Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 296  Inder Sephtis [13]

[Lindit Continent.]

[Devana Kingdom, Land of Asura.]

"May Princess Gwenyra look after you,"

A woman said softly, her voice warm and soothing, standing at the back door of an ancient church.

She wore an elegant nun's attire, the fabric flowing around, covering her entirely except her face.

Her serene expression was framed by a modest yet dignified headdress, lending her an air of authority.

With a slight bow, she addressed the tall boy before her, her demeanor both respectful and composed.

"Is this the place?" the boy with long, purple hair asked, his gaze shifting to the woman standing beside him.

"Yes."  The lady said softly.

She reached up and removed her wide, elegant hat, revealing her flowing blackish-brown hair that cascaded down her back like silk.

Her obsidian eyes staring at the nun.

"Please, come inside, Lady Adaliah," the nun said, bowing deeply.

Her voice carried an undercurrent of respect, almost fear.

"Not now," Adaliah dismissed curtly. "We have other matters to attend to."

"Is there anything else I can assist with?" the nun asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Transfer all the information you have gathered till now." Adaliah ordered.

"And remember his face. He would be the new owner of this place."

"As you wish, my lady." The nun bowed once more, her eyes briefly flicking to the boy before her.

Adaliah turned on her heels before she walked away, the boy following behind her.

"Who was that woman now?" Azariah asked, his blue eyes staring at Adaliah.

"Her name is Elodie. One of the head nuns." She replied, without looking at him.

"She is a spy who is keeping an eye on Maidens of Artemis and influencing their decisions."

"And the church is....one of the E.C.T.O's base?" Azariah asked, his brows knitting together.

"A branch, yes. But an important one," Adaliah confirmed as they navigated the crowded streets. "The main base is in Kandam Continent."

"....I see." Azariah replied with a soft voice.

With nothing else to say, his gaze wandered, taking in the bustling scene around him.

The streets were alive with people but none were ordinary.

Unlike humans, these people stood tall, their robust, muscular frames exuding strength.

Their presence was commanding, yet there was an air of ease in the way they moved.

What caught his attention most were the onyx-black horns protruding from their heads, each pair unique in shape and size.

Despite their imposing appearance, their expressions were warm, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

"....."

His mood plummeted as he retreated his gaze away from them.

He couldn't bring himself to keep on looking at them when a pang of guilt kept on creeping into his mind.

'Inna.' He thought to himself.

But.....

...No reply came back.

Azariah sighed, running a hand through his hair.

She hadn't spoken to him since the day he accepted his fate as the next head of E.C.T.O.

Perhaps her disappointment was bigger than he expected.

'She will come back.' He thought, trying to reassure himself, but his heart kept on being restless.

The people on the streets kept on looking at them.

Their expressions that of disgust and disdain, including the children.

"Asuras don't like foreigners or any type of outlanders." Adaliah explained, noticing his weird look. "Even the common Asuras don't like to mingle with other races."

"Is that so?" he replied absently, his gaze drifting toward the building at the end of the street.

It stood tall, towering over the surrounding structures with an air of authority.

Its sleek, imposing design was accentuated by dark stone and metallic accents, reflecting the sunlight.

Around the building, security was tight. Guards with sharp eyes patrolled the perimeter.

They all bowed toward them as Adaliah quickly led him inside without any words.

The inside of the palace was as grand as the outside.

Azariah kept on looking around until his gaze landed on a nearby TV.

"...."

A news headline flashed on it.

Ragnar being alive and church declaration about him being the [Exiled Prince].

And.....

Elohim's Avatar—Ethan's mysterious death.

"Azariah."

Adaliah's voice snapped him back to the present. She was already halfway up the staircase.

"Come with me."

He looked back at the news one last time before following her.

Adaliah led him to a room, where a holographic figure flickered quietly in the center.

Azariah hesitated, his steps slowing as he looked at the woman.

Her long platinum hair cascaded like liquid silver, framing a face that was both hauntingly beautiful and unnervingly cold.

Her lifeless gray eyes stared directly at him, devoid of emotion.

Behind him, Adaliah clicked the door shut. Without a word, she moved to the side.

"How have you been?" Esmeray asked, her voice cold.

....But to Azariah, it held warmth in it.

"What are your orders?" he asked, throwing himself onto the bed lazily, one leg propped up.

"I have already given you my order." She replied, turning to look at him.

"Then why the sudden call?" He asked, looking at her.

"Why?" She asked, tilting her head. "Can't I call you?"

"I don't need your concern." Azariah scoffed, glaring at her. "Get to the point."

Esmeray looked at him, quietly as if trying to determine his value.

Azariah didn't flinch as he kept on staring back.

After a minute of complete silence, she asked. ".....How are you feeling?"

"....."

Azariah's body trembled violently at her words.

Her words weren't filled with concern—he knew better than that.

But they still suffocated him.

"I am fine." He quietly whispered, averting his gaze.

"Can 'he' still control your body?" She asked, staring at him.

"He won't." Azariah replied firmly. "I won't let him do it."

Esmeray quietly nodded in response. "Just to be sure—." Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I would kill myself if that ever happens again." He said, staring into her lifeless eyes. "I don't want to feel like that....ever again."

"What happened to them wasn't your fault—."

"It was my fault." His voice was cold, colder than winter but the hollow look in his eyes was worse. "What happened to them was my fault."

"You didn't know the consequences." Esmeray said, telling what he wanted to hear. "Things were out of your control."

"...."

Azariah just quietly looked at her, unable to respond to her words.

"Destroy Devana Kingdom before the Akasha starts to reach closer." Esmeray said once again, her figure blurring.

 "Do it and I will make you free from being Sabaoth's Avatar."

Her holographic figure flickered before the connection between them severed.

"Get out." He said, without looking at Adaliah.

"Call me when you are done." She replied coolly before walking out of the room.

"Hahaha."

Left alone in the room, Azariah let out a hollow laugh, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

Unconsciously his gaze landed on his hand.

....The same hand that he felt was soaked in blood even though it was clean.

The memories came flooding back.

How he sat there blankly looking at their cold bodies in his arms.

How blood swept along his cheeks.

How they died....

...every one of them.

Christina. Ashlyn. Arianell.

He'd killed them all.

"Hahaha."

Azariah—Inder laughed at his own life, a cold and broken laugh.

The life where he lost everyone once again....

....Except his mother.

In this life.... ....The sun had become tainted in red.

******

[Earth.] A boy sat cross-legged on the ground.

Rain damped down—a heavy stream that soaked his entire body.

His long, dark hair stuck to his forehead and dripped down.

His thin frame hunched forward while his arms wrapped around his knees.

His beautiful blue eyes stared blankly at the four graves in front of him.

The graves had gone old even though it was the first time he saw them.

Being in prison for the last five years, he couldn't even attend the funeral.

'Like anyone would let me attend it,' he thought, staring blankly at his mother's grave.

Thousands of questions swirled in his mind, but he couldn't say anything.

He just kept on looking at her grave.

After a long silence passed, his lips slowly parted. "...Why, mother?"

He clenched his fists, fingers digging into his palms.

His throat burned as he asked again. "...Why did you do that?"

Ignoring the pain in his chest, he bitterly whispered, "If you wanted me dead, you could have just asked....I would have gladly died for you."

"...."

No answer came back.

All that was left with him was the sound of rain.

Inder's gaze slowly shifted to the grave on the side.

A name was engraved on it.

Senara Azenor. He gently smiled at the all-too-familiar name.

"I miss you," he whispered, hoping that maybe...just maybe, she could hear him. "I miss you so much."

But when he was greeted with silence once again...he truly understood how lonely he was now.

Everyone he ever loved was now gone.

"I'm sorry," he whispered softly, his voice broken and hoarse.

The words seemed hollow to him.

He wasn't even sure who he was apologizing to—his parents? Senara? Or perhaps himself.

His head lowered as he continued to stare at the ground.

The rain poured on him, soaking his body entirely until he felt coldness seeping into his body.

Time lost its meaning as he continued to stare blankly.

Until he felt something shielding him from the rain.

His head slowly moved up as he gazed at the umbrella above his head.

"What are you doing?" A soft, gentle voice echoed from behind him.

He turned to look at the girl holding onto the umbrella.

She had long, beautiful raven hair that cascaded down her back—soaked in rain.

Her mesmerizing crimson eyes adorning an even more mesmerizing face stared down at him.

Wearing a vintage black dress that seemed old-fashioned, she had a flower bouquet in her other hand.

For a moment, Inder was at a loss for words, his breath caught in his throat.

She looked fragile, trembling slightly from the cold, yet her presence seemed almost ethereal.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice sleepy, even guarded against her.

"Um, if you want to cry, feel free to do so," she replied, noticing his bloodshot eyes. "I won't say anything, I promise."

"I don't need your pity," Inder snapped, glaring at her as he abruptly stood up.

The girl stepped back, almost tripping as the rain made the ground slippery.

"I wasn't pitying you," she grumbled softly before she walked away from him.

Without another word, she approached Senara's grave and knelt down, placing the bouquet delicately on the damp earth.

"Hope you are doing great on the other side," she whispered softly.

Inder, who stood a little away from her, couldn't help but ask, "Did you know her?"

The girl nodded, standing and brushing off her dress. "Uh, yes. She was one of my few closest friends."

Inder tilted his head in confusion. "Do I know you?"

She tilted her head in the opposite direction. "I do know you."

His frown deepened. "How?"

"Senara talked about you a lot," she said simply, taking a step closer. "Almost every time we were together, she mentioned you."

The guard he had against her immediately lowered by a lot at Senara's mention.

His expression softened significantly.

"She did?" he asked softly.

The girl nodded, her smile gentle. "A lot. She cared about you more than you know."

"..."

Inder glanced at Senara's grave before his mood plummeted. "Do you know how she died—?"

"I heard you killed her."

Her reply was instant, making Inder flinch subconsciously.

But her next words made him freeze.

"....But I don't believe it."

".....What?" he asked.

The rain slowed down as he looked at her.

The girl smiled, turning around. "I am in a hurry, so maybe we can talk about it later."

"Wait! Who are you?" Inder asked, looking at her departing figure.

She paused, glancing back over her shoulder.

"Call me Delilah," she said, smiling, before walking away.

The sun shone brightly, peeking from the clouds. ....A bright golden Sun.