Novel Full Chapter 417: Leaving Empire
Chapter 417: Leaving Empire
Razeal continued speaking with Sofia and Maria for some time, laying out as much of his future plan as he deemed necessary not everything, but enough for them to understand the direction he intended to take
And once he was finally done as the atmosphere had settled into a tense but resolved quiet, he raised his hand slightly and snapped his fingers, and instantly, the shadows beneath the floor rippled unnaturally, spreading outward like liquid darkness before rising upward, and from within that shifting void, three figures began to emerge first silhouettes, then forms, until Levy, Aurora, and Yograj were pulled out of the shadow space and placed back onto the shop floor as the darkness receded beneath them
Levy blinked as adjusting to the sudden transition as he looked around, his eyes quickly locking onto Razeal standing in front of him
“Finally you remembered us,” he said, a hint of dry irritation in his tone, though not outright anger, more like restrained frustration, “I thought you just left without even asking,” he added, glancing around the room again as if confirming he hadn’t missed anything during their absence, because from his perspective, time had stretched far longer than expected, and in that time, uncertainty had crept in.
“We tried to enter,” he continued, his tone shifting slightly more serious now, “but there was some kind of resistance… like an invisible barrier,” his brows furrowed faintly as he recalled it, “If not for that, we would have come in earlier as the time you had given..” and as he spoke, his gaze moved subtly across the room taking in Sofia and Maria standing off to the side, then back to Razeal, and finally to the state of his shop itself
The small details not escaping him: a broken rack, faint cracks along the wall, subtle signs that something intense had taken place here while they were locked out, though he chose not to comment on it directly, instead exchanging a brief glance with Aurora, who remained silent beside him..
“Yeah… I put that barrier up,” Razeal replied simply, giving a small nod, his tone casual as if it required no further explanation, though his eyes briefly flickered toward Maria for a moment before returning to the group, because the barrier hadn’t been for them it had been for her, to contain any fluctuations, any instability that might have leaked out during her condition, something that could have caused far more trouble if left unchecked.
Levy nodded slowly in understanding, accepting the explanation without questioning further, though his gaze lingered for a second longer on the subtle damage around him before he straightened slightly, bringing his focus back to the matter at hand.
“So… what have you decided?” Razeal finally asked, his voice steady as his eyes moved across the three of them, settling first on Levy, then Aurora, and finally Yograj, who stood with his arms crossed, his posture firm, his presence calm but observant.
There was no hesitation from Yograj.
“I go where my daughter goes,” he answered immediately, his voice calm, firm, and grounded in a simplicity that didn’t need elaboration, as he turned his head slightly to look at Aurora, his eyes softening just a fraction not weak, but protective, steady.
Aurora blinked, clearly not expecting that immediate declaration, her gaze lifting toward him for a moment, a subtle flicker of surprise crossing her expression before it settled into something quieter acknowledgment, perhaps even gratitude but she didn’t speak instead, she turned her attention toward Levy.
Her hand moved gently as she slipped her fingers into his, clasping his hand fully, her grip firm yet calm, her eyes locking onto his as if saying everything without words whatever you decide… I’m with you and there was no hesitation in that message, no uncertainty.
Levy felt it also as his gaze dropped briefly to their joined hands, then lifted again, first to Aurora, then to Yograj, and finally to Razeal, his jaw tightening slightly as he steadied himself, as if making sure there was no doubt left in him before speaking.
He nodded Hard.
“We’ll come with you,” he said, his voice firm, though not without weight, “Aurora and I… we’re ready to pledge our loyalty to you… permanently,” the words came out with conviction, but then just for a second his tone shifted, hesitation threading into it as he added, “..But…on one condition.”
There it was.
The line between loyalty and negotiation.
“If you promise,” Levy continued, his voice quieter now, but more personal, more vulnerable despite his attempt to stay composed, “that you’ll remove the side effects… of the boons we carry,” his grip on Aurora’s hand tightened slightly, almost unconsciously, “Or even remove the boons themselves if needed,” his eyes didn’t waver from Razeal now, “We just don’t want these curses… disguised as divine gifts.”
The last words came out heavier carrying something deeper than simple dissatisfaction resentment, perhaps even pain.
And as soon as he said it
He felt it.
That faint, uncomfortable awareness creeping in.
Is this wrong?
Am I asking too much… from someone who’s already helped us?
His expression tightened slightly, not outwardly apologetic, but internally conflicted, because he knew this wasn’t pure loyalty.
This was a deal.
And he knew it.
Yograj, hearing this, raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze shifting toward Levy with quiet surprise, analyzing the statement rather than reacting to it emotionally, and then his eyes moved down to their hands, still tightly held together and something in his expression softened, understanding settling in as he connected the pieces.
So he carries one too…? Haa? And it’s not a blessing… for his either.. Sigh..
His gaze lifted again, briefly resting on Aurora’s face, seeing the quiet tension there, the unspoken burden, and he exhaled faintly, shaking his head just slightly not in disapproval, but in quiet resignation.
These children…
They’ve already been through more than they should have…
And.. The moment Levy’s condition settled into the air, the entire room fell into a dense, almost suffocating silence, the kind that didn’t just exist externally but pressed inward, forcing everyone present to feel the weight of what had just been said
Sofia and Maria both instinctively went quiet, their eyes shifting first toward Levy lingering on the bluntness of his demand, the raw honesty of it and then toward Razeal, watching him carefully, trying to anticipate how he would react, because from any reasonable perspective, what Levy had just asked for bordered on audacity, almost selfishness, especially considering the imbalance of power between them, and neither of them could confidently predict whether Razeal would accept it, reject it, or simply walk away.
For a brief second.. Nothing moved.
Then
Razeal nodded.
Just like that.
“Alright,” he said calmly, as if the decision required no effort at all, his voice steady and unbothered, “I promise you that.” And as he spoke, he extended his hand toward Levy.
The gesture was simple.
But definitive.
And completely unexpected.
Levy froze.
Not outwardly, not dramatically but internally, the reaction was immediate, his mind stalling for a fraction of a second as he stared at Razeal’s outstretched hand, unable to reconcile what had just happened, because he had been prepared for resistance, for negotiation, for hesitation anything but this immediate acceptance, and with that acceptance came something else, something heavier.
Shame..?
A faint tightening in his chest as he realized what he had just done.
I asked too much… Sigh..?
For someone like me… this isn’t loyalty… it’s bargaining…
Slowly, he lifted his gaze from the hand to Razeal’s face, searching for something doubt, annoyance, calculation but there was none, only that same calm expression, and that made it worse.
“Are you… really okay with this?” Levy asked quietly, his voice losing some of its earlier firmness, replaced now with something more genuine, more uncertain, “You’re not suspicious? Not even a little annoyed?” he continued, his brows pulling together slightly, “Because even from my prospective… it looks selfish,” he admitted bluntly, “Would you really be able to trust my loyalty… when it’s tied to a condition like this? Or a deal?” He didn’t hide it.
Didn’t soften it.. Because he knew the truth of it himself.
Aurora’s fingers tightened around his hand again at his words, her eyes flickering toward him with concern, confusion even Why is he saying this? because from her perspective, Razeal had already accepted, the path was clear, and yet Levy was the one creating doubt, almost as if he was trying to sabotage the agreement himself.
Razeal, however didn’t react negatively. Instead, he gave a small, almost amused nod.
“Someone once told me,” he began, his tone casual but deliberate, “if you can buy someone’s trust and loyalty… then buy it,” his eyes met Levy’s directly, “because that’s the cheapest way to obtain it.” He shrugged lightly, as if the idea carried no moral weight to him, “Anything else… costs far more.”
His hand still remained extended.. Unmoving.
“I’m just doing what makes sense to me,” he added simply.
Levy’s expression tightened slightly at that, not in disagreement, but in discomfort, because while the logic was sound it was cold, transactional, stripped of something he still believed in.
“But…” he hesitated again, the conflict within him surfacing more clearly now, “Would you really trust that kind of loyalty?” he pressed further, his voice quieter, more introspective, “What if… someday… someone offers us the same thing?” his gaze flickered briefly downward before returning to Razeal, “Freedom from these boons… in exchange for betraying you?” he let out a faint, self-aware laugh, though there was no humor in it, “To be honest… I wouldn’t even trust myself in that situation.”
Aurora’s grip tightened sharply now, her eyes snapping toward him, a flicker of frustration and confusion crossing her face What are you doing? because to her, it sounded like he was undermining himself, questioning his own worth at the very moment it was being acknowledged.
Razeal, however, simply chuckled softly.
“Betrayal, huh…” he murmured, shaking his head slightly, not dismissively, but knowingly, “You don’t need to worry about that. It’s not as if I can truly trust anyone anyway. And, truthfully, no one ever fully trusts another nor are they beyond betrayal. It’s simply in our nature.”
“People don’t betray because they lack loyalty or love. They betray because circumstances demand it. When the stakes are high enough when the need becomes overwhelming principles begin to bend.”
“Take Aurora, for example. The two of you seem close now. You call her your wife; she calls you her husband. But do you really believe that love alone would stop her from betraying you? No… if the situation demanded it, she would. And the same applies to you. If you were ever placed in a position where betrayal became necessary… you would choose it too.” he shrugged, as if it was nothing more than a universal truth;
Aurora’s expression hardened instantly.
“No,” she shot back without hesitation, her voice firm, almost sharp, her eyes locking onto him with offense clear in them, “That’s not true. I love him,” she added, her grip on Levy tightening as if to reinforce the statement, “I would never betray him.”
Levy instinctively squeezed her hand back, his expression softening as he looked at her, silently affirming her words, though he didn’t speak immediately.
Razeal didn’t argue.
He just watched them.
“Sure, if you say so..” he just said not mockingly, but with a certain detachment as if finding it somehow funny..
Aurora’s jaw tightened slightly, but before she could respond again, Levy spoke.
“I don’t know what you’ve been through,” he said, his tone steady now, though there was weight behind it, his gaze meeting Razeal’s directly, “I don’t know who betrayed you… or how many times,” he continued, his voice softening slightly, “but that’s not how it works for everyone.” He shook his head faintly, “At some point… people have to trust someone,” he added, “We need it… love, support… someone we can rely on,” his eyes didn’t waver, “If no one is loyal… if no one is trustworthy… then what’s even the point of anything?” He paused as his expression tightening slightly.
Then he exhaled.
“…You’ll just end up alone,” he finished quietly, though he didn’t push further, sensing already that Razeal wasn’t someone who would be convinced by words like these, that whatever he believed it wasn’t something formed recently, but something carved deep through experience.
So.. Levy stopped there, shaking his head, unwilling to continue. From the look on Razeal’s face, it was clear he had already accepted those words as truth, yet had no intention of changing.
It was as if, from the very beginning, all he ever wanted was to be normal to believe in loyalty, to have people he could trust. But deep down, he could never accept that such things were truly possible… because everything he had learned in life told him otherwise, and that belief had become something he no longer knew how to change.
Levy exhaled slowly, as if pushing away the lingering weight of his own hesitation, and then shook his head faintly, almost dismissing the entire spiral of doubt he himself had created just moments ago, “Leave it,” he said, his voice steadier now, grounded again.
“Just… take it as a deal,” his fingers tightened slightly around Aurora’s hand before he added, more firmly this time, “But I’ll say this clearly.. I won’t betray you,” his eyes lifted to meet Razeal’s directly, unwavering now, “Even if someone else offers the same thing… or more.” There was a pause, a brief flicker of something deeper crossing his expression, something personal, something lived, “People don’t like betraying,” he continued quietly, “It’s not as easy as it sounds… guilt is a heavy thing to carry… and even heavier to live with.” And with that, he reached forward and clasped Razeal’s extended hand, sealing the agreement not as blind loyalty, not as devotion, but as something grounded, conscious, chosen; a deal, yes but not a hollow one.
“Guilt, huh…” Razeal echoed softly as he watched him for a moment as their hands met, his expression calm, though a faint, almost amused reaction passed through him at the mention of guilt, and he gave a small shake of his head, not arguing, not agreeing just… finding the word itself somewhat ironic in the broader scope of how he saw things still, he didn’t challenge it, because in the end, the result was what mattered, and the result stood before him now another piece in place.
“Good,” he said simply, withdrawing his hand.
The tension in the room eased just slightly.
But not completely.
“So,” Yograj’s voice finally broke through, his tone practical, grounded, cutting past the philosophy and emotion and whatever it was as he shifted his stance slightly, his arms still crossed but his focus now entirely on the next step, “Where are we going… and what exactly are we supposed to do?” His question wasn’t skeptical, nor hesitant it was direct, as expected from someone who had already made his decision.
“To the Kingdom of Denvaar,” Razeal replied without pause, his tone as steady as before, “As for what you’ll be doing… you’ll understand once we get there.” He didn’t elaborate further, clearly not interested in laying out every detail beforehand.
Yograj didn’t press.
Neither did Levy.
They exchanged brief glances acknowledging the lack of explanation, but accepting it anyways whatever it was.
“I see,” Yograj nodded once, as if that was enough.
Sofia, however, stepped slightly forward, her brows knitting faintly as she processed the timeline again, “You said we’re starting tomorrow,” she said, her gaze fixed on Razeal, “So… are we leaving now?”
That question shifted the focus.
Because now It wasn’t about what.
It was about how.
“Tomorrow?” Yograj repeated, his tone immediately sharpening as he looked between them, doubt creeping into his expression, “You’re serious?” he asked, his voice firm, almost incredulous now, “Have you forgotten the situation outside?” he continued, stepping forward slightly, “The entire region is flooded with monsters, portals, unstable ruins… the borders of the empire are practically sealed,” his gaze hardened, “There’s no straightforward way out.” He paused briefly, then added more bluntly, “And let’s not forget both of we are likely among the most wanted individuals in this empire right now after running from Empire last time.. Am sure that mustve stung empres deeply…” His arms uncrossed slightly as he gestured outward.
“Even if we could leave… Denvaar is hundreds of miles away. Reaching there by tomorrow?” He shook his head, “That’s not just difficult that’s unrealistic.”
Sofia listened the simply shook her head.
“I don’t think it’s that impossible,” she countered, her tone calm but confident, her gaze shifting from Yograj back to Razeal, “We came from the middle of Atlantis to here almost instantly,” she pointed out, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought, “Using your shadow ability,” she added, her focus sharpening, “So why can’t we do the same again?”
“How long would it take?”
And at her words Yograj paused
“…Ah,” he muttered, as the memory clicked into place, nodding slowly, “Right… that.”
Levy and Aurora also exchanged a glance, realization settling in, the same thought forming if that’s possible… then distance doesn’t matter really..
All eyes turned to Razeal.
Expecting confirmation.
Instead..
He shook his head.
“No,” he said simply.
And that
Caught Sofia off guard.
“What?” she frowned slightly, confusion replacing her earlier certainty.
“I can’t do it like that,” Razeal clarified, his tone still calm, but now more explanatory, as if correcting a misunderstanding, “The reason I was able to do that before…” he continued, “is because I had already placed shadow seeds here, in this shop, and within all of your shadows.” His gaze moved briefly across them, “That made it easy for me to detect, anchor, and move between those points.”
“And.. Without that?”
“I’d have to search for shadows blindly… across hundreds of kilometers,” he said, his voice taking on a more analytical edge now, “And do you have any idea how many shadows exist across that distance?” His eyes narrowed slightly, not in frustration, but in emphasis, “It’s not just about finding one it’s about identifying the right one, locking onto it, and then navigating to it accurately.”
He shook his head faintly.
“That kind of range would require enormous mental processing… constant focus… and so much time,” he concluded, “It’s not practical. Not for something like this atleast .”
Silence followed.
Because now
That option was gone.
“Then how?” Sofia asked again, her tone more serious now, “How are we reaching there by tomorrow?”
“Don’t worry,” Razeal said, a faint smile appearing as he shook his head slightly, “I know someone who can take us across everything… quickly,” his tone carried quiet confidence, as if the solution had already been secured, “And… it might also be time to deal with these portals also,” he added, his gaze shifting slightly, something thoughtful passing through his expression, “They’ve served their purpose long enough… a proper welcome show doesn’t need to drag on forever,” and the way he said it.. so casually, so assuredly made it clear that whatever he had in mind wasn’t just about travel… it was something far larger, something that would likely change far more than just their route to Denvaar.
He said nothing more.
And ghen
With a sharp snap of his fingers, the air stilled
And the shadows before him surged outward, twisting into a dark, widening portal. Within seconds, it stood fully formed, its depths silent and unknown.
Shall we?