CHAPTER 138: CORNER HIM

Pearly droplets of tears gathered in Nana’s eyes as she stood at the entrance of the mansion with Carter and Aleda, staring at William and Emma.

The two of them were preparing to leave.

Since they would be traveling for several hours, they had decided it would be better for the little one to stay home with Carter. And because William and Emma would return tomorrow, she wouldn’t be left alone for long.

When William told her earlier that morning, Nana didn’t react immediately. She nodded and said she was okay with it.

But now, watching her brother and sister walk toward the carriage, the little one couldn’t hold her emotions anymore.

Tears broke free and streamed down her cheeks as she weakly waved at them, clutching the plush toy William had gifted her earlier.

Carter looked helpless. He kept glancing at his son with a conflicted expression. Aleda sighed beside him and tried coaxing the little girl, speaking gently. But Aleda didn’t know that Nana had a minor hearing problem, and half her words weren’t reaching the child properly.

William and Emma looked at each other.

Their hearts trembled. The sight of the small girl sobbing, unable to contain her grief, was far more than they had expected. They had assumed she would be fine. They had assumed she understood.

In the end, William stepped closer and knelt before her.

Emma immediately followed, pulling out a soft handkerchief and passing it to him.

The blond gently brushed away the tears streaking Nana’s cheeks as he conveyed his thoughts directly to her mind.

[When I told you this morning that we’d be gone for the day, why didn’t you tell me you wanted to come?]

There had been no other reason for leaving her behind. They didn’t want her to strain herself with long hours of travel. But looking at her now, trembling and crying, William was regretting that decision.

Nana sniffled, wiping her eyes with her small wrist as her mental voice reached him.

[Nana knows today is special for big brother and big sister. That’s why...]

William relayed the words to Emma.

The silver-haired woman knelt beside her lover and enclosed Nana’s cold hands between her own.

"You’re not grown up, so stop overthinking," she whispered, her tone soft but unmistakably unhappy.

Nana sensed it. Her eyes flickered with panic as she turned to William for help.

The blond one sighed and sent another gentle message.

[You’re a child. Stop thinking like an adult. If you want something, you should just say it. Okay?]

Nana lowered her head. Her toe traced small arcs on the ground. After a moment of mustering courage, she finally asked in a tiny voice,

[Umm... Nana wants to come too.]

William glanced at Emma. Both of them chuckled softly at the same time, and some of the tension melted.

Rising to his feet, William said, "We’re taking her with us. We’ll probably be back by tomorrow."

Carter chuckled. "This little girl has gotten quite attached to you two." He patted William’s shoulder and gave a firm nod, as if granting silent approval.

William blinked, confused by the reaction, but Carter refused to explain.

In truth, the man was simply satisfied—deeply so. He had seen it for himself over the course of a single day.

Whether it was helping her eat, playing with her, tucking her into bed, or explaining things patiently while keeping her disability in mind, the two youngsters were genuinely taking care of Nana. Their affection was real and tender.

It warmed Carter’s heart.

Aleda, watching them, smiled faintly as well. She always believed a child needed someone who understood their silence, their fears, and those small moments when they hesitated before speaking. William and Emma seemed to do that naturally.

And just like that, the farewell scene shifted. Nana’s tears began to slow. Her tiny fingers tightened around William’s coat when he lifted her. Emma stroked her back affectionately, whispering something the girl couldn’t fully hear but still understood from her sister’s expression.

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

Gerald was dead.

The information was delivered by none other than Ambel—the barrier master responsible for protecting him.

A silver-haired young man, seated rigidly on a chair, clenched his fist in anger.

Gerald was one of his elites. Losing him wasn’t just a strategic loss; it shattered a crucial piece of the plan he had prepared for so long.

"Why did you fail to protect him, Ambel? You’re our strongest barrier mage and yet..."

Ambel bowed deeply, guilt weighing heavily on his expression.

The other man exhaled harshly. Leaning against the desk, he turned toward the window.

Outside, the marketplace bustled with its usual chaotic noise. The constant rush of people grated on his already foul mood. Zagreus wanted nothing more than to step outside, split a few skulls open, peel the skin from a handful of fools, and burn half the district down to cinders.

But he had to control himself. Losses happened. Soldiers died. This was not the first time, nor would it be the last.

The path he had chosen—and the destination he sought—demanded sacrifice. He could accept that. What he refused to accept was incompetence or anyone disobeying orders and getting slaughtered for nothing.

"Who exactly killed him?" Zagreus asked at last, calmer but still gripping his quill with enough force to snap it.

He had a suspicion. Perhaps the same kid who had killed Talobo on that island? Even now, it still seemed impossible for a teenager to achieve that.

But reality had a way of disappointing him.

Ambel’s answer shocked him. "It was the Chosen One, my Lord. He was on the verge of death when suddenly, a blinding brilliance filled the space. The next thing I saw was a severed head rolling on the floor."

Zagreus slowly turned toward Ambel. His brows furrowed. The quill in his hand bent almost to breaking.

"You’re telling me that wimp killed one of my Generals? Are you out of your mind?"

Ambel remained composed despite the suffocating murderous intent radiating from his lord. His voice remained neutral.

"That is what I witnessed, my Lord. In my opinion, just before death, the Chosen One may have performed the Sacrificial Ritual."

Zagreus frowned. "They don’t teach that ritual to teenagers. And that country bumpkin wasn’t educated by his father before joining the Academy."

Ambel offered another angle. "Maybe he used it by accident?"

Zagreus growled under his breath. "Or maybe those damned pigeons are already making their move."

Ambel stiffened. "Do you mean... they’ve realized our plan?"

It was possible. Very possible. Or perhaps it was simply a desperate attempt by the heavens to keep their champion alive.

Zagreus didn’t know yet.

"I can’t say for certain," he muttered, "but if those high-and-mighty chickens have truly started interfering, then we must suppress the Chosen One before it’s too late."

Ambel asked quietly, "Is it time for an all-out attack on the Academy?"

Zagreus shook his head immediately. "We shouldn’t rush. This Chosen One... that fool treasures his friends, doesn’t he?"

"Yes, sir. He reacted the moment Gerald attempted to touch his friend."

Zagreus hummed darkly. "Then we’ll corner him through them. And once he’s trapped, we’ll erase their so-called savior."

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A/N: Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.