Chapter 174 [Brightest Star] [4]


    "....What are you?"


    She asked, tilting her head, her eyes blinking in astonishment as she stared at the wings.


    "....."


    I just looked at her, debating whether I should tell her about my lineage or not.


    "Let''s go."


    But in the end, I held myself back.


    Now is not the time for me to exin all of it.


    My legs moved toward her, the extra weight behind my back made it hard for me to move.


    Tiredness also filled my mind because these wings take up a lot of stamina.


    Eventually, I stood in front of her, the distinct smell of her body engulfing me.


    "Um, Az," she whispered awkwardly as I just stood close to her.


    "Don''t move much," I instructed, wrapping my hands around her lower waist.


    Her skin felt soft under my touch. Her eyes widened, and a stupefied look stered on her face.


    "Az—"


    "Stay still, or you''ll fall down," I interjected, looking down at her bashful face.


    And before she had time to process my words, I bent my knees slightly.


    "Huff..."


    Drawing in a deep breath, I willed my wings to move, and like any other limb in my body, they heeded mymand.


    Whoosh!


    Dirt and debris filled the air, the pair of wings pping, propelling my body upwards. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Ahhh!"


    Ashlyn yelled in my ears, wrapping her hands around my neck, choking my breath out.


    Her panicking unbnced me, making it harder for me to fly up. I barely stopped us from hitting the walls of the alley.


    "Calm down," I groaned, losing my breath, tapping her arm roughly. "We''ll fall if you keep doing that."


    "Wait, no." Reasoning returned to her eyes as she loosened her grip a little.


    But it was enough for me. Continuing to p my wings, I quickly ascended hundreds of meters above the ground.


    The city lights beneath clearly outlined the area as I moved toward the northern part.


    Unfolding my wings entirely, I glided through the air, my body parallel to the ground.


    Ashlyn hugged my neck tightly, her legs awkwardly wrapped around my waist, her head settling on my shoulder.


    I slowly lowered my body, wind breezing past my ears. I kept gently pping my wings to keep gliding.


    "...Are you an angel?" Ashlyn''s voice echoed in my ear, her breath tickling me.


    "What?" I asked, frowning at her absurd question. "Quite the opposite, I''m anything but an angel."


    "Then what is this?" she asked, her hands brushing through my wings.


    I hissed in pain as she plucked one of my feathers, bringing it in front of my eyes.


    "See its color," she whispered, showing a pristine white feather. "Only angels have white feathers."


    "There are only a few of them," I replied, cing my hand at the back of her head, supporting it. "They show that I''m not fully fallen yet."


    They are also near my shoulders, so I can''t see them.


    ''But seriously, did she just ignore every other feather and only notice the white one?''


    ...She always looks for the good in people.


    "What does that mean?"


    "I need to sacrifice a virgin girl to unlock my full potential," I replied, my voice serious.


    "W-wait, what?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.


    "Yes," I replied gently.


    [Stop lying to her.]


    ''In a way, I''m not lying. I might need to do something like that.''


    [....Cardinal sins.]


    ''...Yeah.''


    Every descendant of fallen angels has one sin they mustmit to strengthen their lineage.


    One reason the Aljanah bloodline is hated is that we can grow faster bymitting that one sin.


    But that sin is usually one that one hates doing—the sin that''s the opposite of their nature.


    Like asking a humble man to always be prideful.


    [...In your case, that sin might be greed.]


    ''.....''


    I hate to admit it, but he might be right.


    I abruptly pped my wings to halt, my gaze slowlynding on an empty, old-looking building below.


    Twisting my body, I folded my wingspletely, letting myself fall headfirst toward the ground.


    Ashlyn''s grip around my neck and waist tightened as our speed increased.


    Unfolding my wings just a few meters above the ground, I broke my fall beforending softly.


    "Get down," I whispered softly, patting her head.


    She gently unwrapped her legs before jumping to the ground.


    Her hair was messy while she took deep breaths to calm herself.


    Ignoring her, I took out a baggy hoodie, wearing it over my wings as I walked toward the building.


    "Wait, I''ming too," Ashlyn eximed, trailing behind me.


    Opening the rusty main gate, I walked inside, a familiar dried-up garden weing me. The sounds of different animals echoed as I moved.


    There was no light within the area, making it hard to see clearly.


    But a single deadrge oak tree ced at the end of the garden was still visible.


    "....."


    Nostalgia hit me as I looked at that tree. I''ve spent countless hours ying around it.


    Spending my time with Christina, Arianell, Shyamal, Oliver, and Aimar.


    ....Those days when my only concern was how to avoid my mother.


    ''...And that''s still one of my concerns.''


    I grimaced, walking forward, but my steps halted again.


    "....."


    This time, in a ce right at the entrance of the building.


    .....The same ce where Shane took hisst breath, right in front of me.


    Patches of dried blood were still visible.


    "I kept my promise, brother," I whispered softly, tearing my gaze away.


    My chest ached with pain, but I tried to ignore it.


    "...Az," my head turned as I nced back at Ashlyn calling me.


    A look of distress and confusion etched on her face as she looked around.


    "What happened?"


    She finally looked at me, her lips visibly trembling, her voice filled with panic. "...This ce... I''ve been here before."


    ***


    ***


    The darkness of the night loomed over thend beneath. The soil, resembling ash,yered the ground.


    Within the endless emptynd stood a single city. A city without people— an empty city.


    A tall, pitch-ck imposing castley in the middle of the city.


    And in the center of the castle sat ady on an elegant throne.


    A glowing crystal in her hand showed Azariah and Ashlyn talking.


    "I could have taken care of him, Mother," a man kneeling with his head down whispered.


    Lady Valcina Von Castia.


    The head of the hysteria organization.


    Her bright yellow, piercing eyes shifted toward him as she whispered, "Don''t worry, Bradyn. I''m not ming you for anything."


    Bradyn''s entire body trembled as he lowered his head further, his faint voice echoing, "I''m sorry, Mother."


    Thedy stood from her seat, towering at an imposing eight feet. She looked down at him like one looks down at an insect.


    Her elegant yet curvaceous figure exuded both grace and menace as she walked toward him, her skin pale, almost porcinplimenting her jet ck hair falling freely touching her knees.


    She wore an extravagant white gown, cinched at the waist and ring into a floor-length skirt.


    "I gave you one task, Bradyn," she whispered softly, standing in front of him. "Bring that boy to me and you couldn''t even do that."


    "I''m sorr—"


    "I do not wish to hear that," she cut in, her sharp features looking at him coldly. "Stand up."


    Bradyn slowly stood back up, head still bowed, cold sweat running down his back.


    "Because of your foolishness, I will have to face that woman," Valcina mumbled, looking at him.


    Bradyn didn''t reply, keeping his gaze on the ground.


    "Has Roen finished his work?" she asked softly.


    "Yes, Mother," Bradyn replied, shaking. "We made sure not to make any mistakes this time."


    She walked closer to him, her tall body towering over him. Leaning down, she whispered, "Make one more mistake, and I will find a new scientist."


    "Yes, Mother," Bradyn nodded aggressively. "Nothing wrong will happen this time."


    "You may go now," she whispered, and in the next instant, Bradyn''s body twisted, vanishing.


    Walking slowly, she sat back on her throne, the glowing crystal reappearing.


    She stared once again at Azariah, her yellow irises observing him.


    "What are you?" she whispered to herself, "...And how are you rted to that man?"


    Her interest, which had waned after living thousands of years, reignited once again. An interest touching the border of madness.


    "You can''t be his reincarnation or his soul twin," she whispered, tapping her fingers on her left cheek. "His soul was burned into nothingness... You can''t be him."


    A memory shed in her mind, recalling the man who ughtered an entire race, a man who didn''t fear Angel or God.


    Her gaze shifted to her side as a hovering pedestal appeared beside her.


    A girl slept on it, her ck hair falling freely.


    "You''re more useful than I thought, child," she whispered, caressing Tiffany''s face. "You truly are."


    Shifting her gaze back, she looked at Azariah, a gentle yet maniacal smile adorning her lips.


    "I await your arrival, Azariah."