The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 232: A Lead

Chapter 232: A Lead

Harnessing the powers of the monsters that plagued them?

Adeline frowned, a sense of foreboding settling over her. "What do you mean?"

Dimitri’s grip on her hand tightened slightly. "He began experimenting," he said, his voice low. "On humans."

Adeline froze, her breath catching in her throat. "What?"

Dimitri’s expression darkened. "You know how young mages come to face the trial, right? The ones who fail... They’re usually killed by the monsters before they can reach the Mage Tower. At least, that’s what everyone believes. But my master... He was collecting them. The injured ones, the ones who barely survived... He would take them and use them for his experiments."

Adeline’s eyes narrowed, she knew where this was going. She was not stupid. The implication was clear... But still, she had to ask. "What kind of experiments?" She said with an uneasy feeling.

Dimitri hesitated for a moment before answering. "He... He was fusing them with the monsters."

Adeline took a step back, her mind reeling. "Fusing them? How is that even possible?"

"Forbidden magic," Dimitri said grimly. "He was trying to combine human and monster traits, hoping to create something stronger than either. I don’t know all the details, but I’ve seen the results. They’re... They’re abominations, Adeline. Twisted, tortured souls who don’t even resemble humans anymore."

Adeline felt a wave of nausea. She couldn’t comprehend the cruelty, the sheer evil of it all. "That’s..." She struggled to find a word that could describe this act of... Malice.

Dimitri did not even have to hear that word. He could tell what she was thinking.

"It is," Dimitri agreed. "And it’s not just the ones he experimented on. The monsters themselves... They’re changing. They’re becoming more aggressive, and more organised. I think... I think his experiments may have affected them too."

Adeline felt a chill run down her spine. The thought of monsters growing stronger, and more dangerous, was terrifying. But the idea that people—innocent young mages—had been used in such a way was even worse.

"What happened to him?" she asked quietly. "Your master?"

Dimitri’s jaw tightened. "I killed him," he said simply. "It was the only way to stop him. But his legacy... His experiments... They didn’t die with him. There are still traces of his work out there, people who followed him, and who believed in his vision. And now, I think they’re coming after me."

She reached out and took his other hand, holding both tightly. "You’re not alone anymore," she said firmly. "Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together."

Dimitri looked at her, his eyes softening, "Thank you, Adeline."

Adeline, determined to lighten the mood and lift Dimitri’s spirits, flashed him a confident smile. "So," she said, placing her hands on her hips, "what’s the plan?"

Dimitri chuckled at her sudden change in demeanour. It was one of the things he admired most about her- her ability to remain steadfast even when faced with grim truths. "

The plan?" he repeated, his voice warming slightly. "Well, I’ve already sent mages all over the Empire to track down their hideouts. They’re working discreetly, gathering information. I haven’t heard back from them yet, but until I do..." He paused, his expression becoming serious. "I will be following a lead of my own."

Adeline raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "You mean we will be following a lead," she corrected him firmly.

Dimitri blinked, momentarily surprised by her insistence, before letting out a small laugh. "Haha, yes, we." His gaze softened as he looked at her, grateful for her unwavering support.

She was so quick to come on board with his plan. She trusted him.

Dimitri then began explaining the details of the hideout. "It’s not far from where you found me years ago," he said. "Back then, I was a helpless kid, lost and powerless. But now..."

He glanced at her with quiet determination. "Things are different. I’m not that same boy anymore. And you... You’re not the same either. You’re a powerful mage now, Adeline."

Adeline felt a little proud. She had come a long way since she came into this world. She fought so many battles and made so many allies... Some were more annoying than the others, yes she was talking about Cassian!

Dimitri continued, his tone growing darker. "Since I became the Archmage, I have made a lot of changes to the Mage Tower. The trials, the ones my master used to conduct, are gone. No more forcing young mages to risk their lives in some barbaric tradition. I’ve changed the echelons, too. The entire system is much more nurturing now."

Adeline nodded, her admiration for him growing. Dimitri had taken something cruel and broken and turned it into something better.

"But," he said, his voice heavy, "those who followed my master... they haven’t stopped. Without access to the Mage Tower and its injured young mages, they’ve turned to other sources. Refugees."

Adeline’s breath hitched. "Refugees?" she repeated, horrified. They were innocent people who sought shelter in their Empire. She had been fighting for them and ensuring that her territory would never be such a place.

And now she found out that there were hideouts in the West, it was simply disheartening. She was even more eager to eradicate them. She intended for them to feel all the pain their victims felt.

Dimitri did not notice the change in Adeline. She was more furious, she did not want to sneak attack, she wanted to publicly drag them and make an example of them.

Dimitri nodded grimly and continued. "Yes. Most refugees don’t have powers, which makes them less useful for experiments. But to them, it’s better than nothing. They have started targeting these vulnerable people, abducting them under the guise of offering help or sanctuary. Their experiments must continue, and they want to destroy me for what I did to their master. I’ve become their primary obstacle, and they will not stop until I’m out of the way."

Adeline clenched her fists, anger bubbling within her. The thought of innocent people being used for such vile purposes made her blood boil.

Dimitri placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "That’s why I need to act quickly," he said. "The hideout I’m tracking is just one of many. But it’s a start."

Adeline’s eyes sparkled with determination. "We’ll stop them, Dimitri," she said firmly.

Dimitri nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. He had no doubt that with Adeline by his side, they could face anything.

Adeline glanced around the garden, her mind racing with thoughts. She needed more information, a clearer picture of what they were up against. Her thoughts turned to the Goddess.

"You heard that?" Adeline asked silently, directing her thoughts inward.

"Yes, yes, I heard it," came the Goddess’s voice, tinged with mild exasperation. "You don’t have to shout in your mind, you know."

Adeline smirked. "Good. Then I assume you’ll look into this matter for me?"

The Goddess let out an audible huff. "Hmph. You really have a way of ordering me around like I’m some personal assistant."

"Oh, come on," Adeline teased. "You know you love helping me."

The Goddess didn’t respond right away, but Adeline could feel her presence lingering. After a moment, the Goddess spoke again, her tone softer. "Fine. I’ll see what I can find. But don’t expect me to do all the work for you."

Adeline chuckled inwardly. "Fine, fine. Just do what you can."

Dimitri noticed her small smile and tilted his head curiously. "What’s so amusing?"

"Nothing," Adeline said quickly, waving a hand dismissively. "Just... Thinking about how far we’ve come."

As they continued discussing their plans, Dimitri outlined what he knew about the hideout. It was located in a remote area, hidden deep within the forest.

The people running it were skilled at covering their tracks, making it difficult for anyone to find them. But Dimitri had managed to uncover a lead- a small group of refugees who had escaped from their clutches.

"They told me about the experiments," Dimitri said, his voice tinged with anger. "The ones who survived... They were scarred, physically and mentally. Their words were incoherent, they could barely understand what happened to them."

Adeline felt a shiver run down her spine. The thought of such atrocities being committed was almost too much to bear.

"But," Dimitri added, his tone hardening, "they also mentioned something important. A symbol. It’s the same one my master used, a mark of his twisted ideology. It’s how I know these people are connected to him."

Adeline’s eyes narrowed. "Then we’ll destroy them," she said fiercely.

Dimitri smiled faintly. "You haven’t changed," he said.

"And you’re still as kind as ever. Always putting others first." Adeline smiled at him. The two shared a small laugh, the tension between them easing slightly.

At first, they felt distant... Like they were strangers because they were. But now speaking of the old days and future plans, it felt like they were never separated.

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