Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 242: Arwen’s promise

Chapter 242: Arwen’s promise

"Do you regret it?" A young silver-haired girl sat beside a makeshift burial mound with her back placed against a tree.

Not too far in the distance, a large city undergoing reconstruction could be seen.

It looked oddly familiar.

The silver-haired girl glanced at the mound beside her as she asked again. "Do you regret meeting me?"

There was no one around but this didn’t seem to bother her as she answered her question.

"Hah, what am I saying?... Knowing you, I’m sure you’d say no. That you enjoyed every moment we spent together." Taking a moment to look at the blue sky overhead, she added. "And... I feel the same way.

"You know sometimes I wish I’d have met you sooner. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so obsessed."

Biting down on her lower lip, she continued. "Alex says there’s no time for regret. He said you wouldn’t want that for me... oh yeah, did I mention it?... Kane was a fake name, his real name is Alexander Regulus. Cool name, right?"

She chuckled softly, dropping her head down as she did so, causing her silvery hair to cover her face.

"... But I can’t help it. I always placed my obsession first and I couldn’t even be there at your final moment. Maybe it’s right to say that I caused that moment to be your last."

She fell into silence just as a bird flew into the tree branch above her, chirping happily alongside another that had come with it.

A gust of wind went by, rustling the leaves and causing the grass to sway in a certain rhythm.

"I’m sorry." She muttered. "I’m sorry that our last day together ended in you hating me. I’m sorry I never told you how much I loved you. I’m sorry I made you second place... I..."

She trailed off as she raised her head, revealing a beautiful face with tears trailing down her cheeks.

"But I guess there’s no way to get you to hear me say this. Alex promised that he’d find a way to bring you back. It might be a ruse but I don’t care. I won’t rest until I find a way to do so. So I’m going on a journey."

Taking a deep breath, she sniffled as she glanced at the mound. "I don’t know how long I’ll be away for. The journey will be dangerous... Lady Ana says we’d be crossing the known world in search of the Branches of the Absolute. I’ve heard of them... they are supposedly godly entities that hold power over the laws of the world. It gives me hope that one of them will be capable of bringing you back.

"So, even though I’ll be away for a while... I’ll be back soon, okay?... And don’t worry, I’m no longer the weak Devil Wheel Mystic I used to be. Apparently, I lost my position as a Mystic the moment I became a complete Banshee. But don’t worry, in losing that, I got something way cooler. Check it out."

She stretched out her right hand and opened her palm after which a pale flame tongue appeared.

"I guess dying and resurrecting has its perks. Lady Ana guessed that it might be because of that and also my unique Banshee physiology. It’s currently unknown what I can do but... I’m excited about the possibilities, you know?... An uncharted territory waiting for me to explore. Maybe... maybe I wouldn’t even need the Branches to bring you back. So wait for me, okay?... See you soon, Claudia Bathory."

With those words, she got to her feet and taking one last look at the mound, cleaned her eyes before taking a step forward with her gaze trained on the journey ahead.

Then as yet another gust of wind blew past, she disappeared in a flash of black and white.

A few seconds passed before a figure emerged from a Spirit Portal, his dark hair swaying in the wind.

Glancing at the mound with his crimson eyes and then at the place the silver-haired girl once sat, he muttered softly. "I will keep watch... until the day you fulfill your promise, Lady Arwen."

***

Alex stepped into Evernight with an unsatisfied look on his face.

He hoped to speed run his rise up the supernatural ladder but it seemed Adam wasn’t about to let him have his way.

Annoying but he didn’t have a choice but to accept it as it was for now.

On the plus side, Evernight was no longer as empty as it was before.

"I honestly can’t believe it."

Alex looked ahead to find Ana standing a few meters away, her eyes trained on him like she’d seen a treasure.

He inadvertently took a step back.

"How are you able to exert your will so flawlessly as to manifest a celestial kingdom despite not having gotten a celestial form?"

"What?"

"No, what am I saying?... I guess this should be expected from an anomaly like you. But still... unbelievable." Ignoring Alex’s questioning gaze, Ana spun around, taking a deep breath as she did so.

Alex massaged his temples. "Mind explaining what you just said?"

"Later. Now, we have to get started. The little ones are getting upgrades, I’m not about to lose to them. As the second in command, I must set a precedent for our organization."

"Firstly, it’s not been finalized yet, and secondly... our?"

"Ahem, yours, mine... who cares about the specifics?"

"... I do."

"Damn it, fine, your organization. I’m still second in command though." She pouted as she spoke, turning her face away to reveal her displeasure.

Letting out a tired sigh, Alex remarked. "How about we begin?"

"..."

"Then I’ll be leaving."

"No, wait!" Ana quickly called out.

Alex nearly facepalmed as he turned to face Ana yet again.

He began to wonder if the stress was worth her position in his team.

"Hmmph, so mean." Still pouting, Ana walked over and then sat on the ground, keeping an arm’s length from Alex.

Exhaling deeply, Alex sat down as well.

"So, what now?"

Alex replied. "Before we begin, I want to be sure; the corrupted side you mentioned isn’t an integral part of your being, correct?"

"No, but it holds sway over half of my true strength so I can’t utilize it."

"Then are you ready to reclaim it?"

"... I guess."

Reaching out to pat Ana’s head, Alex said. "Relax, don’t worry. As long as we work together, everything will be okay."

"...Mn."

"Then let’s begin."

Pa

Black and white flames erupted from his hand and moments later, engulfed Ana.