My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 86: Ownership of the staff of Estelle 7

I firmly grabbed hold of Louise's hand, pulling her closer as I deftly covered her face with the hood of her cloak.

We raced downward to escape the escalating chaos, each step echoing the urgency that pressed upon us.

As we descended, I observed a contingent of knights and mages making their ascent, presumably attempting to quell the chaos above.

Faculty members, including professors from the upper class, joined the effort, desperately trying to control the situation and extinguish the flames that threatened to consume the building.

I realized the perilous predicament we would face if we were spotted descending while they ascended.

Though I might fare relatively well under scrutiny, given my standing, Louise's situation was precarious. The entire school likely knew of her contract with a powerful high-ranking spirit in the form of a snake.

The aftermath of this incident would undoubtedly draw attention, and even if Louise was innocent, the scrutiny would be relentless.

The Heiron family, with its influence and connections, wouldn't allow the matter to be swept under the rug. Investigations would follow, and Louise's involvement in the chaos would be a focal point.

'Ian!!!!!'

My sister's telepathic message reverberated in my brain with such intensity that it triggered a sudden, throbbing headache.

The sensation was so overpowering that I staggered, prompting a worried inquiry from Louise as she briefly took on the role of supporting my body.

"A-Adrian?" she questioned; concern etched on her features.

"It's fine, just got a bit lightheaded for a moment," I reassured her, downplaying the strain I felt.

'Why did you send a half-dead body onto my domain?'

'Sorry, sis, but my situation is a bit out of hand right now. Can you keep her alive for the time being?'

'I already did, but the most I can do is stop her from feeling pain. I can't heal her wounds or whatsoever,' my sister responded with a touch of frustration.

'No, that's good. I'll take care of the healing part later, so just keep her alive for now'

'Oh, and sis can you open a portal connecting to my room'

'…. Sure, but it will only last for 10 seconds, I can't risk the goddess detecting me'

'That's more then enough'

I gazed into Louise's eyes "Louise, do you trust me?"

She held my gaze for a moment, contemplation flickering across her features, before finally nodding. "Yes..."

In response to her affirmation, a mysterious black portal materialized behind her. Louise's initial shock gave way to a subdued calm as I tightened my grip on her hands.

"What is this?" she inquired, her body trembling slightly in response to the eerie presence emanating from the portal.

"Louise, we don't have time right now. Please, just trust me for a little while and enter this portal," I urged, my tone conveying the urgency of our situation.

Despite the suspicion lingering in her gaze, fueled by the unsettling negativity exuding from the black miasma, Louise continued to peer into my eyes.

After a brief pause, she nodded once more, a silent agreement to place her trust in me.

Anticipating the potential danger of Louise walking straight into my sister's portal without precautions, I swiftly moved, grabbing her just as she was about to step into it. Wrapping her in my dense, purple mana energy, a beautiful afterglow surrounded her body, acting as a protective barrier.

I tapped her on the back, gently pushing her forward. "You're about to go to a very familiar place. Just don't leave until I come back," I advised, my tone conveying both reassurance and urgency.

"Hey kid, what are you doing there?" one of the knights below called out.

"There's a survivor everyone!"

"Hurry up!" another knight urged.

Heeding the urgency in their voices, Louise hastened her steps and entered the portal. As the guards arrived, they seemed momentarily confused.

"You're alone? I thought I saw another one," one of them remarked.

"Ah, no, cough-cough, I'm very much alone," I replied, feigning nonchalance.

"Stop making a fuss and immediately cast healing magic on him," another guard ordered.

Exhaling a sigh of relief, I now needed to ascertain what had happened to Meralda and plan to discuss the unfolding events with Louise later.

…..

As Louise ventured into the portal, she found herself enveloped in absolute darkness that seemed to consume her entire field of vision.

The eerie absence of sensory feedback intensified her unease, and though she couldn't feel her body, an instinctive awareness told her she was moving.

Urgently, she quickened her pace, hoping to escape the disconcerting void that surrounded her.

After what felt like an eternity, approximately three seconds later, the oppressive darkness lifted, and she emerged into the comforting embrace of light once more.

Blinking away the residual disorientation, Louise surveyed her surroundings, and to her slight shock, she found herself standing in a room that felt all too familiar.

"This is Adrian's room?" she muttered in disbelief, a mixture of surprise and curiosity coloring her voice.

With the weight of the recent events lifted, Louise felt a profound sense of relief wash over her body.

As her eyes surveyed the room, she noticed the inviting comfort of Adrian's bed. Ignoring the dust that clung to her clothes, she made her way to the bed and rested on it.

The softness of the mattress cradled her, providing a momentary respite from the tumultuous circumstances she had just escaped.

The familiar surroundings offered a soothing sanctuary, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded earlier.

Louise sought solace in the simplicity of the room, allowing herself to be consumed by the tranquility that surrounded her.

Hugging one of the pillows, she tried to drown out the echoes of distress that lingered within her. The silent tears that escaped her eyes were a testament to the emotional turbulence she had experienced.

"Am I a criminal now?"

…..

"Is father coming?" Elaniel asked in excitement, her anticipation palpable.

"Who?" Meralda responded, genuinely puzzled by the reference.

"What do you mean who? Your master, the one you're contracted with, is my father," Elaniel explained, her voice holding a certainty that Meralda found perplexing.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Meralda replied, a furrow forming on her brow as she struggled to comprehend Elaniel's insistence.

Now, Meralda was truly confounded. The notion that Adrian, the one she was contracted with, could be Elaniel's father seemed preposterous. As the confusion settled in, she couldn't fathom why Elaniel persistently clung to this narrative.

'Why does she keep referring to Adrian as her father? Doesn't she realize that Adrian tried to kill him a while back?' Meralda pondered, the incongruity of Elaniel's belief in stark contrast to the events that had transpired between them.

Elaniel huffed, a dismissive tone in her voice. "Are you still mad about those two demons that attacked you? I'm sorry, but that was out of my control"

"Don't worry, I already dealt with them. I even punished their leader for the mistake, so you don't have to worry about them for the time being. Hehe."

Sighing, Meralda studied Elaniel with a sense of skepticism. Although they hadn't formally met, Meralda recognized the person before her as the queen of the elves, Elaniel.

However, the being within Elaniel's form was likely the elusive Kaksan, the beast of the night. Meralda couldn't fathom how Kaksan survived the intense attack Adrian had unleashed upon her.

The sheer density and power contained in that assault were potent enough to erase even a small mountain if intended for an explosion.

'Although she has the face of a mature beauty, the way she talks seems more like a kid' Meralda thought, observing the incongruity between Elaniel's appearance and her childlike manner of speaking.

'I didn't expect this from a monster who's lived for a thousand years now. And to add it all off, she can mimic people? What exactly happened here?'

"First off, where am I?" Meralda asked, her voice betraying a mix of confusion and caution.

"Oh, you're in my room," Elaniel responded casually. "The healers are currently checking up on you and healing you from time to time"

"But due to the spiritual nature of your body, it's taking them longer than expected"

"And…. I sort of accidentally ate most of the pure ones, and the ones specialized in spirits were devoured by my new friends, you see. So sorry?"

"Though if you accept and get corrupted with demonic energy, it would make their job much simpler."

Meralda gulped, 'My suspicions were correct; those guards that came here truly were demons. Are all the elves here currently possessed? I noticed it from the moment I woke up, but chose to ignore it. The amount of demonic energy I feel from this place is dangerous.'

Her mind raced with questions. 'How come there are demons here in Faerielight? This sacred place is far from what you'd expect demons to come out from.'

"What happened here?" Meralda asked, a note of caution in her voice.

"Hmm, let's just say this place is under new management," Elaniel replied playfully.

"So, is father coming?" Elaniel asked again, her excitement palpable. Meralda, still bewildered by Elaniel's insistence on referring to Adrian as father, could sense the sincerity in her question.

"I don't know," Meralda replied with a sigh, unsure of how to unravel the mystery of Elaniel's conviction.

"What? Why?" Elaniel questioned, a mix of disappointment and confusion coloring her tone.

"I was originally sent here to check up on something, and sure did I find a lot of things," Meralda explained, her mind swirling with the multitude of revelations she had encountered in Faerielight—the forest's corruption, her brother's situation, the presence of demons, the complex dynamics with the elves, and now the unexpected revelation that Kaksan was alive. It was a lot for Meralda to process.

"So, you don't know, huh? Ahh, even though I prepared one hell of a gift for him," Elaniel mused, her disappointment giving way to a mischievous grin.

"Don't worry; I'm pretty sure he knows something happened to me since our connection got cut off. He'll probably come soon."

"Why didn't I think of that? That's right, the barriers must have caused your connection to get cut. Let me turn it off for a minute"

"Then you better prepare" Meralda cautioned.

"Yes, I've got the bodies piled up in the town hall, hehe," Elaniel chuckled.

But Meralda's next words took an unexpected turn.

"To die, I mean"

"Huh?"