"I already gave you so much time, and you're still thinking so much. Fine. Take more time! I'm going out to take a walk! I feel like I'll go crazy if I stay with you and your questions! Tell me if your answer is yes, because I'm not going to tell you anything more. If you believe me, then good. If you don't, then also fine. I don't have a lifetime to stay here and convince you."
"I've already wasted three years of my life in this place!"
Alion opened the door to leave the hall.
"Lenora? What are you doing here? Did you find them?"
As soon as the man opened the door, he saw Lenora standing outside.
Raphael also looked back, surprised to some extent. Why was she here? Wasn't there a plan to kidnap her? Did they fail?
"I didn't find them. It seems they have left the town. I searched everywhere," Lenora answered.
Alion frowned in response. Something wasn't right. The girl didn't address him as father this time. It was definitely odd, but he didn't think there was a problem. There were times when she didn't address him as father. It could also be because he had just messed with her memories again, so he didn't think much of it.
"I don't think he left the place. He came here to kill me. There is no way he could leave that easily. He must be hiding somewhere in the city. Continue searching."
Alion knew exactly where Azekiel was hiding. He was quite amazed at the incompetence is his people that they failed to find him even now. Despite this, he didn't tell her anything about where to search. He wasn't planning for them to catch him either in the first place. At least not yet.
"Get to work now. I'll be going out as well." Alion pushed Lenora aside before he started leaving.
Lenora kept her eyes on him, nodding. However, as soon as her back was facing Raphael, he saw a mark on her back.
"The-"
Before he could say anything, he saw Lenora rush ahead.
Raphael also stood up, calling out for Alion to be careful. He didn't consider Alion his friend yet, but he also didn't want Alion to die yet. Alion had many answers that he needed about the future! He didn't want Alion to disappear just like that!
He wanted to know about Azekiel! Just what secret was there? Just why did he consider Azekiel a demon for them both? Just what was the secret about Azekiel that could destroy their reality?
Unfortunately, by the time he reached the door, he saw a Sword in Lenora's hand. Alion was still standing with his back facing Lenora, but there was a thin line of blood around his neck now.
Alion was still in disbelief. His head started tilting to the side as the red line kept getting bigger. Before long, his head rolled to the side, dropping to the ground.
If there was one person that he had a low guard against, it was Lenora since she was under his control. Even now, he knew that his control on her wasn't broken, even though he hadn't tested it. But why then? Why did she attack him when she was his slave? And that too, without him feeling that there was something wrong with his control at the core.
Lenora didn't just stop at Alion. She turned the sword at her, stabbing her own chest. She dropped to her knees as well, falling to the ground beside Alion.
Raphael stood blankly. He understood everything that happened here! It was the work of Lia! He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. It wasn't his plan! It wasn't any of the two plans that he gave Azekiel!
Moreover, the black mark on Lenora's back was definitely the mark of Servitude! He now knew that they had managed to capture Lenora, but instead of following the plan after that, they changed it mid-way! He was also sure that it must be the plan change that was suggested by Lia!
He was so angry. All his opportunity of finding the truth so he could make the right decision was gone!
****
While Raphael was angry inside the tower, Lia was celebrating outside!
Before sending Lenora inside, she was worried that Alion might find out that Lenora was under their control now, especially after he was hyped so much by Raphael.
Fortunately, she decided to take a risk. She asked Azekiel if they should do it while giving a suggestion. She didn't expect him to take up her suggestion and stop Raphael's plan!
Now that she had succeeded, she was so excited, she was yelling. "We did it!"
Azekiel appeared to already know that they had succeeded as a congratulations message appeared before him. He was so glad he took the risk. Also, he was somewhat surprised at how swiftly this went.
"It's much easier to be killed by someone you trust than by your enemy at today's time." He was glad that it worked but also understood that this gave him something to think about.
If one day, someone could control someone he trusted, he could also end up the same way. Fortunately, there wasn't anyone he trusted other than his Familiars. And as long as they were his Familiars, they couldn't kill him. He knew that he needed to be more careful with who he trusted in the future or allowed to get close to him.
Lia's excitement only increased with time as this was such an achievement for her! She had become like a child at the moment. She had proven that she could also be smart at times. In her happiness, she hugged Azekiel firmly, who was still distracted by his screen.
Azekiel came out of his daze, feeling a warm hug. She was somewhat amused at his happy Lia was with this.
He hugged her back. "Yeah. You did it. Thank you for the help!"
