WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES OF BRUTALITY AND CRUELTY. IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE READING, THE DECISION IS YOURS.
- Come on, answer me. Was it worth it, Talier?
Evo tilted his head at him, searching for an answer. His cold eyes pierced directly into Talier's soul, sending shivers through his body — and worse than that was the silent killing intent radiating from Evo. It was relentless, merciless, overflowing with pride and contempt.
Talier didn't know what to say. He had already received several unpleasant surprises since arriving there — but without a doubt, the biggest one was that Evo had discovered his involvement with the enemy. He had done everything not to draw attention, playing his role perfectly. Even the Headmistress and her right-hand woman never suspected a thing.
- How? How did he find out? It doesn't make any sense!
His mind tormented him with those questions.
Evo didn't need much effort to understand what was going through Talier's head. True, Talier had hidden himself extremely well, acted naturally, and drew no attention. It was hard to imagine anyone uncovering his plans.
If Evo hadn't lived through all this once before, he never would have noticed — just like in the previous timeline.
- Don't bother trying to understand how I found out. It's useless. You should be more worried about yourself.
Umbra shifted his gaze back to Evo, who hadn't moved at all. And he was right — Talier was in a dangerous position, where he couldn't be sure of victory in a fight. Even during the Tower event, Evo had remained discreet and never revealed anything. And that kind of person… was the most dangerous of all.
In the middle of his panic, Talier remembered his accomplice.
- Where is Kalistro? If Evo found out everything, that old man must've killed him already…
Evo's smile deepened, seeing Talier's thoughts so easy to read. His smile, showing teeth that gleamed like gems, carried a cruel and merciless sadism. Evo had to hold back not to laugh straight at his face. He wanted to humiliate him further, make him cry, beg for mercy — make him realize the greatest stupidity he had ever committed was becoming Evo's enemy.
- Hahahahahahahahaha! – He laughed, covering his mouth with one hand.
- W-What… what are you laughing at?! – Talier asked cautiously.
- Harrr… sorry… hahaha. It's just that your thoughts are so easy to read it's actually hilarious. Hahahahahaha!
He didn't stop laughing. Talier's face turned red like a pepper, full of anger, itching to attack Evo — but he didn't dare. Evo's posture and confidence overwhelmed him. It looked like Evo could kill him whenever he wanted.
- Where is Kalistro?! I saw you both leaving the hall together!
- Arrrrrrr! Are you talking about your little partner? – Evo gave a smile that made Talier even more uncomfortable.
- Hunnnn? – Evo tapped his finger on his chin, pretending to think.
- Well, to be honest, we have two possible outcomes. – He raised two fingers.
- First! – He lowered one of them.
- He's been arrested, under supervision of the Imperial Army stationed at the Academy's entrance. – Evo pointed behind him.
- T-The… the Army?! What is the Imperial Army doing here?! – Talier's eyes widened.
Seeing his panic, Evo nearly burst into laughter again.
- Hihihihi… that was my fault. I was the one who called them. Hihihi.
- He knew everything… from the very beginning?
Talier swallowed dry.
- Just how much do you really know, Leader of the Order?
- Hmm, to be honest? I know everything. Even where your little group is hiding. – Evo tilted his head.
That sentence hammered Talier's mind so hard he froze on the spot.
- Well, that doesn't matter now. Let's continue where we left off. Oh, right! The second possibility… rirrrr~! – Evo smiled widely, and this smile carried nothing but pure terror.
- The second possibility — the one I'm hoping for — is that he's dead. Roasting nicely in hell, enjoying a long vacation in the flames.
...
Talier's entire body trembled. Everything in Evo's behavior screamed exactly what awaited him. If he stayed there any longer, he was finished.
He had to run. Now.
His body wouldn't move — his eyes, terrified, wouldn't stop staring at Evo's wicked smile.
- I need to go! I need to go! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I have to run now!
He repeated it over and over until he finally regained control of his limbs.
He spun around to flee — trembling, sweating, panicked. Evo didn't move. He had predicted exactly what Talier would do, but didn't even bother reacting.
- Good… he didn't chase me… if I can just get out of here, I might live—!
- Don't move.
Talier's entire body froze mid-run. It was as if time itself had stopped. Only his eyes were still capable of moving.
He felt nothing. No control. No strength.
- W-What did he do to me?! My body… it doesn't respond! Before I was frozen by fear, but I could still feel my muscles… now it's completely different!
- I can't feel my body! Only the wind on my skin… everything inside feels frozen! My nerves… my tendons… everything!
As Talier panicked internally, Evo spoke behind him, voice dripping with mocking cruelty:
- Trying to run, huh?
- You make a mess and don't bother cleaning it up?
- What a poorly raised child you are.
- Maybe I should educate you.
- What do you think?
Talier's trembling eyes moved as far back as they could.
- W-What did you do to me?! Stay away! Don't come closer!
Evo got up from the stone, hands in his pockets, and walked slowly toward him — completely relaxed.
- Oh my, oh my. If you act like that, people will think I'm the villain here. That I'm bullying you.
He approached slowly — each step stretching into an eternity for Talier — until Evo finally stood behind him.
- Turn around.
Talier tried to resist, but his body betrayed him instantly.
Evo used The Word again — this time fully conscious and calculated. He had already determined earlier that he could safely use it if needed. All he had to do was judge the target, the force, the command.
His stats were higher. Talier's potential was good, but his numbers couldn't compare.
- Harrr… shame this idiot ruined his own life. – Evo thought.
Now Evo's demeanor shifted completely. The air turned colder, heavier. His voice… hollow. Emotionless. As if the one speaking was a corpse wearing his skin.
This was the side of Evo that he hid from everyone.
Ever since the deaths he witnessed…
The little warmth that once existed in his heart had died.
Now, there was only ash. Only gray.
His golden eyes had turned into dull, clouded glass.
He spoke:
- Talier, codename Umbra… former member of the Order of the Three Decrees, Varynthal…
- I'll tell you exactly what I'm going to do with you.
Talier's heart pounded so violently it hurt. His breath was ragged. His frozen body trembled uncontrollably.
- H-Har… har… p-please! Forgive me, leader! I-I was… lost!
- I-I was going through something difficult and… and they promised me benefits!
- I-I can tell you everything! Everything I know! If you just let me go!
He cried, begged, and pleaded in the most pathetic way imaginable. It was humiliating. Disgusting.
Evo stared at him with pure disappointment.
He had wanted Talier to at least keep his arrogant attitude until the end — not crumble into this… worm.
- You ruined all of my fun. You're boring and annoying.
- Harrr… what a chore. – He sighed, looking up at the moon.
- You're just a cowardly insect. Honestly, you're not even worth my time anymore.
Talier's heart shrank violently at those words. His pleas intensified when Evo summoned his sword from the ring.
- Silence. I can't stand your pathetic squealing anymore. – Evo covered an ear, irritated.
The command hit instantly. Talier's jaw locked shut — leaving only muffled whimpers:
Hun! Hun! Hun!
Evo approached.
- First… you played a role in their deaths. So you'll pay for that before I kill you.
- Let's see… – Evo tapped his chin.
- Should I cut off all your fingers and make you swallow them? Or rip off your ears and make you eat those instead?
- Which one do you prefer? Sorry, I don't have any seasoning on me. You'll have to take it raw.
His eyes glowed with sadistic excitement.
Talier's tears streamed. His muffled screaming grew louder.
Hun! Hun! Hun!
- Hmmm? So you choose the fingers?
- No… on second thought, I think I'll take your ears first. You don't really need them. – Evo shrugged, smiling.
He grabbed Talier's ear and began slicing it from top to bottom. Blood ran down his fingers and over Talier's trembling face.
Soon, the ear was completely severed.
Blood dripped endlessly down Talier's cheek and robe.
- Oh, let me remove your mask. I want to see your expression better. Excuse me.
Evo ripped it off and tossed it aside.
- Hooo! That's a much better expression. Now… open your mouth. – he commanded.
Talier, powerless, obeyed.
Evo shoved the severed ear between his lips.
- Chew. Swallow.
The sounds of flesh and nerves being crushed echoed disgustingly.
Talier swallowed — dry, shaking, nauseated.
- What's with that face? Disgusted by your own ear?
- Should've thought twice before siding with those vermin.
- Now then… the other ear. And I still have plenty of ideas.
- Shame I don't have a cooking pot. I could've made you a beautiful meal tonight.
Hummmmm! – Talier whimpered.
- Hahahahahahahahah!
Evo laughed wildly — savoring every second of Talier's suffering.
- Maybe I'll get to prepare a full banquet after tonight. – Evo shrugged and resumed his torture.
After a long while, inside the ballroom, the five waited anxiously.
The atmosphere was far from good. Luneth and Silentia sat on a small staircase, their eyes weary and tense. Luneth's were still swollen from her earlier crying.
Sevran leaned against the railing, watching the ballroom below, where the students laughed and danced — completely unaware of what was happening just beyond those walls.
Velra, beside him, ran her fingers through her white hair, lost in thought — especially about Evo, who they had left alone with Umbra.
Kaelith stood a bit farther away, arms crossed, staring at a small window to the side.
- Veyrath is taking too long. – Silentia murmured.
- Do you think something happened to him? – Velra asked anxiously.
- I doubt it. The biggest threats are already out of the way. He should be fine.
Luneth, quiet and drained, spoke — not to someone else, but to herself:
- Will he really be okay? – Her voice came out dry and hoarse.
She was calmer now, but the tightness in her chest refused to ease. Evo's earlier words had shaken her deeply — in ways she had never imagined possible. In all her centuries of life, she had never been moved like that.
At over 250 years old, no one had ever struck her heart that way.
Her concern for Evo had shifted toward something else entirely — his emotional state. She knew he wasn't okay. She felt he was hiding something from all of them. But she didn't pry, unwilling to invade his privacy.
The others understood her question and fell silent.
Sevran was the first to answer:
- I believe he'll be fine. And if he isn't… someone will help him when he needs it.
- I hope so. Evo is—
But before Silentia could finish her sentence, a voice interrupted from behind:
- What are you talking about?