304 The Wolf's Den [3]
I whipped my head around to look at the source of the voice, but what met my gaze left my eyes widened in shock.
Beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead, my brows quivered in nervousness, and my heart slammed against my ribs like a wild beast.
Before me stood a young man with an aura of darkness that seemed to emanate from his very being.
His golden hair hung down like molten strands, falling around his angular face, which had a cruel, twisted smile.
But what truly struck uncomfort into my heart were his eyes – shining orbs of pure malevolence.
His eyes were the same as mine, a vivid shade of crimson, but he seemed to pierce through one's soul.
In those gleaming red eyes, one could see a hunger for power and a merciless cunning.
My instincts told me to run… It was a feeling I was experiencing after a long, long time, yet it was something I was very familiar with.
It was fear.
However, this fear wasn't mine. It was an alien feeling that was being forced onto me by the previous owner of this body.
These instincts weren't mine, they actually belonged to Lucas.
Overcoming the forced sensation of dread, I forced my heart to calm down and locked my gaze on the golden-haired boy in front of me.
"Adel," I forced a one-sided smile and spoke through gritted teeth, barely keeping my emotions in check.
Yes, the young man before me was none other than Lucas' younger twin brother, Adel Morningstar.
After long years of living in Lucas' shadow, Adel changed when they both awakened their mana codes.
Adel made his life hell after Lucas acquired a lower-ranked potential than him. He did anything and everything to inflict as much mental and physical pain as possible on Lucas.
Not a day went by without Lucas returning home with bruises covering his face and body, the marks of his own brother's cruelty.
Adel never hurt him himself, as if he was above such things. Instead, he just put his goons up to the task. And his underlings were more than happy to oblige.
After all, who wouldn't want to relish the chance to put a smug, know-it-all brat in his place?
Everyone wanted a piece of the fallen genius. Everyone looked forward to seeing the prodigy fail.
Remembering all that, the slipping fear in my heart turned into seething rage. But I acted wisely and forced myself to calm down again.
I was only here to investigate. It wouldn't do me any good if I killed my twin brother here, would it?
"Lucas," Adel sneered.
Retracting his aura, he walked up to me and stood face-to-face.
We were roughly around the same height, but it clearly felt like he was looking down on me as if basking in the sense of his own superiority.
After assessing me with a measuring gaze, Adel remarked, "You have grown stronger. Are you finally taking your training a little seriously again? Though, why bother? No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to match my potential. Why try at all? And besides–"
"Look, little brother," I interrupted Adel mid-sentence and hurriedly tapped his shoulder. "I would have enjoyed indulging in your taunts, but I'm only in the city for a few days. I need you to grant me entry to the Den."
Adel was naturally a bit taken aback by my sudden request. Clearly, he didn't expect this to happen.
After recovering from his startled state, Adel began to speak in a tone laced with venom, "Why would I do anything for you? Father banished you from the mansion. Hell, you shouldn't even have come to show your face in the West. And not to mention–"
Adel abruptly stopped speaking as his mind suddenly wandered off to someplace else. He lingered for a few moments before his lips pursed up into a wicked smile.
His eyes gleamed with a cold, deadly glint as he continued, "You know what? Fine, I will permit your entry. But should Father decide on an even harsher punishment for you this time, like stripping our family name from your unworthy self, don't blame me for it... big brother."
I suppressed a scoff from escaping my lips. Of course, that's what he would want– for Father to strip away our family name from me.
I didn't have any particular problem with it, but the name Morningstar had kind of started to grow on me.
But it wasn't something I was unwilling to sacrifice. In fact, I could think of an even cooler surname if they take it away.
Yeah, yeah, totally!
Taking my silence as an answer, Adel smirked and turned around to walk in through the gates.
It was only now that I noticed the white and red uniform he was wearing. It must be the Ethereal Academy's uniform.
So he came here straight from the academy without even changing, huh?
"Step away," Adel looked at the guards and commanded in a low, irritated tone.
The guards moved away, making way for the future head of the family to enter the Wolf's Den.
As soon as Adel stepped closer to the premises of the expansive estate, the giant obsidian gates swung in to reveal the Morningstar family mansion.
The place was a blend of futuristic splendor and modern architecture with a touch of fantasy.
Amidst a huge lush circular lawn stood a towering mansion, its outer walls gently shimmered with crystalline panels, akin to dragon scales, and ancient elven-style turrets adorned the roofline.
Adel stepped in through the gates first, and I soon followed behind.
As soon as we passed through the gates, two huge canines, bearing a striking resemblance to dire wolves, rushed at us from somewhere within the lush lawn and leaped at Adel.
Yes, they looked like the extinct species, dire wolves, but their fur was dyed in the lightest shade of azure.
"Ahha! You two have grown, Luna, Solis!" Adel staggered back slightly from the impact of the two giant wolves jumping on him like that, but he managed to stay on his feet.
He gently ruffled their fur and lovingly caressed their necks before shooting me a smug look.
There was a reason behind that look. The thing is, all Morningstar children are asked to tame a Wind Wolf.
Solis, one of the wolves Adel was currently petting, used to belong to Lucas until he was deemed unworthy of taming a Wind Wolf by his father.
It was the right decision since the Wind Wolves are formidable mana beasts. They would never submit to a weak master. Yet, the day they took his pet cub from him remained one of Lucas' most painful memories.
Seeing Adel smugly pet Solis ignited something within me. I had an overwhelming urge to punch this guy.
Haaa…
Whatever, I have a Phoenix now anyway! Haa!
