Chapter 1417: One With Them (1/2)
In a dark, subjugated, and repressed underground area where there were many formations kept to ensure that some group of people stay and spend the rest of their lives repenting for the crimes they have done, or was waiting for a public execution that was executed by beheading or burned alive, a particular person could be seen appearing at the entrance of the cell, looking through the iron bars which were practically unbreakable for anyone put in this place.
It was a man, a blonde-haired man who possessed a worried look on his face. Judging by the garment he wore, he seemed to be a Grand Elder of the Alstreim Family.
”Elise...”
He called out to the cell opposite to him as he looked around.
The stoned pathway seemed to be lit by dull flames that were burning inside lanterns, making the place have poor lighting. This caused the people to be here to become dull, easily depressed, that he couldn't help but worry more.
”Elise...!”
He called out once again, seemingly wanting to say something.
”So noisy...”
A melodious voice resounded, but it also sounded a bit exhausting, as if this person possessed no energy beyond their voice.
The face of a charming woman became visible on the other side of the cell as she neared the prison bars. Her purple eyes looked tired, while her expression looked a bit indifferent. However, the moment she saw the person on the other side calling out for her, an imperceptible smile couldn't help but appear on her face.
”Father, your beard has become bigger...”
”Who cares about that? I want to ask if you had kept a count of the days that passed?”
This person was none other than Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim.
”Why should I?” Grand Elder Elise Alstreim looked amused, ”I see no point in-”
”Elise, you can't be like this! We are going to be released in a few days if they keep their words. Look at the bright side...!”
”Bright side...?” Grand Elder Elise Alstreim's purple pupils trembled before she lowered her head and sighed, ” After my husband died, I sought solace by nurturing someone whom I can be proud of but ended up making a monster without realizing it. I raised my son Eldric to be a proud, righteous, and upstanding man, and yet, how did I fail to realize that Weiss-”
”Elise. It's enough...” Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim shook his head, ”Forget about that demon spawn. Some people just weren't meant to be what you want to or make them be...”
”...”
The atmosphere became gloomy for a few seconds before Grand Elder Elise Alstreim giggled.
”Someone has to take responsibility for bringing out that demon spawn's inner demons, and it should be none other than me, the person who placed full trust in his actions and allowed him to act freely...”
”Then I will take shared responsibility for letting you act unbridled...” Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim harrumphed.
”You...!”
Elise Alstreim looked at her father, looking aggrieved.
”Daughter, I will not allow you to stay here and spend the rest of your life wallowing in this dark space! Don't be full of yourself! That demon spawn merely took advantage of your kindness and had his way with many others, causing us irreparable damage! I don't like you sympathizing with that demon spawn, hmph!”
Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim harrumphed as he turned his head away, but noticing that his daughter was going to cry in the corner of his eyes, his expression became awry, but he hardened his heart. He did not come off this strongly when he tried to convince her so many times in this one year, but now that they were almost going to get out of prison, could he still allow her to be suffering from such self-harming mentality?
”Well, well... What do we have here? A father-daughter bonding session?” An amused voice of a charming man echoed, causing both Grand Elders to look to the side.
A blonde-haired, sapphire-eyed figure walked out of the darkness that enshrouded the dimly lit stone pathway, causing their eyes to experience a bit of change.
”It's you...!”
Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim looked at the young man who wore a purple robe. It was none other than Davis.
He clenched his teeth with resentment but harrumphed it off as he couldn't be bothered to deal with him, not to mention that he lost the battle and lost the qualifications to regain the dignity he had lost.
”What did you come here for? To mock us that our imprisonment has been extended or something?”
Davis walked and stood between the two cells as he shook his head, having his hands clasped over his back.
”You're mistaken if you think my mother would act like a backstabber like your subordinate who allowed foreign forces to invade the family.”
Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim had just sneered before his expression fell when he heard Davis mock him. Indeed, his subordinate Zeno Alstreim was a black mark, a disgrace that he would never be able to scratch off from his name in this life unless he could achieve something greater that would bring him a good reputation.
By this point, it was no doubt to him that his name had been utterly tarnished in the Alstreim Family, but he didn't care about that. All he cared was for to be released and carve a place for his family again. He looked at Davis, suppressing the intent to retort as he asked.
”Is Nora fine...?”
Davis looked away as if he purposefully ignored that question, looking towards Grand Elder Elise Alstreim. Looking at her gloomy face that was a far cry from her previous proud self that had even dared to earn the ire of the Aqua Flood Dragon for some reason, he couldn't help but take a look at her again.
”You look like you don't want to live... Was that trash's death that much of a severe impact on your mental well-being?”
”What do you know?” Grand Elder Elise Alstreim had become taken aback before she clenched her fists as her body trembled, misunderstanding that he was peeking on their conversation.
”Try losing the love of your life and a grandson you decided to nurture with all your care, only for him to turn into the trash you mentioned and then come and ask me the same question. I'll answer...”
Davis couldn't help but chuckle at her aggressiveness.