Bab 144: Human Vs Sanguine
As Lyra, Elias, and their small band of rebels dashed through the darkened gardens of the Nightfall Mansion, Lyra led the way, her mind racing with calculations. "Follow me," she urged, her voice barely a whisper. She had a theory that Darius' protective veil around the mansion was strongest at the entrances and exits but weaker in less guarded areas. If they could find a weak spot, they could break through.
Suddenly, Dante appeared before them, his figure emerging from the shadows of the night. "Lyra," he called out calmly, his presence commanding yet serene.
Elias, overcome with fury, stepped forward, his essence flaring up. "You!" he spat, confronting Dante. "You think you can just walk away after everything? After imprisoning her?"
Lyra intervened, trying to pacify the rising tension. "No, Dante's not like that, Elias! He's trying to help—"
Elias cut her off, his anger peaking. "Just like Adrian, you can't trust Sanguines, Lyra! He's using you, brainwashing you! Look at you, in that Nightfall uniform. No one who cares about you would let you wear that."
Dante remained calm, his voice even. "I spared your little group, Elias. Let's not escalate this further."
"That's enough," Elias growled, charging towards Dante. "Let's see you try to spare us now."
Lyra screamed, "No, don't, Elias!" as Dante summoned an imperial sword with an elegant flourish, meeting Elias's charge. The clash of their powers resonated through the garden, Dante's control and Elias's fury creating a storm of energy.
"I am on your side," Dante insisted amid the chaos. "Sanguines and humans deserve to live in harmony."
"Never!" Elias countered, his attacks relentless, a combination of strong, precise strikes that pushed Dante back.
Dante, struggling to maintain the upper hand, finally said, "Enough, feel despair," and absorbed the essence from Elias's oakwood weapons, weakening them. Elias responded by conjuring more weapons, his resolve unbroken.
As they fought, Lyra watched, horrified by the chaos she had inadvertently fueled. Yet, she remained resolved to find a way out for all of them.
Dante, managing a shallow but powerful slash, sent Elias flying back, wounded but not defeated. "Run, Lyra!" Elias shouted from the ground, his voice strained.
But before Lyra could move, Dante intervened. "We need to talk, Lyra," he said, enveloping them both in a shadow veil, isolating them from the chaos outside.
Suddenly, Lyra found herself back in her chamber within the Nightfall Mansion, her escape vial clutched tightly in her hand. Confusion and fear gripped her as she realized they hadn't escaped after all; it was one of Dante's shadow constructs.
"Why, Lyra? Why are you trying to leave?" Dante asked, his tone a mix of confusion and betrayal.
Lyra, tears brimming in her eyes, faced him squarely. "Take me back," she demanded, her voice firm despite the tremor of emotions. "You haven't taken me anywhere, have you? This is all your shadow play."
Dante stepped closer, his expression softening. "I needed to understand, Lyra. After all we've shared, after all we've strived to achieve together, why would you run?"
Lyra, her resolve hardening, met his gaze. "Because I need to know that I'm not just a pawn in your grand scheme, Dante. I need to know that what you say about harmony isn't just another tactic to keep me here."
The shadow veil flickered, the illusion of the room wavering as the real sounds of the garden battle seeped through. Dante looked at her, the conflict evident in his eyes. "I promise you, Lyra, my intentions are true. But we must resolve this chaos together. Will you stand with me?"
Lyra, her heart torn, knew the decision she made now would change everything. With a deep breath, she nodded slowly, "Yes, but on one condition—we do this my way."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone