Ascension of the Dark Seraph - Chapter 259

Chapter 259: Ink In Clear Water
“No matter what you’re thinking of doing, don’t.”

Standing on the door to a room was Ravenna with her arms crossed tightly.

Inside the room was Mirel was already packing up his necessities—he was going to his own sponsor, the Feradith Family. The tournament was tomorrow, and he would go to the site along with his sponsor, not alone.

Knowing who it was, Mirel didn’t bother to turn around.

“And what made you think it’s better that I don’t?” He asked, his hands still busy packing.

“Because that will save you a lot of trouble,” Ravenna answered firmly—she doesn’t want things to get complicated. “Even if you can catch him in the act, what would you even say to him? Before reaching the academy, you’re the one who was closest to Lucivar the most, and you know well that when he fixed his mind on something, he would see it until the end.”

Mirel stopped abruptly and then turned around, meeting Ravenna’s gaze straight on.

“I’m not against killing, I’m not against torturing, or any other things that most consider inhuman,” Mirel explained himself, his voice was firm and low. “But there must be a code—there must be a moral line that we shouldn’t cross.”

“Master Tobias told us to pursue power by any means necessary. In the world of power, conscience is the first sacrifice, morality is the first sacrifice,” Ravenna answered nonchalantly, as if this was common sense for her. “If you go down this path, you’ll be the next one to be eliminated.”

Instead of answering, Mirel took his bag and walked over to the door.

But Ravenna stood in the way, barring his path.

“Move.” Mirel commanded sternly.

“What happened to you, Mirel?” Ravenna tilted her head. “Back then, whenever Bob did anything that was borderline inhuman, you always remained silent, docile. But now, with Lucivar, you’re acting like this?”

“Bob was doing all of that for our safety, there’s a reason behind his action,” Mirel answered flatly. He didn’t even look Ravenna in the eyes anymore. “What reason does Lucivar have for bringing trouble to the night market? Or even the incident back then in Kalinan City.”

Hearing this, Ravenna’s brows dipped a little into a mild frown.

“Do you think I wouldn’t find out?” Mirel raised an eyebrow tauntingly. “You and Lucivar used me to get back at Leandra, who was probably trying to sabotage his plan, since like me, she also has morals—one that someone seemed to lack.”

“Me- Me…?” Ravenna smiled and chuckled.

She saw how Mirel turned his gaze towards her upon saying ‘someone’.

Then, her smile vanished as instantly as it appeared, “Do you mean me?”

Ravenna couldn’t believe Mirel would say something like that, especially to her out of all people.

Back then, she was the first one to welcome Mirel and take care of him, so this was surprising.

However, she didn’t let that affect her.

Stepping forward in aggression, Ravenna’s crimson eyes flickered with a newfound light.

“I say everything you said was an excuse, a farce,” She said dominantly—the tone she was using made Mirel’s heartbeat race a little, and her eyes changed as her Predator Oculus ability was activated. “Don’t hide behind your excuse, Mirel. Just be honest, you feel inferior to Lucivar, didn’t you? That’s the sole reason for this.”

“In the past, all attention was on you thanks to your charm, but not anymore.” Ravenna smirked.

Mirel’s nose flared as he inhaled deeply, looking at Ravenna in anger.

As he was about to answer, someone intervened.

Leandra cleared her throat when she realized the two were going at it.

Glancing at her, Ravenna gave one last look at Mirel before turning away, smiling as if she wasn’t on the brink of a fight seconds ago, “Leandra, what brings you here tonight?” She asked—before her gaze landed on something in Leandra’s hand. “What’s that?”

“I went to your room to give you this, but you weren’t there…” Leandra answered awkwardly.

She could feel the tension in the air—it was suffocating.

In her hands was a ticket, presumably the ticket for the tournament.

“Oh, thank you. Did you buy it for me?” Ravenna asked, accepting the tournament ticket.

“No,” Leandra shook her head. “Master Tobias mailed tickets for us.”

Despite not knowing what was going on between Mirel—and Ravenna, Leandra lingered around as her presence diffused the situation. Ravenna even excused herself to go back to her room—once she got the ticket, not wanting to linger.

Once she was gone, Leandra turned to look at Mirel.

“What was all that about?” She asked.

“It’s nothing,” Mirel shot her a light smile before closing the door behind him. “I’ll be going then.”

A lot changed when Lucivar entered their family, but it wasn’t all that bad.

Leandra, for once, became more talkative than she normally was—and that Mirel could appreciate.

A couple of steps away, Leandra stopped him.

“Mirel…” She called and paused. “If it’s about Lucivar, let me be the one to handle it.”

For the sake of their harmony, it’s best if Mirel didn’t get involved in this.

Upon hearing that, Mirel only stopped for a second before continuing ahead—heading out.

Once her back disappeared from view, Leandra exhaled deeply.

“Knowing Lucivar, it’s best for me to be the one who opposed him,” She mumbled to herself. ‘He liked to use people and then discard them, that much I know. I have the Star Witch Bloodline, and he knew about it, so even if I pressed, he won’t kill me. But Mirel…’

Leandra glanced to where he had gone, ‘Lucivar could end up killing him if he crossed the line.’

On the other hand, there was one thing she found interesting.

“What was that about me?” She tilted her head in confusion. “And since when is Ravenna that close to Lucivar that she’d even mock Mirel for him? I never knew they were that close…”

…

Meanwhile, somewhere within the Sunhold City.

“Are you confident in your safety?” Ciri asked as she poured a glass of juice.

She turned around and looked at the man sitting on the sofa.

Caldaros was there with her, and he had a duffle bag beside him, containing all of his equipment.

“Have you ever seen me in real trouble once I awakened by Vampire bloodline?” Caldaros chuckled in hubris. “No? Then you don’t have to worry about my safety. In fact, I’m worried about yours. I will be participating in the tournament—and you’re going to be out here, alone. I am afraid he had something ready for you.”

“Then shouldn’t it be best for me to be in the tournament? In a crowded place?” Ciri asked again.

She placed the glass in front of Caldaros and sat beside him.

“No, you can’t be in the tournament, aunty.” Caldaros shook his head and took a sip of the juice. “You were never good at seeing blood—and you particularly could not watch me bleed. Besides, if you were there, watching me, I’d be too nervous.”

“Caldaros, I’m being serious. I can handle watching if I forced myself,” Ciri rubbed her hands.

Instead of herself, she was more nervous for Caldaros.

“In all seriousness, you should stay away from the tournament,” Caldaros leaned forward, playing with the glass in his hands. “I already prepared a safe place—for you, so that the Devil would not be able to reach you like before. It’s better for you to be there than in the tournament.”

Hearing this, Ciri nodded, but there was a tinge of skepticism behind her eyes.

For her, Caldaros’ reasoning doesn’t make sense.

If she were there, in the tournament watching, Lucivar would have no chance to reach her.

A lot of powerful Hybrids there, and even Loki’s Avatar couldn’t afford to be brazen there.

“What about that Devil? Lucivar… What are you going to do to him?” Ciri asked.

Caldaros paused for a second, deliberating the question, seemingly troubled—at the thought of what he needed to do to Lucivar, “Since he was already chosen as Loki’s Avatar, his soul was tainted, corrupted. I have no choice but to take him down… for good.”

Almost instantly, Ciri clenched her hands tightly—the thought of doing that was not right for her.

“Can’t we cleanse Loki’s power from him?” Ciri asked with hope. “His evil actions must’ve been the influence of Loki. If we could cleanse him, get rid of the dark power that has taken hold of him, there’s a chance we could save him. Away from evil. At the very least, we should try to help him, right…?”

It was always hopeful—Ciri has always been bright and hopeful, and this was expected.

Caldaros smiled and looked at her dotingly.

“Underneath it all, Lucivar could be a kind person…” Ciri continued.

“No,” Caldaros shook his head. “An evil God like Loki only chose people who are evil in nature. That Devil is evil in nature, he’s not good inside. And even if he is, there’s no saving him. Once the power of evil touched him, there’s no turning back.”

“Just like me—I’ve been touched by the power of good. No matter what I do, I can’t be evil,” He added.

“Can’t…” Ciri paused, fidgeting with her fingers. “Can’t you at least ask the Goddess? We have to try.”

“No, we can’t…”

“But I don’t want you to kill, there are other wa-”

“No, there’s not! Lucivar must die!”

Suddenly, Caldaros stood up and shouted—his eyes glowing bright with sunlight.

Ciri flinched and looked down at the floor.

She didn’t expect Caldaros to raise his voice like that.

All she wanted was to do the right thing, so this reaction was surprising.

Realizing what he had done, Caldaros’ eyes returned to normal again as he quickly knelt in front of Ciri apologetically, “I’m sorry,” He whispered softly. “I’m sorry for raising my voice like that. I’m just not willing to put you in any more danger. It’s only the stress talking, I hope you can understand…”

“It’s alright, I understand…” Ciri nodded, wiping away a tear.

Caldaros held her hands against, squeezing them gently, “It’s going to be fine… We can go through this.”

Hearing this, Ciri offered a faint smile, but there was hesitation behind it.

Moments later, it was time for Caldaros to leave.

“I already messaged you the location. Go there as soon as possible,” Caldaros said.

Ciri nodded her head, standing by the door to her apartment, “Yes, I already packed. You can go.”

Nodding his head, Caldaros looked up to the night sky.

His body turned into sunlight before he shot upward, disappearing from the place.

As Ciri was about to close the door, her eyes caught something, or someone.

A familiar figure was standing beside the dumpster.

Only the pair of emerald eyes could be seen, other than that, the figure was covered by the shadow.

“The Devil…?” She tilted her head in shock.

But then, instead of going towards him, the figure placed something on the dumpster and walked away.

Hesitating for a moment, Ciri went downstairs and approached the dumpster.

She saw that it was an envelope—it doesn’t look like a trap.

Grabbing the envelope, she opened it and realized that there was a ticket inside.

It was the ticket to the tournament.

On the letter beside it, there was a single question written in bold letters.

‘Are you afraid that I might be right?’

Ciri crumpled the letter, but the question…It made her feel uneasy and doubtful.

Her beloved Caldaros… Did he change?