Chapter 157: Calling of Darkness (1/2)
Nikolai debated whether to kill the archeologist or not, but it was not like he trusted her to begin with. People are always going to be lying and selfish.
”I want to know,” she tried to stand up, ”how you managed to convince her. I fear that she has manipulated your memories.”
”You don't need to worry. She tried to manipulate them,” he said before Nikolai walked toward the door and opened it. Lucas flinched on the other side as he was about to open it himself.
”The spirit ran away after it woke up,” he said with confusion. ”It said something about a queen and then vanished.”
”I met the one who created the spirit and convinced them to leave us alone. We just need to make sure the archeologist does not get herself killed before she deciphers the tablet.”
”I have no more reason to cooperate with you if the queen has given up on pursuing me,” Taly said as she held the tablet. ”I guess this will be farewell.”
”Are you an idiot?” Nikolai grinned. ”The queen is letting you live because I promised her something. If I don't deliver it, she will hunt you down like a dog.”
”How do I know you aren't with her?” Taly was suspicious. ”I find it hard to believe that you convinced the queen to let us go, not to mention let us live. As far as I know, this is just a ploy designed by her to fool me.”
”The Queen was here, and you can tell by the residues of her powers. There is no reason for her to appear if I was truly working for her. Her plan was going smoothly if that was the case, as you would have handed me the tablet in two days.”
His argument was irrefutable, and the archeologist nodded after a while. Then, finally, she lowered the tablet and placed it on her desk before slumping into the chair.
”I cannot believe that crazy bitch was here. I never expected her to chase me herself.”
”Neither did I,” said Nikolai with a frown. ”There is something off about her appearance here. There must be more factors involved.”
”Are you telling me that I missed the final boss because I was fighting a weakling?” Lucas interjected with a shaky voice. Nikolai stared at him for a while.
”You certainly did. I hoped you would come into the room after me just in case a fight breaks out. However, you were too proud, putting both of us in danger.”
”I can't be wrong for not running away,” Lucas was suddenly grabbing his head and crouching on the floor. ”I was doing the right thing, but I indirectly ran away from the final boss just to fight a minion.”
”I told you that you need to pick your battles,” said Nikolai before he walked back toward the archeologist. ”We need to find you a different place to work. The kingdom must have sensed the fight that occurred here.”
”Lyle,” called out Lucas as he stood up. ”I am sorry for being childish. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it almost cost your life. This is not what I wanted to happen.”
”I admire you, Lucas. However, you are still too childish. The real world is frightening, and you cannot beat it using your ideals. I am saying this because you worry me. If I failed to fool the enemy, you would have perished.”
Lucas was silent before he nodded. Then, with the archeologist walking between them, the three left the hideout to find a different place to stay for the next two days.
***
The night was peeled off from the sky, allowing the morning sun to slip into the forest. Lucas was snoring as he slept on one of the two beds in the living room.
”His snores are what keep me awake, not this coffee,” said Taly as she walked into the living room, where Nikolai was sitting silently. ”You sat like this for the whole night?”
”Should I hang from the ceiling like a bat?” his eyes turned toward her, and the archeologist shivered when she met them. ”Are you done deciphering?”
”I still have one more day before our agreement,” she drank from her coffee. ”I want you to tell me, Lyle. What is the real reason that you want the secret on this tablet?”
”Are you still suspicious?”
”I am suspicious because you have no use for this item. You cannot use it, and you cannot get near Celestia. So, this is a lost cause for you.”