Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 460: Can we play now?

Chapter 460: Can we play now?

"Daddy, daddy, catch me, daddy, catch me!" Mary Jane remarked with a giggle as she sprinted across the verdant grassland filled with tall grass that was almost her height.

Alex trailed behind, his lips curled in amusement as he chased her.

There was room for regret, owing to the fact that the number of times he’d ever experienced such with MJ could be counted on one hand.

But he chose not to dwell on that and instead enjoyed the moment for what it was.

He soon caught up with his little girl giggling as she embraced Alex, warming his heart greatly.

All his worries seemed to disappear at that moment and he felt a deep sense of peace.

He wondered why he hadn’t enjoyed much more of this during his time on Earth.

"Daddy, are you okay?" MJ inquired as she grabbed Alex’s cheeks, her big innocent eyes trying to read his emotions.

It was terrifyingly cute, leaving Alex smiling sheepishly as he replied. "Of course, with my little angel by my side, what could go wrong?"

MJ giggled as she leaned in, her tiny arms wrapping around Alex’s neck.

Together, they walked back the way they came from, finding Isabella setting up for a picnic.

"I got her," Alex announced in triumph with Isabella shaking her head in amusement.

"Good job."

Setting MJ down, Alex watched as she ran toward Isabella while giggling.

"Mummy, daddy is so slow, he couldn’t catch me as I ran. I had to stop so he would."

Isabella glanced at Alex who was stunned by the preposterous accusation.

Did his daughter just call him slow?

Someone touted as arguably one of the best spies on Earth.

Unbelievable!

But instead of frowning, he continued smiling like an idiot.

Ah, the pains of familial love.

Just then, Alex sensed an intruder in his bliss causing him to turn around just in time to watch as a golden boy emerged from the sea of tall grass.

Alex furrowed his brows as the boy quietly approached. "Ashtyx."

"How did you do it?" Ashtyx inquired in a tone almost similar to MJ’s.

If not for his glowing skin, he could pass off as a normal child instead of an aspect of god.

"Do what?" Alex calmly inquired, apprehensive that such a being had infiltrated his memories.

Douglas had been nice enough to share the truth about what caused the people of Thebes to be stuck in Limbo, ensuring that Alex understood the recklessness of getting on Ashtyx’s nerves.

"This dream... I’d always heard about it but this is my first time actively experiencing it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your dreams... or don’t you realize it?"

"Realize what?"

"The fact that none of this happened. It’s more like an illusion meant to deceive born out of a twisted yearning."

Alex frowned.

The last thing he wanted was for someone to point out that the memory he was basking in was merely a figment of his imagination.

"What does it matter?"

"It doesn’t. I just felt curious and thought to investigate."

"And now?"

"Now I would like to be a part of it."

Alex froze. "Why?"

"... Because it’s boring staying in one place."

"What would happen if I denied your request?"

Ashtyx blinked twice before replying. "I don’t know. Maybe I’ll get upset and create Light Stealers or just send you to Limbo."

It was said in such an innocent manner, that one might think the young child was joking.

Alex was not that stupid.

However, he couldn’t just let the young Ashtyx intrude so casually.

A random thought came to mind and he decided to play it out.

"Fine then, I can let you join in the fun, but we’ll have to trade."

Ashtyx pouted. "What kind of trade?"

"What can you tell me about the other Branches?"

Silence followed as Ashtyx stared at Alex, causing the latter to grow tense as he wondered if he had asked the wrong question.

Douglas had also been nice to let him know about Ashtyx’s dislike for the other Branches.

However, just as he thought to change the question, Ashtyx spoke up. "I can tell you that your quest to gather my siblings inches you and this world towards an inevitable end."

"... And?"

"And that you are merely a pawn in the grand scheme of things. Your quest was flawed from the very beginning. Failure is bound to be the end that awaits you and in that failure, this world and everything within it would surely pay the price for that."

Alex hesitated, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before inquiring. "You can tell that I’m not from here?"

"Unfortunately."

"Will gathering the Branches give me a chance to return?... Please, just tell me. I need to know."

Ashtyx softly replied. "We are indeed capable of wonders, hence, a simple task like returning you to where you come from would be easy to accomplish. However, do you think that after gathering all of us, you would want to return?"

"..." Alex’s lips quivered as he found himself unable to answer.

He was scared no doubt.

There was a reason he was on a schedule. There was a reason he didn’t want to get attached to this world, a reason he didn’t wish to learn too much despite his burgeoning curiosity.

He was terrified of no longer wanting to return, of no longer yearning for home.

So for that reason, he had to hurry.

"Can you send me home?"

Ashtyx shook its head. "No, you are tethered to this world, I’d presume it is because of the quest you are forced to embark on. You cannot leave until it is done and any attempts to send you back would end in your death."

’Nyx.’ Alex thought as he dropped to his knees. "So my only hope..."

"Is to complete the mission you were charged with."

Alex closed his eyes, his heart aching as he realized that his journey was not yet at an end.

A few more to go... he thought to himself and with that thought, he questioned... Would he be able to survive the arduous path ahead with the same desire he started on it with?... Or would he end up falling prey to the entrapments of this world, preventing him from ever returning home?

Just then, Ashtyx inquired, its innocent voice jolting Alex out of his thoughts. "Can we play now?"

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