Chapter 144: A Long Time Ago (2/2)

”I don't care about your gratitude,” he harshly said as he crouched and grabbed the archeologist's hair, pulling her head back. ”Tell me why these creatures were after you.”

”I... don't know...”

”There must be something that they were after, and we both know that to be chased by such beings isn't an everyday occurrence. Don't lie to me, or I'll devour you too.”

His mouth turned into a grin to reveal his sharp teeth, which were still covered in green blood from the fairy's bodies. The color of their blood came from the fact that they didn't need air to live, only mana, and their element was nature.

”Last month... I found something...”

The archeologist winced as she said, and Nikolai released her. A few strands of her hair fell because of his darkness, but neither of them cared about it.

”What did you find?”

”A tablet,” she said after gathering her breath. ”I have yet to translate it, but I think it contains a secret. After I found the tablet, these beings began to follow me.”

”How did you obtain it, but not them?” Nikolai pointed out the obvious. After all, these fairies were fast and countless, so they had a higher chance of obtaining the tablet.

”I solved a riddle,” she coughed, ”inside some ruins. The ruins belonged to a temple where an ancient god resided.”

Nikolai looked at her blankly. There was something off because she was telling these secrets to a dark being. If anyone else met a being who could use this element, he would be running away to bring the church.

”You are lying to me,” Nikolai's darkness exploded as a lotus appeared above him. The space began to shake because of his chaos element, and his mana was consumed rapidly.

”You are suspecting me because I told you too easily,” Taly coughed again as she leaned on the tree without fear for her life. ”But I learned those holy beings are more dangerous than dark beings.”

His darkness paused, receding. ”Why?” he asked with interest. This woman should not be lying about this because she had already proved her loath toward the gods.

”Those who believe they are right, that they are justice, are more capable of hurting others than those who do it for themselves. Therefore, holy beings are the most dangerous because they believe they are doing the right thing.”

”Do you think that they are wrong?”

”There is no right or wrong,” Taly laughed. ”We created these concepts to help us survive. Otherwise, if everyone killed, then we would go extinct.”

'This woman is different,' Nikolai realized as he looked at the color returning to her face. She adjusted her body to lean on the tree and look him in the eye, and Nikolai took a step back.

”The kindest queen of righteousness,” Taly smiled weakly. ”They say that she rules over small creatures who fly and save her worshipers in times of danger.”

”I know her,” Nikolai grinned, almost laughing out loud because this archeologist knew her stuff.

”Now, the kindest seem to be not so kind, and these creatures are hunting me day and night for me to give them the tablet. I can't break through their barrier, even after preparing, but you killed them so easily.”

”You want me to protect you?”

”I want you to trust my need for you. I need you to survive, so I won't try to run away from you. If the gods want me dead, then the devil is my friend.”

There were no words for a while because she genuinely amused Nikolai. It has been so long since he met someone interesting, and he didn't think that someone like this was here.

Taly.

”Your hate toward the celestial seems like an overreaction to this attempt on your life,” Nikolai pointed out the obvious as his darkness calmed down. ”There is a reason that you haven't told me.”

The archeologist was quiet, and her face hardened. Nikolai almost saw himself in her eyes, and they had cynicism and hate toward life.

Then, the woman began to stand up. Her stance was unsteady as she leaned on the tree. Her hand reached out toward her shirt, and she lifted it to reveal her stomach.

”A long time ago,” she said while revealing the symbol carved into her stomach. It was a giant scar in the shape of a circle and several lines connected inside it. As she traced her scar, Taly continued. ”I was an offering to the gods.”