Chapter 415: Raven's Return [Part 2]
"Hey," Northern waved his hand briefly as she stopped in front of him.
"Hey, Northern."
He observed her for a couple of seconds.
Raven was... well, at the very least, her armor was beaten and battered, with crude lacerations
in several areas. Blood had dried on her skin here and there, even on her face.
But underneath that dried blood was smooth ivory skin that remained flawless.
It shocked Northern.
"I don't know whether to say you look like shit. Because you do look like shit, but I'm not actually sure you look like shit."
Raven smiled softly and raised her eyes to meet his.
"You've grown taller," she paused and waited before adding, "and stronger... in such a short time too. Did you finally become a Master?"
Northern chuckled dismissively, "Who knows, did I?"
Helena and Terence stared at him unceremoniously; they looked like they had greater things to worry about.
Northern observed both their expressions and decided to ignore them, bringing his focus back to Raven.
"I'm guessing the fact that you're here means Afkon is dead and your plan will be moving to its next phase."
Raven nodded with determination in her eyes and said:
"Although, I owe you my sincere gratitude. All four rifts suddenly closed."
Northern frowned for a bit, then remembered, *Right, I forced closed all of them to keep Kryos from going out through any leakage.*
He deliberately intensified his frown and directed it at her.
"If you feel any bit of sincere gratitude, then leave me out of your plan going forward."
He made it clear to her and turned away. However, Helena's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"All she's been doing, she's only done for the good of everyone. She neglected her own self and..."
"Helena..." Terence softly called, stopping Helena from saying more.
"Raven doesn't want anyone to know," she whispered.
This caused Helena to eat back her words and grind her teeth.
"You are selfish, Northern. You have no idea how much this girl is suffering to make everyone leave this damned continent."
Northern felt his blood boil, like all the resentment and malice he'd sealed away from the past suddenly began to break free.
Northern clenched his fist, grinding his teeth. He swiftly turned around.
"Don't you dare..."
Raven's eyes widened and then narrowed a second later. She quickly cried out, "Northern, stop!"
"Don't you dare speak to me about selfishness!"
Before Raven could get in the way, Northern streaked past her in a blue light. His fist
connected with Helena's chest, her eyes belatedly widened.
She felt her entire body break from the electricity before she was sent toppling away, crashing into the wooden gate and out of the shelter.
Everyone who was busy with their own tasks was immediately distracted by the commotion. Northern's fist was smoking.
Raven's eyes were still wide open. 'He moved faster than I could even react. This isn't just regular speed; it makes no sense,' her mind felt heavy and tense at the same time, overwhelmed by what she had just experienced.
Terence, on the other hand, didn't look too surprised. She bit down on her lower lip, trying hard to hold something in.
Northern exhaled and commented:
"Now, that felt so good." He turned to Raven, "Raven. Let me make this clear to you. You are suffering for what you chose to do, not for what anyone imposed on you. You had a choice to choose yourself, but you continually chose other people at the expense of yourself. Now, I don't know the details of your suffering, but it's your decision, and I believe that's a form of selfishness in and of itself.
"I'm doing what's best for myself, so I would sincerely appreciate it if you stay the fuck out of my way."
He turned around and walked away but stopped after three steps, turned back to Raven, and pointed at Helena, "And keep that bitch out of my way, please. Next time, I can't guarantee her safety."
Raven nodded and watched him walk away. Her head drifted to Terence almost immediately after Northern left their sight.
"You knew?"
Terence nodded with a despondent look in her eyes.
"Sort of."
Raven narrowed her eyes. "I don't understand..."
"I'm sorry, Light, I can't tell you."
Raven smiled and nodded. She was silent for a few seconds, then she asked again, "Is he stronger than I am? Is he a Master?"
Terence shook her head.
"To which?" Raven pressed.
Terence stared sternly into her eyes and called her name blankly.
"Raven."
"Fine, tend to Helena. I'll find my way to Annette."
"No need to find your way to me. With that commotion just now, there's no way I wouldn't
find my way here."
Annette cut out of the crowd of people, who were slowly returning to their business, boiling meat and jesting amongst each other.
It was a sort of cheerful atmosphere, even though it was midnight.
"So, you killed Afkon?" Annette asked with a joyless face.
Her arms were bandaged, and one part of her face and eyes, leaving only her functioning eye
exposed.
Raven nodded, "I had no choice."
"Calm down, kid. I'm not judging you. Come with me."
She led Raven into the shelter, cutting through the passageway automatically created by the
way some people positioned themselves on the left and right, leaving a little space in
between.
Annette asked as they walked forward, "Do you have anything you want to tell me?"
"The Empire's forces were slaughtered."
Annette raised a brow, "Indeed, Zephyr had mentioned they had backup from the Empire. But
slaughtered? How?"
"I'm guessing monsters. Only that it was a one-sided massacre."
Annette paused in her tracks, her eyes waning with confusion and a little fright, "That is
impossible. They are the Empire's forces..."
"Unless they met something incredibly powerful, it is. Anyway, I feel things need to pick up
pace because of this new development."
Raven paused and looked deeply into Annette's eyes.
"The Empire will send stronger forces, that I am sure of. They've had a lot of recent failures in trying to exterminate things. I am sure, the next set of knights they'll send will be unbeatable.
We need to move quickly."
Annette's expression was blank for a while, her eyes unmoving as she dove deep into her thoughts. Then she finally laid her gaze on Raven, looking at her suspiciously before
speaking.
"I understand your point. But what things exactly are you talking about?"