Chapter 86 - 84 — Protègè
’What is he doing?’
The thought had barely formed when the man suddenly turned, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Haha, my young protégé... you’re finally awake."
’You can hear my thoughts?’
Zephyrion’s eyes narrowed slightly. He didn’t like the sound of that.
"Oh no, no—just surface thoughts. Anything deeper is off-limits."
’...are you sure?’
Zephyrion relaxed when no response followed. That last thought had been internal. If the man had answered, then it would have confirmed the lie.
"Damn, my young protégé, the world’s really changed! Everything’s so clean, so orderly! And there’s even a relic that pours water when you turn a knob!"
Zephyrion frowned. Was he referring to a shower? It wasn’t that surprising. Demorian had lived in an era after the fall of the elemental gods, when the world had been plunged into chaos.
Technology had regressed drastically, and much of what existed now simply hadn’t back then.
Even so, Zephyrion fixed him with a narrowed look.
’Keep it down. You’re shouting.’
The last thing he wanted was to draw the attention of the entire mansion.
"Bah, relax. No one can see or hear me but you. I can shout all I want—like this! HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Zephyrion’s gaze flicked to Lumi. Despite the outburst, she didn’t stir the slightest. Still, the sound had already begun grating against his nerves.
’...how did I get here?’
"Ah, that. After the bone reforging finished, you were barely breathing. Some mean-looking guy and a drunk hauled you back here."
Zephyrion assumed he meant Kastor and Garrick.
’Did they see?’
The thought of the rod’s power being exposed surfaced, but Zephyrion dismissed it just as quickly.
Usually, a relic with such power would never be entrusted to a child. Yet, the rod was still with him. That alone meant everything had been allowed. There was no need to worry about the house taking it from him.
"Honestly, you were completely out of it when they brought you back. Your little friend over there wouldn’t let anyone near you—not even the maids. It was hilarious watching her beat them up, haha. Even better when she cleaned you up—I swear, I could see smoke coming off her head!"
Demorian burst into laughter.
"She’s a cute one, that one. So... what’s going on between you two? If you need some tips on how to, you know..."
He gave an exaggerated wink.
"I wouldn’t mind helping out my young protégé—"
’If I wanted to dismiss you, how would I do it?’
"Hm? Why?"
’...just curious.’
"...you’re not going to dismiss me, right?"
’...I won’t.’
"Hmm. Alright. I don’t know what it is, but you look like the type that doesn’t lie, so I’ll trust you."
Demorian smiled, clearly satisfied.
"Since I’m just a guide, you’re the one in control here. You can dismiss me whenever you want. Alright, so—"
He vanished the next instant.
Zephyrion had just begun to appreciate the silence when the man’s voice suddenly boomed in his mind.
"You...! You lied to me! How could you do that!? Your own protégé—argh, the betrayal! Yo—"
With a single thought, Zephyrion cut him off.
A small, satisfied nod followed as the silence settled. Of all things, this ability was one he thoroughly appreciated.
"Hm?"
The slight movement caused Lumi to stir. She slowly pushed herself on the bed, her eyes half-lidded as she squinted at him.
As she brushed away the lingering haze with her arms, her eyes widened the moment it met his.
"Lum—"
Lumi lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him before he could finish.
"Argh."
A strained groan slipped from Zephyrion as a sharp wave of pain shot through him. Lumi pulled back instantly, panic flashing across her face.
Her hands moved frantically as she stared at him with concern.
"...I’m fine."
She signed again, more insistently.
"...I’m sure."
Only then did she let out a breath of relief. She wiped at her eyes with her arm, clearing away the lingering tears, before fixing him with a sharp, unwavering look.
Her hands moved in quick, furious signs, her cheeks puffed as she frowned at him.
Zephyrion couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of déjà vu. Why did this feel so familiar?
"...it was supposed to be something simple. I didn’t expect it to turn out like this."
Lumi immediately shook her head and pointed at him accusingly.
’...I see.’
She was right. He had given that exact same excuse the last time.
"...it’s what happened."
Lumi shook her head again, folded her arms, and turned away from him.
That same feeling of déjà vu surfaced once more. Only now, he understood what needed to be done to end it.
"...I’m sorry."
Lumi’s ears perked up. She turned slightly, pointing at him as she signed again, her gaze narrowed in suspicion.
"I’m not just saying it to make you feel better. I mean it."
She turned fully toward him, pointing at herself before gesturing outward.
"...I promise."
Lumi signed again, her eyes narrowing.
"...I promise I won’t go anywhere dangerous without you again."
A bright smile spread across her face, and she gave a firm, approving nod.
Silence settled between them for a moment, until Zephyrion became aware of the dryness in his throat.
He cleared his throat lightly.
"...water."
Lumi blinked, then nodded quickly before slipping off the bed. She hurried out of the room, sealing the door behind her with metal before disappearing from sight.
With her gone, he was finally left alone with his thoughts.
Demorian. The divine rod. Embodiment.
It felt as though the very scale of his world had expanded in an instant. And with it... the stakes.
Zephyrion’s gaze slowly darkened.
’Frost.’
He had known the man was dangerous, but never to this extent.
’There’s no time.’
He had believed Calderalth would shield him, at least until he had grown strong enough. But a man capable of razing an entire empire on his own... of surviving across millennia... what could truly stand in his way?
If that was the case, then his escape had never been an accident.
It had been allowed.
Which meant the man still held control over everything.
Zephyrion gritted his teeth, a surge of rage rising within him. The thought of still being within that man’s grasp grated against him.
’Rule three.’
He forced the emotion down, steadying his mind. The past no longer mattered, there was only what came next.
Right now, only one thing mattered.
’Power.’
He needed it. A lot of it.
And fast.