Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 550: Aelenius

Chapter 550: Aelenius

"This will be your room, sir, ma’am." A young deckhand who looked no older than eighteen remarked as he stood before room 102 in the living quarters of Athena.

The hallway was fancifully decorated with noble colors of gold and white serving as the order of the day, with ornamental flowers at every corner, and finally, the latest innovation in gas lamps serving as illumination.

"Well thank you," Alex replied, adopting the role of an aristocratic noble quite well while Ana delved into her thoughts and Ulysses scrutinized the interior with rather keen eyes.

"This is your key." The boy said as he handed a key over before bowing. "Please do call me if you need anything. My name is Jack and I have several useful skills."

As suggestive as the boy sounded, Alex chose to ignore it as he pulled out a gold coin and handed it to the young lad, leaving him speechless.

"Thank you, sir." Jack intoned enthusiastically after which he went on his way.

Shaking his head in slight amusement, Alex used the key to open the door after which he stepped inside with his luggage with Ulysses following closely behind.

Judging from the room, it appeared to have been built specifically for two, a room for a couple in a sense.

Ulysses’ expression turned ugly. "Does this mean we won’t be staying in the same room?"

"Seems like it," Alex remarked as he placed his luggage down to survey the room.

"Well, what now?" Ulysses was worried that he’d have to play the role of a servant boy even further which might mean heading to the lower decks to spend the night.

After all, he’d heard about lower decks on such advanced steamships, and Ulysses didn’t wish to experience living down there.

Alex chuckled as he saw the terror written on his face. "Don’t worry, from what I could tell, not all rooms will be filled up, which means we can discuss with Captain Vissarion to let you stay in one of the free rooms."

Ulysses let out a sigh of relief as he replied. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Just then, Ana spoke up, drawing attention to her. "Alex."

"Hmm?"

"I was thinking about what Ulysses said about the rules of the sea."

"Yeah?"

"He said that long-distance teleportation isn’t possible and the Spirit World as well as the DreamWorld are not accessible, so how exactly are the others going to meet up with us?"

Alex furrowed his brows as he realized that he hadn’t thought of that.

"If they can’t teleport, nor can they use other means to quickly get across, wouldn’t that mean that us leaving now is the same as abandoning them?"

"We don’t have much of a choice, do we?"

"How can you say that?"

"Would you rather they come along when they aren’t there yet?... Ana, they need to grow stronger and unfortunately, I cannot wait for that."

"... So you are abandoning them?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"They will catch up with us sometime in the future, hopefully when they are stronger. Until then, we will continue the journey alone. If you are unwilling, then you are free to stay but I have wasted enough time, Ana."

Ana pursed her lips before ultimately nodding, a melancholic smile etched on her lips. "Alright."

With that, she said no more, instead turning to leave the room.

"Ana, where are you going?"

"To get some fresh air." Came the curt response after which the door was rather violently slammed shut.

Alex let out a tired sigh while Ulysses found himself feeling rather awkward with no chance to excuse himself naturally.

***

Aelenius arrived in Albanum on a white horse, wearing a pristine silver armor that seemed to have been forged by angels with an emblem of the Only One God etched on his breastplate.

His silvery white hair was tied in a bun behind and his pale white skin seemed to be in danger of being burned by the unforgiving rays of the Lightbringer, yet he remained just fine.

With an expression filled with disgruntlement, he swept his gaze across the walls of the barely surviving town that had borne the brunt of the unholy nights that crimson sky had brought.

To think that His Holiness would send him to such a place when a glorious crusade was being planned irked him greatly.

But alas, who was he to decline when the Archbishop gave him a task ordained by the Only One God?

So despite his anger, he swore to carry out his task quickly so that he may return to partake in the upcoming crusade against the heretics in Zion.

"Sire, do we carry out reconnaissance first?" One of the fifty armored men behind him asked.

He glanced at the one that spoke, a dark-haired fellow with a bit of muscle to him.

"That won’t be necessary. Albanum is mostly wreckage right now. There are very few places for an evil entity to hide."

"But is it alright to go in now, mi lord?... I believe it would be best to go in at night since that is when evil forces run rampant the most."

"Foolish." Aelenius mocked the man. "Only a fool would fight evil on its terms. As a member of the church and a soldier under my command, you must fight not just with your fist, but with your brain as well."

"Apologies, mi lord."

"It is fine; you have much to learn, and you will learn it, one way or the other. Now, come along, there is evil to be vanquished."

"In the name of the Only One God!"

With that, they rode forward, approaching the tall gates to be discovered by the town’s guard.

A sharp toll rang out the next second as the town guard announced to the people of Albanum.

"The church has sent help, we are saved!"

The townspeople, plagued by terror, first by the cursed night and then by the Cloaked Devil, finally felt a bit of hope as they watched Aelenius ride into town on his white horse, resembling a hero destined to save them.

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