CHAPTER 66 #5
"Mabuti na lang talaga at kaya ko nang lumabas sa dimension mo, Rassia... because this motherfucker is glowing like hell in your fucking dimension."
Napatingin si Anastacio sa kanya.
"You're still complaining about my flames?"
"Of course I am! your entire body is practically a giant torch in the dimension!"
"I am the Eternal Phoenix."
"And I'm a Fallen Angel. A demon to be exact."
Hindi maiwasang mapailing si Rassia habang pinapakinggan ang dalawa na nagbabangayan.
"At least... Lucy, you're not alone in my dimension anymore. And Anastacio... about my dimension..." ani Rassia. Tila nag-aalala sa kanyang sovereign spirit.
"Dark, broken, and depressing?" mabilis na singit ni Lucy Pearl.
Rassia rolled her eyes at Lucy Pearl.
"Oh, come on, Lucy Pearl. We both know that this dimension reflects both of us. We were the same, remember? Your life force is mine as well, so naturally, a part of you is reflected here."
Hindi na sumagot si Lucy Pearl at umiwas na lamang ng tingin. Napailing muli si Rassia bago napatingin kay Anastacio.
"Anastacio... I'm sorry about my dimension. It is what it is..."
Anastacio, however, simply smiled.
"I don't mind, Master. Your dimension reflects you. It doesn't need to be beautiful to be yours. And as long as I am your Sovereign Spirit, Master, you will never have to face the darkness alone..."
When Rassia finished bathing, she took care of her usual hygiene before changing into a long black dress with a high slit and matching black stilettos.
Her burgundy-red hair flowed down her back, nearly touching the ground, while her mature features carried a calm confidence that had grown stronger during her three years in the cave.
The dark dress suited her perfectly, giving her an elegant yet powerful presence. With the Eternal Flame resting quietly within her mana, even her simplest movements carried an unmistakable aura of authority.
She no longer looked like the Rassia who had entered the cave three years ago. She looked like someone who had awakened alongside her power.
"I'll break the seal of the cave, Master," ani Anastacio.
"No, ako na," mabilis namang tugon ni Lucy Pearl.
Magsasalita sana si Anastacio, ngunit bago pa siya makapagsalita, yumuko si Rassia at inilapat ang kanyang kamay sa sahig ng kuweba.
Sa mismong sandaling dumampi ang kanyang palad sa lupa, biglang yumanig ang buong kuweba.
Isang napakalakas na alon ng mana ang kumalat mula sa katawan ni Rassia at mabilis na dumaloy sa bawat bahagi ng kuweba. Ang mga dingding ay nagsimulang magkaroon ng pulang liwanag habang ang eternal flame mana niya ay kumalat sa paligid.
Napatingin sina Lucy Pearl at Anastacio sa paligid.
The entire cave was glowing burgundy red.
Ramdam nila ang napakalaking kapangyarihang nagmumula kay Rassia, ngunit nanatiling kalmado ang kanyang ekspresyon.
Makalipas ang ilang sandali, biglang tumigil ang pagyanig.
Rassia slowly stood up.
"Done."
Meanwhile, in Vlymir Castle...
Nasa throne hall na ang lahat ng Erenhal, tahimik na naghihintay sa matagal na nilang hinihintay.
Kahit mula sa malayo, ramdam na nila ang napakalaking tatlong presensiyang papalapit. Hindi ordinaryong mana ang mga iyon. The pressure alone was enough to make the air inside the hall feel heavier.
Nakaupo si Drakkon sa kanyang itim na trono, kalmado ngunit halatang naghihintay.
Sa tabi niya ay naroon si Vincentius Raquim, suot ang kanyang prince attire. It was mostly black, decorated with gold and red details that represented the three bloodlines connected to him: Erenhal, Vacardi, and Quentin.
Nasa tabi rin niya si Cayena, tahimik na nakamasid sa malaking double doors ng throne hall.
The princes and princesses were dressed in black, which made their pale skin and black or silver hair stand out even more. Against the darkness surrounding the castle, their ruby eyes appeared even more striking, glowing beneath the faint candlelight.
Anyone who looked at the Erenhals would think they belonged to an ancient royal bloodline.
Their presence was elegant, intimidating, and almost otherworldly. They stood quietly inside the throne hall, yet even without doing anything, each of them carried a powerful and mysterious aura.
The Blood of Old Erenhal carried a beauty that was striking enough to become intimidating. Their beauty was not soft or delicate.
They looked less like ordinary nobles and more like an ancient family that had ruled the darkness for centuries.
And at the center of it all, Drakkon remained seated upon his black throne, silently waiting for the return of his Little Red.
The Half-Erenhals were also present inside the throne hall, dressed in their long black cloaks. Nakahilera sila sa magkabilang panig ng hall, standing quietly as they waited for the presence they had been waiting for over the past three years.
Maya-maya, nagkatinginan sina Thaddeus at Cassandra nang maramdaman nilang biglang nasira ang seal na ginawa nila. Ilang taon nilang pinanatili ang seal na iyon, at alam nilang hindi iyon madaling sirain.
Thaddeus stared toward the closed double doors.
"Damn... she didn't even struggle."
Cassandra's lips slowly curled into a smirk.
"She really did become stronger."
Thaddeus let out a quiet laugh. "Three years, and she broke our seal like it was nothing."
Inosenteng napatingin si Raquim kina Cassandra at Thaddeus, his eyes widening slightly as he finally understood what they were talking about.
"So mommy was really that powerful..."
He slowly looked toward the great doors of the throne hall. "So she's the one I can feel right now..."
His small hands tightened around the edge of his coat as the massive mana presence continued to grow stronger.
"She's getting closer..."
Raquim's ruby eyes brightened with excitement.
"Malapit na siya... malapit na sila..."
Cassandra glanced at him with a knowing smile.
"Yes, Raquim. Your mother is finally coming home."
Tila napaatras ang mga Half-Erenhals nang tuluyan nilang maramdaman ang napakalalakas na presensiyang papalapit.
Tahimik nilang pinasalamatan ang sarili dahil sa lahat ng pagsasanay na ginawa nila sa nakalipas na mga taon. Kung hindi nila pinatatag ang kanilang katawan at mana, baka hindi nila kayanin ang pressure na bumabalot ngayon sa buong throne hall.
Napalunok sina Natalia at Morticia nang maramdaman ang papalakas na presensya at nagkatinginan.
"This is insane..." mahina ni Natalia.
Meanwhile, Cassandra suddenly smirked.
"Hmm... I'll do a little trick for that brat."
Mabilis niyang itinaas ang isang kamay. Sa isang iglap, nagsimulang lumutang ang mga punyal at malalaking espada sa buong throne hall. Isa-isa silang pumuwesto sa paligid ng entrance, ang mga talim ay nakatutok sa direksyong pinanggagalingan ng presensya.
Napatingin si Vladimir kay Cassandra.