Chapter 135: Old Friend (2/2)

Nikolai and the young man landed tens of meters away from the two figures, but they could see that they were unharmed. The two in question were a man and a woman, and they were looking at Nikolai and the young man with interest.

”Lyle?” Master Edward squinted his eyes at Nikolai. ”And... young master,” he said to the man. ”What is the meaning of this attack? No, you were also pulled into this world,” the strategist turned to Nikolai. ”You know that this is the future.”

[DIVERGENCE: 47%]

”I don't know what you are talking about, but I thought you weren't going to make it to the ritual. However, this friend of yours is...”

At first, Nikolai couldn't get a good look at Master Edward's friend because she was looking at the carriage, but she turned around when she heard his words.

The moment that their eyes met, Nikolai couldn't speak anymore. His mind couldn't process that she would be here, and his body couldn't move either. He gulped as she stared into his eyes with interest but no recognition.

”My friend?” Master Edward noticed the fear in Nikolai's eyes when he looked at her, and his interest was increasing. ”I met her when I woke up, and she agreed that we need to visit the ritual for answers.”

”She... believes you?”

”Address me properly, young man,” she said with a grin as she took a few steps forward, her short black hair fluttering in the wind. ”Do you know me?”

”I do not,” Nikolai shook his head as he reminded himself that this was a fate vision, but he couldn't understand how Master Edward knew his tormentor, Lilith. ”However, I ask that you go back to the city, both of you.”

”You are lying, Lyle,” Master Edward had his crazy grin again. ”You are a hundred years too young to be able to lie to me. Tell me, what do you know about this world? Why are we in the future at the time of the ritual?”

Nikolai hated how sharp this strategist was. Nevertheless, he concluded that this phenomenon had something with the ritual as soon as he arrived at this vision, and he wanted to see why it happened.

”Trust me, Master Edward,” Nikolai began, but the divergence rose 48%, and it made him change what he wanted to say. ”I just need you to stay here, for all of our sakes.”

Nikolai was sure that a termination of a branch wasn't something any of them would want, but saying anything about that would make the divergence increase.

His hair stood up as he felt the interest Lilith looked at him with, which made his heartbeat increase rapidly. If she takes an interest in him, she'll turn him into one of her pets.

'No, this isn't real life. Master Edward is the only anomaly here, and I just need this vision to end. There's no way that the system will allow him to retain his memories in the vision as long as the divergence didn't exceed 50%.'

”Forget it,” Master Edward turned back toward the ritual. ”I will go there and see it for myself. You are nothing but a frozen chicken.”

As he said that, Master Edward sprinted toward the ritual. As the divergence reached 49%, the young man beside Nikolai took a step forward.

”Wait, Master Edward,” he simply called out, but the master obliged to stop. ”I trust that Lyle has his reasons, so how about you listen to what he says?”

Nikolai had no idea who this young man was and why he could ask such a thing from the king's brother. However, Master Edward seemed to consider it before shaking his head.

”You aren't the same person as the young master, so I'll have to decline.”

”Then, I have no choice but to stop you with force,” the young man smiled. ”I never thought that you would refuse a request of mine, so I'll apologize for being disrespectful in advance.”

As he said these words, a pair of giant wings appeared behind the young man's back. Nikolai stared with amazement as a crown of mana appeared on his head, and recognition dawned on him.

However, Master Edward sprinted toward the ritual before the young man could say anything more, and the latter followed after him. The speed of the two was beyond what Nikolai could pick up, and he wanted to sprint after them.

However, Lilith blocked his path.