Rue would do this every year without fail.She believed that it was Saint Elmer who had been protecting Adrian and their entire family all this time.When Adrian heard this, he looked up in confusion. “Is the event happening tomorrow? It’s been so many years since I’ve been to St. Elmer’s Church.”Back when Adrian was still a little boy, Rue would take him there with her every year. Time seemed to freeze whenever he thought about the church.Meanwhile, Samantha smiled and said, “Mother’s been taking me there every year while you were away, dear.”“Looks like she hasn’t changed her habits,” Adrian said with a smile.Rue was not a very capable woman per se, but she strongly believed that Saint Elmer could protect them, and it was the only consolation she had over her years of hardships.Juno then said, “I heard they’ve invited a group of choir singers from Azure Creek. I hear they’re really famous.”St. Elmer’s Church would hire a group of local choir singers every year, which wa
“This place is packed!”Samantha was enveloped by the event’s atmosphere the moment she got out of the car. Hand-in-hand, she, Joanna, and Juno walked through the streets while Adrian followed behind them.There were cheers, people yelling out their wares for sale, and many more sounds echoing from both sides. It was a joyous occasion that Adrian rarely had the luxury of enjoying.The choir was still singing at the foot of the mountains. Aside from that, the fragrance of Swallowston’s local delicacies emanated throughout the air, making Adrian recall a time very, very long ago when Rue often brought him to the church.Adrian, purely focused on having fun, suddenly thought of someone.“Mother, someone just came to mind. I wonder if you still remember him,” Adrian rushed over to Rue’s side and asked, who was rather curious about it.As they walked, she asked, “Who is it?”“He used to sell carved wooden dolls outside the church, and I remember him knowing a thing or two about astro
Soon, they got to the end of the line.Rue said, “Let’s head inside.”Samantha and the others nodded and were about to go into the church when Adrian suddenly said, “I’m going to pass on the prayer session, Mother. I’ll be outside.”“Why?” Rue asked in confusion.At that moment, Juno smiled and said, “There’s a rule at Wyvern Peak where its soldiers are forbidden to kneel before anyone except for their parents and benefactors.” It was then Rue understood why Adrian was skipping the session.“All right then. You go ahead and wait for us outside. Don’t go off without us, okay?”After Adrian acknowledged her instructions, Rue brought Samantha and the others in while Adrian waited outside. He was watching the stage when he suddenly heard the voices of children saying…“I want a doll.”“Me too.”“Me three!”Adrian instantly looked toward the source of the voices.At a spot not too far from the church, a group of children were surrounding a very old-looking man. The man had a bl
Adrian’s interest was piqued.As he sat down in front of the old man, Carver’s eyes squinted and asked, “Do you have a cigarette?”Adrian took out his pack and handed a stick to him before looking at Carver’s pants—to where his limbs should have been.“How did you lose your legs?” Adrian asked.Carver took a puff of the cigarette and heaved a long sigh. However, he did not answer Adrian’s question. Instead, he asked, “Would you like me to tell you your fortune once more?”Adrian nodded. “I’d like to know who will become the next legate. Are you able to help me with this?”Carver merely smiled. “I’m sorry but I can’t tell you that. It’s a secret.”“Haven’t you already revealed such a secret once sixteen years ago?” Adrian asked.Carver shook his head. “That was different. I was the one who sought you out back then, but you’re the one who has come to seek me this time.“Let’s put it this way. You didn’t want to know the answer sixteen years ago, but you do now.”Adrian knew tha
Without thinking too much into the matter, Adrian nodded and said, “Let’s go.”After that, the group headed to the stage and were planning on listening to the choir’s performance before they left.Although he did not seem like he cared much, Adrian knew that the prophecy was not an accident.‘I’m sure the knowledge of a seer isn’t without grounds.’At that moment, all Adrian could do was find the woman in the prophecy.***Adrian and the others arrived below the stage, where many people were sitting and enjoying the show. The choir’s presence at the event had attracted the attention of many, and the seats were almost fully filled.Countless people were sitting there, silently listening to the choir’s singing.The choir had finished half of their act by the time Adrian and the others arrived. Due to the songs being in a foreign language, Samantha and Joanna were unable to understand the meaning of the songs, but Rue seemed to be engrossed by them.After listening for a while, J
“What’s going on? What are the imperial guards doing here?”“Did something happen?”“Are they here to listen to the choir too?”The confused crowd began discussing with one another when they saw who had arrived. Everyone was now watching the people from Internal Affairs, including Adrian and his family.Juno instantly said, “Looks like something unexpected is going on. I think Chase Gardner sent them to stop the Tenshore Choir from singing about Wyvern Peak’s history.”And she was right.Under everyone’s curious gaze, Elmer Branch’s chief judge, Oswald Manning, led a team of people toward the stage and said, “Stop singing right now. That’s enough from you lot.”“Stop! Stop!” Franzen quickly stopped his people upon hearing Oswald’s command.Oswald then walked up to the stage and Franzen immediately went up to welcome him, saying, “Is there something wrong, sir? Why did you ask us to stop?”Oswald paced the stage as he growled angrily, “Are you the owner of this choir group? You
Immediately upon receiving their orders from Oswald, the men he brought charged onto the stage.Franzen was pretty badly shaken, while the other choir singers and the spectators were running for their lives. Oswald took a few steps back and his subordinates were just about to take action when a figure suddenly jumped onto the stage, followed by a few painful groans.Immediately after, Oswald’s men were sent flying off from the stage, landing on the ground with heavy thuds. Many gasped in shock at how suddenly all of that happened. Even Oswald took a few steps back.At that moment, the figure landed in front of Oswald, revealing it to be Adrian.“Holy sh*t! How fast can Adrian run?! When did he even get there?!” Joanna, still beneath the stage, was shocked at how Adrian, who was just next to her a moment ago, had disappeared and reappeared on stage in the blink of an eye.Many people were stunned, while Oswald took a look at Adrian before he coldly said, “Who are you? How dare you
With a loud “pow,” Oswald’s body trembled as his innards turned to mush from the force of impact. His heart was initially racing but stopped beating as time passed.Oswald’s mouth was wide open as he looked up toward Adrian with glazed eyes. He then fell over a moment later. Needless to say, he was dead.Adrian then gestured toward Oswald’s men and said, “Take him away.”“Yes, sir!” Oswald’s men quickly answered and dragged Oswald’s body out of there before frantically making their escape.After they drove off into the distance, Adrian turned around toward Franzen and said, “You and your group are pretty good. Please, continue.”Grateful to Adrian, Franzen bowed and said, “Thank you, sir!”Adrian nodded and walked off the stage, returning to Samantha’s side.The people beneath the stage had a short discussion before leaving what just happened behind them. After all, they had no idea what happened on stage. The choir resumed their singing and were even more serious about it now t