Chapter 28: The Past I Wanted to Bury
Thud.
Vesra’s severed head rolled across the ground as her body collapsed to its knees.
“So… this is the end,” she murmured faintly.
Elucia stepped forward. The golden ribbons ceased their glow and coiled neatly around her forearms. She raised her hand; the sigil embedded on her left dorsal palm and her yellow eyes shimmered.
“I pray your soul finds peace,” Elucia said softly.
She drew a circular sigil and drifted it around Vesra.
“Finally…” Tears slid down Vesra’s face.
“Becky… I’m sorry…”
_ _ _
Past…
“Becky!”
A cheerful voice rang out as a girl came running, waving both hands.
“Come on! Let’s go hunting!”
She grabbed Becky’s hand and tugged eagerly.
“Wait,” Becky said gently. “Let me inform my mom first.”
The girl groaned. “Fine, but hurry!”
Becky hesitated at the door.
“…Mom?”
Melinda paused mid-sip, her cold gaze cutting toward her.
“I’m heading out for a hunting mission,” Becky said quietly.
Melinda set her teacup down with a sharp clink.
“Hunting? Did you mop the floor first?”
Becky nodded slowly.
Clank!
The teacup flew from Melinda’s hand, shattering at Becky’s feet. Tea splashed across the floor and on her shoes.
“Oh dear,” Melinda scoffed. “My hand slipped.”
Becky stared at the broken pieces. The maids who stood behind Melinda noticed but didn't utter to help. Instead they just stiffened their laugh.
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“What are you waiting for?” Melinda snapped. “Clean it.”
Saying that she walked away with her maids following her.
Becky crouched down, silently gathering the shards.
“Becky!”
She looked up.
Her father hurried toward her. “Why are cleaning this? You could have asked the maids!”
“It’s alright, Dad,” Becky said with a small smile. “I can do it.”
“You remind me of Roseline, your late mother. Always depend on yourself.” He hugged her tightly.
“But promise me that you will tell me first when you need help. Anything.”
“Yes, dad.”
Unseen, Melinda watched from behind a pillar, her teeth clenched in resentment.
…..
“Finally! I became a wielder!”
Becky’s joy shone brightly.
“Congratulations!” her friend laughed.
“I hope my spirit ends up handsome!”
“Spirits don’t have genders,” Becky replied.
“I know but they can still be good-looking!”
Becky smiled… then her eyes watered.
“I just wish my father could see this.”
“Master, please leave her. She only wants your family’s wealth!”
“I know,” she said. “But she’s my mother. I can’t abandon her. She needs me.”
Becky walked down the corridor, carrying a tray with medicine and water.
She raised her hand to knock—
“If you had delivered it earlier, I wouldn’t have killed her father.”
Becky froze.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” a servant replied nervously. “There were complications.”
Melinda laughed.
“It doesn’t matter now. I already have the documents. He was foolish enough to love me and trust me.”
Clatter!
The tray slipped from Becky’s hands.
They turned.
Becky ran.
“Become my ally,” he said smoothly, “and gain power.”
“Who… who are you?” Becky whispered, terrified.
“Well…” He smirked.
“I am called the Dark Lord.”
He stepped closer. Becky shrank back.
“Abandonment. Loneliness. Despair,” he murmured.
“I can smell it on you, though you can't.”
He extended his hand.
“Accept my offer. Become independent.”
Becky slapped his hand away.
“I won’t!”
He chuckled—a soft, dangerous sound.
“I wasn’t .”
Black flames surged.
“AAAAAH—!”
She stared at her new reflection.
“I name you Vesra, and grant you the power of greenery,” the Dark Lord said coldly.
“Kill every human who stands in your way.”
_ _ _
Present…
Elucia opened her palms as a glowing ball swirled. She aimed towards Vesra's heart and shot it.
The ball pierced her body and the force made her kneeling body collapse on the ground.
Blood spilled.
The body dissolved into smoke.
Vesra gazed one last time at the mansion… Becky’s home… then at Aspen, Ryl, and Dior.
She smiled last time as she vanished into the air.
Aspen blinked. “Did… she smile?”
The sun rose, painting the sky in gold.
Ryl threw his arms around Aspen and Dior, sobbing.
“We won! We survived!”
Dior froze.
“I’m injured.”
He said flatly, pain showing in his facial expression.
“S-Sorry!” Ryl sniffed, handing him a potion.
Aspen approached Elucia.
“Um… Miss Neilo. Thank you for saving us.”
She turned from the sunrise and smiled warmly.
“It was my duty.”
Aspen stared.
His vision blurred.
“Again… I overdose on the potions.” he muttered.
“I need to hurry to the inn before I faint.”
After reporting everything, they returned to the inn. The villagers celebrated, offering free food in gratitude.
Later, Aspen lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
“That was intense… Miss Neilo was amazing.”
Birds fluttered past the window as he started.
“So… that’s how wielders are,” he whispered.
“Fast… skilled… focused… strong…”
He exhaled.
“I wonder if I can also become one.” He said.
“But first I should do my best as a hunter. And soon I may… no, I become a wielder.”
He smiled, closing his eyes.
_ _ _
It was evening.
Knock. Knock.
Aspen woke up with the sound and opened the door.
“Aspen!” Ryl burst in.
“You won’t believe what I found!!”
He held up a paper and handed it to him.
Aspen unfolded it.
“…A half torn map?”
Ryl grinned. “It’s gotta be a treasure map!”
*****
Chapter 29: Questions Left for Them
