Eternal Undying Chronicles

Alicarde materialized on the roof of a skyscraper, the cool night breeze brushing against his hood. The city below was alive with chaos—helicopter lights crisscrossed the dark sky, some belonging to the press, all searching the roads for the mysterious hooded reaper who had just wreaked havoc.

The hum of engines and the wail of distant sirens filled the air, creating a tense, charged atmosphere.

Malefica stood before him, her eyes sharp and cold as they bore into him. She was clearly not pleased with his display of power. The coldness in her gaze made it clear that she wasn't in the mood for excuses.

"What did you just do?" she demanded, her voice laced with restrained fury, though she already knew the answer.

Alicarde smiled, his expression hidden beneath his hood. "What? No one died, as promised."

"No one died, but you left people worse off," she snapped, her frown deepening. "Broken bones, crushed spirits… why? Did you really feel the need to make them suffer more than they had to?"

He shrugged, searching for a defense. "Ahhh, well, I was… urg… well, I held back—"

"Held back? You call that holding back?" Malefica's voice rose with her anger.

"You terrorized a whole squad of soldiers, lifted a tank into the air like it was nothing, and paralyzed people with fear! You crushed their bones, broke their wills, and turned them into quivering wrecks. You weren't just trying to complete the mission—you were toying with them!"

"Toying with them? Goodness, no, I would never. I even gave them a warning," Alicarde said in mock indignation.

"You call telling them to submit to your will a warning? It was more of a declaration," Malefica shot back, her frustration evident.

"Yes, it was... a declaration of their surrender," Alicarde responded nonchalantly.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself. With this, all our enemies will be on high alert," she said angrily, her eyes narrowing.

Alicarde remained silent, his gaze drifting away from her intense glare. The reality of her words settled in, but he couldn't fully suppress the dark satisfaction he had felt during the chaos.

"So… like, I think we should get out of here before we're found," he suggested, attempting to change the subject.

"You think?" Malefica's voice snapped, her tone icy.

"I already have a spell up, and by standing here, you enjoy its effects. But that doesn't change what you did!" She continued, her voice a litany of frustration and disapproval.

"You've turned a simple extraction into a public spectacle! You were supposed to be discreet, and now half the city is talking about the Reaper! Do you even realize the consequences? The press, the military, the government—they're all going to be on high alert now! This isn't some game, Alicarde. You can't just waltz into a battlefield and play hero—or villain—without repercussions.

Do you know what they'll do if they find out who you are? What they'll do to those connected to you?"

Her voice rose, each word laced with exasperation. "I've spent centuries hiding in the shadows, maintaining secrecy. Your little display might have just painted a massive target on us!"

Alicarde sighed, growing weary of her rant. His gaze shifted to Wrath, who stood behind him, the bicorn's fiery eyes watching the scene with an unsettling calm.

An idea sparked in his mind—he had other options. Without a word, he walked towards Malefica, who was still scolding him in that imperious tone she so often used.

Before she could react, Alicarde wrapped his arms around her and effortlessly lifted her up in a princess carry. Malefica gasped in surprise, her usual composure momentarily shattered.

Alicarde floated up into the air with the aid of his gravity control, his gaze focused as he maneuvered them both onto Wrath's broad back.

"What do you think you're doing?" Malefica demanded, still in his arms, her voice tinged with both anger and disbelief.

"Getting us out of here," he replied calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Malefica huffed, clearly annoyed, but as they soared into the night sky, she fell silent. The cityscape below stretched out like a glittering carpet of lights, disturbed only by the occasional flash of sirens and the sweeping beams of searchlights.

Despite her irritation, Malefica found herself quietly observing him. His grip on the reins was firm, his other hand resting on her hips, securing her in place.

In over a thousand years, this was the closest she had been to any living being. The realization made her pause. The feeling was strange, unfamiliar, yet oddly novel, she did not dislike the company of others despite what her truename would suggest.

The anger that had fueled her scolding began to evaporate slowly, replaced by a quiet contemplation as they soared through the night, the ambiance of the city below them a stark contrast to the turmoil they had left behind.

The sounds of helicopters and sirens grew faint as they climbed higher, leaving the chaos far below.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, both lost in their own thoughts as they flew towards the horizon, the cold night air brushing against them, the city a distant memory.

They vanished from the night sky, reappearing in the warmth of Malefica's home. The interior was as enchanting as ever, a seamless fusion of the modern and the arcane. Antique decor, clearly of mystical origin, adorned the room—each piece humming with a faint magical energy.

The walls of this particular room were lined with shelves filled with ancient tomes, their spines worn with age, alongside more mundane books, mostly on psychology.

The contrast was striking, with volumes on the human mind sharing space with texts that spoke of spells and otherworldly realms. The soft glow of candlelight cast dancing shadows across the room, giving it an almost ethereal ambiance.

Malefica turned to face him, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Did you get it? If you tell me you didn't and still caused such a commotion, I might have to take out my anger on your grades," she said, her tone tinged with irritation but carrying an unmistakable sharpness.

Alicarde smirked, leaning casually against one of the bookshelves.

"What? You want to mess with the grades of a good student?" he teased, his voice dripping with mock innocence.

"A good student doesn't traumatize military personnel," Malefica retorted, crossing her arms.

"Wait... Is the reason why my grades are always just shy of perfect… because of you?" Alicarde asked, his tone taking on a mock accusatory edge.

"No, I'm not," she replied with a slight huff.

"It's because you only put in half the effort. That's why you always fall short of a perfect score. If you actually tried, you'd get full marks, but you get lazy halfway and just summarize the important details."

"It's too much work," Alicarde grumbled.

"And that's why you're always just shy of a perfect score," she replied, sounding every bit like a stern professor scolding a student with untapped potential. Then again, she was a college professor.

"Now, hand it over so I can examine the data," she demanded, holding out her hand expectantly.

"Of course, here you go," Alicarde said, producing the drive from his vestments and placing it in her hand. The device had a dark shimmer, and a curious smile touched his lips as he watched her reaction.

"Follow me," she instructed, her voice steady, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of interest. She led him through the house.

They walked down a narrow hallway lined with even more bookshelves, finally entering a study where a large, ornate desk sat in the center, cluttered with papers, quills, several arcane instruments, and a sleek computer.

As she set up the drive, she explained, "The data you've obtained is crucial. Most records of government activities are stored on these databanks—everything from state secrets to citizens' personal information. Passwords, financial records, classified operations… almost everything, with the minor exception of a few records connected to the police system."

Alicarde raised an eyebrow. "So I basically stole state secrets."

"Yes," Malefica replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "And that's precisely why your little spectacle outside was so dangerous. You've drawn attention to yourself in a way that makes it harder for us to move in the shadows."

He leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms. "It's not like I planned on it becoming such a big deal. But when I'm in the moment, sometimes things just… escalate."

Malefica sighed, rubbing her temples. "You need to understand that every action has consequences, especially when you're dealing with the kind of power you have. We're not just playing games here. This is real, and the stakes are high."

"I get it, I get it," Alicarde said, waving a hand dismissively. "But you have to admit, it was kind of fun."

Malefica shot him a stern look. "Fun isn't the point, Alicarde. You've just stolen highly sensitive information. If we're discovered, the entire world could come crashing down on us."

He shrugged. "So, what's next? Do we crack open the files and see what dirty laundry the government's been hiding?"

Malefica inserted the drive into a sleek, black device that began to hum softly. "We'll start by examining the data, sorting through it to find what's relevant to our goals. But you need to stay focused. This isn't a game, and if you're not careful, it could cost you more than just your grades."

"Yeah, yeah," Alicarde muttered, though a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "But I do love a good challenge."

Malefica didn't respond, already deep in thought as she began to sift through the data. As the device's screen flickered to life, revealing a cascade of files, Alicarde leaned in, his curiosity piqued, his face inches away from hers.

"So, what exactly are we looking for in this mountain of secrets?" he asked, his tone more serious now.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Anything that ties back to Zagarath, his allies, or the government factions working with him," Malefica replied, her fingers dancing over the controls.

"We need leverage, information we can use to bring them down from the inside out."

Alicarde nodded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the screen. "Looks like we're going to be here for a while."

"Yes," Malefica agreed, her voice softer now, her earlier frustration replaced by a grim focus.

"But this is just the beginning. If we play our cards right, we could tip the balance in our favor."

"And if we don't?" Alicarde asked, though the challenge in his voice suggested he already knew the answer.

Malefica's eyes met his, cold and resolute. "Then we'll just have to find out the hard way."

The hum of the device filled the room as they worked in silence, each lost in their thoughts. The screen displayed an endless stream of data, revealing the hidden threads of power and control that wove through the government's operations. Alicarde's grin faded as the magnitude of what they were dealing with became clear.

Malefica glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. "You need to take this seriously, Alicarde. This isn't just about us. It's about everyone caught in the crossfire."

He nodded, his gaze fixed on the screen. "I know. And I'm in this, Malefica. Whatever it takes."

She gave a brief nod, her eyes returning to the data. "Good. Because this is only the beginning. We're going to need every ounce of strength and cunning we have."