. Annelise remained silent, her eyes locked with Adrian's cold cerulean gaze. After a prolonged moment of exchanging glances, she let out a sigh and stood up. Placing a box on the table, she walked toward the door and swung it open. "I'll give you half an hour to taste it."
—Click.
The moment the wooden door creaked shut behind him, Adrian drew closer to the table. With a mix of anticipation, he reached out and carefully lifted the lid. Nestled within the box was a radiant purple Orb, emanating a soft violet glow. Its gentle glow illuminated the room, casting enchanting shadows on the wooden walls. Adrian seized the Orb and brought it closer to his gaze. But before he could inspect it, the Orb liquefied and seeped into his palm, leaving no trace behind. Suddenly, a surge of immense power coursed through Adrian's body, causing his heart to skip a beat and his entire being to tremble uncontrollably. "Ugh!" The excruciating pain forced him to his knees, his hands instinctively clutching his chest in agony. The sheer force of the power was overwhelming, crashing over him like a relentless tidal wave, leaving him feeling as if he were drowning with no solid ground or refuge to cling to. Desperate to regain control, he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, inhaling and exhaling slowly to calm his racing heart and clear his mind.
Minutes stretched into eternity as Adrian waged an internal battle against the immense power. Slowly, his body began to calm, the tremors subsiding and the pain gradually easing. "Haa... haa..." Adrian's breath became ragged, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead, his entire being drenched in the aftermath. Gasping for air, Adrian slowly opened his heavy eyelids. Summoning his last ounce of strength, he rose to his feet and wiped the sweat from his chin with the back of his hand. Catching his breath, Adrian began to chant. Immediately, a small mound of earth began to rise, growing taller and taking the shape of an adult human figure adorned in a flowing gown. The once rough and earthen surface gave way to flawless white skin. The figure's hair transformed into long, wavy strands, cascading in a golden blonde hue. The gown was colored in a delicate baby blue shade, and its intricate details emerged as if painted by an invisible brush. After the coloration was complete, Aerilyn's figure stood before Adrian, causing his cerulean eyes to tremble and his heart to race upon witnessing the miraculous sight. The pain and struggle he had endured now seemed insignificant compared to the wondrous event that had just occurred.
"Mom?" Adrian's voice trembled as he called out, his heart pounding in his chest.
The figure before him slowly lifted its eyelids, revealing a pair of dull blue eyes. Its lips curved into a delicate smile, but Adrian's heart sank upon noticing the absence of warmth in its gaze.
"You're..." Adrian's words trailed off, unable to fully comprehend what stood before him. Amid the silence, the figure opened its arms, inviting Adrian for a hug. Reluctantly, he approached it. As the figure embraced him, he couldn't help but feel the icy sensation that ran through his body, contrasting sharply with the warmth he longed for. "It's… cold," he mumbled, the realization sinking in.
"Ha!" A bitter scoff escaped Adrian's lips before he let out a weary chuckle. "Ah, how foolish of me," he admitted, finally understanding the cruel truth. Gently removing the figure's arms from his body, he took a step back, creating distance between them. "While you imitate my mother, you aren't my mother."
At that moment, a dagger materialized in Adrian's trembling hand. He lifted the blade, his tired eyes reflecting on its polished surface. With a heavy sigh, he tightened his grip on the dagger and swung it towards the figure's neck, severing its head. —Thud!
The body slumped to the ground, and the clay head rolled, eventually coming to a stop at the tip of his sabaton. "I should have realized sooner that once a living being is dead, there is no way to revive them—not even a God's power could do it," he lamented, his voice filled with regret. Adrian brandished his dagger once again, but before he could act, a man's urgent voice pierced the heavy silence. "Priestess Annelise, the First Prince, and Marquis Gilmore's armies are approaching," the man urgently reported. Annelise, who was leaning against the cottage outside, clicked her tongue in annoyance as she straightened herself. It was clear that Nathaniel and the Marquis were trying to track Adrian. Returning her attention to the subordinate, she asked, "How are our forces faring?" "Half of our wounded soldiers are still under treatment. Engaging in a battle against them is not feasible at the moment." However, before Annelise could formulate a response, the door next to them swung open, revealing Adrian standing there, declaring, "Tell me where they are. I'll fight them."
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