CHAPTER 321: EIJAR IS BACK

The moon shone bright, casting its light through the branches of the trees and onto the small group. Lexie sat on a mat, her back against a tree, while Ciel rested his head on her lap, his long golden hair cascading over her thigh.

Isiah sat across from them, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

The gentle breeze carried the scents of wildflowers and pine needles, and the warmth of the night air enveloped them. It was a stark contrast to the cold, sterile atmosphere of Emperium.

Lexie couldn’t help but reflect on how much had changed since the last time she saw Ciel. He had grown taller, and his face had lost some of its youthful innocence.

Isiah sat down on the ground with a sense of urgency, paying little attention to his surroundings. Lexie watched him as he gently took Eijar in his hands, cradling her close.

It was the first time she had ever seen Isiah show such a soft and nurturing side. She felt her heart race for reasons she couldn’t fully understand.

It wasn’t as if Isiah was patting Eijar’s head out of affection or love; he was using his dark magic to heal the snake. Nevertheless, Lexie couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for Isiah’s abilities.

She wondered what it must be like to be in his arms, to be taken care of by such a man .

As she watched Isiah work his magic, she couldn’t help but feel a strange pull towards him. It was as if she was drawing into him.

Lexie couldn’t help but smile as she watched Isiah focus on healing Eijar. It was the first time she had seen him show such tenderness to anyone. As he worked his magic, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of envy.

Isiah had the ability to heal Eijar, to bring her back from the brink of death, but he couldn’t do the same for Lexie or Ciel.

She found herself staring at him, mesmerized by the way his hands glowed with a dark energy as he worked his magic. Finally, she spoke up, breaking the silence. "Is she okay?" she asked softly, not wanting to disturb him.

Isiah raised his head, his eyes meeting Lexie’s. "Of course, she’s one of the strongest dark creatures out there," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "The leveling up messed up with her core for a bit, but she’ll be fine."

Lexie smiled at him, then looked down at Eijar. "Isiah, I wish I was like you," she said wistfully. "I wish I was a dark creature so that you could heal me just like you’re healing Eijar."

Lexie tried to hide her jealousy and embarrassment, but Isiah had already noticed. He continued to heal Eijar, pouring his dark energy into her with unwavering focus. Lexie watched in awe, amazed by his devotion to his creature and his willingness to help her recover.

As Isiah continued to work, Lexie couldn’t help but feel a sense of envy towards Eijar. She longed to have Isiah’s attention and care focused solely on her, but she knew that was impossible. She was not a dark creature like Eijar, and her human body could not handle the same kind of healing magic that Isiah was using.

Feeling foolish for her jealousy, Lexie tried to change the subject and distract herself from her own feelings. But Isiah remained silent, completely absorbed in his task of healing Eijar.

" Ah , that was ridiculous , I have to sleep now, " she added, trying to change the subject .

It was clear to Lexie that Isiah needed Eijar just as much as she needed him. They were both fueled by the same diabolic core, and their connection was undeniable. Isiah was willing to do anything to help Eijar recover, to bring her back to her full strength once again.

—-

As Isiah slowly opened his eyes, he felt a wet sensation on his face. He immediately jolted awake, surprised to find Eijar licking his face. It took him a moment to realize that he had fallen asleep the night before, exhausted from their escape. As he sat up, he glanced around the forest clearing, taking in the morning light filtering through the trees.

Eijar, now fully awake and coiled around his neck, flicked her tongue in his direction before slithering off of him.

"Did you enjoy your sleep, master!" Eijar said, with a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Isiah pushed her face away gently, trying to regain his composure. "I told you before, never do this again," he said sternly.

Eijar just wiggled her body, still sitting on his lap, and brought her face close to his again. "Master, you missed me!" she said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Isiah rolled his eyes, knowing that he could never win against her playful antics. "Ah, here we go again," he said with a scuff

Isiah didn’t seem to notice Lexie’s gaze as he talked to Eijar, until Ciel spoke up, announcing that he was awake.

When their eyes met, Isaiah quickly averted his gaze, seemingly trying to hide something. However, Lexie couldn’t help but speak up and inform Eijar that Isiah had spent the entire night healing her.

" He spent the whole night healing you ," she said .

Isiah didn’t respond to Lexie’s comment, instead pushing Eijar’s body off of his lap and standing up, searching for something to eat nearby.

Lexie couldn’t help but feel a bit hurt by his reaction, wondering why he was avoiding her gaze. She watched as he rummaged through their supplies, his back turned towards her.

Ciel, sensing the tension in the air, spoke up, "Is everything alright, Isiah?"

Isiah didn’t turn around as he replied, "Everything’s fine. Just need to find something to eat."

Lexie sighed inwardly, feeling a bit disappointed by his cold response. She wondered if he was still upset with her for showing jealousy towards Eijar the night before.

As Eijar moved towards Lexie, her words hit her like a punch in the gut. "Try not to be this obvious, you’re disgusting and ridiculous, Lexie," she said with a cold and biting tone.

The words stung, and Lexie could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. She had tried so hard to keep her jealousy in check, but it seemed that Eijar could see right through her.

"I’m sorry," Lexie muttered, looking down at her lap. She didn’t know how to respond to Eijar’s sharp words.

" You are useless, Lexie , is this how you plan to make him love you !" Eijar said.

Lexie felt her heart sink at Eijar’s words. She knew she shouldn’t have let her jealousy get the best of her. But the snake’s words still stung.

"I-I’m not trying to make him love me," Lexie stuttered, feeling ashamed.

Eijar slithered closer, her eyes narrow and cold. "Then what are you doing? Why are you so jealous of me?"

"I’m not jealous of you!" Lexie insisted, her voice raising defensively.

Eijar let out a hiss, her forked tongue flickering in the air. "You’re lying.You just don’t know how hard it is to be next to him. You’ll never understand what it’s like to have a bond with a creature like Isiah and me."

Lexie felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She knew Eijar was right, but she didn’t want to admit it. "I just...I F-Feel ...."

Eijar softened slightly, sensing the girl’s distress. "It’s okay to be confused, Lexie. But you have to be careful. Isiah is not like us. He’s powerful and dangerous, and he won’t hesitate to use that power against you if he feels threatened."

Lexie nodded, feeling a sense of fear creep over her. She knew deep down that Eijar was right. Isiah was not someone to be trifled with. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed him, even if it meant putting herself in danger.

"He hates every human he meets, except for the kid," Eijar continued, her voice dripping with contempt. "So why do you think you’re any different? You’re just a pathetic human, trying to worm your way into his life."

Lexie hung her head, feeling the weight of Eijar’s words. She knew the snake was right, but she couldn’t help the way she felt.

Eijar slithered closer to Lexie, her voice dripping with venom. "And let me tell you something, my dear. He hates you more than any other human out there." Eijar’s eyes narrowed, as if relishing the opportunity to cause Lexie pain. "I can see it in the way he looks at you, in the way he talks to you. You’re nothing but a burden to him, an inconvenience he can barely tolerate."

Lexie’s heart sank as Eijar’s words sank in. She had always known that Isiah didn’t exactly like her, but to hear it put so plainly by a creature she barely knew was like a knife in her chest. She looked down at her hands, feeling small and insignificant.

"But don’t worry," Eijar continued, a sly smile on her face. ". After all, you’re the only girl around for miles."