Chapter 88: Lillith
Adrian opened his mouth.
Even now, standing in front of me with two hired mages at his back, he somehow still looked confident.
After everything that had happened at the academy, after watching Leon humiliate him in front of hundreds of people, he still thought he was in control.
"Did your cowardly fiancé really send a provoking letter and then send you instead?"
I simply couldn’t help it.
I burst out laughing.
The sound echoed through the narrow alley and immediately made all three of them tense.
"Leon?" I asked with amusement. "Leon has absolutely no idea I’m here."
The confidence on Adrian’s face faltered.
"What?"
"I sent the letter."
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Snow drifted lazily between us while Adrian stared at me in confusion. Even the two mages behind him looked surprised.
"You sent it?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
My smile immediately disappeared.
The amusement vanished from my face as I stared directly into his eyes.
"Because you tried to take away what belongs to me."
The alley fell silent.
Then I slowly brought my hands together.
Clap.
A small violet sphere appeared between my palms.
I spread my hands apart.
The sphere rapidly expanded outward, growing larger and larger until a transparent purple bubble engulfed the entire alley.
The walls, rooftops, ground and even the air above us was now behind the purple tinted barrier.
I smiled.
"There."
I clasped my hands behind my back.
"Now nobody can run."
My sinister smile widened.
"And nobody will be able to hear your screams."
Adrian immediately rushed forward and slammed his hand against the barrier.
Nothing happened.
The violet surface didn’t even ripple.
For a moment I saw uncertainty flash across his face.
Then he looked back toward the two mages and smirked.
"You trapped yourself in here too."
The two mages stepped forward.
Mana gathered around them as they prepared spells.
"I have two low B-rank mages."
Adrian said confidently.
"And I’m here myself as well, you really think you were leaving alive?"
I yawned.
All three of them looked offended.
"You people spend too much time talking."
I rubbed one eye.
"And not nearly enough time doing anything interesting."
That finally broke Adrian’s patience.
"Kill her!"
The two mages reacted instantly.
One raised both hands and fire erupted around him.
The other summoned a torrent of ice.
The two attacks raced toward me from one direction.
The alley exploded with steam and dust as both spells collided directly with my position.
For a brief moment everything disappeared behind the cloud.
Then I stepped out of it.
Completely unharmed.
"...That’s it?"
The disappointment in my voice was painfully genuine.
The expressions on their faces made me sigh.
"I was hoping for something more entertaining."
Purple mana spread beneath my feet.
Dark chains erupted from the ground all around the alley.
The two mages immediately launched themselves, flying into the air to avoid them.
Unfortunately for them—
They forgot the barrier extended overhead as well.
The chains twisted upward after them like living creatures.
One mage immediately began attacking them while the other started desperately searching for a way out.
Adrian reacted quickly.
A mana-infused slash tore through the air and shattered several chains before they could reach him.
For the first time that evening I actually looked at him slightly impressed.
"Hm."
Maybe he wasn’t completely useless.
The thought lasted all of two seconds.
One mage was already hammering uselessly against the barrier while the other suddenly pivoted in the air and rushed directly toward me.
Finally.
Someone was actually trying something.
Mana surged around him as he accelerated forward, clearly hoping to overwhelm me through sheer speed.
I didn’t move.
I didn’t dodge.
I didn’t even flinch.
The moment he entered my reach, I casually raised one hand and caught him.
His charge stopped instantly.
The man’s eyes widened in panic.
His body hung motionless in the air as though reality itself had decided he wasn’t allowed to move anymore.
I had grabbed him by the head.
Then sighed.
I had expected more.
"You’re making this very boring."
The man tried to struggle.
*CRUNCH*
I squeezed, crushing his head which caused blood and viscera to explore everywhere.
A second later, the life left his body and I casually tossed him aside like discarded rubbish.
His body hit the ground and didn’t move again.
For several moments nobody spoke.
I stared down at the corpse.
"How disappointing."
I looked back toward Adrian and the remaining mage.
"I was hoping to keep him around longer."
The surviving mage looked horrified.
He immediately abandoned any attempt at fighting and started smashing spells into the barrier while screaming for help.
The barrier didn’t even react.
I smiled.
Finally.
For the first time all night I was enjoying myself.
"That’s a much better sound."
The man froze.
Slowly turning toward me.
I clasped my hands behind my back.
"Although I usually prefer screams that come from pain rather than fear, as they are usually more sincere."
The mage’s face went pale.
Meanwhile Adrian finally lost what little restraint he still possessed.
"You monster!"
Mana exploded around him as he charged directly toward me with his sword raised.
Now that was more like it.
Instead of moving, I created a magic circle beneath my feet.
Ice rose from the ground.
An frost throne formed beneath me.
I sat down and crossed one leg over the other before then resting my chin on my hand.
Waiting.
Adrian closed the distance rapidly.
His sword came down.
Then stopped.
The gravity around him multiplied instantly.
His body froze as his sword slipped from his fingers.
Cracks spread across the ground beneath his feet as he fought against the pressure.
To his credit he kept struggling.
Even as his knees buckled and as breathing became difficult and as every movement became a battle.
Eventually he managed to lift his head.
When our eyes met—
I smirked.
There I sat comfortably upon my throne.
And there he was kneeling before me, staring at the blood soaked Lillith NightBane.
The difference between us couldn’t have been clearer.
Then my attention drifted away from Adrian entirely.
Upward.
Toward the remaining mage.
The poor man was still throwing himself against the barrier.
Still hoping somebody would save him while desperately trying to escape.
My smile slowly widened.
I was going to make this interesting.
My attention then completely shifted away from Adrian and settled on the remaining mage.
The poor man was still throwing spell after spell at the barrier.
Every attack fizzled harmlessly against the violet surface before disappearing into the night.
Eventually he stopped.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he was beginning to realize it wasn’t working.
I smiled.
"You know..."
My voice echoed softly through the alley.
"If you do exactly as I say, I’ll let you leave."
The mage froze.
Slowly he turned toward me.
Hope.
Desperation.
Fear.
All three emotions fought for control of his face.
"You’ll... let me go?"
"Maybe."
I leaned slightly forward on my throne.
"Come down here and kneel."
The man hesitated.
His eyes drifted toward the motionless body of his companion.
Then toward Adrian.
Then back toward me.
I watched the decision happen in real time.
Within seconds he descended from the air and dropped onto one knee before me.
"Good."
I smiled warmly.
"There you go."
The man visibly relaxed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"See?" I continued. "That wasn’t difficult."
Adrian looked disgusted.
The mage looked ashamed.
Then I clapped my hands together.
"I’ve got an idea."
Immediately both of them tensed.
I pointed toward the center of the alley.
"I want the two of you to compete."
Their expressions became confused.
"Compete?" Adrian asked.
I nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes."
A magic circle appeared behind them.
Moments later ice rose from the ground, forming a small circular platform.
A miniature arena.
The two men stared at it.
Then at me.
"You two will take turns punching each other one at a time until one person falls to their knees"
I rested my chin on my hand.
"The winner lives."
Silence.
"And the loser gets to stay here as I experiment on what causes the most pain for the human body."
The mage looked horrified.
Adrian looked furious.
But neither spoke.
I smiled.
"If either of you dislikes the idea..."
My voice remained cheerful.
"...I can always just experiment on you both."
Both men answered immediately.
"It’s a great idea."
"I don’t oppose."
I laughed.
Fear was a wonderful motivator.
"Excellent."
The gravity crushing Adrian vanished.
He inhaled sharply as relief flooded across his face.
For the first time in several minutes he could stand properly again.
Slowly both men walked into the icy arena.
Neither looked particularly eager.
I could see the fear in their eyes.
The uncertainty along with the desperate but futile calculations.
How badly they wanted to survive.
It was fascinating.
I loved the fear and desperation that eluded from the two.
For a brief moment my thoughts drifted toward Leon.
Then I shook my head.
No.
This love couldn’t be compared to Leons love.
Nothing ever would.
I settled deeper into my throne.
The bloodstains on my clothes contrasted strangely against the white ice beneath me.
The two men stood awkwardly in the arena.
Neither willing to move first not trusting the other.
Seconds passed.
Then more.
My smile faded.
"Oh, come on."
They both flinched.
"If you wanted to stand around awkwardly all night, you should have told me beforehand!"
The mage swallowed nervously.
Adrian clenched his fists.
Neither moved.
I sighed dramatically.
"Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly become friends!"
The mage moved first as his desire to survive and to go home moved him.
And judging by the look in his eyes—
He was willing to do almost anything to achieve it.
I rested my head against my hand and watched.
The alley had become completely silent.
No sounds from the city.
No sounds from the streets.
Only the four of us remained inside the barrier, I then stared at the body to my left.
Well, three now.
And then for the first time that evening—
Neither Adrian nor the mage seemed interested in fighting me anymore.
They were far too busy worrying about each other.
The mage then continued to move.
His hands were shaking.
His eyes avoided Adrian’s completely.
Then, after several seconds of hesitation, he stepped forward and threw a punch.
"I’m sorry!"
The words left his mouth at the same moment.
"I have a sick mother waiting for me at home!"
The blow connected.
Adrian staggered backward in shock more than pain.
For a moment he simply stared at the man.
Disbelief filled his face before anger then replaced it.
"You bastard!"
Adrian pointed at him furiously.
"What did I hire you for?!"
The mage flinched.
Adrian surged forward and struck back immediately.
The two men stumbled apart again.
Neither looked like they wanted to be there.
Neither looked brave.
Both simply looked terrified.
I started clapping.
The sound echoed throughout the barrier.
"Good."
Both men froze.
I smiled from atop my throne.
"See? You’re finally understanding the situation."
Neither responded.
Their attention remained fixed on each other.
Not on me, anymore.
That was the interesting part.
Only minutes ago they had been united and confident.
Certain they could deal with me together.
Now all of that had disappeared.
Now each of them was looking at the other as an obstacle standing between them and survival.
Fear really was a fascinating thing.
The exchange continued.
One would step forward as the other would answer.
Neither willing to back down as both where not willing to be the first to give up.
Because both of them knew exactly what would happen if they disappointed me.
The realization alone was enough to keep them moving.
I leaned against my hand and watched quietly.
Honestly, the fight itself wasn’t particularly impressive.
What interested me were their expressions.
The desperation.
The blood.
The way they kept glancing toward me as though hoping I would suddenly change my mind.
Which I definitely wouldn’t, as I was enjoying this far too much.
Eventually Adrian glared toward the mage.
The mage glared back.
Neither trusted the other anymore.
And that distrust only kept growing.
The longer it continued, the more obvious it became.
This was never about strength.
It was about desperation and endurance.
And both of them knew it.
The atmosphere inside the barrier had become far more entertaining than before.
—————————-
After a while, the fight started becoming disappointing.
Both of them were exhausted.
Their movements had become sluggish.
The desperation was still there, but the energy was gone, they both stood bleeding, bruised and completely batterd.
I rested my chin against my hand and sighed.
"Come on."
Neither of them answered.
The mage stumbled forward and struck Adrian again.
A weak and exhausted hit.
The sort of hit thrown by someone who had already reached their limit but luckily for him Adrian had just reached his.
Adrian then collapsed onto the icy floor of the arena.
For several seconds nobody moved.
Then the mage slowly turned toward me.
Hope filled his face.
Pure blissful hope.
"You... you said the winner would live."
I stared at him.
Then I laughed.
The sound immediately caused his expression to falter.
"Oh?"
I tilted my head.
"Did I?"
The hope vanished from his eyes replaced by fear.
The man took a step backward.
"You said—"
"I said many things."
I smiled.
"And you believed all of them."
The realization hit him immediately.
"But I don’t really know what it is that lead you to believe me."
His shoulders slumped.
His face went pale.
For the first time that evening he finally understood that there had never been a path to survival.
The man turned and ran desperately, he didn’t care that he couldn’t run far as all he wanted to do was run.
But it didn’t matter.
A moment later he disappeared from my thoughts entirely.
He stopped mid run as his head rolled off before his body collapsed to the floor.
The alley became quiet.
Very quiet.
I leaned back into the ice throne.
For the first time in months I felt some of the built up tension leave my shoulders.
It had been a long time since I’d been able to stop being the naive innocent Lillith that Leon adored.
A very long time.
I closed my eyes.
Then exhaled slowly.
"That helped."
Not enough.
But a little.
When I opened my eyes again, only Adrian remained.
He was still conscious.
Barely.
I smiled.
"Well."
Slowly I rose from the throne as the snow beneath me crunched softly.
"Now it’s just us."
I shivered in excitement as I grabbed by face with both hands trying to quell myself.
"Your definitely not going to have a peaceful death."
Adrian looked up.
The hatred in his eyes disappeared.
Instead all that was there was fear, disappointment and many other emotions, but one thing that definitely wasn’t there.
Was hope.
I took another step forward.
Then paused.
A small flicker of mana appeared near his hand.
My eyes widened slightly.
"Wow."
The words escaped before I could think of them.
"You’re still trying to fight?"
For the first time all night, I felt genuinely surprised.
Adrian’s hand trembled.
The magic circle remained unstable.
Weak.
Broken.
Yet somehow still present.
I nodded my head in disbelief.
"That’s actually impressive."
Then Adrian did something I wasn’t expecting.
The magic wasn’t aimed at me.
It never been intended to hit me, but the realization hit me too late.
He turned his hand to his own face and a brief flash illuminated the alley.
Then silence.
Complete silence.
I stopped walking.
For several seconds I simply stood there.
Staring.
Processing.
"No."
The word left my mouth immediately.
My expression contorted in pure rage.
"No! no! no!"
I looked at Adrian.
Then at the empty alley.
Then back again.
And finally the frustration exploded out of me.
"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"
My voice echoed throughout the barrier.
Snow shook from nearby rooftops.
"That wasn’t how this was supposed to go!"
The violet barrier flickered.
I paced back and forth angrily.
"You were supposed to stay alive for just a teeny bit longer!"
I pointed accusingly.
"I waited MONTHS for a chance to relieve myself!"
Another frustrated groan escaped me.
Then I dropped backward into the snow.
For several moments I simply lay there staring up at the night sky.
Of course.
Of course Adrian had found one final way to annoy me.
Even at the very end.
I dragged both my hands down my face in pure frustration.
Then groaned again.
"You’re almost as irritating as Leon sometimes!"
The moment the words left my mouth, I paused.
No.
That wasn’t true.
Nobody was as irritating as Leon.
I mean why did we have to wait so many years in order to get married and have children?!
That man seriously knew how to ruin my mood sometimes.
But the thoughts of Leon immediately improved my mood.
"Leon..."
"I love you."
