CHAPTER 399: ETHAN MEETS THE LITTLE BAT

Third Person’s POV

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he could feel that this dangerous sensation, especially this heat that seemed to be hell bent on corrupting his mind and body, was not ordinary or natural in any way.

This castle stood at such a height that the air was crisp and chill even during daylight.

At night, the temperature should have been cold enough to soothe him, and not ignite him like this.

Something was definitely amiss here, and some strange and mysterious force whose origin he was unsure of was manipulating him.

His eyes flicked away from the Blood Moon that seemed to be glaring down at his soul like an evil scarlet eye.

Yet, paradoxically, the searing heat intensified the longer he resisted its pull.

The crimson light seemed closer here, almost within reach, as though this cursed peak itself fed upon its glow.

His dick became erect and rose up like a pillar supporting the sky, but his voluminous robes, along with the dark, helped it to stay hidden.

But Ethan was not one to falter and be under someone or something’s influence, as he forced his breathing steady.

Then, with a sharp exhale, he drew upon the icy mana ingrained in each and every fibre of his bones and tendons.

A chill rushed outward from his core and started diffusing into every limb, calming the inferno that sought to consume him.

His skin prickled as the sweat cooled against it, causing his pulse to slowly become slow and his mind to clear with each passing second.

Though his body calmed, the gnawing ache of desire lingered like an uninvited shadow in his mind and seemed to generate unreal fantasies of pleasure and comfort.

But Ethan clenched his fists and controlled his mind as he knew that he could not allow a foreign influence to dictate his desires and cravings.

He was just pondering whether he should enact one of his contingency plans earlier than intended when a sudden sound cut through the silence.

Swish!

A faint but unmistakable sound of flapping wings sounded in his ears.

Instantly, his instincts screamed of danger, and with a snap of his wrist, an ice spike materialized in his hand, gleaming under the red moonlight that filtered through the window.

His eyes hardened as he turned sharply toward the sound while adopting a wary posture from where he would be able to attack instantly.

But instead of a threat, his gaze landed on a small black bat perched upon the windowsill, but seeing it, he did not lower his guard, as it was anything but ordinary.

The creature’s crimson eyes glowed faintly with an intelligent and piercing light, and Ethan was sure that it was not the vacant and wild gaze of any ordinary bat.

Focusing on it, Ethan’s senses sharpened, and he could feel that a faint aura was radiating from this small body.

This aura created a subtle pressure that filled his heart with a sense of danger, and he knew that he would have to act with caution from now on.

His grip tightened on the ice pike, his posture taut with wary readiness.

The bat, however, seemed equally intent on examining him as it tilted its small head and narrowed its eyes with curiosity, as if measuring him against some invisible scale.

Unbeknownst to Ethan, the little bat, Rina, was caught in a whirlpool of conflicting thoughts herself.

’What is so special about this boy?’ she mused, as a strange sense of frustration simmered beneath her curiosity.

’Other than his unreal, almost dangerous looks...I can feel his instincts are sharp, and he seems to be a bit experienced compared to his age, and that much is clear

.

But even so, he is still far from the level of that young master of the Sangrial Clan.’

Her thoughts turned critical as she started to compare Ethan not according to the standard of an ordinary talent, but to an offspring of a Blood Duchess or a Blood Duke, who were beings who lived far above the standards of common bloodlines.

If Ethan had known she was evaluating him by such merciless criteria, he might not have known whether to laugh at the absurdity or cry at the unfairness.

The bat shook her small head with a surprisingly human-like gesture.

’Forget it. It’s not my concern whether he is handsome or not, whether his talent burns bright or fades into ash. My task here is simple, and I must focus on it.’

Finally making up her mind, Rina straightened herself.

Then, with an almost comical movement, she cleared her tiny throat and tapped her claws against her chest, imitating the posture of a human speaker.

Ethan’s eyes twitched at the absurdity of this scene, and his composure started straining against the sight.

But then his disbelief deepened further when the bat opened her mouth, and a soft, melodic, and clear mature voice, like that of a refined lady, emerged from its tiny frame.

"Good evening, young Mister Ethan," the bat greeted with composed courtesy.

"I was sent here by Her Excellency, the Blood Duchess Altheria herself.

By her command, you are to wander the corridors of this tower tonight and seek out any strange or unusual events that may occur.

If I may be clear, you need not wander the whole night, and only brief ventures are okay and can be undertaken at your own discretion will suffice but you are expected to observe closely for any strange happening."

The bat’s red eyes glinted with intelligence as it paused before adding her final line.

"Lastly, Her Excellency is aware of the Enforcement Elder’s overly strict warning.

She has asked me to assure you that you need not concern yourself about it in the event that you are revealed.

After all, she is the headmaster of this hallowed academy and should anything befall you, you should know that you are under her protection, and she has your back."

The words lingered in the room, heavier than they should have been, as Ethan stared at the tiny, unlikely messenger perched on his window beneath the shadow of the Blood Moon.