Chapter 412: Her Reflection
Towards the yard of the castle, a metallic clang could be heard as two fierce combatants ruthlessly clashed with each other.
One wielded a rod, and the other fought with bare fists. His fists, however, were burning with a purple essence that looked like flames but had a more transparent body-purely condensed
essence.
When a drifter focuses essence to one point, the essence is given a form and property, one closely related to their talent. Of course, one had to be a Sage to do this.
Helena's black rod also had the same property: crackling with black lightning.
"You know, when I came here, she was naive. She really looked up to you and loved you for how well you taught her... I bet you didn't even blink while killing her."
"What would you have me do? She was dead in the brain. Do you know what that damn parasite does to people? You speak like you don't know."
They met again in a flurry of sparks as Shade's fists clashed with her spear, as if metal were striking metal.
"Maybe you could have put a little more effort in than you did. Maybe you could have put a little more effort into everything!"
As he shouted, he threw her back with force and rushed towards her, his hands arched, hurling a terrifying punch towards her face.
Helena quickly raised her spear to block, but the barrage continued, Shade's voice echoing in the yard, dripping with contempt and anger.
"You leave everything, everything without trying! You're a lazy bone who sits in the comfort of judging other people! When things get uncomfortable for you, what do you do? Make up stupid excuses and run with your scrawny tail between your fucking useless legs!"
Each statement was punctuated by a powerful blow that caused Helena's body to shake with fatigue and fear.
Shade had an ability that drained essence, that was no secret. Although, his true talent and any other things he could do were unknown.
"When Afkon needed you most, you turned on him!"
His energy-cloaked fist managed to slip through her rod and bludgeon her gut; she coughed up spit and felt her legs weaken.
Shade pulled out his punch and, taking advantage of that split-second opportunity, drove a punch from the side, nailing a blow to her cheek and sending her tumbling away.
Helena crashed against the wall. She rested on her rod and spat out the blood in her mouth before standing. Her usual primitive eyes had disappeared; they now looked unwillful. "What? Don't tell me you're regretting it now?" Shade said as he walked towards her.
The essence flames that covered his hands had disappeared, but the confidence burning within him still shone brightly.
Helena, on the other hand, seemed defeated in spirit. She frowned, her head bowed.
"You have no idea what you're talking about, Shade," her voice crawled out shakily. "You think I didn't try my best for Afkon?"
"No, you didn't," he interrupted before she could go any further. "You didn't try anything. Because when you try to help someone, when you really try to help someone, you don't stop trying until there's no need to try anymore."
His voice grew more intense and powerful.
"He opened up to you, he trusted you, he regarded you. And you, of all people, made him feel like that was a great mistake. You have no idea how much damage that did to him!"
"He was in the wrong, Shade! I warned him to stop!" Helena shouted, her face breaking into anger.
"That's your excuse, Helena. But you forget one thing. When Afkon became the leader and we started working with Luinngard Empire, we all made a silent covenant. We understood the side we were on and chose to live with it. You opting out, whatever the excuse may be, was treason. You're a traitor, Helena!" he shouted, pointing to her face with a dark grimace burning in his eyes.
Helena fixed her eyes on his for a few minutes, breathing heavily. Both of them locked gazes fiercely, hatred burning in their eyes.
"Are you two done?"
Helena and Shade quickly turned their heads to the opening corner of the yard.
"Zephyr?"
The blue-eyed handsome man leaned away from the wall and looked at both of them, one after the other.
He lingered before he opened his mouth to speak, facing Helena directly.
"Shade is right about what he just said. It doesn't matter how much you try to justify your actions to yourself, Helena; you are a traitor. You betrayed all of us."
He turned to Shade.
"We don't have a lot of time. Get Elici, and let's get out of here."
Shade's face creased a little bit. "Is something wrong?"
Zephyr had turned away to leave but stopped in his tracks, turned back, and replied in a grim tone, "I said, Shade. Get Elici, and let's get out of here."
"Roger that, Captain." He gave Helena one last furious glare and walked away.
After he left, Zephyr glanced at Helena. "If you know what's best for you, find a way to remove yourself from all of this. I'm guessing things are about to climax around here.
Nothing but destruction awaits."
With that, he strutted away with purposeful steps.
Helena stared at his back until he left the yard and leaned on her rod.
"I wish I could, but I'm too involved already to remove myself from anything." Her eyes went despondent. "I don't want to be called a traitor anymore..."
Just as Zephyr and his people left the broken gate of Lotheliwan castle, the gaping rift shimmered once again. Everyone scattered around focused on it and watched as two people
emerged.
One of them was clad in ominous black armor. The other was a bruised lady with dried blood all over her body. She still managed to walk normally despite how tired she was.
Immediately, Jeci saw who it was, she pulled herself up despite her exhaustion.
Reinforcements had arrived, and she was being attended to by medics—mundane humans with knowledge of first aid.
Among them was a prominent white-haired lady, directing them to do this and that. She had led the reinforcements here after Annette and her temporary team entered the rift. "My lord," she cried as she staggered towards him, falling at his feet as she got closer. 'Oh... crap, this is so embarrassing...' Northern, for a moment, regretted allowing Jeci to do as she pleased, worried about the impression her actions would give people.
On the other hand, he was amazed at her open show of loyalty. Maybe it was high time he paid attention to her.