Hazel was more swift on her feet than Aesther and since her current abilities also surpassed her sister, it took only a few turns after the chase before Haze grabbed Aesther's arm and kept her in a firm hold.
It was as if she was hugging her arm but in a very possessive way.
"Do you remember I am older than you??"
Aesther asked as she almost staggered by the way Hazel took her through the gardens. The younger sister said nothing, her mouth set in a straight line as she marched forward to bring down justice.
The Alkazar was situated over a rising peak from the town, it ended at the cliff of a silent seat that faced distant mountains. Those mountains were the barrier to their realm and the realm of darkness.
They were shrouded in storm clouds that never ceased, emitting the essence of evil. The remnants of perished ghouls and spirits swirled in those clouds, wailing in the form of thunder.
On the edge of the cliff, there was a dragon pillar. It was a pillar of black stone around which a dragon coiled and rested at the top. His crystal eyes burned with a faint crimson hue.
A light that had been ominously dimming for the last few years.
Aesther's heart clenched.
She saw a man standing near the cliff. His dark robes lined with scarlet fluttered in the raging winds. Two of his fingers were placed over the pillar, surrounded by a light that was like flickering fire.
He alone was strengthening the heavenly barrier in the skies.
The man slightly turned at the unexpected arrival and when their eyes met, Aesther inhaled a shaky breath.
Ezrahl was slender, not as much tall and intimidating he was in the future, but those traits were present. The moonlight was soft over his pale skin, an aura of grace and an enchanting sinister beauty clung to him.
He was different than the devil who ruined but those eyes―the dark and mysterious eyes were like an endless sea. Hiding secrets and dangers that Aesther could only imagine.
It was his eyes that gave his charming appearance a cold and cruel look.
Aesther held his gaze from some distance as she feigned indifference but her soul quivered under that gaze. There was no trace of menace in those eyes, they were cold, distant, and yet oddly calm.
She barely remembered him like that, too used to seeing the ruthless devil.
In her previous life, he had made frightened, anxious, and constantly on nerves. His name was enough to petrify her. The trauma he caused in her life was never forgotten, and he still haunted her nights after she has broken through her weaknesses and become a worthy opponent.
Aesther's fist clenched.
From fear, hatred was born. The flames of rage burned endlessly and she couldn't let them die down, too afraid to be shackled from his fear once again.
Aesther didn't want to see any more of her loved ones die.
As they met once again under the dark clouds and fading moonlight, Aesther couldn't help but stare back at him. Her breaths were erratic from both fear and resentment, but also with the faintest trace of elation.
In this life, she would ruin him.
Ezrahl averted his gaze soon enough, closing his eyes as he focused on the barrier. The dragon pillar's eyes flickered with light and slightly brightened but in the distance, the rumbling of clouds and thunders turned more demonic.
The air was thick with Ezrahl's mana, creating an overbearing force that caused Aesther's legs to go weak. She staggered on her knees surprising Hazel but the latter was also affected badly with the mana, she tried to save Aesther but couldn't.
Ezrahl let go of the pillar, ceasing the constant howls of the wind. His mana gradually faded from the air.
Hazel wanted to immediately leave the cliff and so she said right away.
"Rose committed theft, but she had lied to father and now innocent Nigel is facing his punishment."
Ezrahl lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent and distant. "Have you really done that?"
Aesther replied without missing a beat.
"Never."
"You should know lying to me is futile."
Her breaths stilled at those words. She knew what he meant, but if she accepted theft then there could be other consequences. Things can get very complicated if he used that…
Aesther had learned to lie, she sincerely nodded.
Hazel was at a loss for words when she saw such a convincing response. She quickly added, "Rose was out in the town!"
Ezrahl held Aesther's gaze, and his dark eyes gleamed in a crimson hue making her heart race and cold sweat break out.
He had the blood of dragons and each one of his kind was able to awaken 'the true sight'. It was also known as the sight that reflects heart for one of its abilities was a compulsion. It could make anyone speak the truth.
It had taken Aesther years to strengthen her magic enough to resist this sight.
Ezrahl's eyes captured her into a suffocating hold. He asked the question, "What did you do in the town?"
"N―nothing-!"
Aesther gasped as a familiar agony rippled straight into her heart. A burning sensation spread through every part of her, making her breathless and pained. But amidst this, there was a temptation, she didn't wish to deny Ezrahl.
Resistance made her bones ache and her head throb. She wanted to speak the truth, to let Ezrahl know the secrets she hid inside.
There was no one who could leave the compulsion of the true sight. It didn't matter whether the person was a wolf, a dragon, or anyone else. The sight held the ability to force out answers its wielder demanded.
Only one person in her previous life had been able to resist the sight by relying on her spiritual powers. It was Aesther.
She had faith in herself, hoping to be resilient until the end. But after trembling from the unbearable pain for what seemed like an eternity, Aesther was left with no choice. She gasped out in heavy breaths.
"I―I… did steal from him…"
The pain abruptly stopped but the compulsion still tugged at her heart, making her properly respond to his question.
"...in the pleasure house," Aesther shut her eyes close as the words came out on their own.
Hazel was stunned, her face turning white as tried to comprehend it.
Ezrahl slightly raised his brow. He was no longer sure is it was his position to ask further on the matter.
Aesther could not stay down anymore, the after-effects of the sight had left sucking in the tainted air. Her body was covered in a cold sweat, her face pale, as her fingers trembled uncontrollably.
She could see Ezrahl from her blurry haze, remaining stoic and indifferent even after making her suffer.
The resentment for him coursed through her heart. Not even a day had passed but the mere sight of him made her filled with hatred. He acted as if he was right but she had seen all his dark secrets.
Hazel's expression shifted between unease and fear as she saw how fatal the true sight could get if resisted. She was scared to see how merciless it was.
Aesther wasn't surprised to see Ezrahl crush her even when she was in her weakened state. Her lips curled into a sneer, just look how just the dragon was, so fair and wise.
Ezrahl was a cold-hearted person. In their previous lives, he had been the one to kill Ahzure. Aesther had cried, she begged and pleaded with him to save Ahzure but Ezrahl did nothing.
He silently watched her as he burned her world.
Compared to all that, the punishments that awaited Aesther were nothing much. She could bear the suffocation and the shadow of pain. She hadn't expected anything less from the devil he was.
Aesther could only despise her current weak self. She despised that she couldn't protect herself, that she couldn't ruin Ezrahl the way he had done to her, that she couldn't break him apart little by little as he writhes in all the misery he deserves.
The wild raw hatred slipped through her gaze and Ezrahl caught a glimpse of it.
"What are you thinking about?"
His eyes were still crimson but this time there was no pain that followed her resistance, instead, she felt a warmth seep into her heart.
Aesther knew that familiar feeling and horror flickered inside when she met his gaze as dark as blood.
Ezrahl blinked, the crimson disappearing along with the warmth of her heart. He had an unreadable look, a gaze that was stormy and cold. It lingered over her for a while before he said nothing and left.
Hazel fought a shudder when she caught glimpse of that gaze. She was regretting ever coming to him but Ezrahl was the only dragon in the castle and she could not let an innocent man face punishment.
She hesitantly knelt beside Aesther and unknowingly whispered in a low voice.
"This place is scary, let's go."
Aesther could only imagine what Ezrahl had seen when he entered her heart. It was not something he should be capable of so early, but this ability of true sight made one feel the emotions of others, or read their thoughts.
He probably felt the need to use it after his less invasive method and made her almost collapse.
Recalling the way Ezrahl looked at her, she felt as if death was not far.