Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 195  [Island Of Drath] [10 [Dream]

"Why does it keep on raining?" Oliver grumbled, gazing up towards the gloomy dark clouds covering the entire sky.

A halo of gold shielded them from the rain.

"It's already night," Aaliyah mumbled, walking beside him.

The forest had already turned dark, with mist filling the place.

The sound of small insects echoed along with the rain dripping down on the forest floor.

"Where is he?" Ashlyn, walking in front of them, mumbled softly.

An anxious look was etched on her face as they moved towards the eastern part of the island.

"Come to think of it," Aaliyah mumbled, glancing around the place, "why haven't we seen any of the students?"

"Now that you mention it," Oliver said, looking at the girl in front of them, "how have we not come across any students, Ashlyn?"

"I don't know," she replied without looking back.

"Liar," Oliver said with a click of his tongue, "you're actively trying to avoid any students other than Azariah."

"..."

She remained silent, not refuting his words.

"Why are you doing thi—?"

"I don't have time for them," she replied matter-of-factly, "they don't matter much to me."

"We could have at least helped them," Aaliyah whispered, walking closer to Ashlyn, "it's not nice to leave them on their own." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Ashlyn sighed, rubbing her temples. "...Fine, I will stop by if I see any students."

Aaliyah smiled at her words. "Thanks for listening to me."

"That's the least I can do," she replied, shrugging.

Aaliyah slowly moved back towards Oliver, who was quietly listening to them.

"What happened?" Aaliyah asked, confused, noticing his gaze on Ashlyn.

"Nothing," he replied quietly, hiding the different emotions he was feeling now.

He didn't like how Ashlyn behaved now.

Her way of talking and her way of referring to Azariah as if he belonged to her.

...He didn't like that one bit.

'Maybe it's because I don't like her much from the start.' He thought to himself, gazing up at the sky again.

'Hmm?'

But his gaze turned to his hand as he felt a burning pain.

Unbuttoning, he rolled up his sleeve as the cluster emerged from his hand, turning into a cat.

"What happened to you, little grey?" Oliver asked as the cat jumped on his shoulder, sitting comfortably.

The grey cat purred as Aaliyah reached out, gently patting him.

"Can't you give him a better name?" Aaliyah remarked, glaring at him.

"Azariah was the one who chose that name," Oliver lied with a straight face, "blame him, not me."

"Whatever," she grumbled softly while gently patting the cat.

"Hey, guys." They turned to look at Ashlyn as she called them. "...We have company."

The golden halo over their heads shone brightly, illuminating the area as they walked.

And before long, a group of students came into view.

"Aaliyah!?" Althea exclaimed, leading the group.

She leaped towards her, hugging her sister tightly.

"What happened?" Aaliyah asked, confused, noticing her sister's distress.

Her gaze moved towards the first-year students behind her, along with Prince Jonathan, who was busy with his phone.

"The exams are over," Althea replied, taking them by surprise.

"What?" Ashlyn asked, tilting her head.

She nodded, informing them, "Someone has already killed the Drath Queen— the exams are over."

"Well, that was fast," Oliver mumbled, rubbing his chin while walking towards Jonathan. "...Makes me wonder which group did it."

"That's the problem," Althea replied, running her fingers through her soaked hair. "...We don't know."

"How do you not know?" Ashlyn asked, confused. "Aren't you guys supervising us?"

"Yes, but we have a problem," she replied, her voice strained. "For some reason, we can't contact the teachers."

"Huh, why?" Aaliyah asked.

"We don't know that," she replied, frustration filling her voice.

"What are you doing, Archie?" Oliver asked curiously, looking at him.

"Calling for help," he replied without looking at him.

Bringing the phone close to his ear, Jonathan waited for it to connect.

"Hello," he said, hearing the rhythmic beeping stop. "Hello, can you hear me, hello?"

"Insert coin first," Oliver said, checking his pocket.

Jonathan did the same before it clicked for him.

"It's a mobile, idiot," he groaned, glaring at him.

"Ohh, right," Oliver replied, shrugging.

"You guys should head to where the teachers are," his gaze turned to Ashlyn as she declared. "I will try looking for Az."

"I need to find Aimar as well," Oliver chimed in. "I will also inform the students if I come across one."

"I will come with you," Aaliyah said, looking at Oliver.

"No," Althea rebuked, "you will be with me."

"I can take care of myself."

"But—"

"I will look after her," Oliver cut in, "don't worry."

"Fine," she gave in, "come back quickly."

They nodded, this time walking in different directions.

Ashlyn took the north, while Oliver moved to the east.

...Both trying to find the one they care for.

.....

.....

.....

"Can we go down now?" I roared, flapping my wings as I gazed to my side.

"No!" Nella replied, a bright smile on her face. "Let me fly like this just a little more!"

I sighed, gliding through the air while hugging her tightly.

She laughed, feeling the wind breeze as the rain soaked her entire body.

"I love this!" she yelled in my ear. "I wish I could fly like a free bird!"

"Yeah, I am Landon now," I said as I inclined my body to go down.

"No!"

"Yes!"

My stamina had already been drained a lot while fighting the queen.

Looking around, I quickly found an abandoned building.

Flapping my wings, I glided until I crashed onto the terrace.

Nella rolled away from my grip as I lay on the ground, letting the raindrops cool me down.

"Tch, can't you stay up a little longer?" Nella grumbled, sitting beside me.

"Shut up," I replied, taking deep breaths. "...I don't have enough stamina right now."

"I am seriously worried about your future—"

"Fuck you," I interjected, glaring at her. "Why are you even worried about me?"

"..."

She turned silent, bringing her knees close to her face.

I didn't say anything else but looked at the raining sky.

"Been so long," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"What?"

"Been so long since I removed my mask," she replied, glancing at me.

"I see," I whispered softly.

"You wanted to know my dream, right?" she said, piquing my interest.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"It's just silly," she replied, averting her gaze. "...I always had a dream, like a weird dream of having a big family."

"Big family?" I asked, looking at her.

"Yeah, like me and children," she replied, smiling. "Like four or five kids."

"Four or five?" I asked, not hiding my surprise.

"Yeah," she replied, nodding her head. "...Like my own family, moving around, roaming the whole world whenever I'm free… living in a house away from all trouble and everything."

"...That sounds nice," I replied softly, gazing back at the sky.

"It does?"

"Yeah," I mumbled, "um, except the five kids part, that sounds horrible."

"What?" She asked, her gaze turning back to look at me. "You don't like kids?"

"I hate them," I replied without thinking.

You hate me?

'No, not you, Willis.'

But you just said—

'...Well, I don't like it when you don't listen to me.'

I am not talking with you!

'Thank you, now go sleep.'

"But I doubt my dreams will ever come true," I looked back at her as she mumbled softly, gazing down. "...for obvious reasons…."

Her words trailed off.

I kept looking at her before I whispered, "...You never know."

She glanced back without saying anything.

"It's easy for you to say it," she retorted, glaring at me.

[Az.]

As I parted my lips to reply, I heard a familiar voice.

'El? You woke up.'

[Get away from her.]

'Huh? What do you mean—?'

[Listen to me and get away right now.]

Confusion filled my mind as I heard his words.

'Why—?'

[Just do it, Az!]

I got to my feet without asking anything else.

"What happened?" Nella asked, confused, getting up as well.

"I need to go," I replied as I unwrapped my wings completely.

"Where?" she asked.

"I'll see you later," I replied before jumping from the terrace.

Flapping my wings, I glided through the heavy rain.

"What happened, El?" I asked, having no clue about his behavior.

[You delayed it for too long, Azariah.]

"What?" I asked, tilting my head. "What are you talking about?"

[Face your problems instead of running from them.]

"What are you saying!?"

[Get down.]

"...What?" I asked, tilting my head, but I didn't get any response.

Not thinking too much, I wrapped my wings, falling down, and just as I was about to hit the ground, I unwrapped my wings, landing softly.

But just as I landed, the strands of my hair stood up.

Instinctively, I took out my katana, bringing it in front of my face.

The sound of metal colliding echoed, and the impact made me groan in pain.

I propelled back as I looked at the person who attacked me.

A thunder flash lit the area around me as I looked at the girl with bangs that partially obscured her face.

A black veil fell over her hair and down her back.

Her eyes held murderous intent, a bridal dress loosely adorned her body.

But my face hardened as I noticed the black aura surrounding her.

"S-Shyamal."