Ascension of the Dark Seraph - Chapter 217

Chapter 217: Guarantees Chapter 217: Guarantees Earlier that morning.

It was the day of Callista’s third press conference about the scandal.

She was backstage, having her makeup done while she read the document in her hands.

A document that contained the final verdict.

Just as she expected, the verdict from the Council of Light Concord showed that she has not even a single connection with the Crossers.

From the start-this was nothing but a game played by Lucivar, the Feradith Family has never made contact with the Crossers.

Callista was never worried about the investigation, it was only a hassle for her.

But now, that was about to end.

‘Once I cleared any suspicion the public has on us-the news of him killing a student from the academy would be spread.

At that point, not only will he be known to be a troublemaker-he’d also be deemed as greedy and dangerous,’ Callista smiled unnervingly, staring into her own eyes in the mirror in front of her.

‘Killing him would be justice then’ Putting the document away, Callista closed her eyes-humming even as she waited patiently.

Soon, a woman stepped into her room.

“Madam Callista, it’s time,” She informed, gesturing for her to come out.

Upon hearing this, Callista nodded and followed the woman.

Exactly like several days ago, bright flashes and rows of reporters and journalists greeted her once she came out.

Callista wore her professional, crisp smile as she gave the gathered people a nod, appreciating them for sparing time to come.

Callista stepped onto the stake, masking her nerves behind a practiced smile as she waved to the crowd.

Settling into her seat, she took a steadying breath.

This was it-the final press conference.

Once this was done then she could put the scandal and Lucivar behind her.

She had done well so far, shifting public opinion and clearing the Feradith Family’s name.

Now, the gathered audience looked at her with something close to respect-a far cry from the hostile take all of them had during the first press conference.

Coupled with Lucivar’s continued silence, these people assumed this as him being guilty.

Callista adjusted her mic and opened her mouth to speak but then she froze.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Looking through the gap of blinding camera flashes, she saw him.

Lucivar, seated among the crowd, legs crossed, watching her.

Her head spun almost instantly.

She blinked once.

Twice.

By the fifth, the chair was empty.

Her breath hitched as cold sweat trickled down her temple.

‘Did I imagine him?’ She pondered-her heart still pounding.

‘Must be… there’s no way he’d be here” Since Lucivar was currently in prison, there was no way that he’d be here attending the press conference.

But still, it felt real.

Too real.

For a fleeting moment, she could sweat Lucivar had been there, staring right at her.

Realizing that the crowd was looking at her in confusion, waiting for her to speak, Callista snapped out of her stupor and forced out the smile again.

Disregarding what happened earlier as nothing but closure, she continued with the press conference.

Unknown to her, Lucivar was nearby-smiling wickedly at the sight of her panicked face earlier.

… Later that night.

Elira and Thalia headed for the basement parking of the Evergreen Mall, as Lucivar requested.

Both of them walked close to each other, anticipating the worst.

Secrecy is of the utmost importance for today-that was obvious enough for today-since the message was given to Elira in person.

No harm will come to them, Lucivar promised them that.

But knowing how he could be very unpredictable-the feeling of nervousness was rising inside of them.

Nevertheless, the twin pressed on.

Holding hands together, inseparable-Elira and Thalia stepped inside.

A handful of people and cars could be seen on the first floor, only a couple and they were separated far.

But seeing that they seemed to be normal people, it calmed them down a little bit.

Going down to the basement level, the lift door opened with a sharp ding sound and revealed an utterly dark level.

Seeing this, Elira and Thalia exchanged a glance, holding hands tighter as they stepped out and scanned the place.

Across the entire spacious, rectangular space-there were only a couple of light sources.

All of them only lit up the corners.

In addition, their lights were too weak to illuminate anything ten meters away from them.

“Are we really in the right place…?” Thalia asked again.

“Yes,” Elira nodded.

“Mother didn’t fulfill her promise of freeing him-so he must be on the run right now, chased by the Hybrid Association.

I’m sure he picked this place, quiet and dark exactly because of that” Both walked in search of Lucivar.

Their eyes darted left and right, searching for any sign of life-fear etched on their faces.

Due to the darkness, their other senses were heightened further.

Each step the twin took sent a hollow thud reverberating through the silence, like a heartbeat in a void.

The sound slithered through the air, unnerving, inescapable-an omen of something unseen.

Once they neared the center, a flickering light overhead suddenly burst to life-with a sharp crackle of electric current, casting harsh shadows across the room.

Elira-and Thalia instinctively shielded their eyes, momentarily blinded.

Soon, their vision adjusted to the light-and what greeted them made their breaths hitched.

In front of them, perched atop a stack of wooden crates, sat Lucivar.

Lucivar sat with his legs spread dominantly as his arms lounged on his knees loosely, wearing a black hoody that covered his face-only revealing his golden eyes.

Remembering the video, their eyes turned glassy, knowing that underneath that hoody must be countless of wounds.

Despite not having to go through a trial and be judged fairly, he was tortured as if he was a criminal.

All he did was help Elira, in self-defense, but their Mother twisted the narrative.

Surely, Lucivarr must be suffering in pain-and all of that was because of dealing with them.

Saving them didn’t reward Lucivar but punished him instead.

Snapping out of their trances, tears streaming down their faces, Elira and Thalia rushed towards him.

“Lucivar!” Thalia called, grabbing his hand and holding it tightly.

“Are you okay?!” On the side, Ellira instantly crumbled to her knees, keeping her head down as she sobbed profusely-a sight that even surprised Thalia, “It’s my fault, I should have fought harder to help you that night.

Had I done that, you wouldn’t end up like this… Please, forgive me.

I’m really sorry” Both of them cried an ugly cry as the guilt burst from them.

Even though they knew their Mother was not a good person, they didn’t know she’d go this far.

Lucivar was still a young Hybrid and yet, Callista went this far to get rid of him.

It was true that Elira and Thalia were hunted down and played because of what Lucivar did-but that wasn’t anywhere near to the pain Luciva suffered.

Being hunted down was nothing new for them while being used inflicts nothing more than emotional pain.

Compared to what Lucivar had gone through, theirs was child’s play.

Most of the time, they don’t need to lift a finger as others would take care of it for them.

Lucivar smirked inwardly at their reaction, but the expression vanished as quickly as it came, unnoticed by either twin.

Instead, he donned a weak smile and said, “I accept your apology.

It’s not that this was your doings so there’s nothing for either of you to feel guilty about.

More than anything, I want nothing more than to end this fight with your family” Upon hearing this, Elira wiped away her tears and gazed at Luicvar directly.

“What do we need to do?” She asked with determination.

“You asked us to come for a reason, right?” “Anything.

As long as we can do it, we’ll gladly do it for you,” Thalia added.

She wanted their relationship to return back to how it was supposed to be-before the clash.

“Yes, I did call you here for a reason.

Something that both of you could do for me,” Lucivar nodded, he wouldn’t have gone through this trouble had it not been for a reason.

“But first, Elira, can I have my ring back?

I need it” Blinking her eyes, Elira realized what he was referring to.

She took off the emerald ring, Gleipnir’s Echo from her ring finger and handed it over to Lucivar.

Lucivar gave it to her to hide her presence that night.

Now that she had no use for it, he naturally wanted the ring back.

“I have an ability called the Binding Wind,” Lucivar slipped the ring back on and spoke suddenly.

“It creates a link between two targets, activating under conditions of my choosing.

I want to cast it on both of you-binding you to your mother, Callista-and become my guarantee.

Are you willing?” Upon hearing this, Elira and Thalia blinked in confusion.

“Can you be more specific?” Elira asked, wanting Luciva to elaborate further.

Lucivar nodded, deciding to simplify the Fool’s Trick ability, “I will bind you to Callista so that if she tries to kill me, the ability will be activated and you two will explode.

As I said, I need the two of you to be my guarantee until I find a way to get her off my back” Nothing would prepare Elira and Thalia to hear that request.

It was essentially asking them to risk their lives to protect Lucivar’s life.

But then again, that’s exactly what Lucivar did for them.

“I’m willing,” Elira instantly answered without any question.

“I’m willing to accept it” On the other side, Thalia gasped, “Sister, are you crazy?

Didn’t you hear what he said?!” “Yes, but if that’s what he needed then I’ll gladly accept it.

After all, my life is not mine anymore.

I owed my life to him,” Elira answered decisively, making sure that she honored what she promised Lucivar-that she’d trust him completely with all her heart.

Thalia was taken aback-this was a big decision to make but Elira answered almost instantly.

Seeing that Thalia was still hesitant, Lucivar added, “What’s there to worry about?

I’d tell Callista about this so that she knew about the consequences if she tried to kill me.

As long as she didn’t attack me then you two will be fine” “Unless” His lips curved into a playful smile, “you’re not confident.

If it comes down to you or Callista’s reputation and face, I wonder…

which one she’ll choose?” Upon hearing this, Thalia bit her lower lip.

Just like Lucivar said, there’s nothing to worry about as long as Callista didn’t attack him.

But the way Lucivar said it made Thalia second-guess everything.

Will Callista really refrain from trying to kill Lucivar if they know their lives are at stake?

‘Must be, right…?’ Thalia pondered shakily.

‘Mom wouldn’t do that…’