The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 352: Chapter 347 — Hurt

”Protege... help this ancestor understand something. Why in all the worlds did we stop... here?”

”...I told her to meet me here. I’m waiting for her.”

Demorian blinked, then stared at him for a moment as though waiting for the rest of the explanation. ”Wait... wait. You don’t mean you still plan on having that meeting after everything that just happened?”

”I do.”

Demorian simply stared at him.

”...why?”

He looked genuinely close to losing his mind.

”What do you think will happen if she comes and I’m not here? It’ll only make things worse.” Zephyrion swallowed again, his breathing growing labored. ”Besides, you were the one who told me to do this in the first place. Don’t start changing your words now.”

”That was before you murdered someone, Protege!” Demorian jabbed a finger towards where they’d just come from.

”I’m still firmly on team apologize to Ingrid, but preferably when you’re not bleeding out of your damn eyeballs! You can barely stand. The longer you wait, the worse the strain gets, and you need to be back in your room before that barrier falls so nothing can be traced back to you.”

Demorian’s words were true. His plan had been quite simple. He’d only delayed the collapse of the barrier so the rune tab’s signal wouldn’t be sent out while he was still nearby. The best and most logical action right now was to return to his room before deactivating the barrier. Every moment he spent waiting here only increased the risk of it collapsing prematurely.

Despite knowing this, Zephyrion refused to move.

”...I’m waiting.” A fierce light burned within his bloodshot gaze. He knew very well he was making the illogical choice, acting on emotion rather than logic and breaking his mother’s rules, but the image of Ingrid crying was all that filled his mind.

Somehow, he couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight might be his only chance to fix their relationship for a long time.

So, he waited.

Demorian was clearly against his decision to stay, but whether he realized convincing Zephyrion was a futile endeavor or simply decided not to waste his breath, he didn’t speak on the matter again.

Minutes passed in the blink of an eye. By then, Zephyrion had shut his eyes in a pathetic attempt to lessen the pressure bearing down on his mind.

Sweat drenched his entire body, and a constant tremor had begun running through his limbs. Forming even a coherent thought was becoming increasingly difficult, and as the seconds passed, thin streaks of blood began leaking from his eyes, nose, and ears.

Finally, Demorian seemed to have had enough. He stared at Zephyrion intently, his expression grim. ”Protege... I really hate to say this, but we have to go. Any longer and you’re going to—”

”A few more minutes...”

Zephyrion’s voice came out weak, barely above a whisper.

Demorian’s expression darkened. He stared at Zephyrion, looking increasingly hesitant. Then, he clenched his fists, sighing.

”Protege... we’ve waited long enough. I don’t think she’s coming.”

Zephyrion’s eyes snapped open. The sudden movement sent an excruciating bolt of pain hammering through his head, but he ignored it and stared directly at Demorian.

”You said she would come.” His voice was quiet. ”You were sure.”

”I know what I said, but...” Demorian hesitated, his expression growing even more troubled. ”I might’ve been wrong, Protege.”

A flicker of coldness passed through Zephyrion’s eyes as his fists slowly clenched.

”She’ll come.”

”...Protege, you don’t have time for this—”

”No. You promised me she would come. After everything...”

”It’s been more than thirty minutes, Protege.” Demorian sighed, his voice losing some of its earlier force. ”A Herald could be halfway across the region by now. If she was coming... don’t you think she’d be here?”

Something twisted painfully in Zephyrion’s gut as he forced himself upright. The world spun around him, but he ignored it and searched the surrounding forest, his gaze moving between the trees as though Ingrid might suddenly appear from somewhere within them.

But only the rustling of leaves in the wind answered him.

There was no one.

Zephyrion slowly shut his eyes and released a quiet breath.

’...She’s really not coming.’

His vision suddenly swam, and before he could steady himself, his body staggered sideways.

”Protege!”

’Shit.’

The pain had become so intense Zephyrion could barely make out his surroundings. Even Demorian’s panicked voice sounded distant, as though it were reaching him from somewhere far away.

”Don’t you dare pass out! Fight it, Protege! You need to get back to your room first!”

’Hold... just hold...’

Zephyrion forced himself upright, fighting the overwhelming urge to simply lie down and sleep. Every part of him screamed to give in, but he resisted it and desperately made his way back towards his room.

Fortunately, it was already far too late for anyone to be roaming the halls. Otherwise, his swaying figure, barely managing to remain on his feet, would’ve stuck out like a sore thumb.

Eventually, he reached his room and collapsed onto the floor. Through his spinning vision, he could barely make out Demorian and Lumi’s panicked faces hovering above him. Despite that, his mind remained fixed on something else entirely.

He had broken his rules. He had opened himself up, yet Ingrid hadn’t even bothered to show up.

As his vision began to fade, he murmured under his breath,

”This is your fault, Demorian... I should’ve never listened to you.”

Darkness swallowed his vision.

...

Knock.

Zephyrion jolted awake at the sudden sound.

’Where...?’

His gaze swept across the room in an instant, taking in the familiar space.

’My room.’

Feeling a familiar warmth beside him, he lowered his eyes and found Lumi groggily rubbing at hers. A moment later, she seemed to realize he was awake, and her eyes immediately brightened. She hurriedly raised her hands and signed, concern written all over her face.

Are you okay?

Zephyrion took a moment to gather himself. His head still felt heavy and foggy, so he drew a few slow breaths before finally nodding to reassure Lumi. Then, rather than answering her question, he asked inwardly,

’What happened last night?’

There was a moment of silence before Demorian responded.

’Ah... quite a lot, my protege. How much time do you have? A century?’

’Just tell me.’

Demorian released a long, suffering sigh before beginning to recount the events of last night. He rushed through most of it before finally reaching the part he apparently considered most important.

’...and then, after this poor ancestor risked everything to save you, you looked me right in the eyes and said it was all my fault. Ah... my heart.’ Demorian’s voice turned painfully mournful. ’I haven’t slept a wink. Not one. After everything this poor ancestor has done for his beloved protege, this is my reward. Betrayal. Ha... what a cruel world we live in.’