Chapter Sixty-Nine: Messenger

Zephiron’s tension visibly eased when he saw Aldren, the Vice-Captain of the 6th Pillars, approach. Knowing Aldren’s reputation for being calm and measured, Zephiron believed this chaotic situation might finally come to an end. Relief washed over him, though it was short-lived.

Aldren’s eyes, sharp and commanding, locked onto him. “Zephiron,” he said with an authoritative tone that sliced through the air like a blade. “Do not speak.”

Before Zephiron could utter a word in response, his mouth was sealed shut, silenced by Aldren’s sheer will. The air around him grew heavy with Aldren’s undeniable presence, and Zephiron’s earlier relief transformed into dread.

Turning his attention to Yozora, Aldren’s tone softened, though it carried an undercurrent of diplomacy that felt rehearsed. “Yozora,” he began, his voice calm yet distant. “Sadly, this whole event was a misunderstanding. You see, a certain meeting happened after… all of this had been arranged.” His words hung in the air like smoke, their vagueness more frustrating than clarifying. “On the matter of your parents, I hope you’re relieved to know that the ambush was disrupted.”

But Yozora’s glare, as cold and sharp as an electrified blade, cut through Aldren’s carefully measured tone. His voice was like a slow, venomous current. “You talk as if nothing happened,” he said, his tone carrying the weight of barely restrained fury. “Ignarok and Nuri are both dead thanks to this bullshit! Whether my parents live or die, vengeance will fall on those who orchestrated this.”

A terrifying, hollow smile spread across Yozora’s face, his voice dripping with a calm menace. “Tell me who’s behind this.”

Aldren didn’t flinch, though the tension in the air thickened. With a smirk that bordered on mocking, he replied, “As much as I adore you, dear Yozora, that information is… above me.” His tone was casual, almost flippant, as he added with a playful wink, “What I can say for certain is that you should return to Earth. Oh, and…” Aldren’s demeanor shifted suddenly, his voice tinged with fear and a sarcastic edge, “I was told by a certain evil witch to give you a specific location. A place called The Tavern, a central convergence point deep beneath the city of Houston. There, you’ll find the person you’ve been after for quite some time.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Yozora’s response was cold and calculating, his fury barely held back. “I see,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Aldren. “First, I’ll confirm my parents’ safety. Then I’ll see about this Tavern. Give me the location.”

Aldren’s smirk widened as he blushed faintly, his voice dripping with flirtation. “I’ve always loved that demanding tone of yours,” he purred. Then, with a sudden psychotic edge to his voice, he added, “It’s so titillating.”

Yozora’s eyes dimmed, his patience nearing its end. “The location, Aldren.”

Snapping back to reality, Aldren cleared his throat, momentarily dropping his playful facade. “Oh, right! The location is your home—Houston.”

Yozora’s gaze burned with cold fury, his voice now commanding. “Open a gateway. I know you’re an A-class Beyond, so you should be able to bypass Circe’s realm.”

Aldren tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he replied, “I’ll do it, but it’ll cost you later on, mmk?” His tone dripped with flirtation once more. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, “Don’t worry about your friend Sirius. The only one who has anything to worry about is Zephiron.”

With nothing but the sound of his voice, Aldren whispered, “Open.” The air around them shifted the sound was like a jacket being unzipped—smooth, deliberate, and oddly chilling.

As Yozora approached the portal, Aldren’s voice followed him. “I know you’re worried,” he said, his tone oddly sincere for once. “But don’t be. If I wanted to harm Sirius or you, I’d have done it already. Instead, I only put Sirius to sleep. So leave without worry.”

Yozora paused just before stepping through the portal, his voice low and dangerous as he replied, “I’m not worried. Sirius is already awake. You, Aldren, should be afraid because he’s about to study you like a science project.”

The moment Yozora stepped through the portal, Aldren’s confident smirk wavered, the reality of Sirius’s awakening settling over him like a storm cloud. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the still-open portal. For the first time, Aldren felt the faint sting of unease.