Chapter 373 The Disaster That Was Wrought In Sloria [Part 4]
Afkon chuckled, cutting Raven off mid-breath. She turned her head to him with a slight frown.
He took his time chuckling before he faced her—with curled lips, eyes gleaming with benign wickedness.
"You see girl, you are merely a child. A child will only think as a child. Growth and maturity is realizing that when fate chooses you, submission is not a choice. Don't make this about us, young daughter of the prestigious Kagayema clan, you just want to go home at all cost, don't you? You want to go back into daddy's bosom and protection?"
He laughed as he stated. So did the crowds.
The way they carried Afkon's laughter was enough to prove the kind of unbreakable relationship between him and his stronghold.
He didn't look like just a leader to these ones. Even when they spoke, they spoke in defense of him.
Even when doubts reflected in their eyes, it looked like they were seriously considering it and how to unattach their leader Afkon from the situation.
That was how crazy devoted they were to him.
At least that was what Northern could see. And it was quite disappointing how Raven was not seeing it also.
Perhaps she thought she could break that.
Raven sighed and slowly clenched her fist, looking at it.
Her eyes were distant for a moment before she raised them to Afkon, all emotions disappearing from her face.
"Afkon, home? This is my home. I have come here to stay."
"Uh?"
Afkon's face contorted slowly into a puzzled expression.
Everyone including Northern was just as puzzled as he was.
'What did she mean by that?'
As if resonating with Northern's thoughts, Afkon asked the exact question.
"What do you mean by that?"
Raven shrugged nonchalantly.
"Nothing extravagant, I am just saying, unlike what you think. I am not looking forward to going back to my clan. And make no mistake, if my father cared one bit about me… this entire continent would be covered in blood. So you should actually be thankful that he doesn't."
Afkon narrowed his eyes at her.
She spoke with a blank expression, but there was a flame of blatant and crude honesty burning softly in her eyes.
Maybe that was what made Afkon so uncomfortable. Her words had never been heard of!
He suddenly laughed out loud, then said to her.
"Are you insane, there's no need trying to act so tough before all these men. We understand you, spoilt brat."
Raven allowed a small, mocking smile. "Spoiled brat… I wish, Afkon, I wish…"
Now, Afkon was very wary of her. His eyes were rested upon her full visage, with a tensed frown on his face.
The crowd too were silent.
Northern sighed, his gaze fixated on Raven and Afkon.
'I guess this is all… I came here to do something, although, there is a little bit of stress to my plan because of this pest of a girl. But I still have to save Hao,' he thought.
For a couple of seconds, he remained still, both in thoughts and motion, after removing his eyes from Raven and Afkon, he moved them to observe the crowd.
Observation was the easiest thing he could do with Chaos Eyes.
Sloria stronghold held fewer drifters than usual, at least the looks of the atmosphere told that most of their men had been deployed elsewhere.
And that somewhere else was probably Lotheliwan, except there was somewhere else that Sloria was currently bullying.
Meanwhile, Afkon looked at Raven, taking steps closer to her.
"I have given you all the chance that you bargained for. You wanted to talk to them, you were sure you can convince them to fight with you, to fight for a home which they are not sure is even waiting for them. You see how naive you are little girl. You should have just stayed with me and let me teach you then."
He looked at her from head to toe, licking his lips, a dangerous light blinking in the depth of his brown eyes.
"Well, I can still teach you a thing or two… surrender yourself to me Raven."
She extended her hand and summoned two swords.
Afkon frowned and raised a brow as her swords shimmered into existence with sparkling white lights.
"Is this really the path you will choose Raven? Look at all the people here, do you think you can go against all of us… alone?"
Raven skillfully twirled her sword, her eyes igniting with a dark and dangerous spark within their depth.
"I am confident I can hold my own against all of you…"
Afkon cocked his head and grinned.
"...but whoever said I was alone."
Immediately, Afkon's grin began to fade away. He straightened his head and looked at her, a serious light deep in his eyes.
Other people began to look amongst themselves and around.
'Ah… this bitch…'
Of course, he was expecting her to do that. She wouldn't be Raven if she didn't do that.
Northern didn't care, this just made it way easier for him.
Without caring a bit for his surrounding, he gallantly marched forward.
In the moment, everyone's gaze shifted to him. Everywhere suddenly seemed to waft with heavy, hot and searing pressure as he strutted forward without a side glance.
They all stood cautiously, ready to lunge at him at any moment.
But at the same time, they all froze, as if caught in the unmoving tendrils of time.
Northern finally stopped in front of Raven and looked at her indifferently.
Silence prevailed between the two for a couple of beats, then he said:
"With this we are even…"
Raven nodded.
"It's good to see you."
Northern looked away,
"I thought you would have been killed…"
"I was"
Northern glanced at her as he turned away from her to the rest.
She added. "I am very stubborn even with Death." The trace of a small cocky grin left her face.
Northern gently scrutinized all of them.
"So, you go with Afkon while I take care of the rest."
Raven nodded and quietly said,
"I'm sorry to bother you."
Northern responded,
"Don't kill him until I'm done, I've got someone I have to rescue."
Both of them dashed in opposite directions, Raven appearing in front of Afkon, while Northern…
Well…
"Chaos Flame"