Chapter 54

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“CARE TO SAY something, my lady?” His smirk faded, replaced by a cold intensity. In a swift motion, he rolled us over, pinning me against the wall.

My brow furrowed, and my grip on the dagger tightened as I pressed its edge against his neck. His eyes burned with frustration, but my own thoughts were racing. Is he seriously mad at me? Who even gave him the right to teleport me without warning?

Chewy hissed from his perch, his fangs bared and ready to sink into Sebastian. I raised a hand, signaling him to stop. He hesitated but obeyed, his eyes never leaving Sebastian.

I returned my attention to the man before me. “Good to see you alive and kicking,” I muttered, my voice laced with sarcasm as my eyes glimmered. “You seemed awfully heroic, teleporting me without so much as a word. Playing the savior, are we?”

Blood trickled from where my dagger kissed his neck, but he didn’t so much as flinch. The crimson streaked down, staining his collar, yet his gaze remained locked on mine—unyielding, intense. His hands slammed against the wall on either side of me, caging me in.

I noticed the veins on his neck pulsing beneath his skin. His jaw clenched, his breathing steady yet betraying a simmering anger.

“I did it to save your reckless self,” he growled, his voice low and rough. He sighed, his chest rising and falling heavily as he tried to compose himself. “But then you vanished without a word. Do you know what that did to me?” His eyes darkened, a storm brewing behind them. “You drove me insane.”

I paused, trying to process his words. So, he’s mad because I left the place he teleported me to without a trace? How... amusing.

A chuckle escaped my lips, cutting through the tension. “Oh, so that’s why you’re upset?” I lowered the dagger slowly, letting its tip graze down his neck before slipping it back into its sheath. Without breaking eye contact, I leaned in, my lips brushing against the wound.

His body tensed as I pressed my mouth to his neck, my tongue tracing the line of blood. He flinched, a low groan escaping him as I sucked gently. His hands curled into fists against the wall, his breath hitching.

“Sensitive, are we?” I murmured against his skin, my voice teasing. I pulled back slightly, licking the last remnants of blood from my lips. The metallic taste lingered, sharp and bitter. “Hmm. Not bad, but I’ve had better.”

His emerald eyes flickered, a mixture of irritation and something else—something darker, more primal.

“You’re insufferable,” he muttered, clicking his tongue in frustration. Turning away, he shrugged off his cloak, letting it fall to the ground in a fluid motion.

I smirked, enjoying his reaction. “You want skewers, hmm, Sir Sebastian?” I asked, tilting my head coyly.

He let out an exasperated sigh but nodded. “Yes, my lady,” he said, his tone dry yet laced with reluctant amusement.

My smile widened. “Perfect.” Without waiting, I grabbed his arm, pulling him along. I glanced back at Chewy, gesturing for him to transform. With a soft shimmer, he shifted back into his usual form and leaped after us.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow as we walked. “You do realize the skewers won’t disappear if we take our time, right?”

I shot him a playful glare, mirroring his expression. “I know. But I’m excited—it’s our second time trying them, isn’t it?”

He smirked faintly, the earlier tension easing from his features. “It is,” he admitted.

“Then let’s hurry!” I exclaimed, quickening my pace, the thrill of the night pulling us forward.

We finally made our way through the bustling crowd, the sea of people nearly swallowing us whole. The cacophony of voices, the vibrant colors of the festival, and the mouthwatering scent of grilled meat filled the air. Minutes passed, and then I spotted the familiar vendor from earlier.

“Hello! Me again,” I called out with a smile, stepping forward. “We’ll take some—”

Before I could finish, the vendor, a cheerful old man with a fan in hand, lit up when he saw Sebastian. With a knowing smile, he swayed his fan dramatically.

“Sir Sebastian, is this lady your girlfriend?” he asked, his voice full of playful curiosity.

I blinked. He knows him?

Sebastian shot me a teasing glance, his grin widening. “Yes, Mister Carl,” he replied smoothly.

My eyebrows shot up, and I turned to him, eyes narrowing. What the heck is he saying?

Mister Carl chuckled, his gaze flicking between us. “You’ve got peculiar taste, Sir Sebastian. She’s quite the beauty, but she seems... rough around the edges. Like a gem that hasn’t been polished.”

My jaw clenched, my fingers itching to reach for the daggers at my waist. Who does this old man think he is? My eyes darted to Sebastian, his grin still annoyingly present. Should I deal with the vendor first or wipe that smirk off his face? Decisions, decisions.

I began to draw a dagger, but Sebastian’s hand shot out, firmly catching my wrist before I could unsheathe it. His grip was steady but not forceful, his touch warm against my skin.

“We’ll take ten chicken and beef skewers, Mister Carl,” he said, completely ignoring the tension in my posture. His tone was light, almost pleasant, as though I wasn’t seconds away from slicing someone’s head off.

Mister Carl laughed heartily, turning to prepare the skewers without another word, his fan waving lazily in the air.

As we waited, the smoky aroma of sizzling meat filled the small stall. I crossed my arms, leaning slightly against the counter, my eyes still burning holes into Sebastian.

“Girlfriend?” I muttered under my breath. “What exactly are you playing at?”

Sebastian leaned casually beside me, his eyes fixed on the skewers. “Relax, my lady. It’s just a harmless jest.”

I scoffed, shooting him a glare. “Harmless? You practically invited him to insult me.”

He chuckled softly, his voice low and velvety. “If you think that was an insult, you’ve clearly grown soft.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but Mister Carl interrupted, placing a plate of freshly cooked skewers in front of us. The golden-brown glaze shimmered under the warm festival lights.

“There you go, ten skewers. Enjoy!” the vendor said with a cheerful grin.

Sebastian handed him a few coins and grabbed the skewers. “Much appreciated,” he said before turning to me. “Shall we?”

I grabbed one of the skewers, biting into the tender meat. The flavors burst on my tongue—sweet, savory, and perfectly smoky. I’d already eaten skewers earlier, but somehow, the deliciousness hadn’t faded. If anything, it felt even better, like each bite was a small indulgence in perfection.

We started walking, the crowd parting slightly as we moved. Chewy trailed behind in his smaller form, occasionally glancing up as if to ensure we were still in sight.

“So,” I said after a moment, my tone dry, “care to explain why you let that old man think we’re a couple?”

Sebastian smirked, taking a bite of his skewer. “It kept things interesting, didn’t it?”

I rolled my eyes, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at my lips. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you wouldn’t have me any other way,” he quipped, his emerald eyes glinting with amusement.

I huffed but couldn’t suppress the warmth creeping into my cheeks. The festival lights danced around us, and for a brief moment, the chaos of the world seemed to fade into the background

He stopped right in front of me, his piercing gaze scanning my face.

“So, how’s the training going?” he asked, his tone casual but curious.

I bit into the last piece of meat, savoring it as I chewed slowly. “Yesh, aymsh ghetengsh beshtter,” I mumbled through a mouthful of food.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a laugh. “You really know how to ruin a moment,” he said, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe a smudge from the corner of my lips. His exaggerated gentleness made it clear he was teasing.

I swallowed quickly, flashing him a smug grin. “I know, right? But you have to admit, I was pretty cool earlier.”

He chuckled, stepping closer. “Yeah, cool and messy,” he muttered, leaning in suddenly. His head rested on my shoulder.

“I missed you,” he said softly.

I flinched, my breath hitching for a second. What? My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly masked my surprise with a nonchalant shrug. “You’re acting weird,” I muttered, trying to sound unimpressed.

But he wasn’t done. He leaned back slightly, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Though, you do smell awful,” he added, wrinkling his nose dramatically.

My eyes widened. “Excuse me?!”

Before he could blink, I slapped his arm, hard enough to make him stagger back a step. He held his cheek as if I’d hit him there, pouting like a scolded puppy.

“Why are you so violent? I was just kidding!” he whined, rubbing his arm while shooting me a playful glare.

“You deserved it,” I shot back, crossing my arms.

Sebastian sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “My lady, your harshness wounds me. But seriously, are you done with training?”

I was about to retort when I remembered. “Oh no! I still need to find the orb—that’s my last task!”

Sebastian froze, his playful demeanor shifting. “Wait, you mean the orb? The one that belonged to the deceased High Priestess?”

I nodded, determined.

He tilted his head, grinning slyly. “Well, lucky for you, I know where it is. Follow me.”

My eyebrows shot up. “How do you know where it is?”

He smirked, stepping closer. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Before I could respond, he suddenly reached out and poked my cheek. “Boop.”

“Sebastian!” I swatted his hand away, glaring.

He just laughed, snapping his fingers before I could protest further. The world around me blurred.

“You’re teleporting me again?!” I yelled as we vanished into thin air.

My foot stepped onto the cold floor as my eyes roamed the dimly lit room. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me. Wait... this place looks familiar.

“Yes, we’re at the Grand Duke Dousel’s manor,” Sebastian said, as if reading my mind. “And before you ask, he lets me live here because he owes me a lot.”

I raised a brow. I didn’t even ask, I thought, but kept quiet.

“So, where’s the orb?” I asked, cutting straight to the point.

Sebastian smiled, turning toward a large, ornate drawer. He began muttering an incantation under his breath, the words foreign and ancient, like whispers from another time. Suddenly, a shimmering arcane circle materialized above the drawer, its intricate lines pulsing with a soft blue light. The drawer creaked open slowly, revealing a radiant orb within.

Sebastian carefully retrieved the orb, its surface glowing faintly, and handed it to me.

The system flickered to life.

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Congratulations! You have successfully completed the task Trial of the Forgotten Relic! The orb is now yours!

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As my hand closed around the orb, another announcement appeared.

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You have now completed your training. Well done, dear player! Rewards will be granted shortly!

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My forehead wrinkled. Rewards? My mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario. Please don’t be some ridiculous title like High Priestess.

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Rewards will be granted momentarily!

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Suddenly, a strange sensation coursed through my body. My feet lifted off the ground, and I began to levitate. My hair floated around me, as if caught in an invisible current. The room grew darker, the glow from a massive arcane circle beneath me illuminating everything in a surreal, ethereal light.

Sebastian’s jaw dropped. “What the—?!” he muttered, taking a cautious step back.

Chewy hissed, his fur bristling as his sharp eyes darted between me and the glowing symbols. Despite his usual bravery, he let out a low, nervous growl.

The system continued its updates.

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Updating character details…

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Character Profile

Eiliyah Arthemice Loughsin

Titles: The Ruthless Villainess, High Priestess Current Life: 85% Reputation: 30% Power Level: Transcendent Abilities: Beast Tamer, Evoke, Alchemy

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Tsk. Just as I feared. My eyes narrowed. High Priestess? Really? For goodness’ sake, I didn’t sign up for this.

The swirling symbols around me intensified, culminating in a final burst of blinding light. With a dramatic flare, the arcane circle disappeared, and I floated gently back to the floor. My feet touched down silently as the room returned to its normal state.

I heaved a sigh, holding out the orb to Sebastian. “Here,” I said, my tone flat. “Put it back in the drawer. What a complete waste of energy.”

Sebastian blinked, still processing what had just happened. “You’re seriously just—” He stopped mid-sentence, shaking his head with a disbelieving laugh. “Unbelievable.”

“Do I look like I care?” I shot him a glare.

He chuckled, taking the orb. “You’ve got a flair for the dramatic, I’ll give you that.” He turned to the drawer, muttering the incantation again to reseal the artifact.

Chewy padded over to me, his tail flicking nervously. I scratched his head, letting out another sigh. So much for a simple training session.

“Is your training done now?” Sebastian asked, casually strolling toward me, brushing dust off his hands.

I nodded, a small smirk tugging at my lips. “Yes, I’m done. I can finally—”

Before I could finish, Sebastian moved in a blur. In one swift motion, he hoisted me up as if I weighed nothing, slinging me over his shoulder like a sack. My protest barely escaped my lips before he set me down on the nearby table with a controlled yet deliberate force. The wood creaked beneath me, the proximity between us suddenly electric.

“Now that you’ve finished your little task,” he murmured, his voice low and velvety, sending a shiver down my spine, “mind giving me some of that precious attention?” His grip on my legs tightened slightly, anchoring me in place, his fingers warm through the fabric.

I blinked, caught completely off guard. His usual teasing smirk was gone, replaced by an intensity that made my pulse quicken. The playful spark in his eyes had turned into something darker, more dangerous. My breath hitched as he leaned in, his face mere inches from mine, his warm breath brushing against my cheek.

“Sebastian…” I managed, my voice wavering, half a warning and half a question.

He tilted his head, his lips curving into a devilish grin. “What’s the matter? You seemed so confident earlier,” he teased, his tone dripping with challenge.

My heart pounded as his gaze dropped to my lips, his hand shifting slightly on my thigh. Just when I thought he might close the distance, he stopped, his grin widening.

“Well?” he whispered, his voice a taunting caress. “Should I continue, or are you too scared to handle me now?”

The room seemed to freeze, every second stretching into an eternity. Damn it, Sebastian.

fin.