241 Someone’s Coming

In Euphrasia....

Calista made her way through the marbled tiled floor as she kept a straight face, the sound of her shoe clacking against the ground as she strode past the hallway, made her presence known. There were guards positioned in each corner of the palace, and each of them bowed when she walked by.

Despite keeping calm in her demeanor, her heart was racing tremendously and she felt nervous on the inside. She was wondering if Azazel would show up like she asked him to. After what happened between them, she felt her presence made him uncomfortable, thus, leading to her own unsettlement.

‘please be there,’ she uttered in her head.

Going up to the balcony after letting out a soft breath, she stepped in, and to her relief, found Azazel waiting for her there.

Calista’s heart skipped many beats when Azazel’s face came into sight. He was leaning against the edge of the balcony and his silver-white hair fluttered with the breeze. His blue eyes were locked on hers and Calista could swear she saw something move in them.

“You asked for me.” His voice broke her quickly from her trance, and she blinked at him, shocked and surprised that he actually came.

She had been so scared of contacting him again after their last encounter together in her room, just thinking about the words he said to her made her heart sting, and she was reminded of how her feelings were hurt.

She never planned on disturbing him again, but when Levi spoke to her about the Valerian sword, he said things that made her wary of it, and suddenly told her to meet with Azazel. He assured her that only Azazel was capable of explaining the dangers of the sword better.

historical

.....

She never expected Azazel would show up if she called him again.

“I..” she took a step forward, standing before Azazel and keeping her head low, “I wanted us to talk about the Valerian sword, if you don’t mind.”

“Why?” He arched a brow at her, acting surprised that she was suddenly interested in the sword.

Of course, he was expecting her to hate him after everything he said to her that night. He thought she’d never want to see his face again, but she summoned him again, at night time and he grew suspicious.

Will she get revenge?? Why did he even come??

“Forgive me if I keep disrupting your sleep.” She apologized like she just read his mind, “the thing is, I can only speak freely with you, without any disturbances at night, that is why I chose to call you over by this time.”

She explained truthfully. If Azazel becomes a regular guest that everyone was fond of seeing during daytime, no doubt, suspicions about her relationship with Azazel will definitely arise, and she wasn’t ready to answer her father’s question on why she’s seeing another man when she’s already engaged to Archer, she has no strength to start thinking of a lie.

Neither does she want to put Azazel in any trouble.

“What do you want to know about the sword?” He asked, cocking his head to the side so he could look at her face. More like he was trying to conclude on something, and the only way he could get that answer was if he saw her face.

Looking up at him, she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, keeping her emotions aside since that wasn’t why she called him here.

“I want to understand this sword, how harmful is it? What are its powers?” From the beginning she laid eyes on that sword, she never liked the energy she got from it, whilst she distanced herself from it.

Ever since the sword was brought, no one has been able to unsheath it. Her brother has tried countless times but it was to no avail. They had to call the best swordsmith to take a look at it, but nothing was detected, nor could the reason behind the sword be known.

Azazel noticed the question in her eyes, he no longer saw that infatuated look she usually gives him, which means she didn’t summon him over to just see him, but to truly inquire about the sword.

He was supposed to be fine with it, he preferred her like this, but then why is he not satisfied by it.

“The Valerian sword is not any normal sword, it was carved by a priest back in the days,” he began, “the sword can only be unsheathed by its wielder, but it has only caused more harm than good.”

“What do you mean?” Calista’s brows knitted, taking his words into consideration.

Azazel turned around, looking up at the night sky before continuing, “Anna used to be a reborned Demoness named Aveline.” He broke the news, leading her pupils to dilate at the mention of Anna being reborned.

“Anna used to be a... w_what??” She froze at the news, overcomed by the news of Anna once being a demon.

Wait, is rebirth actually real???!!

“Aveline was the wielder of the Valerian sword,” Azazel carried on, not minding the shock she was in, “..but things got out of hand and she caused a massacre. In the end, she died and was reborned as the Anna we all know. The same sword was used to kill Roshan’s family, because the sword isn’t only capable of hurting Demons, but it’s capable of destroying our souls, making it impossible for Demons to be reincarnated again. Whoever used it on Roshan’s family_ since the person is already dead, I can’t figure out how he was able to unsheath it.”

Calista listened attentively. The news of Anna being a Demon in her previous life hasn’t left her head yet, but she had to listen to the other side of the story too.

“But wait, the sword can only be used if separated right, but since it hasn’t been unsheathed, doesn’t that mean the sword is harmless?”

“Exactly, which is why all of you are still alive.”

“Wait_what?!” That part threw her off guard, and her dumbstruck reaction was what Azazel was aiming for, and she gave it to him.

“Anna and Aveline are different now, because Anna isn’t a demon, she’s human. But I’m afraid she’s still capable of unsheathing the sword, and if she can’t control it, many lives will be lost.”

“Like the end of the world?”

“It’s called world domination.”

“Ohkay.” Calista barely knew what to say, she was having little time digesting everything Azazel just said to her, and if she hears more she might just pass out from it, what could be worse than world domination?

“The dark forest.” Azazel responded to her thoughts, and she whipped her head at him, surprised he answered her.

“What?”

“You’ve been too focused on the Valerian sword, no one is noticing that the dark forest is still dark, despite Roshan not being there.”

“We have noticed.” She proudly said it, not liking how he made her family sound unserious before her presence. “It’s just the reason behind it is still unknown, but I feel everything has a connection.”

“What are these connections?”

“I can’t say,” she turned away from him, taking a few steps forward, “there was a poem written about the dark forest, and it was mainly because of the demon that resided in it.”

“Who wrote the poem?”

“I don’t know,” she turned to look at him, “but it’s been a long time, the poem still existed before I came into the world, but if Roshan isn’t there anymore, I think the poem itself has a deeper meaning than what we’ve been reading it by all along.”

It was obvious she was getting into something, and Azazel was interested in hearing this poem that was composed.

“Do you still remember it?”

“I can never forget it.”

“Then can you say it for me?” He requested. Their conversation felt mature, and every ill feeling was being casted aside.

“The poem goes like_”

“Calista?” Came the voice of someone that seemed to be heading for the balcony.

Calista’s eyes widened when the familiar voice called her name for the second time, and she looked at Azazel with full alarm.

“You need to leave, Archer is heading up here.” She quickly whispered, trying to shoo Azazel away, but the man barely moved an inch from his position.

“Your future husband?”

She nodded, “please leave before he sees you.”

“What is he doing here?” The question slipped out before he could shut himself up, but Calista was too focused on getting Azazel to leave to notice his tone.

“He usually spends a day or two in the palace, you know, like a way for us to interact and get to know one another, ahhh.. I’m speaking too much, go now!”

“Calista.” Archer called again, but Azazel still hadn’t left, and Calista felt like disappearing herself, he seemed to be enjoying her sudden turmoil.

“Why are you doing this? I summoned you didn’t I? I’m asking you to leave now before he sees you.”

“And what if I want him to see me?” His coal blue eyes glinted.