CHAPTER 345: YOU’RE FREE TO GO

Isiah traced the dark, burned skin on her arm, and Lexie couldn’t deny the conflicting emotions bubbling within her.

Hating the fact that she couldn’t summon hatred, she struggled with the realization of her feelings, especially with the presence of the enigmatic girl Isiah had brought into their midst.

"Is it the burn?" he inquired, "Is it still painful?"

His atypical concern for her burns seemed out of character, a departure from his usual indifference.

She stammered, "Y-yes... but... not like before."

She finally noticed her exposed bra as he lowered her sleeve and closed her eyes, murmuring, "I-is this really necessary to do it in front of everyone?"

Isiah, seemingly unaffected by the unintentional exposure, continued examining the burned area with an unusual level of concern.

Lexie felt an odd mix of vulnerability and confusion in this moment.

He gently ran his fingers over the burned skin, causing Lexie to shiver involuntarily.

The room was filled with an uneasy silence, accentuated by the awareness of the others witnessing this intimate encounter.

Suddenly, Ciel broke the silence, innocently asking, "Why is Lexie half-naked?"

Astrid, who had been observing the entire scene with curiosity, raised an eyebrow and said, "Interesting way to greet someone, Isiah."

Lexie, still red-faced and uncomfortable, couldn’t even lock eyes with Isiah, who leaned with his tall, imposing frame over her.

"The burn... is never going to heal," he said.

"I-Isiah... why?" she stuttered, unable to fathom why Isiah would show such concern.

He had never cared before, and she sensed he might not even know why he was doing this.

"The burn never stopped... the pain you’re feeling is... because it keeps spreading," he answered with a cold expression.

He moved back, and all she did was silently hold her jacket and button her shirt, as if what he said didn’t affect her.

She tried to move away when he said speaking to Eijar and Ciel, "In the past weeks, I’ve been gathering information about everything in Afan. There is no need to stay here anymore. There is no need for..."

She knew that he was not speaking to her but she interjected.

"Okay," she said, her voice barely audible.

He never deemed it necessary to disclose his plans to her; instead, he operates on his own terms, arriving and departing as he sees fit, leaving her in a state of perpetual uncertainty.

Ciel interjected with concern etched on his young face, "You’re not going to leave us here, right? We’ve been here for so long, and you’re our only connection to the outside world."

Isiah paused, a flicker of emotion crossing his stoic expression before replying, "I am not leaving you here, "

It felt like he was speaking to only Ciel and Eijar...and not her .

Lexie, with unshed tears glistening in her red eyes, asked, "So... are you leveling up?"

Astrid sat on the bed, fixing her gaze on Isiah.

With a firm tone, she continued, "It’s time for you to tell them the truth. Share the tales of your cruelty. .How you acted like a demon in my region,"

Isiah’s gaze shifted to Astrid and he began to speak with a detached demeanor, "What transpired is but a fraction of what I will do, "

Lexie turned around, her gaze meeting Isiah’s for a moment, and with a mixture of emotions, she softly uttered, "Good luck, Isiah."

Eijar sensed something amiss and quickly inquired, "Lexie, what’s going on?"

Lexie met Eijar’s gaze, a heavy sigh escaping her lips before she revealed, "I am no longer needed. Did you think Isiah checked the burn just casually? He did it to ensure I’m no longer valuable for taking care of Ciel. Indeed, I am not. And he brought Astrid to replace me. Don’t worry, Eijar, I’ll be fine."

Isiah glared at her, frustration evident in his actions.

He forcefully grabbed her by the arm and scornfully remarked, "Acting like a pathetic victim?"

He was not grabbing her burned arm .

Lexie winced in pain but defiantly retorted, "I’m not acting. You’ve made it clear that I’m no longer needed."

Isiah’s grip tightened, and he sneered, "You were never needed. You’re replaceable."

Lexie fought back tears, determined not to show weakness in front of them.

Isiah released his grip, a contemptuous smile on his face. "You’re free to go. No one’s stopping you."

Lexie, feeling a mixture of anger and hurt, turned away and headed towards the exit.

As she walked, she heard Isiah’s cold voice behind her, "Don’t think you can ever come back. You’ve served your purpose."

Tears welled up in Lexie’s eyes, but she kept walking, determined to face whatever awaited her outside.

Lexie’s emotions were in turmoil. Eijar’s words and Astrid’s presence stirred chaos within her.

In her wildest dreams, she never imagined acting this way with Isiah.

The prospect of being with him again felt impossible, especially when the girl next to him exuded a goddess-like aura of femininity.

The internal conflict raged on, leaving Lexie grappling with emotions she never anticipated.

Lexie walked outside, allowing her tears to fall freely.

Ciel, inside the house, was deeply affected by their intense argument.

Ciel, teary-eyed, shouted at Isiah, "You’re mean! Lexie was nice, and you made her go away. "

Isiah, unfazed by Ciel’s outburst, replied, "She wasn’t nice. She was weak, and I don’t need weak people around me. "

Ciel crossed his arms defiantly, "I don’t care! Lexie was my family too, and you made her cry!"

Isiah sighed, "Ciel, sometimes we have to let go of things. Lexie was holding us back."

Ciel, not understanding the complexity, simply retorted, "You’re mean, and I don’t want to talk to you anymore!"

Eijar slithered up to Isiah’s shoulders and exclaimed, "You’ve done this to her, despite everything she’s done for us?"

Isiah’s face remained stern as he replied, "Eijar....this was going to happen sooner or later ...I always planned to kill her when I am done using her... but why kill her when my dark energy is already spreading inside of her ...she will eventually die, "

Ciel, upset and still teary-eyed, interjected, "But she doesn’t deserve this , Isiah!!"

Astrid, observing the tension, stayed silent, unsure of how to navigate the growing discord.