Chapter 284 First Anomaly [3]


    "Don''t y dumb, Azariah."


    Edwin growled, pressure slowly leaking from his body, suffocating me.


    "Show me the energy you stole from Yggdrasil."


    I drew in a deep breath, steadying myself even though I felt my shoulder cracking underneath his pressure.


    The sharp, jarring pain spread, making me clench my teeth and lock my gaze with his.


    Gritting my teeth, I replied, "I have no idea, Edwin."


    The pressure on my body slowly started to subside as he kept on looking down at me.


    I drew in shallow breaths repeatedly as my body wasn''t in the best condition right now.


    Edwin turned towards the east, where the enormous painting was hanging.


    He sped his hands behind his back, staring at the painting.


    "Do you know who that is?" he asked, ncing at me over his shoulder.


    I straightened my back as I turned towards the painting.


    It was a portrait of a family of three.


    An impossibly handsome man with crimson eyes sat on an borate throne, his long obsidian-ck hair cascading behind him.


    Beside him stood a woman of ethereal beauty, her green eyes contrasting against her dark hair.


    But what drew my attention was the child cradled in the woman''s arms—a little girl.


    A knot of confusion coiled in my chest as I studied her face.


    "He was the third child of mana to be born and the first head of the Valentine family."


    Noticing myck of response, Edwin continued coldly, staring at the painting.


    "His name was Lazarus Twilight Valentine."


    I tore my gaze from the girl in the painting to meet Edwin''s eyes.


    He studied me for a moment, then resumed his slow steps toward the painting.


    "Many aren''t aware of it, but the First Head of Sgaeyl Highbloods was actually his grandfather," Edwin said, ncing back at me.


    I frowned at his words as I asked confusedly, "What?"


    "He was an elf," Edwin continued, his words sharp, filled with distance. "Before his ascension. Before he became something far greater."


    ...I do know that.


    It was vaguely exined in the game.


    The reason behind the conflict between elves and vampires.


    The Sgaeyl, Gerald, and Valentine Highbloods are all connected.


    "But despite his superiority, Lazarus lived in his grandfather''s shadow," Edwin said, his voice taking on a bitter edge. "And he despised it to his core."


    "..."


    I stayed silent, watching the flickers of emotion in Edwin''s crimson eyes. Hatred. Frustration. Pride.


    For the one who started the Valentine Highbloods.


    Edwin turned around once again as he raised his hand towards the candle.


    "Do you know how many wars have been waged between vampires and elves in thest six thousand years?" he questioned, lighting up the candle.


    I slowly walked towards him as I replied, "I don''t."


    "The Heir of Sgaeyl Highbloods doesn''t even know this much?" he asked, sarcastically. "Howughable."


    I didn''t reply; instead, I slowly walked and stood to his left.


    Edwin didn''t wait for my response either. "Two hundred eighty-six wars. Thirty of them great wars."


    "And how many did vampires win?" I asked, folding my hands, already knowing the answer.


    And like I expected, Edwin''s jaw tightened, annoyance shing across his face before his expression turned impassive. "Zero."


    "Quite the number you have there," I replied sarcastically. "Howughable."


    [<Don''t provoke him, Qais.>]


    ''I have no reason to be respectful to him either.'' Edwin red at me, yet he controlled his emotions immediately.


    "Do you know the reason behind it?" he asked, staring back at the painting.


    "..."


    Something immediately clicked in my mind.


    And a lot of things started to make sense.


    My stomach twisted as I turned my head to look at him.


    "Yggdrasil," Edwin replied with a slight smile on his face.


    Ah, right.


    Esmeray never engaged me with the vampires just to give me a backer.


    [<Qais—!>]


    Neplh.


    A de of ice began to form in my hand, its glint aimed directly at Edwin''s neck.


    But it was slow. Agonizingly slow.


    It stopped close to his skin.


    But Edwin didn''t move.


    His eyes lingered on the de as if it were a curiosity rather than a threat.


    "This is it," he whispered, hiding his myriad of emotions behind a calm facade.


    I chuckled softly. "So I am a tool to be used against the elves?"


    Edwin didn''t reply; instead, his eyes remained fixed on the de.


    I willed it to shift. The hilt became the tip, and I gripped it with ease before offering it to him.


    "Try holding it," I said, pointing the hilt towards him.


    Edwin looked confused before he asked, "Won''t that hurt me?"


    "That''s precisely why I am asking," I replied with a slight smile. "I want to see how much damage it will inflict on a demigod."


    "Why?" he asked, curiously.


    My smile grew wider. "So I could know how much I need to kill one."


    He returned the smile before he raised his hand.


    He flicked his finger, the ice de shattering like pieces of ss.


    "Live out what''s left of your life in peace," he said, patting my shoulder. "Your death will be painless. I''ll make sure of it."


    Without another word, he turned and left the hall, leaving me alone with the portrait.


    I looked back at the portrait, especially at the little girl in the woman''s hand.


    [<Why don''t you tell Mariam about it?>]


    ''I can''t.'' I rubbed my temples to alleviate the headache.


    Elves revered Yggdrasil more than anything else.


    Telling her that I stole the one thing that keeps Yggdrasil alive would be suicide.


    ''She would either capture me and make me ab rat or outright kill me.'' [<.....>]


    I lightly smiled as I looked back at Lazarus''s portrait while taking out my phone.


    His inferiorityplex is royally fucking me up.


    ****


    Kallistar, the capital of Akasha.


    The ce which was the hotspot for business conviction.


    It wasn''t odd considering, except for the humans, every other Highblood has firm control over their races.


    Even if the races have their own king or queen that leads them, the one who has the most authority was the forsaken families.


    But interestingly enough, there was another thing that Kallistar was famous for.


    That was having the most prestigious academy in Lumina.


    [Akasha Faith Academy.]


    The ce where the game Fall of Akasha started.


    "That would be 1000 U.C."


    My trail of thoughts broke as my gaze shifted towards thedy who stood opposite the counter.


    Hm.


    She was... in, especially whenpared to Christina.


    "Sir?"


    "Right, I am sorry." I replied with a light smile, taking out a card handed by Daina. "I lost in admiring you."


    Her cheeks flushed, and she smiled bashfully as she took the card. "Don''t be like that, sir." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    I leaned casually against the counter, watching her process the transaction. "You seem awfully young to work here."


    "Akasha Travel Center hires based on talent," she said, her eyes flitting between theputer screen and me.


    "You must be quite talented." I replied, and her smile widened, clearly pleased.


    "By the way," I began, lowering my voice slightly, "what''s the current currency exchange rate between Akasha and Lumina?"


    Her expression faltered, just for a moment.


    Usually, it''s a no-go for staff to reveal the exchange rate to anyone.


    It''s like an unwritten rule because they also add their own charges in it.


    But...


    I mustered the best smile I could as thedy hesitated.


    After a few seconds of debate, she slowly leaned closer.


    "It has gone down significantly since thest few months, but it''s still around 2:1. But it''s safe to assume it won''t go any lower."


    "I see." I replied, with a slight nod.


    ''So, Esmeray has started to influence universal currency.'' I thought, rubbing my chin.


    It might seem insignificant right now as the rate always fluctuates, butter on, it would cripple Akasha''s economy.


    It was so significant that by the middle part of the Second Core, Akasha''s currency would plummet, leaving it weaker than Lumina''s.


    ''I don''t know how she did that.''


    She is scary when ites to controlling these insignificant things.


    She gives a lot more attention to little details than anyone else.


    ''I should learn to do as well.''


    I thought as I looked back at thedy.


    "Here is your ticket for the academy." She replied while handing me a token.


    "Thank you, mydy." I replied with a smile while taking the token.


    "Ah, sir?"


    "Yes?"


    "Could I... could I have your number?" she asked shyly, holding out her phone.


    I tilted my head. Genuinely confused.


    What made her think I am in her league?


    [<Your wrist, genius.>]


    I nced down. Right. The cuffs.


    She might be thinking I am some noble from Lumina who is trying to make connections.


    "Of course." I replied, taking her phone.


    What was Aimar''s number again?


    Ah, right.


    I swiftly dialed his number before returning her phone.


    She smiled sweetly while I turned back and walked away.


    Looking around, I couldn''t help but admire the infrastructure of the ce.


    It was the main train station that joined Kallistar with every other major city and ces within Akasha.


    The sprawling tform was a marvel of mana-infused engineering, with glowing runes guiding the constant movement of trains on intertwining tracks.


    ''It''s far better than anything on Earth.'' I mused, taking a sharp turn toward a quieter tform.


    Here, only one track stretched westward—the route to Akasha Faith Academy.


    Even though the academy is said to be part of Kallistar, it''s still far away from here.


    ''I remember reading somewhere that the academy is spread over five percent of Akasha.''


    It may seem insignificant, but given Akasha is twice or more the size of the moon on Earth, five percent is a lot.


    A sleek, rune-etched train pulled into the station. The doors slid open silently, and I stepped inside.


    Oddly, there were no students aboard, only a handful of staff.


    ''Maybe because it''s past curfew?''


    I wondered, taking a seat and making myselffortable.


    It was alreadyte at night, and because I had to travel from Velentine Highbloods to Kallistar on a bike.


    ''Edwin, Edwin.''


    I thought, rubbing my brow with my thumb.


    He sure is an ambiguous man.


    Even in the game, he was one of the guys who was mostly unpredictable.


    But it was easy only if you know his end goal.


    ''And he is using me to reach that.''


    I leaned back on the chair, closing my eyes.


    Esmeray really just threw me into a quicksand, huh?


    The more I struggle toe out, the more I will sink deeper.


    Come to think of it, didn''t he promise to engage Siersha to ''That guy?''


    ''Did he change his ns?'' I frowned at the thought.


    But another possibility quickly emerged in my mind.


    ''His n is still the same.''


    Siersha''s engagement was supposed to happen in the Second Core.


    That''s almost two years from now.


    And from Edwin''s perspective, I was as good as dead by then.


    If I died, there''d be noplications.


    Given if nothing happens between us, his n seems wless.


    ''Too bad I don''t have any intention to die.''


    If anything, he made things easy for me.


    The Valentine family is an enemy that I need to be wary of.


    "Hm?"


    My phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts.


    I nced at the screen.


    "Aimar?" I muttered, answering the call.


    His voice echoed.


    "We have a problem."