Chapter 382.1
“Strange indeed,” Alber murmured, sensing an unsettling shift in the air. The presence of the monster that had long tormented her with deceitful intentions had abruptly dissipated. Reflecting on the timeline, it became apparent that its disappearance coincided with Alber’s activation of the magic enabling her to glimpse into the future. With the creature having finally glimpsed the future it so fervently desired, there seemed to be no further need for it to torment Alber. Yet, an intuitive whisper nagged at Alber, suggesting there was more to this abrupt departure.
“Come to think of it, its reaction was rather peculiar,” she mused aloud, her thoughts drifting back to the towering tree that loomed over a clearing in her vision of the future. The memory of that moment remained vivid in her mind.
Upon witnessing that particular future, Alber’s emotions had been a tumultuous mix of relief and disquiet. Relief washed over her, knowing that the creature’s relentless pursuit might finally be at an end, yet she couldn’t shake the pang of unease at the realization that the creature had achieved its coveted foresight.
However, the creature’s demeanor hadn’t matched what Alber anticipated. It had shown far more enthusiasm at the birth of two others in the past than at its own prophetic revelation.
“What game are you playing?” Alber demanded, her hand tracing the intricate patterns on the floor as she concentrated her thoughts. The faint glow of the patterns intensified into a brilliant beam of light.
“What are you doing?” A voice reverberated in her mind, and Alber’s eyes fluttered open. A translucent figure materialized, its form blurry and indistinct. It had been a considerable time since Alber had lost her sight, and she considered herself fortunate not to behold that loathsome face once more.
“My ears are fully functional,” Alber retorted, noting the annoyance flickering in the apparition’s eyes. “What were you doing?”
At the sound of the harsh voice, Alber eased the tension in her furrowed brows. Refusing to engage in telepathic communication, she found solace in the clarity of spoken words, despite the grating quality of the apparition’s attempt to mimic human speech.
“I summoned you,” she stated plainly, her voice steady.