84 Chapter 84 - Alexios's Dilemma (1)
"Ouch, he really did a number on me,"
Zeph muttered as he slowly made his way down the hallway toward the exit of the main building, the memory of recent events still fresh in his mind.
Professor Adriannel had granted him a two-week reprieve from his mana classes as an excuse.
'Seraphina, channel your Divine energy,'
He commanded, and a gentle, white light enveloped him, starting to heal his injuries and regenerate his tired muscles.
'Ah, that's much better.'
As he stepped outside the main building, he couldn't help but glance over at the girls' dormitory.
'Maybe I should pay a visit to my dear Thalia.'
On his way to the dormitory, he suddenly noticed a young man lurking behind the trees.
'A stalker?' Zeph thought to himself, unable to resist looking in the direction the man was peering.
There, he saw two girls engaged in a friendly conversation - one with caramel hair and emerald eyes and the other with pink hair, Dariant girl. Turning towards the young man, hiding behind the tree, a smile formed on his face.
'Would you look at that,' he couldn't help but notice the facial features of that man—caramel hair and emerald eyes, just like Thalia. 'This Siscon is still alive.' Zeph didn't know how Alexios survived that battle and how his horn was present on Professor Adriannel's desk, but he knew one thing, 'he got weak.'
Alexios, being the second smartest character and a danger in Zeph's way, was the only reason he still didn't break his engagement to Thalia.
It was natural for this brother to come for his neck the moment he knew her sister was being rejected by a fat man.
But now, seeing him in such a state, Zeph couldn't help but want to settle all the sufferings he had to go through due to Thalia by settling it with this brother-in-law.
But before he could move towards him, his mana-enhanced ears picked up a voice, making his mouth twitch at a visible pace.
'Thalia, this troublemaker,' he couldn't help but wish he could give her a good talking-to.
If she continued to blabber about all those things to that particular girl, he'd be famous throughout the academy.
Rihane Valhale, a spirited girl with a wide circle of friends, was definitely not Zeph's first choice for sharing something.
He knew that having connections could lead to unwanted exposure, and considering how much of a gossiping machine Rihane was, it would take some days for those words to reach Valeriana's ears.
He moved towards them before commanding,'Guinier and Seraphina, harmonize your powers,' With these two artifacts—one imbued with demonic energy and the other with divine energy—Rihane's «Soul Gaze» ability would undoubtedly detect the anomaly in his soul.
If Zeph had possessed only one of these artifacts, hiding their presence would have been impossible, even if he minimized their energy emissions.
However, he had chosen both of these artifacts with a strategic eye for future events, making it less of a challenge when dealing with various situations that would arise in the future.
By synchronizing both artifacts to act simultaneously, he canceled out their energies, nullifying the opposition between demonic and divine forces.
This allowed him to conceal the difference in his soul from Rihane, who had unwittingly landed herself on his list of targets from the moment he overheard her words.
Rihane's POV
"So, you know, Zeph used to be like this fluffy, like some teddy, but sigh, he went somewhere without taking me, and due to a lack of proper care, he lost so much of his weight."
"W-what, really? Then he must be cute."
I heard Thalia's words about how Zeph was fat, and then all that. It is really surprising to know about him being fat as with his face and a fluffy body; he must be really cute.
I want to see that too.
Thalia smirked at me as she slightly lowered her head and brought it to my ears, "By the way, do you know, he proposed to me yesterday."
'!?'
What is this for real?
Though Thalia is cute, Zeph is rank one. It clearly shows he is on the smart side, and Thalia is smart too, but still, I thought he would propose to that Hedrian girl.
'Oh my, I got a trending news.'
I have to share this with others too. Can't keep this fun to myself, would I?
"Forgive me, ladies if I am intruding your friendly time."
I flinched as I got surprised due to the sudden voice. I looked towards it to notice two golden eyes looking at me with a small smile on his face.
'So, it was Zeph.'
I can't help but praise his timing. Now I can just ask him directly and confirm this whole fact.
20:43
"Zeph, I—"
"I really missed you, Thalia."
'W-what.'
I covered my face as I saw him hugging Thalia, still leaving a small gap between my fingers to see all this. 'What's with this girl?'
I can visibly see her body becoming loose as he took her in his embrace. 'Where your energy gone, girl!'
"Hello, Rihena, as always you are lively."
'What's with that?' Is he taking me for some small child.
WHOOSH
'!?!'
Suddenly, I felt a huge amount of demonic energy from a certain direction.
'Who is there?'
I looked at Thalia, she must have also noticed that aura, but still kept hugging him.
Is this for real, girl?
Did he use some love potion on her?
How can she just fall for him like this, and isn't this too deep?, Oh hello, There is a demon nearby.
******
// A few days Ago //
On the border of the Liander duchy, the landscape was a gruesome sight. Only two figures were present on the blood-soaked land, their attire tattered.
One was a humanoid figure in white, while the other was a young man with striking amethyst eyes and a single horn protruding from his forehead.
Schlak! With a mighty effort, Alexios tore off the hand of the white humanoid figure, a gruesome testament to the ferocity of their battle.
It had been the most challenging fight of his life, leaving him utterly drained.
Yet, the purple flames continued to burn brightly in his amethyst eyes, a testament to the strength that still smoldered within him.
'It will be at least an hour before reinforcements arrive. Until then, my minions can manage the duchy. I must ensure the safety of young Miss Lily first,'
Alexios thought, torn between his desire to meet with Zephyr Liander and his unwavering loyalty to his Queen's orders that made him first deal with this mission and then his next target will be Zephyr Liander.
"Your orders, Commander," two figures knelt before him in unison, awaiting further instructions.
Alexios, bearing minor injuries, gazed at the duchy's walls that was infused with mana, making it hard to infiltrate it forcefully.
After Duchess Kassidy received the Obsedian Order's support and mana stones from Zeph, she had fortified her duchy's defenses with exceptional efficiency — proving her as an exceptional Leader.
WHOOSH!
A massive amethyst mana sphere materialized in front of Alexios, causing the surrounding air to ripple with heat, and soil particles to levitate in air before vanishing upon contact with the energy ball.
The sphere grew to at least four feet in diameter.
"After I breach the entrance, annihilate them," With firm tone he ordered the kneeling men.
BANG! The energy orb hurtled towards the duchy's walls at a remarkable speed, captivating the eyes of every demon witnessing its approach.
However, before it could strike the wall, it disappeared with a swift SWISH
As the energy ball disappeared, it revealed a figure standing between them and the Liander duchy.
Sun rays illuminated his silver hair and those ruby eyes, which gazed at them as if they were mere ants.
Alexios's eyes widened in disbelief, 'no, it's impossible'. "A-Archmage R-Riannel?!"
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