Chapter 879: Apologetic

Chapter 879: Apologetic

Anna was speechless.

The chubby little cat she was playing with just a moment ago had now transformed into a towering winged black panther. His presence was majestic and terrifying.

Her gaze shifted between Valerian and Adam several times. Finally, they settled on the latter, and she couldn’t help but ask, “So the flying panther I’ve been hearing about is actually… a cat?”

“I’m not a cat!” Valerian protested. This time, his voice was deep and gruff.

Anna stepped toward him and slowly reached out with her hand. Valerian fondly rubbed his head against the palm of her hand.

“Alright, Valerian, if not a cat, then what?” She asked, amused.

“Hmph!” Valerian raised his chin, smiling arrogantly. “I… am a mighty dragon!”

“…Sure.” Anna’s lips twitched.

While the two were conversing with one another, Adam walked up to Raidon and placed a hand on his shoulder. “How are things with the men?”

“My Lord, they are eager to meet you!” Raidon spoke excitedly.

“Tomorrow, during your homecoming entrance, all of us shall walk behind you. The full force of the Black Legion will be present!”

“Very well.” Adam patted his shoulder. “And thanks for bringing my sister here.”

“It is my duty, my lord!” Raidon straightened his back.

For some reason, despite seeing Adam’s vulnerable and tender side, Raidon’s respect for him increased even further.

His Lord Commander wasn’t just a proud and domineering warrior like he earlier thought, but he was also a kind a loving man.

Adam nodded with a faint smile. “You can return to Ravenfell now.”

“Hoo-aah!” The Captain of the Black Legion thumped his chest in obedience.

The raven-haired youth strode towards Valerian. He turned to Anna and smiled, “Shall we?”

Anna silently nodded.

Suddenly, Adam frowned and he extended his hand to the side, gesturing for Kaspar to stop, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I am Princess Anna’s protector.” Kaspar York put on a brave front.

After this recent interaction with Adam, he struggled to even look him in the eye.

He did not know what the youth had done to him. He did not know whether it was an illusion or some kind of dark art.

But the fact that the raven-haired youth could put him in such a situation in the first place meant only one thing…

He was no match for Adam at all!

Even he couldn’t believe this conclusion that he had so reluctantly reached.

He, a Mana Vortex Magus, who had spent centuries studying the arcane and traveling all across Europa to gain life and battle experiences, could not hold a candle to a man who was barely thirty-five years old.

So, had everything that he had done up to now been for naught?

No!

Kaspar had reached another conclusion—one more terrifying than the last.

It was that Adam was simply an anomaly among anomalies!

Even the word ‘genius’ would do him great injustice.

He was simply… a monster!

This made him wonder about the tradition in Ulier where promising and talented Mana Vortex Magi were given the title of King.

Were all those Magi who were Kings equally frightening as Adam Constantine?

That thought caused him to shudder.

“I must never leave her side.” Kaspar gathered the courage and looked Adam in the eye. “It is my duty to protect her!”

Anna frowned.

Something’s not right, she thought.

She lowered her gaze, her eyes narrowing.

Kaspar’s hand… was trembling.

Adam’s expression softened a little. He tapped his chest twice and grinned. “As long as I’m around, who dares to lay a hand on my sister?”

That’s true, thought the old man. Only a fool would dare to confront you!

Anna stepped forward and reassured him, “It’s alright. Just rest here. I’ll be fine with Adam.”

Kaspar York hesitated. But in the end, he relented. “I understand, Princess…”

Anna offered a faint smile. Then, she turned to Adam and asked with an arched eyebrow. “Where are you planning to take me?”

“Hush, hush!” Adam chuckled mischievously. “It’s a secret.”

Anna simply rolled her eyes in response.

Then, Adam mounted Valerian and offered his hand to help her up behind him. In the next breath, Valerian spread his wings and soared into the evening sky.

Within moments, they disappeared into the clouds above.

***

Within half an hour, they had reached their destination.

It was the distant valley behind Saratoga where numerous cottages dotted the landscape.

Valerian flapped his wings and gracefully landed by the pond by Adam’s cottage.

A moment later, Anna gently landed on the ground, looking at the green valley and the verdant vegetation all around with a pleasant smile on her face.

“Very peaceful,” she said.

She gazed at the humble cottage and the small herb field beside it and curiously asked, “Adam, is this place yours?”

Adam smiled. “Yes. All Mana Liquefaction Magi are offered a secluded cottage in this lush valley. The Headmaster believes one can attune deeply with mana by living in harmony with nature.”

Anna hummed in response, agreeing with the Headmaster’s viewpoint. She walked around the cottage, looking around with curious eyes and a gentle smile on her face.

A few minutes later, after looking around the area by the small cottage, she found Adam sitting on a large boulder by the pond.

She approached him with a warm smile. It had been so many years since they’d last seen each other.

She wanted to take this time to listen to all that Adam had experienced in these past two decades.

Anna nimbly climbed the boulder and took a seat beside the raven-haired youth. She couldn’t see Valerian anywhere, though.

Where did he go? I can’t sense him at all…

But she put away this thought at the back of her head. She turned to look at Adam and smiled, “So, what is it that you wanted to show me?”

A second passed.

Two more passed.

No response.

Something seemed wrong.

The raven-haired youth wasn’t responding at all. It seemed like he was hesitating to do something.

“Adam?” Anna called out, her voice tinged with slight concern. She placed a hand on his shoulder and asked gently, “Is everything okay with you?”

Adam’s lips quivered.

He turned to look at Anna and offered a smile… a sad smile.

“…Yes, I truly hope so,” he muttered softly.

Anna frowned. Something was wrong with her brother. But she didn’t know what.

Before she could even respond, her pupils constricted as she witnessed Adam move with ghostly speed.

The last thing she saw was Adam’s hand gently pressing against her forehead.

And the last thing she heard… were his soft, apologetic words:

“This might hurt a little.”