Chapter 530: Those who Return
The Remnant lunged at Luke, its spear slicing through the air with terrifying speed. The weapon’s point plunged into his chest, piercing him through. A horrified gasp escaped my lips, but it died in my throat as Luke’s form flickered and vanished, and I realized it had just been an afterimage.
The real Luke materialized behind the Remnant, knife outstretched. The creature exploded into darkness, dissolving back into the mists of Haven. I stared, open-mouthed, as Luke sheathed his weapon and met my gaze, his dark eyes reflecting the soft golden glow of my own.
"No," I whimpered, hugging myself, tail wrapping protectively around me. "Why...? Why did you...?"
"Xiviyah!" Luke rushed to my side, cutting down another Remnant that materialized between us before it could fully form. "Are you alright? They didn’t hurt you, did they?"
"You left me," I sobbed, tears streaming down my face. "...so alone... so cold..."
His hand touched my shoulder, and I jerked away from the unexpected warmth. His touch was hot and fiery, unbearable against the chill that permeated my body. Even worse was the cruel twist in my heart as he feigned concern, gripping my shoulders tightly as he checked me for injuries.
"Damn it," he swore roughly, "You said she’d be fine! How is this fine?"
I dimly sensed Jessia in the room, battling another Remnant.
"Not my fault!" she retorted. "How was I supposed to know this time would be so much worse? She recovered after like a minute in the camp!"
Her blades caught the starlight as she sliced through the creature, and a chilling realization washed over me. They had come back. Of course they had. Luke wasn’t trying to destroy this world, just conquer it. Now that the Remnants had wreaked enough havoc to cripple the city, they had returned to ensure there was enough left of the city to take control of. To stop things before they got out of hand. To finish it personally.
Luke paused, his brow furrowed as I stopped struggling. "Xiviyah? Speak to me. Is everything alright?"