Book 4: Chapter 158: Different Emotions
They were once again back under the familiar sky. The black sun was still hanging high up in the sky, like a black hole that would swallow everything, including oneâs mind. However, the green fields and the rising smoke were still assuring sights.
âWeâre finally out!â Lucas plopped down on the ground, feeling almost tearful. âWhy do I feel like I have lost something important during my trip there?â
Everyone speechlessly looked at Lucas, who was only in a pair of red underwear.
âOh yeah, what do you guys plan to do next?â Lesiah looked at Durance and the others. Now that Lilith had been rescued, there was no need to force them into participating in the next agenda.
âI will follow you, Your Royal Highness!â Rosdell was the first to speak, almost as if he was concerned that Lesiah would abandon him. âI will go wherever you go, princess!â
However, Lesiah shook her head firmly, âNo.â
âWhy?â
âYou are leading the Macedonian Empireâs team right? The situation here is not clear yet and they still need a leader.â
âBut princess, your safety isâ¦â
âRest assured.â Lesiah gave him a small smile. âI am no longer the same little girl in the past who needs you to take care of everywhere I go. Even if it is for my nation, I will make sure to proceed cautiously.â
âI see.â Rosdell smiled in disappointment, glancing at Lilith who was lying motionlessly on the grass like a salted fish looking at the sky. Her body seemed to have become a few dozen centimeters shorter.
âYou have changed a lot, princess, but in a good way. Change is good, in fact, it is ultimately a good thing.â
Rosdell also plopped down on the ground next to Lucas. He retrieved a bottle of home-brewed wine from his storage ring, as well as two wine glasses. He waved the bottle at Lucas, and the sound of its content sloshing inside could be heard. âHow about a glass, bro?â
Lesiah then looked at Durance. âWhat about you then? Whatâs your plan?â
Durance caressed the hilt of his rapier, as if in deep thought. His gaze slid past Lesiah, and landed right on Lilith.
âLady Dragon, I have a question. What is your purpose of coming to the human world to attend an academy that is not useful to you?â
Lilith flipped over and stared at Durance with her dead fish eyes. âWhy? Youâre saying dragons canât come to the human world? I know quite a few of them hiding among human society to experience life.â
Durance was shocked. To think that the dragons, a race which was powerful enough to exterminate humans, had actually infiltrated the human world. This was indeed important news.
Lilith scratched her cheek in embarrassment and continued, âActually I came to this academy for a reason, but Iâm not going to tell you what it is.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Durance was in a greater shock. This dragon girl had secretly come to the human nation with a hidden ulterior motive. If word of this got out, it would definitely cause a huge uproar in human society.
The thought got Durance tightening his grip on the hilt of the Stella, as if it was a reflex action that could make him feel at ease.
Regardless of the dragon girlâs motivation to infiltrate human society, it was his duty to share at least the basic information with the rest, as a human.
âOops, youâre not thinking of exposing my identity when you get out of here, right?â Lilith pouted. âIâd advise you against that.â
âHow could I possibly? After weâve been through thick and thin together, I canât possibly kick Lady Dragon when she is down.â Durance wore a sincere smile when he said that, but knowing very well that telling the truth at a moment like this would be dumb.
âGlad to hear that. I was just thinking that if you really do that, Iâll have to bring a few relatives of mine to collect the debts. By then, the money you owed would be enough to fill two caves. Iâll be in a pinch if I donât bring enough helping hands. Fortunately, youâre a loyal person. I like people like you. Good to know that I wonât be needing my relatives so soonâ
Duranceâs smile instantly stiffened.
âHeh.â He could only laugh wryly, plop down next to Rosdell and gestured to him. âGive me a full glass too.â
Lastly, there was Choobchoob and Diana, whose presence was somehow growing weaker.
Noticing both Lilithâs and Lesiahâs gazes, Choobchoob shrunk and sat down next to Durance. âI wonât expose your identity. I wonât owe you money either! D-Donât find meâ¦â she waved her hands at Lilith.
Lilith rubbed her chin helplessly. Was she this terrifying?
She turned her head to look at Diana.
âMy martial niece, whatâs wrong with you? Why do I feel like you have grown less talkative lately?â
âHmm, is that so?â
Diana was deep in her thoughts when Lilithâs voice pulled her back to reality. She scratched her head and said, âHaha, I guess I just have a bit of a hard time to suddenly accept that my subordinate is a dragon.â
While saying that, Diana leaned forward shamelessly and smiled cunningly. âYouâll count me in, right?â
Lilith pressed a finger on Dianaâs forehead and gently pushed her away. Her dead fish eyes were as still as the water of an ancient well as she uttered every word, âMy good martial niece, address me as your martial aunt.â
Diana instantly became crestfallen. She took a seat beside Durance, then waved. âHand me the entire bottle!â
Rosdell rolled his eyes at her. âI donât have much left. Just one glass at most.â
âTsk, stingy.â
Lilith looked at Lesiah, who also returned her gaze.
In the end, it was Lilith who broke the silence first. âArenât you leaving? Itâs going to get really dangerous from here on out.â
Lesiah answered her question with another question instead. âDo you want me to leave?â
âNo.â
âThen that settles it.â Lesiah smiled and took a seat beside Lilith.
Lilith sat up and gently leaned on Lesiah.
âI told you, I wonât run away again, no matter in what aspects. Iâm done running.â
Lesiah secretly held Lilithâs hand. Their body heat was transmitted to each other through their skin. She looked into Lilithâs eyes, her jewel-like eyes seemed to have stars shining in them. Her soft and silver hair glimmered like the Milky Way.
âSo Lilith, you have to fulfill your promise too. Donât let me die.â
The corner of Lilithâs mouth lifted into a smile.
âOf course.â
Cough! Cough!
Rosdellâs eyes reddened slightly as he cursed angrily. âStupid wine is really too strong.â
Like a caring brother, Lucas patted his shoulder and comforted him in a serious voice, âThink on the bright side, at least you didnât lose to a man or even a human. This is nothing to be embarrassed of, if words get out.â
Rosdell was rendered speechless. He threw away his wine glass and started chugging the bottle instead.
The wine was a highly distilled home-brewed rice wine, so it had a very bitter taste.
As soon as the wine entered oneâs throat, its bitterness was enough to drown out someoneâs sorrows momentarily.
âUhmmâ¦â Choobchoob, the only one who had not been drinking among their group, raised her hand and asked, âIsnât this entrance blocked for some reason? Where are we going?â
ââ¦..â
The atmosphere suddenly turned eerily silent. No one answered.
Diana stroked her chin in deep thought. âSpeaking of which⦠Did we forget something?â