Chapter 249 Devilheart

Still, he found himself more curious about the figure he was running beside as he looked over at Asher, “You’re a recruit, right?”

“Yeah. I thought that was obvious,” Asher replied, hopping over a jutted-out root in the snow.

It was a bit frustrating trying to build rapport with the stranger as he seemed even more locked off than the dagger-wielding demi-human, though the perplexing sense Emilio had about Asher pushed him to continue talking.

“What’s your last name?” Emilio asked.

“You’re asking me that and you haven’t even given your own name yet?” Asher glanced at him.

“Ack–”

Though Asher’s way with words wasn’t subtle to say the least, Emilio did find himself feeling mannerless when realizing he did in fact neglect to give so much as his own name.

“Emilio Dragonheart,” he introduced himself while keeping pace.

“–” Asher stared at him intently for a moment.

“What...?” Emilio asked, noticing the young man’s stare.

It seemed they were the only ones capable of holding a conversation amidst their race across the snowy forest, going by the heavy breaths of Everette behind and Melisande’s periodic grunts as she pushed herself to keep up.

Asher looked forward again, “Asher Devilheart. That’s my full name.”

“Devilheart?...” Emilio repeated.

The first thought that came to the amethyst-eyed young man’s mind was just how ridiculous, but also immensely cool such a surname was, though past that, he found himself stuck on something else.

Our surnames...aren’t they really similar? What’s with that? He wondered.

“Hey...I’ve got another question, but it might sound a little crazy so don’t judge me, alright?” Emilio asked.

Even while the sets of footsteps of the group raced across the snow and frosty breaths emitted past the trees, Emilio found himself dazed in a quiet moment, coming to a startling realization as he pieced it together in his mind.

“I can’t promise anything,” Asher responded.

“Right, well...here goes nothing,” Emilio gulped, preparing to pose the question before pushing the words past his lips in words privy only to the Devilheart, “Are you from Earth? Like me?”

Asher looked at him for a moment before slowly nodding, “Yeah. I am.”Diiscover new stories at novelhall.comation was surreal to him as Emilio stared at Asher for a moment, feeling a lightness throughout his body, not knowing how to process what he just heard.

“Hey, I’ve been wonderin’...” Everett chimed in.

As the blonde-haired shielder pushed his way into the conversation, walking a bit closer as they were soon to reach the entrance of the sealed structure, Asher looked back to listen.

“You know a lot about this ‘Dread’ thing, how come?” Everett asked.

“Oh, that? I’m a demon,” Asher casually answered.

“Ah,” Everett accepted the answer.

“Oh,” Melisande looked somewhat surprised.

Emilio chuckled, “...I couldn’t tell.”

“I knew. Demons have a unique scent about them–like ripe cherries,” Yuna said, almost in a gloating fashion.

The day was never thought to be seen for Emilio where the existence of a demon would be a normal occurrence, though it was mostly due to his own preconceived notions on what constituted a ‘demon’–which was completely different within the world of Arcadius.

Besides...Asher isn’t exactly a ‘demon’...I mean, he’s originally a human from Earth, like me, Emilio thought.

“It’s because of my demon blood that I have a sort of loose connection with the ‘Dread’...I can sense it throughout the entire perimeter of the valley,” Asher explained.

“What’s it feel like?” Melisande curiously asked with her hands behind her back.

“...If I had to explain, it’s like a cold, bitter wind, brushing against my skin like sandpaper when I try to sense it. It’s evil beyond anything else I’ve ever felt–a force of sadism and destruction,” Asher answered, looking at his own hand.

As those ominous words left his lips, leaving a horrifying impression of whatever was kept bound within the walls of the abandoned fortress, the group stopped as they reached the front entrance to the unwelcoming destination.

The doorway was completely bound in chains, wrapped in pieces of fabric that were inscribed with runes, keeping sealing spells activated at all times. Once coming closer, Emilio looked at the chains, which were covered in black mold, subtly rumbling from whatever force laid inside.

...I can feel it, Emilio thought, something terrible is in there. This feeling...it reminds me of the Nightmare.

Looking over with that thought in mind, he saw Melisande shivering as her fingers trembled, though she tried to hand it.

He stood beside her, offering her his hand for support as she looked at him in surprise, hesitant to accept it for a moment.

“I’m a bit scared myself, you know? So, if you don’t mind...” Emilio told her with a small smile.

It was a white lie, though he knew the prideful girl would be quicker to help him than to accept help herself as Melisande nodded, accepting his hand. At least, the young Dragonheart thought he was telling a simple lie, but he found the girl’s hand providing a level of comfort he didn’t know he needed when staring up at the ominous gate.

“Man, I’ve got goosebumps just lookin’ at this door...” Everett held an anxious smile, looking up.

Emilio looked up, “...I was thinking, why is this thing in Vasmoria anyway? It originates from Ennage, right? Shouldn’t it be there?”

“It’s not as though Ennage forces were unable to contain it. Actually, it was the Shadow Lords that sealed it in the first place–but they had to make a deal with the Guild Foundation to keep it in this valley,” Asher explained, “...It feeds off of malice, and even more so, it’s empowered further by it in Ennage; its homeland.”

“I see...this sounds like trouble,” Emilio said.