Chapter 259: The princess’s ability
The young Raylen, who couldn’t have been more than eleven or twelve years old, continued to sit at the edge of the tall bell tower. The boy didn’t look sad, but neither did he look happy or at peace for someone his age. It was as though his soul was tainted by something beyond his understanding.
Emily, who has been observing him, felt compelled to keep him company, and she carefully inched towards the edge, feeling the wind ruffling her loosely braided hair. She sat next to Raylen, as if joining him in silence.
Both she and Raylen heard the clear footsteps resonating from the staircase before Viktor made his appearance. The Devil had his hands concealed within his black cloak, his gaze fixed on the large, time-worn bell suspended from the ceiling, and he walked around it.
’Don’t you have something else to do with people your own age instead of following me?’ Raylen asked, his head tilting to the right and looking out of the corners of his eyes.
’Typically, earthlings don’t interest me, considering how foolish most of them are. I want to see if you are one of them, or one from below,’ Viktor hummed. ’It seems something is troubling you. If you tell me, I would be happy to make your wish come true.’
’Why? Are you God?’ Raylen asked in a tone duller than Viktor’s, which threatened a smile to creep onto the latter’s face. ’Leave me alone,’ he dismissed the older man. He had no interest in talking with anyone.
’You don’t believe that I can grant any wish you may have?’ Viktor inquired, withholding the fact that it came with the price of the wisher’s soul. To own the soul he had created, the Devil found the prospect tempting.
Emily, who witnessed the scene unfold, knew exactly what Viktor was trying to do. To steal another soul, just like he had done with Raylen’s mother. She saw Raylen purse his lips in thought, as if there was something he wanted to wish for.
’I don’t need your help with something I can do myself,’ Raylen replied firmly, rejecting the Devil’s help.
’Are you sure?’ Viktor pressed on, his eyes fixed on the head full of dark red hair. His hand inched closer to the boy, his sharp nails ready to snatch the boy’s soul and take it to Hell.
But before Viktor’s hand could make contact with the boy, Raylen moved forward and jumped from the top of the bell tower, displaying little to no hesitation, as if this were a familiar act for him.