Chapter 230: Creature of the Dark
Adeline guided Dimitri to his old room, her smile radiant as she walked beside him. The room was left untouched, just as he had left it.
She made sure it was cleaned and ready, a gesture that warmed Dimitri’s heart. Yet, as she bid him goodnight with a soft, "Sweet dreams," and walked away, Dimitri found himself staring at her retreating figure.
His chest tightened. The happiness of being back was undeniable, but he could feel the distance between them.
They were different now, weren’t they? He had grown into the Archmage, burdened by the weight of the crimes of his master.
Adeline, on the other hand, had blossomed into a confident, strong woman with responsibilities and experiences he wasn’t part of.
"Strangers..." He whispered to himself as he shut the door. He shook his head, dismissing the thought.
Lying down on the bed that once brought him comfort, Dimitri felt strangely alien in the space he once called his own. It was the same, yet it wasn’t. The warmth he remembered now felt cold. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to rest, his body exhausted from travel and emotions.
The night was still when Dimitri jolted awake. His ears caught the faint rustling of leaves outside, a sound too deliberate to be the wind. His heart raced as his senses went on high alert.
With practised precision, Dimitri sat up silently, his magic swirling faintly around his fingertips. He listened intently, his sharp ears picking up on an unnatural stillness in the air.
The window was open, and through it came a creeping darkness—thick and black as ink, swirling unnaturally.
"Smoke?" he muttered, but his sharp instincts screamed otherwise. This wasn’t natural. It was something else... Something far more sinister.