Chapter 293: Desert Flower Monarch
Obscured from sight, the waves caressed the shores. All around them, the wind flowed, rustling the dormant sand. And the sound of people’s hearts beating all around him.
His senses picked several things. But only these things. Nothing else.
He could see her but not sense her in any other way. Even as he tried, he couldn’t detect any energy coming off her. She stood close to him, but he couldn’t feel her body’s warmth nor catch a whiff of her scent. And amidst all the heartbeats, he didn’t find hers. She stood there, yet her presence seemed absent.
’I still can sense everything around me. The people are still there. The energy is there. And the world is there. Only she isn’t there. Or she doesn’t seem to be. But I see her!’
Hex tried to reason. He tried to come up with an explanation. His chances against an Enlightened Knight were zero, absolute zero.
He might have survived against one, but it took an army of Hawks, a Duke, and the last attack of an ancient dragon to stand a chance against him. And that too barely. Even with so much help, he nearly died. If Althea hadn’t unlocked her memories and channeled the power of Heaven within her, he would be dead by now.
The Overlord’s calm gaze didn’t waver from his face. The look in her eyes revealed she knew who he was and that she was here for him.
"As people of the same trade, I will allow the Serpents to slither away," the woman spoke. Her eyes didn’t budge from Hex. "But this one will remain with me."
She walked a little closer to him and spoke with a voice laced with sweetness, and caused the people around them heartbeats to flutter.
"Let me introduce myself first. I am Nainwahm Retkamal. But no one knows this name anymore. Most just call me the Desert Flower Monarch."
Hex sensed the pressure of his surroundings decreasing a little. He remained unable to move but noticed others stumble and fall. They hurried away, but no one screamed or cried. It was as if everyone knew not to upset the lady.