CHAPTER 26: THE CONTINENT OF NIGHT

Anna was currently using a wide room that was enough for two people ---made up of royal red walls, adorned with small and intricate floral patterns. It had a shelf filled with books that had covers of old leather, antiques, and other luxury decorative pieces.

A white wooden table was placed in front of a small window from which moonlight brightened the room. It had a balcony from which soft, cold breezes entered the room.

The room felt like it was made for some royal. Anna lay on the velvet bed at the centre of the room and gazed at the moon hanging in the sky as she remembered what Damien had told her about where she was at...

A few minutes earlier-

"I was meaning to ask what this place is?" Anna said as she looked around the place.

"Hmm? Oh, looks like I was too busy with my thoughts that I didn’t even explain this to you," Damien replied with a faint smile as he continued.

"In the continent of Azure* where Necron the city is situated. It is mainly known that our whole planet consists of four continents, yes?"

"Yes," Anna replied with a nod.

"However, that’s false. The four continents, which are ---Azure, Shuran, Valconica, Yurak--- in which two are habitable ---Azure, Shuran--- while the other two are not. There exists one more continent, which is ---Azor---. Azor is hidden from the outer world by a barrier; thus, only Midnighters or those who are born here know about it." Damien concluded with a smile.

"So... It’s always night here because of that barrier, too?" Anna spoke after thinking for a while.

"Correct."

"Do we know who placed that barrier?" Anna asked with excitement.

Seeing that, Damien chuckled as he continued.

"No, we don’t. The barrier was placed thousands of years ago."

"Oh."

"I see. I see" Anna spoke as she nodded her head continuously.

"Tell me more about Azor," Anna asked. Damien could see stars in her eyes. He gave a small smile and continued.

"Well, Azor consists of 4 Countries---Xyonthar, Zendorn, Dartar, Aquadra---and we are currently at the capital of the Xyonthar Empire, Xyontra."

"How are the other countries like?" Anna asked with the same excitement and curiosity as before.

"Zendorn wilderness is the second largest country after Xyonthar. It’s a place of tribes as it’s covered with wildness all over."

"Dartar Hills comes after that. It has massive black stone hills and caves, and even the trees there have black wood and pale leaves. It is the country with the most star beasts."

"Aquadra is the centre of Azor. It is a group of small islands that are near each other. The Night Tower floats at the centre of the ocean of Aquadra."

"The Night Tower?"

"It’s the tower from which the barrier spreads throughout the Azor."

"Oh..."

"Hmm... that’s pretty much it," Damien concluded.

"Thanks for telling me. Brother," Anna said with a small smile.

"Well, that’s the least I can do for you," Damien said as he moved towards Anna and hugged her. He moved his hand on her head and began to pat her head.

*Pat* *Pat*

Anna was baffled by these turn of events and moved away.

"W-what are you doing patting my head like that?! I am not a kid anymore." Anna hissed at Damien.

’She looks like a cat..." Damien thought. Soon, however, he shook his head and walked away while chuckling.

"Hahaha!"

"Hmph!" Anna pouted, seeing Damien acting like that.

But soon she, too, began chuckling.

"Hehehe!"

Present---

’What should I do now? Vey is still at the Starborne mansion, too.’ Anna thought as she lay on the velvet bed.

"Hah.." Anna sighed and walked towards the balcony. When she reached the balcony, her eyes landed on the clearing where she had sparred with White.

"It was more like a one-sided beating than a spar." She thought as she chuckled to herself. She walked towards the balcony’s edge, and then her eyes fell on White, who was jogging around the garden.

’Hah... no wonder he’s so much stronger than me,’ she thought.

Seeing White train Anna resolved herself and left the room in a hurry. She soon reached the garden and began to move towards White.

White raised his eyebrow when he saw Anna walking towards him.

"Miss Anieal? Why are you here?"

"Teach me."

"What?"

"Teach me how to fight," Anna said with a determined and stubborn tone.

"I am just a mere spy, Miss Anieal," White said as he bowed a little.

"It matters not. I just want you to teach me."

"I don’t think I can do that."

"Why? Do you think I am too weak for that?" Anna questioned with narrowed eyes.

"Huh? No, that’s not what I meant." White replied as he broke the bow and stared at Anna with surprise.

"Then what did you mean?" Anna questioned again while narrowing her eyes even more.

"I..." White couldn’t come up with an answer.

"You don’t have to lie to me, I know you feel that I am too weak to be taught by you. I want you to help me become stronger; nothing else matters." Anna said with conviction.

White could see the hunger for strength in her, so he could only give up.

"As you command, Miss Anieal." White agreed.

"Let us start then," Anna said with a small smile, which soon cracked when she heard White’s words.

"Ten rounds of the garden without break, now!"

"W-what?" Anna was baffled.

"Move!!" White shouted.

"O-okay!"

Soon Anna began to run through the stone pathway of the garden... a few moments later, she was panting and was drenched in sweat. Feeling tired, Anna stopped for a breather, and just as she stopped, a sharp voice came.

"What are you standing for?! You haven’t even completed one round yet." White yelled at the top of his lungs as he ran ahead of her.

"W-wait a moment"

"Move!!"

"Hah... yes, yes." Anna took a few deep breaths and began to run behind White.

Damien looked at all of that from the window of his room with a small smile.

Footnotes:

Star beasts: Beasts, animals, birds, etc, have evolved due to the star essence and are called star beasts.

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