Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 316: What have I done?

Chapter 316: What have I done?

Black and white flashed within the silent Wandering Forest with Alex and co emerging from it, all breathing heavily as they dropped to the ground.

Taking a moment to inspect their surroundings revealed them to be a few meters away from the Hole... or rather, the Pit.

Alex let out a sigh as he placed his hand on his neck, feeling it out as he recalled the sensation he got just as Aiden had raised the wooden sword.

It was death... a death so quick Alex wished for nothing more than to flee.

An instinctual response, one born out of a desire to remain until his work was done.

Before that... he couldn’t afford to die.

No, not again.

As he found himself slowly sinking into the terrifying dread that came from contemplating death, Alejandro’s boisterous laugh snapped him out of it.

"Aiden Creed... that monster is still as powerful as the first time I fought him," Alejandro muttered as Alex turned to regard him, a complicated expression etched on his visage.

"You have fought with him?"

"Indeed. It was after my coronation. I know not why but he visited Aragon. I was... hot-blooded for lack of a better word. Though I cannot go into details, I would say that the battle was legendary. It took years before I could recover from the injuries. I will tell you now, he is not a man to be trifled with."

"Yet you let me challenge him?!" Alex seemed quite peeved at the thought though he knew blaming Alejandro was a stretch.

Alejandro chuckled. "Well, I did intend to say something..."

"..."

"I intended to ask if he would be open to returning with us so I’d provide a much better sparring arena for the both of you."

"Are you out of your mind?... Are you trying to get me killed after I helped you save your kingdom!"

Alejandro chuckled before shifting to meet Alex’s gaze. "You are quite hot-blooded at the moment, it’s a welcome change to your calm and collected demeanor. At least right now, I know you are being genuine."

Alex barely restrained himself as the urge to punch Alejandro lingered at the back of his mind.

After a few seconds of contemplation, he decided against it, letting out a sigh as he collapsed on the ground, allowing himself a few moments of respite as he listened to the beating of his heart.

All that mattered now was that he was alive and with that, his deal with Alejandro was done on his part.

Choosing to focus on the good side, Alex finally calmed down.

Meanwhile, Ana was left to come to terms with the fact that she’d escaped from the claws of what could only be described as her worst nightmare.

She glanced at Alex, watching him relax his nerves and once again, found herself feeling indebted to him.

Victoria on the other hand was left to rue her weakness.

Not once, but twice so far, she’d found herself completely useless, utterly unable to help when needed.

It caused her to realize that she was no longer in her castle in the mountains.

Closing her eyes, she began to contemplate methods to grow her strength.

As the group finally regained themselves after more than an hour of rest, they finally decided to get a move on.

Perhaps due to his now calm state, Alex noticed changes in the Wandering Forest.

For one, the destruction they’d left behind during their battle with Platadoris was all but gone with new trees already sprouting to cover up the damage.

This could be attributed to the fact that the Ents, though reduced by more than half, were still alive and so their presence helped to nourish the forest, returning it to its evergreen state.

Also, and most importantly, the pervasive air of the Abyss was all but gone, removing the shadows it had cast on the forest, allowing the golden rays of the Lightbringer to illuminate the greenery below.

It was a welcome change, one that assured them all that their work was done... that they had won.

***

It took two days but the group finally arrived at the periphery of the Wandering Forest where Enrique and the surviving King’s Guard were waiting to receive them.

It was a reunion filled with fanfare as Alejandro greeted his men with victory.

The rejoicing did not stop even when they arrived at Aragon as the city opened its gates with fanfare, those within celebrating the return of the Rey and the reclamation of the Wandering Forest from the Abyss.

It was almost like they had expected it.

Like they’d never considered the idea of losing.

Perhaps this was because of the trust they had built in one another... a trust that transcended all to make them as one.

Alex for a moment found himself envying them.

Such a manner of living... It was simple, far removed from the complicated life he had to saunter through daily.

Perhaps there would come a day he too could experience such straightforward living.

Until then, however... he would focus on what was.

In any case, Alejandro had not lied when he told Aiden that his people had a custom of celebrating victories with festivals as Alex was invited by the Rey to the palace for what was to be the opening party for the festival.

Not one to turn down an opportunity to unwind considering what he’d experienced over the last few days, Alex accepted for a different reason.

Two, actually, one of which was Alejandro finally delivering on his promise to share information he had on the Supreme Order, and secondly... the proxy would be attending.

Everything was slowly falling into place.

***

There were advantages just as there are disadvantages when pioneering a new domain in the world of mysticism.

The advantage was that one’s enemies would never know what to expect.

The disadvantage was that one would never know what to expect.

That was precisely the condition Arwen found herself in as she watched her pale flames engulf several buildings at a time, her eyes widened in shock while her palms served as the source of the uncanny conflagration.

"... What have I done?"