Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Kylo’s Point of View

We followed Vitton and entered another door. My eyes glittered in awe when a marvelous sight welcomed us. They led us inside an enormous mansion.

There’s a mansion underground? It’s unbelievable. Indeed, there’s more than what meets the eyes.

There was a grand staircase at the center. The furniture was vintage, like they created the place a long time ago.

The Demis were roaming around the area. They dressed them up like royalties. They gathered in circles and chatting, some were alone at the corner while reading a book. People were cleaning around, wiping the frames, and sweeping the floor. I smiled when I felt safe because somehow we were one of them.

Vitton faced us and said, “Feel at home.”

“Remember that Demis surrounded you. If you do something unruly, I will not hesitate to turn you into a frog,” Vior added.

Wagner and I stood at the most unoccupied angle and observed.

“What should we do next?” I asked.

Wagner has a puzzled look on his face while looking at my legs.

“You’re okay? How come? I thought you’ve fractured your leg.”

It’s a good thing that Luxferre didn’t come after me because I run like a cripple, dragging my left leg. I was an unarmed warrior at that moment.

“I tried using a spell I found in the book of enchantment to heal myself.”

“That’s incredible. And now we lost our chance to find a ritual that will cure us.”

He brushed his fingers through his hair.

“I think the Demis hold the answers. They know a lot of stuff. We’ll gather information and persuade them to help us.”

“Do you really think that it’s easy? They won’t trust us. Everyone thinks that we’re here to cause chaos.”

“Let’s make them feel that we’re their family. They’re half-human. I’m sure they’ll understand. Let’s be gentle. Use your charms.”

“My charms only work with Sojin. I hope he’s here so I can fool him and trade the ritual with a dance,” he said in disappointment.

We split up and executed our objectives. I drifted my eyes and searched for someone with a friendly aura that will not kill me in a snap. I went to the bookshelves and grabbed a book. Good thing it doesn’t have glasses, I’m slightly traumatized for a while.

My peripheral vision caught a tiny figure who was trying to reach for a book above her. The scene was quite familiar to someone like me who has watched a lot of romantic teen fiction movies. An idea popped out inside my head. It’s time to unlock Wagner’s seduction skills.

I returned my book to the shelf and approached the girl. I went a few inches behind her and pulled out the book above her. She turned her back and faced me. Our eyes met as music played inside my head.

I intended to remain an eye contact with her for five seconds before I cleared my throat.

“Ugh… hi. So you like reading…”

I glanced at the title of the book in my hand.

“Level 5 magic?”

Her eyes moved in panic. Oh, a shy type. It’s the easiest one to deal with, just like me.

I distanced myself and lent her the book.

“Here,” I said.

“Thanks.”

She turned her back on me, but I caught her arm.

“I’m Kylo. You are?”

She gulped as her face turned red.

Target locked.

“Niah.”

I put my hands in my pocket and smiled.

“Can we be friends, Niah? It’s my first time here. By the way, I’m a human being and I’m harmless, just in case you’ll think the other way around.”

“Oh, okay.”

She looks at the floor while constantly bowing her head to avoid eye contact.

“Can you tour me around the area? We might stay longer or live here if my friend decided to settle down with Sojin. You know him, right?”

“Y-Yeah. He leads all of us.”

“Great! So where should we find a quiet area where we can have an uninterrupted conversation?”

“Only the two of us?”

Her cheeks blushed.

“Of course. I want to know your history if I’m going to live here. My focus is not good, so I suggest an isolated area where we can relax. But if you’re not comfortable, it’s fine with me. I respect you.”

I sounded like a genuine gentleman, something that Wagner unusually does.

“It’s alright. Follow me.”

We walked past busy Demis who were minding their own business. I hope humans are like them. My hands grabbed the blue coat on the sofa with no one noticing me. I’m just borrowing it for the major event later.

I saw Wagner in the kitchen. He was observing the cook, and biting some ingredients. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. He seems to enjoy what he’s doing, while I’m stuck pretending to be a romanticist to the same sex. It’s a fair game, after all. Sojin’s into him and Niah’s with me.

We stopped in front of a door.

“Mind if I ask where you’re taking me?”

“You’ll see.”

My heart pumped in nervousness. Wagner always tells me to be careful. What if Niah’s acting innocent, but she knows what I’m trying to do? What if she’s going to assassinate me when we’re alone?

“Wait. I think I need a snack. Stay here while I’ll grab a bite in the kitchen for a second.”

I went to the kitchen and swiftly grabbed the smallest knife and hid it in the coat’s pocket. It’s better to be prepared.

When I arrived, Niah was gone. I held the doorknob and slowly opened it.

My eyes widened as it shimmered through the dark. I was in a beautiful garden. The flowers were glowing with many colors. Fireflies were flying around. I continued to walk until I saw an enormous fountain, but what’s flowing in it was not water but liquid gold!

“Don’t move.”

Someone pointed a knife at my nape. I could feel its sharp edge digging deeper.