Chapter 217 - A Little Teaser

'This is crazy.' 

Soon, they left the throne chamber and followed Jackal and Clarice to where they needed to talk.

Only but their thuds resonated against the polished sheen flooring in the hallway they strode. 

Nathalie's gaze roamed around, astounded by the aesthetics found from the arched ceilings down to the floor.

Everything was too much like this was the solid concept from rags to riches.

A part of her thought it was but an illusion, but nothing was fake, to begin with, it.

'Authors should've been no different from a deity— an omniscient being— but why do I find myself in such a sticky situation, almost doubting myself that it wasn't the case?'

Upon pondering, Clarice bore the title 'Harbinger of Misfortune.' with the artifact, 'Malevolent Casket' in her grasp.

Her lips pressed thin, thinking that the divine artifact had yet to present itself and bear witness to its unique feature. 

'It's basically draining one's fortune to the owner's benefit, leaving the victim to dwell in misfortune.'

But even when she thought she wouldn't get cursed with it, Keith and the rest weren't afflicted as there was no presence seen since Jackal came to capture them.

With such a rapid, scary development the 'Desolate Ravine' had gone through, Nathalie gauged that Clarice unlocked the true potential of it, and thought the help came from unknown wisdom from the foreign enemy. 

However now, the revered her as a Goddess, from a prophecy she acclaimed earlier. She needed to come up with a different plan with several of them thrown out of the window as the narrative shifted she least thought once.

Her eyes met their backs, Jackal and Clarice, they gave off so much of a regal vibe.

But then, she noticed the dynamics between them, perhaps she was wrong for having a set of assumptions a little while now.

So far, only hers had gotten unshackled, and she stole a glance at Keith, who still bore such hatred at the two of them while a myriad of emotions loomed over Jonathan.

While Nathalie thought a part of her dreaded what their interactions and development turned out to be, it might not be her biggest concern as with sudden cracks slipping out of Jonathan's usual facade.

'It must've been a shocker to him…'

After which, Jonathan caught her gaze, giving her a flinch, and looked away. Even with a small glimpse, she saw the somber smile he put upon her.

A deep sigh was what all she managed to do.

For she knew too well that was his girlfriend, and already had a thing going on between them. Alas, the day came, and it was until death did they part.

'This world of fantasy has so many reflections from my real life. Art imitates life, and so vice versa… Had Jonathan also thought about this?'

Yet it was all but a reflection, and nothing more than that dwell deep and within them.

Although it did cross her mind with such possibility as this might be a small world she was in, all she hoped was to meet free from hassle and drama, two girls wanting to have fun.

With the train of thoughts that came and rushed inside her head, she walked mindlessly until they took a stop on a large door. 

"We're here," Clarice uttered and then beckoned Jackal to open the door for them.

Meanwhile, Nathalie wondered it wasn't as far as she thought it would be, but then her thoughts lagged so bad for what awaited them ever since she miscalculated almost half of her plans.

When the door opened, she averted when such brilliance cast upon them in a pearly white glow.

After a few seconds as it dwindled, what greeted her was no different from a luxurious suite— a high ceiling with a chandelier, an array of colored glass fractals in between the arched beams, and a set of high-quality furniture on the carpeted flooring.

"Come in and we shall take a seat." Interrupting their surprise, Clarice giggled and walked her way in as she signaled to them, "Jackal, prepare some treats for them."

When he responded with a deep bow, he left a dreadful gaze at her and the rest of them before he shuffled away.

Nathalie took a seat while they followed; the twins were on the love seat from the side. Meanwhile, she was between Jonathan and Keith. Clarice sat across them.

In subtlety, her indigo eyes gleamed. 

Right off the bat, she lifted her finger, scribbling midair for her to read. 

[Where did you know that title you spoke of earlier?]

"Which one?"

[The latter…]

"Ahh…" Nodding slowly, she uttered again, "You mean, 'The Soulful Siren of the South' that is?"

Nathalie had yet to break free from the intense gaze she put up, trying to read her like the back of her hand. 

[Yes, 'The Harbinger of Misfortune'...]

Throughout Clarice's stare, Nathalie hit a sweet spot when her eyelids lit up a tad bit then went back to normal.

Meanwhile, Jonathan was also at the edge of his seat, clearly anticipating what she had to respond to...

"I'm impressed." She clasped her palms with a bright smile. "As I expected of 'The Mystical Seer' and allow me to tell you, I also have the same abilities as you—"

[Lies.]

Not an ounce of hesitation found as she wrote with swiftness. Foremost, her precognition ability rooted in peculiar manifestations happened to be a panoramic view in her dreams. 

So far, what she revealed was the generic ability, as far as the first book was concerned.

However, it still might not be the case, but she had to gamble now that they had privacy and both parties had reservations.

"I assume you know me at some point, after going all the way to meet me here. One thing I don't do is lie." 

Indeed, Clarice was the complete opposite of her, the manipulative villain she was born to be, and Jackal was more of her, doing all the bloody, shady business in his hands.

With that in mind, she had to sprinkle a white lie on her. [My abilities also had their shortcomings, and I never believed any of my doubts until I heard you mention prophecy.]

"I don't think you're the only one with that kind of ability, yes?"

[True; then how did you even do it?] Nathalie crossed her arms.

"I'd tease you a little…"

Words of her mouth gave Nathalie goosebumps.