novelraw Chapter 67: Promise
Chapter 67: Promise
With Seraphina’s arrival, things were no longer dire.
Cael was exhausted as he dragged his body, walking toward the bunker.
The distant battle cries were settling down.
The raging chaos that once consumed the district was now fading into scattered echoes, like a storm losing its strength.
Burnt debris still smoldered along the streets, releasing thin trails of smoke that curled into the night sky.
The cold air left behind by Seraphina lingered, clashing faintly with the residual heat.
Cael also sent a message to the Black Lightning clone to follow the unknown girl.
And the Frostflame clone was leaving the area.
After all, as far as people were concerned, the Frostflame clone was a genius and a savior.
It was only a matter of time before the Frostflame clone would draw the council’s attention.
And Cael did not want to be careless.
As Cael slowly walked toward the bunker, he soon saw Elowyn and her teammates talking to each other.
The bunker gates stood open now, and people cautiously began stepping out. Some supported the injured, while others simply stood there, staring at the aftermath in silence.
The metallic doors bore marks of repeated impacts, faint dents that told the story of what could have happened if things had gone differently.
Cael hesitated to meet Elowyn.
The scene where he had been pushy replayed in his mind.
Elowyn naturally sensed Cael’s mana signature the moment he arrived.
After saying a few more words to her teammates, Elowyn turned and started walking toward Cael.
Team Leaf saw Elowyn approaching the silver-haired boy, and they rolled their eyes. By now, they already thought Elowyn and he were in a relationship.
...
Cael watched as Elowyn stopped a few steps before him.
He stayed silent. He did not know where to start.
’Was she going to get angry for hiding things from her?’
Elowyn smiled and said,
"Don’t overthink it."
Elowyn turned and looked at the moon, continuing,
"Everyone has their own secrets, and I am not a person who looks into them."
The cold blue moon still hung in the sky, though its glow had dimmed slightly. Its fragments drifted slowly, like shards of frozen light, illuminating the ruined streets below.
The reflection of that pale glow danced across broken glass and pools of water, giving the battlefield an eerie calm.
Then she turned and looked at Cael and smiled,
"But you know, I am happy, I am so happy when you are angry with me."
"And the reason you got angry for my safety made me even happier."
Cael felt a little embarrassed. He did not expect Elowyn to be so direct.
’But why do I feel like something is wrong with her?’
Elowyn’s watch rang; the signals were back.
But she did not look at it as she said,
"But I would appreciate it if you didn’t hide your skills from me. That way, I won’t have to worry about you."
Cael nodded and said,
"Fair enough."
He was not stupid. He naturally knew why Elowyn sent him away, thinking he would not be able to hold on.
But Cael had gotten a little too emotional and angry because of her actions.
Cael opened his mouth and was about to speak when Elowyn placed her hand over his mouth.
Elowyn smiled and said,
"I am also keeping a few secrets from you."
"So, let’s make it fair. The day I tell you my secret, you should also share yours."
"Let’s make a promise?"
Elowyn extended her hand, raising her pinky finger.
"Childish, isn’t it?"
Cael shook his head and said,
"No, not at all."
Saying those words, Cael also extended his hand and locked his pinky finger with hers.
The contact was brief, but it felt strangely grounding amidst the chaos around them.
For a moment, the distant sounds, the ruined streets, and the lingering cold all faded into the background, leaving only that quiet exchange between them.
Then suddenly, the cold blue moon started to shatter into multiple pieces and moved toward a certain direction like projectiles.
Cael and Elowyn watched without any surprise in their eyes.
Or maybe they were too tired to even react to the spectacle.
After exchanging those words, the tension between Cael and Elowyn cooled down.
Elowyn looked at the people coming out of the bunker and said,
"Was I needed there?"
Just as she was about to move, Cael stopped her as he caught her hand.
"Cael?"
Cael took a deep breath and said,
"I won’t be staying here for long. I will be taken back to the academy by the Vice Principal."
Elowyn raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
A faint breeze passed between them, carrying the scent of ash and frost.
After a brief moment of pause, she nodded,
"I see. Then... see you at the academy."
Cael slowly let go of Elowyn’s arm.
After saying farewell, Elowyn slowly walked away, her thoughts unknown.
Cael watched from a distance as Elowyn started helping people alongside her teammates.
Some civilians bowed their heads in gratitude, while others clung to each other in relief.
The fear had not vanished, but it had loosened its grip. The presence of stronger figures had turned despair into something survivable.
Then he turned toward the main battlefield.
The battle cries had long since stopped, indicating the battle was over.
Cael walked toward a broken wall and sat on one piece of it.
The stone was cold beneath him, still carrying traces of frost. Small cracks spread across its surface, evidence of the immense forces that had passed through the area.
The silence now felt heavier than the earlier chaos.
He took out another mana recovery potion and gulped it down.
Then he waited patiently.
-WHOOSH
Suddenly, a figure closed in toward him.
It was Seraphina, and she was holding what seemed like an ice statue.
But Cael knew better.
The frozen surface faintly reflected the moonlight, and within the ice, traces of dark miasma were still visible, like something unwilling to disappear completely.
It was a goddamn [Commander] rank Wraith.
"Did you prepare the explanation?"
Cael stood up, shook his head, and said,
"Is ’sorry’ enough?"