Chapter 137: Mora Castle

Chapter 137: Mora Castle

Im shorter? Thats what you said last time, Maeve frowned.

Thats because you are, Stryg stepped right up to her, his face a few inches below her own.

Some part of Maeves mind told her she should step away from the hybrid, but she lost herself in his mesmerizing lilac eyes. His slit pupils undulated from almost perfect spheres to razor-thin blades. They seemed almost alien, yet strangely familiar.

Maeve, who is that? Lord Mora asked coldly.

Her fathers voice broke her focus. Maeve took a step back and shook her head slightly. Before she could respond, Stryg removed his hood and turned to her father.

I am Stryg of Ebon Hollow, he said without missing a beat.

...What are you? Lord Mora narrowed his eyes.

The one in a million.

Ive never heard of this Ebon Hollow, Lord Mora crossed his arms.

You will.

Callum stepped in front of Stryg, Hes my friend. I expect you to treat him with the respect a friend of Lord Veres deserves.

But, you are not Lord Veres. He is your friend, nothing more, Lord Mora chuckled.

I am still a Veres, Callum gritted his teeth.

A hybrid, not the lord of the House, yet one I must tolerate. But, I will not have a mongrel from gods-know-where soil my docks! Lord Mora yelled.

This is not the welcoming I pictured, Loh called out as she walked down the docks.

Lord Mora froze, Miss Noir? Ahem, forgive me. I did not know you were coming.

Really? You didnt see the giant ship behind me? Loh raised an eyebrow.

Ah, um, yes. I assumed your grandfather was coming.

I am the one who accepted your invitation. Do you have a problem with that?

No, not at all, Lord Mora shook his head. I am honored to have the heiress of the Noir family visit.

It doesnt look like it. Do you not even know when to bow to the Ruling Families? Quite brave of you, Mora, Loh smiled coldly.

Lord Mora swallowed. He bowed low and glared at his children. Maeve and her siblings hurried to bow.

A bit late, dont you think? Loh asked.

Forgive me, I was simply preoccupied dealing with an unforeseen incident, Lord Mora glanced at the goblin hybrid.

Oh, Stryg, there you are. How was the trip? Loh walked up to Stryg and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

Lord Mora and his children watched in stunned silence as Hollow Shades most notorious mage duelist hugged a nobody.

It was fine. Rhian kept vomiting all night, every night. We ended up giving her some medicine to fall asleep. Shes still resting on the ship, Stryg said.

Next time, sail with me. The Ghost Flame is far more steady, even in these winter storms. Shell have an easier time, Loh said.

Lord Moras jaw went slack, You know each other?

Are you really asking me if I know my own apprentice? Loh asked.

Maeve, what is your relationship with this Stryg? Lord Mora asked.

We have none. Ive only met him once when I was at dinner. He was eating with Callum and some dwarf commoner. Quite frankly, he was an eyesore. He still is an eyesore, Maeve looked Stryg up and down with disdain.

Her father smiled in approval, Understandable.

Is that right? Does the Mora family have a problem with my apprentice? Loh smiled coldly.

As the portcullis was raised Stryg stuck his head back in the carriage and closed the window before the cold breeze swept through. Whatever sort of battle fortress the castle may have been in the past, it had been clearly reborn. Dozens of tents were sprawled out inside the walls. Entertainers of all sorts performed a show for the guests as they arrived.

Stryg wondered how the entertainers could dance so well in the freezing cold, but judging from the womens thin dresses, mens shirtless chests, and their rosy cheeks, he guessed they were just grinning and bearing it.

A Mora maid waited outside the carriage as it slowed to a stop. She bowed as the doors opened, Welcome to Mora Castle, Miss Noir.

Yeah, yeah. Great stuff. Im tired, where are our rooms? Loh yawned as she stepped out.

If you will just follow me I will take you to your rooms right away, the maid bowed once more.

Alright, well talk more tomorrow, Stryg. Dont get yourself into trouble while Im gone, Loh stretched.

Right. I guess well see each other at the party, Stryg nodded.

Loh began to leave, but stopped in her tracks, Oh, and Stryg. I noticed the way you looked at the Mora girl. I know shes pretty, but try not to involve yourself with the Moras too much. I really am going to fuck up their businesses in Hollow Shade. I dont want you to be stuck in between this mess.

I dont think you have anything to worry about. Maeve said I was an eyesore, nothing more, and the feeling is mutual, he grumbled.

Uh-huh. I think I always have to worry about you. Normally when I take my eyes off you, someone ends up dead, Loh twisted her lips.

I have no idea what youre talking about, Stryg blinked innocently.

You dont say? Loh chuckled.

~~~

After an hour of light drinking, hot food, and watching half-naked women dance across a stage, Stryg, Callum, and Clypeus decided to call it a day. They bid each other goodnight and headed to their rooms.

Strygs room was quite spacious, albeit cold. The room was twice as large as his bedroom back in Hollow Shade. There was a fireplace across from the bed, but the embers burned low. Stryg threw a couple of logs on it and slipped under the covers.

He glanced out the window and into the cloudy sky above. Only the faintest silver sliver shined in the night sky. Tomorrow would be the start of the new moon. The Blood Fangs Mothers always said to beware the new moon, dreadful things always happened in utter darkness.

Stryg grimaced at the thought. I was born under a new moon.

He supposed it explained his bad luck and why he got exiled from his tribe. Or maybe he was just overthinking all of it.

Stryg closed his eyes, there was no point dwelling on it now.

~~~

The faint sound of footsteps woke Stryg up. His eyes shot open and he jumped out of bed, landing on all fours. His lilac eyes glowed softly in the dark. The fire had died out, but the sun had yet to rise.

Everyone was supposed to be asleep. Perhaps a few of the servants were still awake, busy preparing for tomorrows celebration? So, why did he hear footsteps in front of his door?

Stryg tried focusing on the noise outside the room, in hopes of finding out how many were out there, but he couldnt quite make out a heartbeat. The door must have been too thick. He suddenly regretted not bringing his spear. Hell, he would have even settled for a sword.

Stryg crawled over to the door. He dug his claws into the soft granite wall and climbed up and above the door. He could feel the strain of his weight coming down on his hands and feet, but he could hold himself up for at least a few minutes without issue. If someone wanted to ambush him in his sleep they were about to experience a reality check.

Stryg waited above the doorway with bated breath, he could hear the footsteps right outside the door, but the doorknob did not move. Suddenly the sound of footsteps disappeared. He placed his ear to the wall, yet he could not hear anything.

Stryg slowly turned the doorknob and peeked out from above the door. No one was there. The torches out in the hallway were extinguished. He hopped off the wall and went to close the door when he heard a faint giggling. He jumped out into the hallway and caught sight of a small figure running right past the corridor.

Stryg tilted his head in curiosity and walked up to the corridor cautiously. He peeked out the corner, but the figure was already running down the next hall. He barely saw their feet disappear around the corner.

Stryg was becoming peeved. He let orange mana flow through his body and spell-casted an agility spell centered around his legs. He ignored the burning of his muscles from the exertion and dashed down the hall.

When he turned the corner he froze. A little girl in a simple white dress stood in the middle of the hall, staring at him. Her pale cheeks were bunched in a bright smile. Her blonde hair fell down to her knees and blew around her. Her crimson eyes were right on Stryg, yet she wasnt looking at him. She seemed oddly familiar.

The girl laughed and ran around the corner. Stryg took a long agonizing moment to decide if he should give chase. His instincts told him to run away, but his curiosity won over. He ran after her, but when he turned the corner she was gone.

Stryg glanced at the walls of the hall. There were no open windows. So why was her hair blowing in the wind? He took a deep breath. There was no scent in the air.

What the fuck? He muttered.

The sound of giggling echoed through the hall.

Stryg shook his head, Nope, uh-uh. This isnt worth it.

He turned around and walked back to his room.