Chapter 55: All Night Long

The Demon’s Love

Chapter 55: All Night Long

Amari’s

Bal staggered to stand up, while worriedly touching his arm. It was where Rymond hit him and his punishment for betraying me was staying up as a guard outside. Of course, that was a test since Rymond also went out to see if there were no monsters around the area. He basically just took a nap before leaving us in the tent together with Zaren.

Zaren wanted to go with him, but Rymond didn’t want to as he’d be bothering a newly-married life’s well. I didn’t know he’d bee that sensible but it was cute because he was obviously still drowsy but had to step out as to not upset the jealous Zaren.

I really didn’t want to heal Bal as of the moment, so I told Rymond to get herbal leaves for him. I don’t want to reveal what I can do just for him since he had betrayed me once and he could easily do it again. I knew Bal wouldn’t have done it if what on stake wasn’t as important as someone’s life. However, that was exactly why I couldn’t risk.

I am yet to overcome the crisis I am facing myself. My identity, my will here and the reason why my soul has yet to cease when my real body was nowhere to found. I have endless of questions and this journey is the key to them, probably. There was no guarantee and my loses are bigger than what I could gain. It also is natural if ever I wouldn’t benefit from this, but something in my instinct told me this is right, where a part of my heart felt unsure.

Well, we’ve come a long way. There is no way to turn back now.

Bal groaned and looked at Rymond, who offered him a fresh-decocted medicine for him. It was sparkly, as if magic was dyed with it, but only the innocent smile of Rymond made Bal disbelieve that there was nothing wrong in the medicine. He glanced at my way and I giggled.

“If it my reason to kill you, I wouldn’t have allowed your neck intact last night.”

Bal guiltily looked away from me and gulped his saliva. “T-thank you…”

Rymond momentarily stopped his bleeding, but it doesn’t mean he felt no pain. It was only blood, not the pain so Bal must had suffered throughout the night. I felt guilty but I also couldn’t just heal him that fast when he had just betrayed me. He was the one who led the Dark Mages for me, after all.

Shortly, Bal gulped down the medicine then I felt Zaren hand caress my cheek. I turned to him, “Why?”

He shook his head, “Why would you even want him alive?”

I pursed my lips, “Let’s say for our history.”

He lifted his brow, “You had a history I didn’t know about? Was he your former paramour or—”

I covered his mouth and corrected his mishap, “Bal and I were good comrades. We were trained under the jurisdiction of my Uncle. He was the one I got acquainted to. Once, he even tended to me when I got sick.”

Zaren’s jealous eyes lingered towards Bal who noticeably flinched. He appeared better upon swallowing the medicine. Yawning, Rymond covered his mouth and drowsily made his way to me. He closed his eyes then turned towards Zaren.

“Hey, Duke. The Dark Magic here is strong.”

I heard Bal’s footsteps and told us, “I kept guard here but there was nothing.”

Rymond nodded, “Well, they’re stronger than you. You wouldn’t notice it.”

I touched Rymond’s head, “You looked like you got no sleep at all. Did you not sleep?”

He opened one of his eyes then stumbled on the ground. Surprised, I caught him then Rymond panted. He tapped at our seals then I covered it, not wanting Bal to notice it and smiled at him.

“Step back, Bal. I have something to check.”

Bal blinked then followed along. He only didn’t step back; he went to the lake to wash his bloody arm and hands. I sighed and asked Rymond.

“What happened, why are you in this state?”

He waved his hand, “It’s a long story, but I fought the Dark magic all night long.”

I hit his head, “What the hell are you thinking? You could have called for us, you fool! If you die, I’d get killed too.” I whined when I am actually worried that he was hurt.

Zaren looked at him and urged, “Why don’t you take a rest first?”

Rymond shook his head, “No. Let us get going, I only exhausted my energy last night. I’ll take a nap while we’re on the way.”

I then lifted my hand, causing the two halted from their plan to stand up. I seriously looked at Rymond and asked, “So, why did you not ask for our help? Do you think you were that strong enough to kill of that thing?”

Rymond sighed in distress. “I wouldn’t want to be kept that way but Dark Magic is… not as easy as you think that was. I could have called for aid if I could.”

Zaren nodded his head, “Yes. In fact, last night… there was a restrain of movement to us. Thus, even if we help him, the Dark Magic will only tire our magic.”

I frowned, not comprehending his words completely. “I get that but what restraint are you talking about?”

Rymond yawned, “A restraint that would keep you from intervening. If you succeeded, it would allure to the Hallucination Realm to which you’re impossible of getting out.”

“The Hallucination Realm… is that the strongest weapon of Dark Magic?”

Zaren agreed, “Yes. Last night, despite I wanted to help him, even with the help of my magic, I couldn’t even give him an ounce of my magic.”

I gulped my saliva. I even hit Rymond earlier not waiting for his explanation. I feel so unsecure of my shortcoming, I really shout punish myself!

“How did you fight Dark Magic when you were in this appearance?”

Rymond smirked, “I can transform to an adult body.”

“But why won’t you remain like that?”

“… Because… I can only remain like this. Do you know what it costed me to save you both?”

I looked at Zaren who was reluctant then I pursed my lips, “What was it?”

Rymond nonchalantly sighed then shrugged his shoulders, “Half of my cultivation which is half of my existence.”

“…”

“…”

Neither of us can say anything at that point. I never assumed that the cost wasn’t simple, I knew it would be big but half of a dragon’s cultivation is definitely powerful.

Rymond lifted his head, looking at the shining sun and laughed in a restrained manner, “Ever since I got in this world, I couldn’t remain as an adult since I don’t have half of my magic. I could be like that for two hours but it’d exhaust my magic tremendously.”

Worriedly, I bit my lower lip. “Then you fought with the Dark magic with that appearance of yours. If you had sensed the Dark Magic, why didn’t you say so when you left the tent?”

Rymond shook his head. He seemed to be hiding something but in order to understand what was going, we must be updated to our surroundings. He alternately gave us a passing glance.

“When I was in the tent, I felt the Dark Magic was faint. I got out to take care of it, but I didn’t think it’d be entranced like that. It was my shortcoming, so it’s fair that I fight it myself. Aside that, I am also incapable of doing so since something prevented me from sending signal to Zaren.”

I nodded my head, “Sorry for that. Lend me your hand, Terry.”

Rymond suspiciously looked at me but needlessly gave me his hand then I drew a spell on him. The spell was a cast that could give him strength and resilience if he ever found himself in a dangerous situation. I know we’d be able to protect him but it’s better be safe than sorry.

I smiled at him and hugged him, “Thank you, my dragon.”