85 Devotees of the Gods (1/2)
SENTINEL, after sending Lady Nystrom to the prayer room of the Red Phoenix, returned to his original human form.
He had the form of a small and skinny teenaged human boy. He had short caramel brown hair, light brown eyes, and pale skin. Compared to his master's appearance that he copied, he looked like a child even though he was already five hundred years old.
Anyway…
He only copied the human form of the Red Phoenix to entice the heart. He had been doing that for many decades already. As the Red Phoenix's sentinel, he wouldn't let an undeserving person own the precious heart of his master.
When the first Supreme Fire Mage died, the heart of the Red Phoenix disappeared with her. But not for too long.
In each generation of the Fire Mage clan, there would always be a woman born with the heart of the Red Phoenix. In the past, the Fire Mage clan used to be a close-knitted one. They built a hidden community where the Moonchesters wouldn't find them. That community protected each woman born with the heart hoping that one day, their clan would be cleared of the accusation against them and be welcomed in the empire again.
But that didn't happen.
When the Moonchesters found the Fire Mage Village, they killed all the Fire Mages they found. From then on, the surviving Fire Mages got scattered and never found one another again. Because of that, there were ”vessels” that were born without being protected.
That happened again and again until finally, Lady Nystrom was born.
”It wasn't just a co-incidence that you were born with the heart of the Red Phoenix, Lady Nystrom,” Sentinel whispered to himself. ”You're the only one that Master has been waiting for all this time.”
***
LUNA was surprised when she realized that Kiho couldn't move. He was frozen in his seat but she knew it wasn't because of his Mana. She was sure of it because she noticed the sudden change in the air. As a witch who made a pact with the Red Phoenix, she could feel it in her bones that it was awake.
Lady Nystrom is definitely near the real Red Phoenix now.
Since Kiho was the Black Serpent, he definitely felt his fellow god's awakening. He didn't have his old memories but his anger for the Red Phoenix was etched in every fiber of his being.
Yes, the Red Phoenix and the Black Serpent never got along.
Luna was suddenly nervous when she saw the glint of anger in Kiho's now golden eyes. She was sure he was trying to break free from the numbness that was currently binding him. The sudden increase of his Mana was proof.
No… if the Red Phoenix feels Kiho's presence, all hell will break loose!
She knew she had to do something so she stood up behind the duke.
Forgive me, Your Grace, Luna said, then she put her hand on top of his head. I have to make you sleep for now.
A few moments later, Kiho lost consciousness.
And that was exactly her goal for coming along with the Nystroms.
Whatever happens, I have to prevent Duke Nystrom from waking up as the Black Serpent.
Her thoughts were cut off when she felt a sting at the back of her hand. If she didn't put a protective spell around her body as soon as felt the sharp pain, her hand would have been cut-off.
”What the hell did you do to my god?!”
Luna turned around to face the owner of the voice.
She was greeted by a young man with light blue– almost silver-ish– hair and ash gray eyes. He was handsome, but the anger on his face made him look quite intimidating.
He has the scent of the blood of the Blue Dragon.
Aside from Lahara's family, only one clan in the empire had that blood.
”Ah,” Luna said when she realized who she was. ”You must be Captain Sherwood. Duke Nystrom was expecting you but it's still rude to trespass the mansion.”
If the captain entered the residence the proper way, then Louisa would have ushered him to the tea room. But seeing that he came alone, she could only conclude that he entered the mansion without Louisa knowing. Based on his flustered face, it was obvious that he came in a hurry.
”I wouldn't have resorted to trespassing had I not felt Duke Nystrom's unstable Mana,” Captain Sherwood hissed. ”I knew he was in danger and I wasn't wrong. What did you to the duke, you witch?”
”I just made him sleep.”
”And why did you do that?”
She acted like she was zipping her mouth. ”None of your business, Captain.”
He smirked…
… and then pointed a gun at her.
Before she could even blink, he pulled the trigger. He also used his command of the wind to make the bullet reach her faster.
”Insolent child,” Luna said, then she caught the bullet with her bare hand.
The bullet wasn't an ordinary bullet because it was made of dark magic. Had she been hit by it, she would have combusted. That was how strong the dark magic of the bullet was.
No wonder the captain looked shocked that she was able to stop it with one hand.
”Insolent brat,” Luna said while opening her palm. The bullet turned into dust because of her powers. ”You're two hundred years too early to challenge the sole survivor of the Colorless Coven.”
”Ah, the witches with pink eyes.”
She wasn't surprised to know that the captain knew her clan.
After all, the Sherwoods were famous for being the ”Bookkeepers” or Historians of Moonchester Empire. Their family was full of scholars. She heard that the current duke of House Sherwood chose to enter knighthood instead of becoming another scholar in the family.
This one is definitely not normal.
If Captain Sherwood called Kiho his 'god,' it only meant one thing.
”How did you know about the duke's real identity?” Luna confronted the captain. ”Who told you about that, Captain Sherwood?”
”Ah, so you knew Duke Nystrom's real identity as well,” Captain Sherwood said in amusement. ”Would you tell me how you found out about his real identity if I asked you?”
Of course not.
”Touché,” she conceded. ”I heard from the old legends that the Blue Dragon and the Black Serpent were sort of related to each other. Apparently, the Blue Dragon was the Black Serpent's keeper. Is that the reason why you're so drawn to Duke Nystrom now?”
”Maybe, maybe not,” he answered vaguely with a playful smile. ”Anyway, even though you know that Duke Nystrom is a god, you're keeping mum about it. Is there a reason why you're hiding his real identity while staying beside him? Are you a friend or a foe?”
”I don't have any ill-intention towards the duke.”
”That's a relief,” he said. ”I don't want to kill you because I don't want to get on his bad side.”
She rolled her eyes at him. ”You're acting like a woman obsessed with His Grace.”
”Hmm… I can't deny that,” the captain said playfully. ”These days, I can't get Duke Nystrom out of my head. I can't help but worry about him every minute of the day. If I could follow him anywhere and anytime, I would. But I couldn't so I sent my people to protect him instead. Obviously, that created a misunderstanding.”
She cringed at everything he just said. ”I think the duke would only get more confused if you tell him everything that you said to me just now.”
”What's confusing about it?” Captain Sherwood asked, even tilting his head to one side. ”I care about Duke Nystrom because I love him. Is that hard to understand?”
”Okay, but what kind of love are you talking about?”
Captain Sherwood smiled brightly. ”The kind of love where I want Duke Nystrom all to himself.”