Chapter 48: What Remained
“Hold on. So you're trying to say that even though the ritual was successful, the avatar wasn't imprisoned inside the pendant?” Elina's voice cracked slightly.
She clutched her head and shook it violently, as if refusing to accept what she was hearing.
“Yes...”
“How is that even possible?!” She threw her hands up, her eyes widening so much that they almost looked like two buttons on her face. “And where is Lucien?! That guy, wait... maybe he's the one behind this!”
At this point, it seemed like Elina's mind was going through an entire lifetime in the span of a few seconds.
“Wait, how can that be? In the first place, Lucien didn't seem to have any powers, so how would he even be able to change the magic?”
Nuri immediately began sweating.
Oh my God, God of Fare, please forgive me for uttering this blasphemous lie. I can't have people finding out that I know the Heretic! Imagine the horror! They might skin me alive... No. Act natural. Act natural.
Unfortunately, his attempt at acting normal wasn't going particularly well. Tiny droplets of sweat had already begun forming across his forehead.
Fortunately, no one seemed to notice his flustered appearance. No one except Alina.
She glanced at him from the side. There was a hint of suspicion in her eyes, as if she were slowly beginning to put something together. But she chose to remain silent, her hand tightening into a fist.
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Just as Elina was about to say something else
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted right in front of them.
Everyone instinctively shut their eyes as smoke filled the hall. Alina reacted immediately, extending her hand to summon a powerful current of wind that blew the smoke away and cleared their vision.
“Is everyone fine?” Elina looked around. Then she froze. “Wait...”
Rowen and Dally were gone.
“Those motherfuc—!” Elina clenched her fists. “After all this, even the criminals escape?! What the hell am I supposed to report back to Captain Caelen?!”
Her screams echoed throughout the halls. The siblings could only exchange glances.
This really had been one hell of a journey. Hopefully... it would be the last one of its kind.
Meanwhile, in a distant place, Lucien had already returned.
“So, how are you feeling?” Lucien looked down at the black charm hanging from his umbrella.
Its color had changed slightly.
“Nothing different.” Mo's voice was quieter than usual. “It really was just a fragment of its power... I think I absorbed all of it.”
There was a brief silence.
“I've gotten stronger.”
“Mhh. And?”
“I think I could take a physical form now.” Mo paused. “Can I do that?”
Hearing the question, Lucien fell silent. He stared intently at the charm hanging from his umbrella, not answering immediately.
Instead, he asked another question. “Did you gain any knowledge from absorbing its power?”
Lucien took out his notebook. “Sometimes powerful energy can leave behind lingering emotions.” He began writing down his observations.
Mo stared at the notebook. For some reason, it couldn't help but feel a little sad.
Was that all it was? Just something Lucien could use for his experiments?
No. It already knew what kind of person Lucien was. And yet... something about it still bothered Mo. Its nonexistent heart felt strangely heavy.
“It was just resentment when I first absorbed it,” Mo finally said. “But once it was complete, I couldn't feel anything anymore.”
“Mhh.”
Lucien didn't say much after that. He simply closed his notebook, then turned his attention toward the barricaded window.
A tiny gap remained between the boards, allowing a thin beam of light to slip through. Lucien stared toward that small opening. His golden eyes seemed distant, almost as though he could see the entire world through that tiny gap.
Mo couldn't help but admire the man. For a moment, Lucien looked completely lost in thought. And somehow... Mo wondered what kind of thoughts could make a person like him look so distant.