The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 230: Creature of the Dark

Chapter 230: Creature of the Dark

Adeline guided Dimitri to his old room, her smile radiant as she walked beside him. The room was left untouched, just as he had left it.

She made sure it was cleaned and ready, a gesture that warmed Dimitri’s heart. Yet, as she bid him goodnight with a soft, "Sweet dreams," and walked away, Dimitri found himself staring at her retreating figure.

His chest tightened. The happiness of being back was undeniable, but he could feel the distance between them.

They were different now, weren’t they? He had grown into the Archmage, burdened by the weight of the crimes of his master.

Adeline, on the other hand, had blossomed into a confident, strong woman with responsibilities and experiences he wasn’t part of.

"Strangers..." He whispered to himself as he shut the door. He shook his head, dismissing the thought.

Lying down on the bed that once brought him comfort, Dimitri felt strangely alien in the space he once called his own. It was the same, yet it wasn’t. The warmth he remembered now felt cold. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to rest, his body exhausted from travel and emotions.

The night was still when Dimitri jolted awake. His ears caught the faint rustling of leaves outside, a sound too deliberate to be the wind. His heart raced as his senses went on high alert.

With practised precision, Dimitri sat up silently, his magic swirling faintly around his fingertips. He listened intently, his sharp ears picking up on an unnatural stillness in the air.

The window was open, and through it came a creeping darkness—thick and black as ink, swirling unnaturally.

"Smoke?" he muttered, but his sharp instincts screamed otherwise. This wasn’t natural. It was something else... Something far more sinister.

The air grew heavy as the darkness poured into the room, blanketing everything. The faint moonlight that had illuminated the room was now completely swallowed, plunging him into absolute darkness.

"No," Dimitri hissed, his hand tightening into a fist. "This isn’t smoke. This is... Forbidden magic."

The oppressive force closed in around him, slithering like a living entity, testing his defences, searching for a weakness. He could feel its intent—it was trying to infiltrate him, take over his mind and body.

"Not a chance," Dimitri growled, summoning his wind magic.

A burst of air exploded outward from him, forming dozens of wind-blades. The daggers sliced through the darkness, but the black smoke seemed impervious, closing the gaps almost instantly.

"Damn it!" he spat through clenched teeth.

The smoke pressed harder, coiling around him like chains, restricting his movements. Dimitri’s breathing grew laboured as he fought against it, his body straining to resist the crushing weight.

"You won’t take me!" he shouted, his voice laced with determination.

Summoning his strength, Dimitri resorted to a simpler technique, an enormous gust of wind. The powerful blast surged outward, breaking the smoke’s grip and forcing it back.

The room cleared momentarily, and Dimitri stood in the centre, panting. The smoke, as if sentient, seemed to hesitate. It pulsed and shifted, almost as though it was thinking.

Then, it began to retreat, flowing back toward the open window.

"Oh no, you don’t," Dimitri muttered, his blue eyes narrowing.

He launched forward, leaping out of the window and landing on the grass below. His bare feet barely made a sound as he scanned the area. The black smoke was retreating into the forest, its trail faint but visible to his trained eyes.

Dimitri gave chase, his magic enhancing his speed. The night was eerily quiet as he pursued the smoke, the moonlight now visible again, casting a pale glow on the surroundings.

"Who’s behind this?" Dimitri muttered under his breath. His mind raced as he thought of potential culprits.

The first name that came to mind was Edward. He knew Edward was well-versed in forbidden magic, and he wouldn’t put it past the priest to attempt something like this.

After all, Dimitri had witnessed Edward’s obsession with Adeline and the lengths he was willing to go to expose her.

The thought fueled Dimitri’s determination. If Edward was behind this, Dimitri needed to find him before he could cause more harm.

The forest grew darker as Dimitri followed the trail. The smoke’s presence lingered in the air, its foul stench unmistakable.

"Show yourself!" Dimitri commanded, his voice echoing through the trees.

There was no response, only the faint rustling of leaves. The smoke had dissipated completely, leaving Dimitri standing alone in the dense woods.

"Coward," he muttered, his fists clenching.

But then, a faint laughter reached his ears. It was low and menacing, sending a chill down his spine.

"Well, well, the great Archmage," the voice taunted, its source hidden in the shadows.

Dimitri’s eyes darted around, searching for the speaker. "Who are you? Show yourself!"

"You have strayed... So far that I could not even recognise you." The voice taunted.

Dimitri looked around and tried to use his magic to sense and locate the person but he couldn’t! He couldn’t find them! This enemy... Was formidable. He did not know who they were or what they wanted...

"What do you want?" Dimitri was hoping he could sense the direction the voice was from. He needed to keep it talking.

Hearing no reply from it. Dimitri tried to provoke it again. "Come out and face me, coward. Or are you only brave when hiding in the dark?"

The laughter grew louder, echoing around him. "Oh, you’ll see me soon enough, Archmage. This is just the beginning." He had to complete his mission!

Dimitri’s sharp senses honed in on the direction of the voice. Without hesitation, he raised his hands, channelling his magic.

"There!" he growled, unleashing a barrage of powerful attacks toward the source of the sound.

Wind blades sliced through the air, crackling with raw energy as they tore into the trees and earth. The night erupted with flashes of light and the sound of destruction. For a moment, there was silence, and then a loud, pained wail pierced the air.

Dimitri’s heart pounded as he moved swiftly toward the sound, his magic ready at his fingertips. He could not let this person escape, not without answers.

As he closed the distance, he finally saw them, a hooded figure slumped on the ground. The person’s posture was strained, their breaths ragged and uneven. They were injured, no doubt stunned by the sheer force of Dimitri’s attack.

Their back was to him, and the hood concealed their identity. Dimitri’s frustration grew. He needed to know who was behind this.

His steps were cautious but deliberate as he approached, his eyes never leaving the figure. The air was thick with tension, and the faint hum of magic surrounded him as he prepared for any sudden moves.

"Who are you?" Dimitri demanded, his voice sharp and commanding. "Why are you here?"

The figure did not respond right away. Instead, a strained laugh escaped their lips. "No... I will not be caught," they muttered, their voice low but filled with defiance.

Dimitri’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, his hand outstretched. He was determined to pull back the hood and see their face.

"Nor am I allowed to kill you," the person continued their tone a mix of pain and mocking amusement. "Ugh... It has been a while since I experienced pain... You are strong, Archmage. I will admit that much."

Their words only fueled Dimitri’s frustration. "Stop talking in riddles," he snapped. "Tell me who sent you!"

The hooded figure ignored him, their body trembling as they let out a ragged breath. "Overcome me, oh great one," they whispered, their voice eerily calm despite their injuries.

Before Dimitri could react, their body began to disintegrate. A faint glow surrounded them, and their form started to crumble into dust.

"No!" Dimitri shouted, lunging forward in an attempt to stop whatever magic was taking place.

But it was too late. In mere seconds, the figure was gone, their body reduced to nothingness. The dust scattered in the faint breeze, leaving no trace behind.

Dimitri stood there, his fists clenched and his breathing heavy. He stared at the empty spot where the figure had been, his frustration mounting.

"Nothing," he muttered under his breath. "I have learned absolutely nothing."

The encounter left him with more questions than answers. Who were they? Was this Edward’s doing? Or was there someone else pulling the strings?

He started to examine the area hoping for some clues. What he found only brought up more fear... No, he was not afraid of his life. He was more afraid of implicating Adeline. The place the person died was stained with blood.

At least, that was what he thought. In the night he could not tell. Only when he got back to the manor he realised that the ’blood’ spilt on the grass was as black as night. This person did not seem to wield forbidden magic, they seemed to be born out of it.

Their entire being was made from it. That was the only explanation. He knew what the blood of forbidden magic practitioners looked like. This was not the first person he met in his life... This was not normal.

A sense of dread overcame him. Who was so powerful enough to summon beings of the dark? Or perhaps... Create beings of the dark? His world seemed to be under attack. With his master’s allies hidden, and now a new threat, he realised that he had his work cut out for him.

He needed to stay beside Adeline and protect her. He could not and would not leave.

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