CHAPTER 242: REJECTION HURTS: PART-2

After reaching the house, the group didn’t speak much as they went to their rooms and started to pack up their things and get ready for the war.

In Leo’s room, Leo packed his things. He wore a black suit as he looked over the things he needed.

His hands moved methodically, almost robotic... folding, stowing, checking and rechecking, as if doing so could keep his thoughts from running wild.

Ophis, on the other hand, with her fluffy black clothes, more fluffy than ever, as if they were for a party or something, crouched before the coffin as she looked at her beautiful mother, who was still sleeping inside.

"You know, Mother, if you could see me now... you’d probably laugh at this outfit," Ophis whispered with a wry smile that quickly melted into longing. "I hope you’re dreaming somewhere bright." Then turned cold.

"Don’t worry, Mother... Tonight I will get revenge for what he has done to our family," Ophis said with a serious tone as she gave her mother a kiss on the forehead before locking the coffin.

She turned to Leo and asked, "Are you... Alright?"

"Yes, of course. What happened?"

Ophis hesitated before asking, "I mean... you seem sad and lost." When she mentioned that, his hands halted before shaking his head.

"I’m really fine..." He turned and gave her a small smile. "Let’s focus on tonight, okay?"

Ophis hummed but still could see the fake smile he was putting on for her.

She tilted her head, ’You’re a terrible liar, Leo’ she thought.

Meanwhile, on the upper floor in Raphael’s room, Azrael and Raphael wore some bulletproof straps and vests beneath their white shirts and black pants.

Azrael grunted as she cinched her vest, while Raphael flexed, checking the tightness of the straps and the stretch of her sleeves.

"We can move comfortably, right?" Raphael asked as she stretched her legs and arms, making sure her movements were not restricted by her clothes.

Azrael nodded with a serious face as she looked at her top shirt that read: Fuck off bitches!

"Yep, as long as you didn’t get chubby during the fight!" Azrael commented as she smacked Raphael’s butt.

Raphael flinched as she glared at Azrael.

Azrael giggled before shrugging as they packed their things for the fight. While packing, Azrael hesitantly asked,

"Did... something happen between you and Leo?"

"No. Why do you ask?" Raphael answered calmly.

"Well, it’s just... I saw you crying. It’s obvious. And Leo too—sad all of a sudden... so?" Azrael pressed for an answer, but Raphael gave her, "Oh? That was... I mean, we had a small argument, and so I wanted a breath of fresh air, and no, I wasn’t crying. It was just dust, that’s all."

Azrael halted whatever she was doing and turned to Raphael. She asked, "Small argument? What could it be? At this time?"

Raphael halted her movement. Her shoulders trembled... as much as she wanted to share the burden, this would hurt Leo’s dignity as well.

She swallowed, struggling to steady her breath.

Falling in love with his aunt?

Everyone would look at him as a weirdo and disgusting!

If Azrael fell for him... it was different—even though he was the younger one, but still, it’s not like there weren’t marriages of different ages.

But this... this was definitely something she had never heard of before... even if she had, it would end in disaster or a tragic story. She didn’t want anything to happen to her nephew... No matter what!!

Noticing her silence and trembling shoulder, Azrael understood, Raphael wasn’t interested in sharing; she only does that to keep protecting others...

A long breath left Azrael’s lips, "You always protect others," she uttered.

Without warning, she slipped behind Raphael and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her back softly.

Raphael bit her lip, forcing herself not to cry or utter any words. Instead, she just leaned into Azrael, feeling the comfort and warmth of her friend’s embrace.

Azrael muttered softly, her breath close to Raphael’s ear, "Why don’t you just stop protecting others and think about yourself for once?"

Even though she didn’t say anything, for their friendship that had been together for a long time, they knew each other very well without needing for word.

Azrael knew her friend was protecting Leo... As always, putting others before herself.

Raphael just smiled weakly, "He is all I have..." she muttered softly.

Her voice nearly vanished in the hush, brittle but full of an aching tenderness. She didn’t need to explain.

And soon... everyone wrapped things up as they grouped down holding bags in each hand, strapping up their last buckles, then Ophis stepped forward with a serious face as she folded her hands and,

"Avengers As—"

"We are not doing that," Leo interrupted her before she could finish it.

Ophis blinked as she glanced back, "We are not?" She tilted her head innocently, eyes wide like a confused puppy.

"We are not!" Leo replied with a flat tone.

Ophis blinked again before stepping forward,

"Avengers—"

Thuck!

"Ouch!" Ophis clenched her head as she glared at Leo, who had boinked her on the head with the flat of his palm, wearing the most serious face he could muster.

Ophis pouted, rubbing her scalp, "You bore!" she muttered in an annoyed tone, glaring at him. "I prepared for this, you know!" She folded her arms in a huff, cheeks puffed out. "Practised every moment and the same dialogue again and again..."

However, he didn’t want that?

So boring!!

Azrael suddenly stepped forward, "How about The Curse of Princ—"

"""NO! WE ARE NOT DOING THAT!!"""

Leo, Ophis, and Raphael said at the same time.

Azrael pouted, lower lip trembling dramatically. "It’s a nice name, you know!" she insisted, shooting a look especially at Leo, who instantly rejected her offer.

Hmph!

She was not going to come up with anything good then!!

"Are you all ready?" Just then, Essa appeared on the sofa as she looked at them curiously from under the hoodie.

Everyone nodded as Essa placed the orb she got from Greed, and.... they waited!

They waited... actually, they waited pretty long!

"It’s almost midnight... are you sure today is the day?" Raphael asked, glancing at her watch: 10:58:58...

Essa just shrugged, "It’s our only option, and I believe he’ll keep his deal." She sounded confident, but inwardly, she too was worried about it—her hands fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.

’Master, are you sure about this? I don’t think that guy is going to contact at this point...’ Essa asked inwardly.

However, her Master didn’t answer.

Just then—

"Arh!" Leo suddenly clenched his chest, doubling over as if struck.

Raphael’s eyes went wide as she rushed forward, "Are you alright?"

Leo nodded, confusion written all over his face. For a second, a sharp, unexplainable pain gripped his chest—like icy fingers squeezing his heart.

The feeling rattled him to his core.... Then, just as quickly, it disappeared.

Azrael and Ophis looked between Leo and Raphael. Even though something had happened between them, it was obvious: they still cared for each other, didn’t they?

"It came!"

Suddenly, Essa’s voice cut through the tension as the orb flickered in her hand, light dancing wildly across the room. Instantly, everyone turned, faces sharpening with focus and anticipation.

As the orb glowed brighter, a strange map twisted into life in the air—lines blooming and shifting, glowing with symbols. Everyone frowned, straining to understand.

It looked like a weird map that no one recognised... except for Essa.

"Hmm... It’s far from our city. It’s going to take time if we go by car," Essa said, analysing the glowing symbols before glancing at Ophis. "We’re flying through it."

Ophis blinked, caught off guard, but quickly nodded with a serious face. "Alright."

"What about us?" Azrael frowned, shifting the strap of her bag. "If you’re flying away, then what about us? Are we still supposed to take the car?"

Essa smirked beneath the hoodie, "What else, then?" In a sudden move, she stood up, hoisting Leo onto her right shoulder and Raphael onto her left, ignoring their startled yelps.

She glanced at Ophis, who was pouting fiercely.

"I want to take Leo!"

Essa shrugged, "You snooze, you lose~" She strode out of the living room, planting her feet firmly before stomping the ground.

"Hold me tightly!" she warned.

Without warning, she leapt skyward, blasting through the open window into the cold, rushing night!

Raphael, who hadn’t processed what just happened, suddenly jolted as the ground vanished beneath her.

"W-wait... I need to calm dow—KYYYYAAAAA!!!!" Her scream tore through the night, eyes wide as she watched rooftops and treetops blur below, adrenaline roaring in her ears.

Leo... well, he’d gotten used to it by now. He just watched Raphael flail and shriek, finding it oddly entertaining. He let out a low, mischievous chuckle.

"DON’T LAUGH AT ME, BRAT!!" Raphael shouted, her voice trembling somewhere between horror, outrage, and embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Ophis looked at Azrael, who was struggling with a bag almost as big as herself.

"Are you... really going to use all of them?" Ophis asked, trying to sound casual but side-eyeing the ridiculous bag.

Azrael nodded without hesitation, the corners of her mouth lifting in pride. "Of course. I have everything inside. It’s a bit heavy, but for you, it might be nothing, right? The great Dracula?"

Ophis squinted her eyes, knowing Azrael was baiting her. Still,

"Hmph! Now you understand my greatness, woman! Hmph, hmph!" Ophis puffed up her chest and flared her nostrils in her best ’vampire overlord’ impression.

Without another word, she scooped Azrael up. "Arh!"

"What happened?" Azrael asked, her voice innocent and lightly teasing.

"N-Nothing!" Ophis lied, inwardly cursing. ’Fuck, it weighs too much! How does she move it like it’s nothing?’ she wondered, arms straining.

Still, her wings flared open and, with Azrael tucked under one arm, she launched herself after Essa.

Unlike Raphael, Azrael didn’t cry or shout. She just gripped the bag, face set in grim focus as she watched the world blur by beneath them.

Ophis’s wings fluttered even faster as they caught up to Essa, who was already leaping from rooftop to rooftop like a shadow in the night.

Both of them moved from shadow to shadow, dancing across the city’s sleeping skyline, the seriousness of their mission setting their hearts pounding.

They sped towards the direction of...

A humongous crater.

The one that Leo first visited as a child, and even in this new life... the place his parents used to show him, always telling stories.

The place every feeling in Leo’s chest seemed to point to.

The place that made Leo feel the pain.

The place where.... everything started, and tonight, where everything would be decided.