.................... Silence!
That was all that could be heard in the hall.
The instructors' faces were already slipping away from reality; the two from the order trembled violently and, finally, Evo — practically soulless — stared at the heads of the two women he cared for so deeply.
- Talier, let's go—reinforcements are coming! — Kalistro called as he sheathed his sword.
- All right, but do we leave them alive? — He looked around. Sevran drew his katana and took guard; Velra did the same with her two-handed sword. The air was heavy and tense. One spark would set everything ablaze.
- No! Leave them. Our objective is complete, let's—
He was finishing his sentence when a whisper echoed, perverse and torn from the depths of a soul.
- I will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you. Kill you! Kill you Kill you! Kill you! Kill you! Kill you! Kill you! Kill you! — The whispers sped up, like a symphony off-tempo; every word came saturated with malice and hatred. It promised that, even if it had to come from the depths of hell, it would be done. Even if he had to use everything to reach his goal, he would. And if death was required, he would gladly give his body and soul.
Evo whispered into the void; his lifeless eyes were fixed toward the heads of the two witches.
It was terrifying. His words were simple and short, but every syllable vowed to deliver. Elizbeth beside him shivered down her spine; the young man next to her — missing pieces of his body and barely breathing — radiated a suffocating murderous intent. Breathing near him was difficult. The dwarf and the two order members felt it most.
Their bodies shook with that iron will that wanted to rip, slay and erase everything in its path. Evo's eyes were turned to the floor, so no one could see them — but they were sure: those eyes exuded pure evil and carnage.
Talier, standing closer, narrowed his eyes; now he was certain. If Evo were at his best, Talier would be killed by him with little resistance. The thought squeezed Talier's heart. Amid all this, Kalistro watched him, curiosity in his expression about the youth's threats — yet he didn't forget to leave.
- Sorry, lad, but your wishes cannot be granted. If you want someone to blame, blame yourself — for your own weakness and incompetence. Let's go, Talier!
Talier nodded and they began to run while the others moved toward Evo. His condition was dire, to say the least. Everyone there knew the harsh, merciless truth: Evo would not live much longer, at most a few seconds. His whole body was turning to ash, crumbling like an ancient foundation that could no longer hold a structure.
He didn't seem to care; it looked like his soul was already dead. His body was puppet-like, devoid of life. All that pulsed inside his chest at that moment was an insatiable need to kill those two and his other companions.
- I want you all dead! Suffer the worst death possible! And I promise: I will be the cause and the final judge who condemns you to endless hell. In the name of all that is most precious to me. — He whispered those words as a vow, as if deep down he knew he no longer had time. He would die, and so it happened. Those were his last words before his being became only memories.
Somewhere beyond that reality...
- Hahahahahha, what a weak human! I didn't even need much to destroy him. Harrrr — the voice chuckled, ending its laughter and sinking into its throne carved of what looked like jade.
The owner of that voice was a handsome man, white hair cascading to his shoulders. His skin was white and smooth as porcelain; his green eyes looked like living, predatory jewels, gazing with disdain at something only he seemed to see.
Someone at his side pulled him from his moment of pleasure.
- My lord! Are you sure you should have done that? — A young man with black hair and dull gray eyes spoke.
- Hmm? — The man on the throne glanced at the figure beside him.
- Are you questioning my actions, Norten? — He narrowed his eyes sharply, making the man standing pale.
- I would never dare, my lord! — He bowed with hands clasped. — I only want to remind you that that woman will not like this. You know she is untouchable. If she decides to act, there's nothing we can do — only die in silence.
The white-haired man listened to his servant closely, then returned his gaze forward in contemplation.
- I don't think she'll make a scene or go that far over a mere human. Don't worry.
- I merely gave him what he deserved, and I can always say I was helping him.
The servant beside him looked at him, asking with his eyes what he meant.
Seeing the doubt, the lord explained.
- Norten?
- Yes, my lord!
- Why do you think we use Oracles?
- Lords use them to send messages to someone about what may happen in the future, to keep them prepared. We use them specifically for people close to us, those with whom we have some relation or mutual interest.
- That's right. So what I did for him was the same thing. It's like I was helping him. That woman won't do anything — relax. — He smiled with calm amusement.
- And the Oracle? I'm sure — knowing how angry you are with that human — you won't hand him just that one, will you?
- Hahahahaha, you know me well. Harrrrr — He sighed as a malicious smile climbed his lips.
- No way! I'll let him go through that loop several times. If anything, I'll claim there was a glitch or something.
He looked into the void with amusement and declared:
- This is payment for daring to try to steal her from me. She should have been paying attention and have interest in me, not that human.
The servant was full of apprehension; he didn't think things would end peacefully. Far from it — that woman was known for being ruthless, untouchable, and not liking anyone who trespassed on what was hers.
- This won't end well! — he murmured inwardly.
Elsewhere, far from there...
- How dare he?!
BAGGGGGG!
The immaculate white arm of the throne crumbled to pieces on the floor under the blow of the beautiful wave-haired blonde.
- How dare that bastard do this to Dani? I want him dead!
The woman roared in fury; her full lips, painted deep crimson, were furious.
- Pria! — she called to the woman beside her, loudly.
- Yes, mistress! — The pink-salmon-haired woman answered at once.
The blonde with golden eyes looked at her companion and servant of Éons with resolute eyes.
- Prepare yourselves, we go at once! I'll show that fool what happens when you touch what's mine, and make an example of him so no one else dares touch my beloved.
- Right away, mistress!
But she turned to the friend on the throne and asked the question that nagged her mind.
- My lady?
- Yes, Pria! What is it?
- How did he find out about Daniel Roberts and his involvement with him? It was supposed to be only between the two of us; no one else was to know.
The mature blonde looked ahead, resting her elbow on the remaining intact arm of the throne, and sighed.
- Har! Probably that big-mouthed one. The idiot must have asked something about me as usual, and that empty head blurted about Daniel.
Pria raised an eyebrow and asked:
- Do you think it was on purpose?
- Hun, hun — She shook her head in denial. — I trust her with all my being; she's one of the few friends I truly trust. You know it's just her way: she says everything without thinking of the consequences. She's mischievous, but not evil — she would never do anything to harm me or Daniel, who is close to her representative.
Pria listened and simply nodded; everything she said was true. She watched her friend rise from the throne to crush an insect. It was endearing how a woman who had existed since the dawn of creation could act like a lovestruck girl, protective and giddy.
- Hihihihi, that woman won't change.
Remembering something, Pria asked with a slightly alarmed voice:
- My lady, and Daniel? How will he get out of that ill-intentioned Oracle?
She looked at her friend, biting a nail in thought.
- When I saw he had been sent to that Oracle, I quickly sent my power to his pocket watch. It seems he felt something very faint, but it wasn't enough. Evo awakened the Time Element recently and is still weak — he doesn't know how to use his power properly.
- For now I'll keep sending signals through that watch to try to rouse him. Let's believe in him; Dani's heart, though wounded, is strong as steel. He will come through this. I believe that!
- I do too, mistress — let's believe in him for now.
- Hm? — She looked at Pria with some doubt.
- I thought you disliked him, since you used to pester me with questions about why I cared so much for him, as if you didn't understand my reasons.
- You're right, but... — She glanced to the side, toward the floor, as if noticing something. — But now I understand. I've come to like this young human. So I'll do everything in my power to help him.
The blonde flashed a mischievous smile, seeing her friend caught by the charms of her beloved.
- Hahahah, seems he got you too, didn't he?
- N-No, my lady, it's not that! — She stammered, embarrassed.
The blonde widened her grin as if she'd hit the mark. Pria, realizing she was in a trap, hurried them along to escape the awkwardness.
- For now, forget that — let's get rid of this plague that's been annoying us for millennia.