Chereads / Under The Grim Dark Sky / Chapter 3 - Through the Lancer that Pierce a Heart

Chapter 3 - Through the Lancer that Pierce a Heart

Felix found himself in a perfume shop, surrounded by a myriad of scents and fragrances.

As he perused the shelves, a man in his forties approached him with a friendly smile.

Felix responded with a cold stare but quickly shifted his gaze upon spotting his favorite perfume-the lavender fragrance.

A glimmer of interest sparked in Felix's eyes as he reached for the familiar bottle. Sensing Felix's connection to the scent, the shop owner couldn't help but smile and informed him that it was the last remaining stock of the lavender perfume.

Though the owner seemed intrigued by Felix's reaction, he brushed it off, solely focused on acquiring the perfume he desired.

Without hesitation, Felix purchased the perfume and swiftly left, leaving the owner with a bewildered expression.

Instead of relying on a servant, he chose to buy it himself, unwilling to entrust this task to anyone else but Lin.

It wasn't a scent he had favored in the past, but it held a significant meaning-Lin was the reason for it all.

"The cloak that the seemingly foolish servant sold to us has proven to be unexpectedly helpful in our quest to acquire a powerful weapon," one of the individuals whispered.

"Yeah, what should we do with him?" the other responded, a sinister tone lacing his words.

Felix's curiosity was piqued as he overheard their conversation while passing by.

A smirk crept onto Felix's face as he contemplated the situation. Intrigued by the information these individuals possessed, he decided to follow them discreetly. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a shadow to trail behind them, granting him an unseen vantage point.

Expertly utilizing his mana, Felix teleported himself to the top of a nearby building. Clutching his favorite perfume in his hand, he closed his eyes and focused on the perspective provided by the shadow, eager to unravel the mystery that lay ahead.

The two men entered what seemed to be a prison cell, its interior obscured by darkness. The shadow Felix had cast could only reveal a glimpse of the gloomy surroundings, unable to fully explore the depths of the prison or decipher its true nature.

Suddenly, a voice emerged from behind the shadow. It belonged to a young man, accompanied by the mischievous laughter of a girl.

They seemed to be conversing with someone, but Felix couldn't discern the full conversation clearly. The instability of the shadow hindered the transmission of sound, possibly due to a magical force within the prison.

"This is messed up. The shadow's transmission is being interrupted," Felix muttered in frustration, opening his eyes and rubbing his temples. With a surge of mana, he teleported himself back to his condo, leaving the perfume gently placed on his table.

Determined to investigate the mysterious interruption, Felix decided it was time to follow his shadow once again. He quickly engaged his teleportation ability, anticipating that he would be transported to the location where his shadow had vanished.

However, to his surprise, he materialized in front of a man with a bleeding head who's in the prison cell.

"Oh, I didn't expect the shadow to possess greater capabilities than you," Felix grinned, intrigued by the situation unfolding before him. He continued with what he had been saying, his voice laced with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity.

"Lin."

The blonde, good-looking man in front of Felix slowly opened his eyes, unable to see clearly without his glasses, which had been confiscated. However, upon hearing the voice, a look of shock washed over his face.

"Master?" he questioned, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, why are you so shocked?" Felix sneered, a twisted smile playing on his lips. "Do you find it unbecoming? A master saving his servant? How weak of you."

His piercing blue eyes gleamed with a dark intensity, casting an ominous aura as he gazed at his bewildered servant. The darkness seemed to emanate from Felix, adding to the unsettling atmosphere in the room.

Lin gulped audibly, his unease evident as he closed his eyes briefly. When he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Master, if I had the opportunity to leave, I would take it. However, in my current state, especially without my glasses, it would be difficult to navigate and find my way out. What do you think?"

His response carried a mix of fear and vulnerability, unsure of how his master would interpret his words.

Felix noticed that Lin's cloak was missing as well, adding to the mystery surrounding their current situation. Felix began to explore and investigate the area. The magic barrier proved to be more formidable than he had anticipated.

Turning his attention back to Lin, a thought crossed Felix's mind. "Hey, does your mana...?" he started to inquire, but before he could finish his sentence, Lin nodded in understanding.

"Yes, it's gone, just like I did to the girl," Lin replied, his voice tinged with a mix of guilt and regret.

"Hmm, that's quite messed up. But how on earth did you manage to get captured?" Felix asked, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

Lin sighed, his voice filled with a hint of frustration as he began to explain. "Long story short, I was in the process of selling that girl's cloak when suddenly someone struck me on the head."

Felix's amusement grew, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Hit on the head? And it was done by those two men?

Lin's expression turned perplexed. "Two men? No, it was actually a girl and a boy who had the ability to manipulate..." Before Lin could finish his sentence, a chair came hurtling towards Felix's face, effectively interrupting him.

"You're trespassing," a chilling voice echoed from nearby, accompanied by the familiar mischievous laughter.

Lin watched as Felix remained silent, his own anxiety intensifying. He desperately wished to break the suffocating silence, but fear held his tongue. He didn't want to linger in this precarious situation any longer.

Still, Felix remained silent.

"This is our territory. Leave at once, or I will not hesitate to slit that blonde's throat," the voice threatened, the coldness in its tone sending shivers down Lin's spine.

A low, commanding voice suddenly filled the room, emanating from Felix. "What? Do it," he uttered with a mixture of amusement and defiance.

His laughter resonated through the space as he locked eyes with the unknown boy before him. Who was he to think that he could scare him?

The atmosphere grew tense as the two locked in a silent standoff, each refusing to back down.

Lin observed the exchange with a mix of apprehension and curiosity, unsure of what would happened next.

The room was filled with an eerie energy, as if it teetered on the edge of an impending clash.

As Felix remained silent earlier, a dark shadow slowly materialized behind Lin, its presence sending a chilling sensation through the room. Without uttering a single word, Felix had unleashed a hidden force, ready to intervene.

Unfazed by Felix's display, the unknown boy swiftly approached Lin, his intent clear as he prepared to carry out his threat and slit Lin's throat.

However, just as he made his move, the shadow surged forward, enveloping Lin and transporting him to Felix's side in an instant.

A triumphant smirk curled across Felix's lips as he observed the sudden turn of events. His eyes gleamed with a mixture of satisfaction and amusement, reveling in the shock on the boy's face. The balance of power had shifted, leaving Felix in control of the situation.

"What kind of ability is that..." The boy's words trailed off as a sudden gust of wind slammed him against the wall, causing him to cough up blood from the impact.

Meanwhile, the girl who had been present earlier wore a mixture of confusion and fear on her face.

Felix nonchalantly adjusted his hair, seemingly unfazed by the chaos he had unleashed. His servant, still bound by ropes, struggled to free himself from his restraints.

With a deliberate and slow turn of his head, Felix's gaze fell upon the girl. A bone-chilling chill ran down her spine, rendering her immobile and robbing her of the ability to manipulate objects around her. The room was now filled with an aura of dominance and apprehension as Felix.

"Scaredy cat," Felix taunted mischievously, a sinister grin spreading across his face. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a shadowy figure in the form of a lancer, ready for action.

The girl, filled with hesitation and uncertainty, stood up, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.

But before she could make a move, a cold steel weapon swiftly impaled her heart. A gurgled gasp escaped her lips as she coughed up blood, her gaze turning towards the unconscious boy, pleading for help or understanding.

The room fell into an eerie silence, disturbed only by the girl's fading breaths.

The boy, now conscious after being struck by the impact of the wind, found himself overwhelmed with shock and fear at the sight happening in front of him. His eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed the gruesome outcome of Felix's actions.

Trembling with a mixture of terror and confusion, he struggled to comprehend the events that had transpired. The boy's gaze shifted between the lifeless girl, whose heart had been pierced.

"Oh, right. I suppose I am trespassing," Felix remarked with a chilling nonchalance, a disturbing smile etched upon his face as if he hadn't just taken a life.

The boy stood there, speechless, his body frozen with shock and disbelief. He was unable to bring himself to move or call for help, his eyes fixed on the lifeless body of the girl, his mind grappling with the horror of the situation.

The lingering shadow enveloped Felix and Lin, completing a circle of darkness before whisking them away to the safety of their condo.

As they reappeared in their familiar surroundings, Lin squinted his eyes, struggling to adjust to the sudden change in lighting. Relief washed over him as he realized they had escaped the confinement of that place after nearly two days of imprisonment.

"You really went ahead and killed that girl," Lin stated matter-of-factly as he made his way to his master's outfit room to retrieve a new pair of glasses.

Meanwhile, Felix sat in his swivel chair, lazily munching on an apple from the fruit bowl on his table.

He reclined, gazing out of the window with an air of indifference, as if the recent events held no weight on his conscience.

Silence hung in the room, punctuated only by the sound of Lin rummaging through the wardrobe.

The gravity of the girl's death lingered, casting a shadow over the otherwise serene atmosphere, contrasting starkly with Felix's nonchalant demeanor.

Emerging from the wardrobe in his fresh uniform and brand-new glasses, Lin confronted Felix, his voice tinged with a mixture of accusation and curiosity.

"Master, it was heartless of you to kill that girl. But I must know, why did you save me?"

Felix's gaze shifted from the outside world to Lin as he contemplated the question. With a casual shrug, he responded, "Heartless, you say? Perhaps. As for why I saved you, well, it was a matter of convenience."

Lin furrowed his brows, his eyes fixed on Felix, waiting for a more substantial answer. "Convenience? What do you mean?"

A mischievous glint flickered in Felix's eyes as he took another bite of his apple. "Let's just say your skills and loyalty still hold value to me. Besides, it wouldn't be as fun without you around."

Lin's expression turned from confusion to a mix of disbelief and resignation.

"It's obvious that I'm joking," Felix replied with a playful grin, dispelling the tension in the room.

"But, hey, Sole's actually inviting us to the Cluster Dome. That's why I went through the trouble of saving you. I mean, I could dispose of you if I wanted to, but since it was a rather urgent matter, I decided to find and rescue you."

Lin's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of relief and curiosity washing over him. "Sole? Second young master? Inviting us to the Cluster Dome? That's a significant opportunity. Why would they extend such an invitation?"

Felix's smile widened mischievously. "Ah, that's the beauty of it. We'll find out soon enough. The Cluster Dome is a place of power, intrigue, and hidden secrets. It will be an adventure unlike any other."

Lin nodded, his curiosity piqued. As a servant, he couldn't help but wonder why someone like him was being invited to such an esteemed event. What role did he have to play in the grand scheme of things?

Turning to Felix, he voiced his question. "Master, forgive my curiosity, but why would someone like me be invited to the Cluster Dome? What purpose do I serve in such an influential gathering?"

"I don't know, do you think I have an idea?" Felix responded with a hint of annoyance, as he casually grabbed another fruit from the table. Just as he was about to take a bite, the human guard entered the room, interrupting their conversation.

"My apologies, Master Felix, but I wanted to remind you about tomorrow's gathering at the Cluster Dome," the guard said respectfully before swiftly exiting the room, not giving Felix a chance to respond.

Felix sighed, his irritation fading into intrigue. "You see that, Lin? It seems this gathering is truly significant if the guard keeps reminding me about it. There must be something important happening there."

Lin nodded, his curiosity reignited. "Indeed, if even the guard feels the need to constantly update you about it, then it must be an event of great importance. We should prepare ourselves accordingly, Master."

"Yes, but before that, can we play another chess match again?" Felix asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Lin glanced at him with an annoyed expression. "Shut it, master. I won't be playing chess with you anymore. You always cheat and manipulate the pieces to your advantage."

Felix let out a playful chuckle, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, come on, Lin. Where's the fun in playing a fair game? Besides, it's not my fault if I always outsmart you."

Lin crossed his arms, a stubborn look on his face. "I refuse to be humiliated again and be blamed If I won. I have better things to do than waste my time playing chess with a manipulator like you."

Felix raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Manipulator? I prefer the term 'strategic genius.' But suit yourself, Lin. Just know that you're missing out on an opportunity to learn from the best."

Lin rolled his eyes, realizing it was futile to argue further. "Forget it, just do what a god usually does."

"Fine, fine," Felix replied with a nonchalant shrug. He lazily reached for a pen on his desk and picked up the stack of papers that the human guard had left behind while he was at the perfume shop.

As he started flipping through the papers, his mind shifted into a more serious mode. Despite his playful demeanor, Felix knew there were responsibilities that came with his position as a god. The Cluster Dome gathering may provide an opportunity for him to exercise his influence and make significant decisions.

Lost in thought, Felix began to analyze the papers, contemplating the implications and considering the actions he needed to take. Lin observed him silently, recognizing the shift in his master's demeanor.

With the weight of his godly responsibilities pressing upon him, Felix prepared to navigate the complex web of power and influence that awaited him at the Cluster Dome, ready to make his mark on the world in his own enigmatic way.