ch 14: The Unexpected Visitor
Chapter 14: The Unexpected Visitor
Elias emerged from the rocky crevice hiding the entrance to the "Sanctuary of the Dead" cave, greeted by the cold, biting mountain air.
Dawn was just beginning to break across the sky. It wasn't an ordinary sunrise; in the Mountains of the Thunder Lord, the sun doesn't rise clearly. Instead, it sneaks shyly behind dense layers of purple and black clouds that swirl above like an eternal vortex.
Elias stood on the edge of a jutting rock, looking at the scene before him. A jagged black mountain range stretched like the fangs of a mythical beast, interspersed with flashes of silent lightning illuminating the deep valleys below. The smell of ozone and sulfur filled the air, mixed with the scent of coming rain. The place was desolate, harsh, and terrifyingly beautiful.
As soon as he stepped a few paces away from the cave's mana interference range, he whispered in his mind:
(Deal?)
The response wasn't delayed. The entity's voice slithered into his consciousness, slimy and sarcastic as usual:
(Robe of the Lightning Incarnate? Hehehe... truly an interesting choice. It seems you finally realize that your current 'value' is too meager to achieve those crazy ambitions of yours... Ahahahaha)
Elias walked carefully over the slippery volcanic rocks, replying coldly without his voice wavering:
"If you don't shut up and save your comments for yourself, I will force you into consecutive losing deals with low-value beings. I know you hate the taste of those cheap deals; they are like eating rotten food to you."
The entity fell silent suddenly, the laughter vanishing as if he had swallowed his tongue.
(......)
A faint, cynical smile appeared on Elias's pale face. "It seems you've become obedient now."
(............)
"Return me to the Academy. Directly to my room."
The entity hesitated for a moment before answering wearily: (...Fine...)
Space bent around Elias, and the scene of the harsh mountains faded into a vortex of colors.
He felt the usual dizziness, and in a fraction of a second, the atmospheric pressure, smell, and lighting changed.
Elias found himself standing in the middle of his luxurious room in the Elite Dormitory at the Academy.
The contrast was stark. A second ago, he was in the land of death and lightning, and now he stood on a plush red carpet.
The room was spacious, furnished with refined taste befitting nobles. A huge four-poster bed with a velvet canopy, a dark mahogany desk piled with books, and a magical fireplace emitting gentle warmth. Early morning light filtered lazily through the heavy curtains, painting golden lines on the polished wooden floor.
Elias exhaled slowly, as if expelling the graveyard air from his lungs.
He took the black Robe of the Lightning Incarnate off his shoulders. As soon as it left his body, the robe returned to its natural form as a regular piece of cloth, losing its eerie purple sheen.
Elias muttered as he sniffed the fabric, "Right... I must wash this. Many must have used it before me, and the smell of 'death' clinging to it will arouse suspicion."
He threw the robe into a silver metal box in the corner of the room—a magical cleaning device using mana waves to remove dirt and odors—then walked with heavy steps toward the suite's attached bathroom.
He stood under the shower, letting hot water pour over him, washing away fatigue, dust, and battle blood from his body.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the heat that began to melt the ice in his veins, but his mind refused to stop working.
Step one complete: Obtaining the Lightning Incarnate.
Next step: The Freshmen Tournament.
He redrew the mental map.
By the time I finish the tournament, First Prince Nero will have concluded his secret agreement with Duke Ignis. Nero believes Princess Celine will try to drag the war into a long attrition conflict relying on the support of agricultural nobles, but he doesn't know that Ignis will stab her in the back.
He rubbed his face vigorously with water.
Celine will discover the betrayal too late. And then, when her world collapses, she will desperately try to recruit any force, even student soldiers.
He opened his eyes, water droplets sliding down his face like cold tears.
In that moment of absolute despair... I will offer my help. I will be the only lifeline. I will exploit her fear to raise my 'value' steadily and deliberately.
And by the end of all this, 'Marinda' should have finished the dirty tasks I entrusted to her in the shadows.
He turned off the faucet, and dense steam exited, wrapping his body like an aura.
He whispered in a faint voice lost in the bathroom's echo:
"Then... the promised time will come."
Elias stepped out of the bathroom, wrapping only a white towel around his waist. Water droplets dripped from his wet black hair onto his broad shoulders, which were marked with faint scars.
He felt extreme exhaustion ravaging him. The consumption of mental energy to control the robe, negotiating with the dead, and using the costly "Return"... all of it made his eyelids heavy as lead.
He walked toward his plush bed and threw himself onto it, staring at the ceiling decorations.
Should I skip today? There is nothing important except physical training...
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound of light, but confident, knocks on the suite's outer door cut his train of thought.
Elias furrowed his brows, drowsiness vanishing instantly to be replaced by caution.
Who?
No one visits at this time. Is it Cedric coming for revenge? Or a secret messenger from the Princess?
He rose warily, muscles tensed, his mind ready to activate a defensive "deal" in a split second.
He approached the door silently and asked in a low, firm voice, "Who is it?"
The reply came from the other side in a familiar female voice, a warm and affectionate voice that pierced his caution like an arrow and reached his childhood memories.
"Elias? It's me."
Elias froze in place, his hand hovering over the handle.
This voice... he hasn't heard it since he left home.
He muttered in astonishment, as if in disbelief, "Sister?... Charlotte?"
He opened the door slowly, keeping his back foot ready to retreat in case it was a trap.
But what he saw was not an enemy.
She stood there, with a bright smile that dispelled the gloom of the dormitory hallway. Long wavy golden hair cascading over her shoulders, and clear golden eyes radiating tenderness and warmth. She wore an elegant blue dress, practical yet refined, befitting the daughter of a noble family with a military background.
Charlotte Reinhardt. His adopted older sister, and the woman who had been a mother, friend, and shield to him throughout his miserable life.
Elias said in a voice he tried to make cold and composed, but a tone of surprise crept in despite himself, "Sister... what brings you to the Academy? Were you not supposed to be at the Count's estate overseeing the knights?"
Charlotte pouted playfully, placing her hands on her hips in a mock offensive stance. "Oh? Won't you let me in first? Or can you no longer stand seeing your big sister after becoming a student in the capital?"
She pretended to wipe fake tears with the tip of her finger. "Ah, my little heart is breaking... my little brother has hardened his heart against me..."
Elias sighed, realizing there was no room for discussion with her usual theatrics. "Come in."
Charlotte entered immediately, beginning to inspect the room with curiosity and vigor, touching the sofa fabric, looking at the hung paintings, and checking the cleanliness of the place with an expert eye.
Elias closed the door and leaned against it, watching her. "Sister, seriously, why are you here?"
She turned to him with a wide smile revealing her white teeth. "Hehe, don't worry, I didn't run away. I have legitimate permission from Father and the Academy administration."
Elias pointed to the sofa. "I'll make tea. Sit down."
"Okayyy!" She jumped lightly and sat on the plush sofa, crossing her legs elegantly.
Minutes later, Elias returned with a silver tray carrying two cups of hot tea emitting the scent of soothing herbs. He placed them down and sat opposite her.
"Alright. Explain."
She took a sip and closed her eyes in enjoyment, then said in a more serious tone, "Remember when I begged you not to go to the Academy?"
"Yes."
"Well, since I couldn't stop you, and I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you alone in this 'snake pit' called the Academy, I decided to come and take care of you."
Elias looked at her silently, waiting for the rest.
She continued proudly, lifting her chin, "So, I asked Father for a recommendation, submitted my papers, took the tests... and here I am! An official professor at the Academy!"
Elias's eyes widened in genuine shock. "You?... A professor? Here?"
She knitted her eyebrows in mock annoyance. "What do you mean by that reaction? Don't you trust your sister's abilities? I may look young, but I'm ten years older than you, and I passed the combat proficiency test with a full score!"
Elias sighed internally. He knew that. Charlotte wasn't just a spoiled noble; she was a terrifying warrior trained since childhood.
He asked curiously, "Which department will you be teaching?"
She answered confidently, "The Knight Department, of course! I'll teach those brats the meaning of discipline."
Elias was silent for a moment, staring at the tea, then said slowly, "......Charlotte. I am in the Magic Department."
Charlotte blinked several times, processing the words, then laughed nervously. "Hehehe... your jokes are improving, Elias. You? Magic? When the mana in your body is non-existent?"
"......"
"......"
The laughter faded gradually as she saw his serious face. "....You're serious?!!!!" Charlotte shouted in a loud voice that filled the room.
Elias rubbed his forehead in pain. "Yes. I am in the Magic Department."
Awkward silence prevailed, then Elias sighed. "It's fine. I'll need to deal with the Knight Department later anyway. Your presence there might be useful for my plans."
Charlotte shrank in her seat, suddenly looking depressed, her enthusiasm wilting. "I planned to train you and protect you during practical lessons... how will I protect you when you're in another building?"
Elias ignored her dramatics and said, "I'll explain the situation to you later. Now, could you return to your room? I really need to sleep."
She raised her head quickly, her energy returning. "Sleep? It's morning! Didn't you sleep last night?"
"I was in the Mountains of the Thunder Lord, doing some business."
Charlotte gasped and stood up suddenly, her eyes wide with horror. "Mountains of the Thunder Lord?! That area is outside the Empire's borders! A forbidden zone! Reaching it takes three months by carriage! How... wait..."
She narrowed her eyes, giving him a sharp look. "Did you use your ability again?"
"Yes."
"Elias!" She screamed with genuine anger and worry, her voice trembling. "How long will you rely on that cursed thing?! It devours your existence! You know the dangers better than I do!"
Elias said calmly, trying to soothe her, "Lower your voice, sister, walls have ears. And I went to get something worth the risk. Something that will protect me."
She calmed down a little, but worry still shadowed her golden eyes. "Something worth it?"
"A robe that attracts lightning. It is a powerful defensive weapon."
Her face suddenly brightened, her mood changing 180 degrees. "Really? That's great! So you won't have to gamble with your life and use your ability in every small fight! Hehehe... that's very relieving! I was worried about you."
Elias deliberately avoided mentioning the deadly "curse" associated with the robe and decided to change the subject quickly before she asked more smart questions.
"So, where will you stay? In the professors' dorms? I'll visit you later."
Charlotte smiled that sly smile he had known well since childhood. "Hehehehe... you'll be shocked."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll stay here. In your room."
Silence fell.
"......"
"......"
Elias said flatly, "It seems you've learned to joke too."
"I'm not joking."
Elias sighed deeply. "Impossible. I won't allow it. This is a student dormitory."
"Why?! This suite is for the Elite, it's huge like a small house! And there are three empty bedrooms!"
"Charlotte... it's not appropriate for a girl to stay with a young man in the same suite, even if we are siblings. The rules..."
She interrupted him, waving her hand indifferently, "You are my little brother whose diapers I changed and to whom I read stories! Besides, I already finished the procedures with the Headmaster and used the family influence. Changing it is impossible."
"......"
Elias realized he had lost the battle. Charlotte was stubborn as volcanic rock when she decided something.
She continued, puffing her cheeks gently, "I'm sure you eat randomly, and the kitchen here hasn't been touched by anyone and is covered in dust. I'll cook for you, clean the place, and take care of you so you don't die of exhaustion."
Elias looked at her. She was sincere. Her eyes reflected only worry and unconditional love.
He said resignedly, raising the white flag, "Fine..."
She clapped her hands happily. "Excellent! I'll go to the adjacent room to unpack and arrange my things, and you go to sleep."
Elias nodded, then stopped suddenly as if remembering something. "Wait... you didn't have any bags when you entered."
She winked at him playfully. "They were moved last night by the servants while you were hanging out in the mountains."
".....You planned everything in advance."
"Of course. Otherwise, how would I convince a stubborn and arrogant mule like you?"
Elias shook his head in despair and headed to his bed. His body screamed for rest, and his mind stopped resisting.
As soon as he closed his eyes, ready to drown in sleep, he heard Charlotte's whispering voice right above his head.
"Elias..."
"What is it?" he muttered without opening his eyes, his voice heavy.
Her voice came reproachful and mixed with a stifled laugh, "What do you mean 'what is it'? ...Shouldn't you put on your clothes before sleeping?"
Elias froze.
His eyes opened slowly. He suddenly remembered.
The towel.
He heard Charlotte laughing while covering her mouth. "Pfft... it seems you are still careless as usual despite all this intelligence. Come on, put on something comfortable then sleep."
Elias got up quickly, his face burning with a rare embarrassment, grabbed sleepwear from the closet, and headed to the dressing room at lightning speed to escape her laughing gaze.
When he returned, he found Charlotte sitting on the edge of his bed, having pulled back the cover to make room for him.
"Shouldn't you arrange your things?" he asked, trying to regain his dignity.
"I will after you sleep. Come." She patted the mattress beside her.
Elias sighed for the thousandth time and surrendered to the reality. He tucked himself under the cover and turned his back to her, curling up like a fetus.
He felt her warm hand stroking his hair gently, caressing his wet strands with a regular, soothing rhythm.
He tried to ignore the touch, feigning coldness, but the warmth and nostalgia were stronger than him. The scent of her calm perfume—a mixture of vanilla and lavender flowers—took him back to his childhood days, before curses, before entities, and before killing.
"Goodnight, little brother," she whispered tenderly.
Elias surrendered to the darkness of sleep, and for the first time in a long while... he slept peacefully without nightmares.
