Rosie's Games

Chapter 80: Ominous Feeling 3

No one knew exactly when Atior started doing his business. In the past, many nobles had heard of his existence but did nothing to stop him because they feared what he would do to them. Atior had quickly developed a large number of loyal subordinates— both noble and normal citizens within the Empire and his power was immense.

He was the keeper of t thousands of secrets and thus, many of his previous clients would never hesitate to protect him just to protect their own secrets.

"If there is nothing else, you may leave," the voice echoed. josei

"You are exactly who I was looking for," she responded.

There was silence before the voice murmured,

"You sound familiar."

"That is because you just tried to kill me a couple of hours ago."

** BOOM**

A loud thunder reverberated outside the house. There was a flash of lightning before the sound of the rain filled her ears. Still, Rosalind did not move.

There was a loud, disbelieving snort.

"You dare come into my abode?" the voice calmly asked after a few seconds.

**BOOM**

Another clap of thunder echoed around them.

"I came to ask something."

"You wanted to know who it was it that paid me to do it," the voice responded.

"Yes."

Again, there was silence.

"Why ask questions when you already know the answer to them?"

"The answer that I am seeking…" Rosalind muttered. She wanted to know if it was indeed Dorothy who came here and paid Atior for his services. It seems that she was correct.

There was another rumble of thunder, then she saw a shadow standing not far away from her. Rosalind took a step back as the shadow slowly morphed into a person— a person wearing a long, dark robe.

The floor creaked and the figure turned towards her. Its face was covered by the hood of the robe, just like in her past life. In fact, Rosalind died in the past life without ever seeing Atior's face.

"You seek something else," the figure croaked. Its voice alternated from that of a man's, into a woman's and then back again. A creepy giggle came from the person before her. "Interesting… Very interesting… I have seen anger, I have seen despair and desperation. But you— "

Rosalind's expression behind the hood changed.

"You have nothing in you. Nothing but a black abyss of darkness." There was another chuckle, "Tell me little one… what do you seek?"

Rosalind said nothing for a few seconds. In this life, she promised herself not to associate herself with people like Atior, but fate still brought her here. She let out a tired sigh.

"I seek the destruction of the Lux Family."

The figure beneath the hood gasped. It paused just a few feet away from her. "Impossible!" it said. "Light… would never disappear. It can never be destroyed."

"I know."

"Just like the darkness."

"What?"

"Inside you…" Atior uttered. "The feeling that we have already met in the past…" he made a deliberate pause as if he was trying to recall where he met her before. "I cannot remove the feeling that we have already met… Atior never forgets."

Rosalind blinked. It seems that his sorcery was more powerful than she had originally thought.

"I have seen that same abyss of darkness before but I— "

"That is not the most important thing," she interrupted.

"Is it not?"

"Since you cannot provide me what I seek— "

"Not so fast, my little lady," Atior croaked, then he began chuckling. "Not so fast."

"You said that Light can never be destroyed."

"You cannot destroy the light but the dark lord— "

"I do not have an intention of worshiping the dark lord."

There was another silence.

"Then there is nothing for us to talk about."

Rosalind gritted her teeth.

"The next time you try to kill me… I will end you." Rosalind promised.

"What brave words."

"Do not… interfere in my business again."

"I do nothing but accept money that was given, little one. This is nothing personal."

"You just tried to kill me."

"I never would have without someone paying me."

Rosalind glared at him. "There is another thing…"

"Say it."

"The north and the beasts. Are they coming?" she asked. The change of timeline could mess up everything.

"The beasts have spoken. It is time that they come for their king."

Rosalind snorted inwardly. The King of the Beasts… is the one and only dark lord. She immediately tossed two gold coins to the figure and both of the coins vanished before they could even reach Atior.

"You have many questions. I can answer only a few of them."

"There is no need," she stated. Her suspicions had been confirmed. The one who just tried to have her killed was none other than Dorothy. There was no need to stay here any longer.

Atior might be well known for his curses and ability to kill people from a distance, but there was something that many people do not know: Atior can answer a lot of questions. In the past, Atior was able to help them because of his ability to answer questions about what was coming.

Rosalind didn't know where this ability came from. She didn't know if this was because of the dark lord. But she knew that this wasn't a blessing. She thought of the books that the Duke had bought her. She had read most of them, but hadn't had the chance to digest them as she had been busy with everything else.

She had decided to study more about the dark lord and curses. In the past, she did everything she could to study the blessing of the light. She learned everything in secret as Dorothy didn't want her to ask their father and grandfather. Rosalind also avoided asking about the dark blessing as she did not want to use it or even acknowledge that she had it. After all, everyone knew that the Goddess never gave a dark blessing.

Rosalind always thought that the darkness was associated with the dark lord and she wanted to avoid it at all costs.

"Thank you for your time…" Rosalind uttered. Despite the kind of business that Atior did, the man was still considered her friend in the past— a friend that she betrayed. She started leaving, but just before she could get out of the door, she heard him say.

"Always remember; without the light, there can be only darkness."

Rosalind halted her steps. Then she smiled and went to find her horse.

Under the rain, Rosalind rode as fast as she could and went back home.

That is right. Without light, there can be only darkness.