147 Chapter 147: Nagging feeling

Standing in his room, Usui was bending over a paper with his fingers tapping the table. Suddenly he stopped what he was doing and frowned hard. He rubbed his forehead tiredly before looking out of the huge window in his room.

He pressed his lips as he gazed at the night sky. He didn't know why but he was feeling very restless. As if he was about to lose something. 

He couldn't stop the uneasiness seeping into his body. 

'Hazel'

On seeing Usui's restlessness, Zelal sighed for the zillionth time and said, "She is okay, brother. I'm sure she is all safe within her academy walls unlike us."

Usui threw a glare at his brother who shrugged, "What? we are the ones under attack and you are worrying over her, who is safe within those walls."

Usui pinched his glabella as he knew how right Zelal was but something told him that she isn't safe.

"Zeke, I think you need to worry about them first"

Usui glanced up and saw her pointing her finger outside. As he turned towards the door, he was surprised to see the generals waiting for him.

He furrowed his brows making them scratch their chin awkwardly.

"We are here for orders."

Usui raised his eyebrows, confused by their words.

"King Julian had ordered us to follow your lead."

Usui nodded understandingly. Even after countless requests, the king had turned all of them down, adamant in protecting his citizen.

"General Kim and General Alarick please stay by the king's side."

Both the generals nodded their heads resolutely. Even if they were under attack, their utmost responsibility is to protect the royal family.

Usui had placed the strongest generals to protect the king from all the information he had gathered from Hazel and the thunder squad. He turned to others and opened his mouth when his face froze.

The generals knitted their brows confused by his countenance. They watched in confusion as Usui walked past them towards the railings facing the gates. 

Usui squinted his eyes as he gazed into the darkness. After a second, his eyes widened in shock. He turned around and ordered, "Get the soldiers ready at their positions."

"Why?" 

The generals gulped when they saw the stern cold expression on Usui's face. 

"They are here"

The generals froze before shouting, "What?"

"Look at this mist, it is gathering quite thickly making it hard for us to see through."

"Mist?"

The generals looked outside in confusion until slowly their faces cleared up. They turned pale before looking at Usui who was glaring at the mist.

"Go"

The generals nodded before running downstairs, ordering their subordinates to take their positions.

Usui let out a deep breath until he felt something heavy hit his shoulder. He turned around and saw Zelal holding his sword.

Usui sighed helplessly as he took his Black Thunder from him. He wrapped the sheath around his waist before looking at Zelal who was already prepared.

Right before they moved, they heard soft footsteps coming towards them. Both of them glanced at Stella who tilted her head and smiled at them innocently.

"You guys weren't going to have fun without me, right?"

Usui's face hardened as he spoke, "Stella-"

He was cut off by Stella's cold gaze.

"I'm done hiding, Zeke. I don't care what happens to me anymore."

Zelal sternly said, "We do, Stella. You can't join this battle in your state."

Stella turned to Zelal and asked, "So if I can prove that my health is better then can I battle?"

Zelal scrunched his face at her words but he nodded making her smile.

She slowly held up a small bottle that contained small white pellets. Usui's expression changed as he knew it at the first smell that it was medicine. He hurriedly walked towards her and snatched the bottle and yelled angrily, "How many times have we told you not to eat something which we haven't tested thoroughly?"

He was about to throw the small bottle when he heard her say nonchalantly, "Hazel prescribed those medicines." 

He turned towards her in surprise, "What?"

Stella smiled, "When she happened to know about my condition, she had come to me with this bottle. She told me to eat these pills only when I'm in danger."

Then she added, "So, you can't stop me now"

Usui gripped the bottle in his hands before looking at her and asked seriously, "You sure, Stella?"

Stella wiped her smile off her face before nodding her head firmly. Throughout her life, she had hated her magic so much that she had wished to be born with no mana at all. Until Hazel explained to her how powerful she could be if she trains with it.

Usui nodded, "Fine but stay close to us."

Zelal looked at Usui in shock, "Brother-"

"Let's not waste our time anymore."

Stella grinned as she took out her curved blade, "I agree" 

She watched at how amused they looked at her new weapon of choice. Her curved blade had a white hilt with gold decorations at the bottom. The metal blade even had some gold decorations on it as it shined in the night.

She spun the blade in her fingers and smirked, "Finally, I can use this"

Usui shifted his eyes from her and gazed at the night sky which was now covered with a thick mist. He gripped his hand as he said, "Let's go"

He threw the bottle at Stella who caught it and placed it in her pouch by her waist.

They passed through the corridors and slowed down only when they saw Usui halt in his steps. Frowning they followed his gaze and saw little Rin watching the mist with a frown on his face.

Usui walked towards him slowly making Rin shift his eyes from the mist. The little boy smiled at his big brother before he glanced at the mist and asked, "Are we under attack, big brother?"

Usui pursed his lips as he looked at the kid who was studying the mist without any fear. Even though he was a kid, he was very aware of what his position meant. 

This kid was too intelligent for their like!

But, because Rin was slightly mature than most of the kids of their age. It was easy to say the truth to his face. 

He nodded making Rin frown. He heard the kid mumble while staring at his chubby hands, "Only if I was strong, then I could protect the kingdom."

Usui smiled, stretching his hand out and rubbing the guy's head.

"You will grow strong, little Rin. Now, leave it to us to protect the kingdom until you are capable of protecting it."

Rin nodded determinedly.

"Now, return to your room and keep your guards close. Don't leave the room unless I come and fetch you."

Rin pursed his lips, "Take care, brother"

Usui rubbed his head fondly, nodding at him.

Stella suddenly said, "Rin, can you keep Zack with you?"

Rin nodded before he turned around and walked off. Usui watched him until his figure disappeared from his sight. 

His smile faltered as he remembered what he said on his arrival.

He stood up slowly as he wondered, 'Death, huh? Whose death was he referring to?'

He still remembered how the golden eyes stared at him and announced that word which plunged his heart. He had this nagging feeling within him saying that Rin was referring to him... like he would lose something.

He only hoped that he didn't refer to Hazel. He wouldn't be able to live if he loses her. It was equivalent to saying that he would die if anything happened to her.

He was brought back to reality when he heard a loud booming sound. Three of them glanced outside and saw some noises arising from the gates. 

Usui looked at them before jumping down from the second floor. He landed smoothly on the floor and stood up when Stella and Zelal landed beside him. 

Not looking at each other, three of them moved amidst the mist as if they knew what the other person was planning. 

Even if Stella was weak during her childhood, the three of them used to play together every time as if they were preparing to be each other's legs and hands when needed.

They arrived at the gates where the mist was collectively gathered making it impossible to see through it. He gripped his hilt tightly as he drew his sword out. He heightened his senses, his eyes glancing around the mist warily.

Until he felt the mist thinning, he glanced at a direction, where he saw King Julian, along with the two generals standing beside him, moving his hand in the air. Immediately the mist was beginning to clear up, allowing them to view through the mist without any trouble.

"Tch! So easy" a sneering voice echoed.

Numerous dead bodies were lying on the ground with their blood coloring the earth underneath them. Among the dead bodies, stood a person who looked at them whilst holding a struggling soldier in his hand.

Usui and the rest looked at the scene before them in horror. It had been just minutes since they assembled their soldiers at the gates. But within those few minutes, this guy had managed to kill all of them.

The demon smirked at them evilly, his red eyes glowing as he crushed the soldier's neck. Blood trickled down his hand as he threw the body away disgustedly. 

He shook his head as he wiped his hand with a white handkerchief, "Tch..Tch.. now where's the fun?"