Chapter 44 - 44: “What are you thinking?”

The Divine Lord is holding Eu's hand tightly as they head straight to the study. He doesn't air his grievances as he drowns on them.

How could she not seek his help and act on her own?

Does she find him incompetent to assist her with anything?

Meanwhile, Jairu is stunned and bewildered of his actions. That moment, he is not the Divine Lord Foeni but a man.

How can he judge him from acting like a normal person? His beloved just escaped a dangerous situation and faced an ominous opponent.

Eu has kept everything from him.

Anyone will feel distressed.

Jairu heaves a heavy sigh as he walks the other direction. He decided to give them space and call the other people involved.

He decided to inform Di'Anon and the others of the Divine Lord Foeni's arrival. He can feel the growing tension between those two.

They need to talk.

Meanwhile, Di'Anon is awake the entire time. He didn't rest like everyone else and silently observed while anticipating this person's arrival.

He felt his presence the moment he landed on the temple grounds. He senses his feelings and distress the entire time.

He smiles as his sapphire blue eyes turn back to light brown. He stood up from the ridge and returned to his quarters.

In the study, the disheveled Divine Lord dropped down on the couch. He almost pulled her with him as he tightens his grip.

"Why?" he can't help asking.

His tone has a tinge of unrestrained sadness.

"What do you mean, why?" she curiously asked.

She really can't understand why he is so upset.

She has done everything she could to keep in touch with him. She always makes time and even learned a very complicated Astral Spell.

That is the most convenient way she can meet him and close their distance. Most of the time, she is traveling to get valuable information and constructing plans.

She is also studying from different mentors along the way and improve her capabilities.

She has so little time to spare, but she always took the time to cast a spell and spend time with him. She thought she is doing enough, but it seems she is mistaken.

How can he not appreciate her efforts?

"Why didn't you tell me anything you are doing these past seven years?" he blurted out.

He holds her hand tightly while his other arm covers his eyes. He can't help himself from imagining losing her, and he couldn't do anything to save her.

"I always visit you in Astral Space… I told you..." she calmly replied.

Eu sits by Ravikanth's side, and she reminded him that she was always beside him the entire time. It might be a kind of illusion spell, but everything that happened there was real.

She was there, always supporting and interacting with him the best way she could.

"You didn't. If I knew, I wouldn't let you take on such dangerous tasks... How can you ignore my feelings like that?" he refuted.

Eu remained silent and unable to explain herself. They will face far greater, dangerous situations in the future.

The Oracle Clan's situation is just the tip of an iceberg. He shouldn't dwell on it too much.

He remained silent as he awaits her explanation. He refrains himself from voicing out his feelings.

It is not enough to meet each other in astral space. He wants to hold her and spend more time with her in person…

Always…

He can't believe acting so pathetic. He can only tighten his grip on her and unable to look at her.

He doesn't like to show this weak side of him. He can't contain his overwhelming, disarrayed feelings.

"You are hurting me. Why do you keep on tightening your grip? It hurts. Please know your strength." she said as she heaves a sigh.

She looks at him and urges him to fix himself. How can he forget to look presentable? He is a Divine Lord, and everyone looks up to him.

Eu removes his arm and stares at his ocean blue eyes while she swept the stray strands from his face. She smiles at him, reassuringly that everything is alright.

He straightens up as he let her fix his long jet black hair. His long hair is so smooth and silky as it effortlessly glides into her fingers.

She half-tied his hair elegantly and put his golden phoenix clip on its place.

"Your hair is really soft. I'm envious…" she chuckled.

That is compared to her light golden long hair.

She started comparing and rank everyone's hair.

The Azure Dragon's silky black hair is the best. She loves braiding it the most, and he seems delighted every time she does.

Di'Anon's silver hair is prettier too. Though, he forbids her to touch his hair.

Eirwen's bluish-white hair is also remarkable.

Even Master Luc's light blonde hair is enviable as it shimmers under the moonlight.

She thought of endless comparisons, but she can't say it out loud.

She is sure to anger him if she mentioned another man's hair is way better than his.

She shrugged at the thought and smiles. She concentrates tidying this Ancient man who is acting like a spoiled child.

Ravikanth waves his hand to cast a spell and fix his clothes. Eu carefully tugs and adjusted it for him.

Eu can smell his familiar, minty sweet scent and smiles. She wanted to tell him that she misses him too.

Meanwhile, the Divine Lord barely slept last night and woke up very early to carry on with his duties. He hardly accomplishes anything those past few days and needs to catch up with his work.

Now, he understood his restlessness.

If he knew, he will come and fight alongside her. He will even fight her battles and keep her safe. He doesn't like to put herself in danger.

*********************

Seven years ago, the Holy Guardian Lord Turtle was not the only one who managed to escape from Themis.

This mysterious, malicious, terrifying man also escaped from his abysmal prison thanks to the Divine Witch Circe's magical artifact — the Gateway of Realms.

His influence reaches far and wide, even in confinement. He exploits everyone's darkest side and uses them to his benefit.

He is the Master of the Shadows.

Shadows are the most resentful souls who harbor hatred and nourish their ill will and negativity to fuel their ambitions.

Destruction? Death? Power?

Whatever it is, each of them has a grudge against life or someone or something...

It isn't necessarily relevant or deep. He can nurture it as long as it exists.

Meanwhile, the Master is, for some reason, fixated in annihilating the Oracle Clan.

Who is he? What are his reasons?

Nobody really knew...

*********************

The shadows are deceptive and organize. They are misconceived as irrational and mindless beasts.

Then again, their Master might intend them to look that way. It is always advantageous not to lay your cards at first hand.

They started skirmishes while instilling spies across the land. They inhibit people's hearts and even exploited their weaknesses.

Their movements are precise and well thought of by this mysterious perpetrator.

It was fortunate that Eu is there to intercept them. It will be catastrophic if they succeed.

The Oracle Clan?

The Mystic Spirit Realm?

The Middle Realm?

All of Astra?

There might be no limit on how wide they wanted to spread their influence.

The Divine Lord is lost in his thoughts as he thinks about everything. This is something not even him can ever assume and anticipate.

He shifted his gaze at the young girl.

'Could it be...?'

He dismissed the thought while he decided to focus on something else.

He had the urge to confess his feelings and pledge his undying loyalty to her. He wanted her to stay by his side and not to think of anything else.

He swears that he will always keep her safe. He doesn't like the idea that she is the one doing everything for everyone's sake.

He wants to take responsibility.

"What are you thinking?" Eu asked.

"I…" he started as he holds her hand.

Knock, knock, knock...

Someone knocked and opened on the door.

"My Lord, forgive my tardiness. I called the others..." Captain Jairu tried to explain.

Much to his surprise, the Divine Lord is obviously annoyed and glaring at him. His ocean blue eyes seem like shooting fireballs at him.

'Was I too late…?'

'Too early…?'

'I shouldn't have come…?'

Invincible tears start flowing from Jairu's eyes. He knew in one look from the Divine Lord that he has ruined his moment.

'Was the time he given not enough?'

The Divine Lord Foeni's eyes twitched as he shrugged off his feelings. After all, he was the one who ordered him to come.

The Divine Lord ordered them to come inside while he sits behind the desk. Eu and everyone gathered in front of him.

Everyone was silent as he observes each one of them. He narrowed his eyes as he meticulously inspects everyone.

"Report."

Eu pulled thick binders from her wizardry storage.

"What is this?" the Divine Lord knits his brows.

"The report." Eu cooly explains.

"Why are you handling this case? I have people handling this case." the Divine Lord is strictly looking at her.

He knits his brows. How can she have extensive, elaborate details about everything? His men didn't have a fraction of this information.

Their exchange starts sounding like more of an argument.

He picked up one of the binders while he looks at the young men beside her. A flash of jealousy came to him.

'Is she traveling with these young men all this time? Who let her travel with them?'

He turned his attention to Jairu.

Jairu gulped when the Divine Lord shifted his attention at him.

'I won't believe it even if he denies he has nothing to do with this.'

He can only assume that Jairu chose these men to accompany her and fully aware of this situation.

"I recognized you. You were that young man with Vermilion and Tiger at Bordertown. What is your name?" he inquired.

Haru is quickly ashen by this sudden inquiry.

'It was dark. How could he recognize me? That is just a brief moment too. How can I be so unlucky?'

Haru stiffened and tried to hide his quivering heart.