Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 438: Second Stroke

Chapter 438: Second Stroke

"Aren’t you done yet?" Albus inquired calmly as he came to stand at the store entrance, his gaze falling on Rose still writing down the items he was meant to buy.

Rose, wearing a pair of spectacles to help with the rather mundane task, replied. "Just a moment dear, I have to be sure I don’t make a mistake so we don’t have to step out of the house till further notice."

"Ah, that would be best."

"Indeed," Rose muttered before proceeding to mutter to herself. "Let’s see, let’s see..."

Then trailing off, she seemed to come to a quick realization as she snapped her fingers excitedly. "Ah yes, I knew I was forgetting something."

Quickly writing it down, she turned to face Albus who was watching her work with a sheepish smile on his face.

"What weird thought is going through your old mind?" Rose teased as she rose to her feet.

Even as a middle-aged lady, she still had a bit of sass and she was hardly afraid to use it.

Albus chuckled as he replied. "Just happy."

"Oh?"

"It’s been really lonely... I’m glad I get to spend our last years together."

Rose paused, having not expected his words.

A warm smile adorned her wrinkle-covered face as she approached and hugged him tightly while muttering. "I’m glad as well."

Albus embraced her back and took a deep breath, wishing to forever imprint her smell in his mind.

Rose chuckled. "Alright, alright, quickly get going before it gets late, it wouldn’t be good to be caught by the city security after curfew is announced."

"I’ll be back shortly."

"And I’ll be waiting at the fireplace with a piping hot cup of tea for you once you return."

"Sugared?"

Rose snorted. "In your dreams."

"Hah, a man can dream."

The two chuckled after which Rose pecked Albus while handing over the list she’d written down.

Then, Albus took his leave, while Rose headed to the kitchen to check if the amount of tea leaves available would serve a cup or two.

However, just as she reached for the cabinet, a sudden pain assaulted her senses and she stumbled back, her eyes swimming as a trail of black liquid trailed down the side of her lip.

Struggling to the sink, she vomited the dark ichor in her mouth as her breathing quickened causing her chest to heave.

As she glanced at the reflective surface of the window, a deep sense of foreboding welled up from within.

***

"This is my second stroke," Aiden announced as he got into an offensive stance.

The next moment, Charlotte approached like a phantom, a sonic boom following her steps as she seemed primed to intercept Aiden.

Aiden followed her calmly though while also keeping an eye on Alex as he heard a distinct snap followed by the Dark Lord disappearing from view.

He deigned Charlotte to be of no danger as the phantom came within range and swung her fists multiple times in the span of a few seconds, the attacks which were blocked by the emergence of twelve illusory blades.

At the same time, six clones of Alex appeared in different areas around Aiden before they mimicked a gun after which they all snapped, producing black and white bullets that moved at the same speed as an ordinary bullet.

Aiden however, didn’t move from his position as he let out an audible sigh.

The next moment, the bullets aimed at him turned around and shot toward its origin.

The clones didn’t even get a chance to run as they were struck by the attack.

Despite this, however, Aiden didn’t relax as he kept his gaze in a certain direction only to notice the silhouette of a man approaching seconds later.

"You are quite the coward," Aiden commented on seeing Alex.

Alex shrugged. "It’s not cowardice if it keeps me alive."

"Hmm, you are a strange man."

"Not at all, there are worse people than me when it comes to the art of fleeing in the sight of danger." Alex intoned as he inadvertently recalled the face of a certain noble.

Aiden chuckled at Alex’s shamelessness.

The latter didn’t even hide that he was indeed avoiding a confrontation with him.

"Now then, I believe it is time for my third question."

"No, I believe it is time for mine," Aiden remarked, causing Alex to raise a brow.

"What guarantee do I have that you won’t flee the moment I answer your question?"

"You are unbelievably paranoid," Alex replied, causing Aiden to let out a sigh.

"When you have seen what I’ve seen and know what I know, you’d have no choice but to become quite paranoid. The world is a dangerous place, one terribly unforgiving to the human race."

Taking a deep breath, Alex decided to come to a compromise. "Fine then, you go first."

"What guarantee can you give me that if Ana should ever become the weapon we fear her to be, you would be able to do the right thing to put her down?" Aiden’s words were cold, a bit too cold for a man who should at least consider Ana more than just a weapon.

Perhaps even a pet wouldn’t be spoken about with such coldness.

Alex pursed his lips, forced into deep thought as he pondered Aiden’s question.

Meanwhile, hidden in the dense clouds packed with snow was the topic of discussion, her wings wide open as she listened to what was to be a turning point in her caged life.

***

The walk through the forest of peculiar plant life was quite an eye-opener for the Nester family as they found themselves continually awed by all they saw, each step almost like an adventure.

Of course that didn’t mean they kept their guard down for a moment as they understood how badly it could turn out should they be caught off guard.

This was why when they saw it, they were forced to come to a stop, their gaze scrutinizing the incredible sight with a hint of terror and shock.

The ’it’ in particular was a wide area of flowers with a difference from the other places they’d passed so far, the difference being that it was coated in colorful flames that though burning with fervency, did no damage to the flowers it clung to.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.