Chapter 410 Within The Tower Of Torment

Chapter 410 Within The Tower Of Torment

In the Tower of Torment, just as Asher and Naida entered, they were enveloped in an impenetrable darkness. Naida's voice carried a note of concern as she warned, "You have to be care-"

But suddenly, her voice faded away, leaving Asher alone in the dark void, "Lady Naida?" he called out, his voice tinged with worry. However, there was no response, as if Naida had vanished into thin air.

Asher attempted to use his flames to illuminate the surroundings, but before he could act, the darkness seeped into his mind, overwhelming his senses.

—

"Raziel, my child... It's time to wake up," a gentle voice called out, cutting through the darkness.

Raziel, groggily opened his eyes, the darkness receding as light filtered into his vision. He found himself in a modest stone house, lying on a quilt. Turning his head, he saw a woman in her early fifties, with frail features, red eyes, and light brown hair streaked with white. Her eyes appeared vacant, as if she couldn't see the world around her.

"Mother, what... did I oversleep? I should be the one waking you up," Raziel, bewildered, murmured.

Aurelia smiled warmly in his direction, her blind eyes attempting to meet his gaze, "You must have had a good dream to sleep this long," she said softly.

Raziel ran his hand through his neck-length black hair, still feeling disoriented, "Hmm, maybe. I just felt like I had the longest dream of my life, but I can't remember anything. Strange..."

His mother chuckled softly and said in a pleased tone, "I'm glad you did, because a gifted 19-year-old young man like you needs good rest. You work too hard every day, barely sleeping and always out training."

Raziel shook his head and rose with a bright smile, his youthful energy filling the room as he gently assisted Aurelia to her feet, "I can't slack off on my training, mother. I need to get stronger and help protect our tribe. I don't want us to keep moving every few weeks because of the dangers outside. I don't want you and all of us to live in fear like this. I want a better life for you. I want to make up for the sufferings you endured in the past... including losing your eyes because of me," he said earnestly, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of responsibility.

Aurelia's face lit up with a wistful smile, her blind eyes seemingly looking towards Raziel as she gently cupped his cheeks, "You have to stop thinking it's your fault," she insisted with a firm shake of her head, "Bloodline complications during birth can happen to anyone and aren't something we could have foreseen. Even if your father isn't here anymore, he would be just as happy and proud as I am to see you grow into such a fine young man. So focus on making yourself happy, not me."

Raziel's smile broadened as he replied, "I will still be happy becoming strong for our people. Grandpa Caius said that if I win the next upcoming spar, he'll let me join the group of gatherers to go outside for hunting resources. That's why I have to keep trying hard, and it will be a pleasure to strike down those abominable humans while doing so."

Aurelia let out a sigh, her smile tinged with a mother's worry, "It's good to hear that Chief Caius has confidence in you, but a mother always wants her son to be safe. Just thinking about what happened to those poor things yesterday makes me sad. But since doing what you want makes you happy, I pray that you always be careful and never try to take anything you can't..."

"...hold with your two hands. I know, I know," Raziel interrupted playfully, finishing her sentence with a chuckle. He gently took her hand, leading her towards the door, "But I'm really getting late, and Matron Selene will get mad if I arrive after everyone else."

Raziel's expression shifted to one of confusion, "Eh? Why?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

Voren chimed in, his voice rich with humor, "Because she just finished treating the wounded ones that came back yesterday, and she also suffered some while rescuing them. So, you should be considerate of her and let her rest, no matter how badly you want to see her every day," he said with a shake of his head.

Raziel's expression turned slightly serious as he remembered that yesterday, one of the groups that went out to procure resources had returned with grave injuries, and at least one of them would have died if not for Matron Selene.

"I didn't know. She managed to patch everyone up?" Raziel asked with a worried look.

Morv nodded, his expression reflecting a mix of relief and respect, "Yes. You know how skilled she is. She's not only as strong as our chief, but I'm sure she's one of the best healers in the world."

"Yeah... she is very amazing. I hope she is really alright," Raziel softly agreed, his voice carrying a hint of admiration and other emotions.

Voren couldn't help but tease, a playful gleam in his eyes, "Look at that. He's falling for her for the millionth time. Tsk, tsk, what should we do with this lovestruck fool?" he asked Morv with a mockingly dramatic shrug.

Raziel's face flushed with embarrassment as he waved his hand dismissively, "What nonsense are you talking about? Is it so wrong for me to appreciate her? I know you two are just jealous that she praises me more because of my skills during our training."

Morv and Voren exchanged knowing glances before bursting into laughter. Morv then draped an arm around Raziel's shoulder, his tone teasing yet friendly, "Of course, we're jealous that you're bold enough to have a crush on her."

"Yeah, or it's just that whenever he sees her, he forgets not only that she is an elder of our tribe who is 100 years older than him but also a widow. And you never put your eyes on a widow, even if she is the most beautiful woman you've ever seen," Voren added, poking fun at Raziel's apparent infatuation.

"A pitiful one, though, when you think that her husband abandoned her the moment they got in danger," Morv said with a wrinkled nose.

Raziel furrowed his brows upon hearing that and said in a bitter tone, "At least she got to know what a trash he was before it was too late. He must be already lying dead in some ditch, or I hope he got torn to shreds by some monsters or Hunters. She deserved better."

"Oooh, our Raziel is already determined to be a better one, eh?" Voren asked with a knowing smile.

"Hey! That's not what I meant," Raziel said with an aggrieved look as these two idiots kept teasing him, and this was something they did every day like a ritual.

Raziel's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red as he let out a frustrated grunt and shrugged off Morv's arm. "Argh, you two keep blabbing, but I'm going to check on those who got injured."

Morv couldn't resist one last jab as Raziel walked away, "Make sure you don't lose your way and end up walking to her home, hehe," he whispered, eliciting a raised fist from Raziel in response as he continued to walk away.n)-OVelBIn