Chapter 612: Being Followed?

Chapter 610

Ray took control of the body and didn’t say another word.

He remained seated on the throne for a few more minutes while Bruce retreated deeper into the Mindspace, disappearing into its darker section to cool off.

Elyon was left stuck in the middle. He glanced towards the direction Bruce had disappeared before turning his attention to the throne, where Ray sat with his back facing him.

The Celestial heaved an exhausted sigh before sliding his back against the wall and remaining silent.

The Tribrid stayed seated for a little while longer before eventually pushing himself to his feet.

His expression hardened as he rolled his shoulders a few times, then cracked his neck before turning towards the balcony he had noticed the previous night.

So many questions were swirling around in his mind.

So many mysteries and attacks directed at his very identity were beginning to overwhelm him.

Which was why, for now, he exhaled and pushed those questions aside.

"One thing at a time."

’First, I need to understand where I am.’

With that thought, he began walking towards the balcony.

He eventually stopped before a door that resembled an enormous window. Sliding it open, he stepped outside, allowing the rays of sunlight to wash over him.

He walked towards the railing and looked ahead.

Beyond the balcony stretched an enormous settlement built across the surrounding land, not too far from the castle he currently occupied.

It was far too large to be called a simple village.

Stone houses and larger residences filled the estate, connected by wide roads and winding streets that stretched towards the distant horizon.

Tall walls enclosed portions of the settlement, while watchtowers stood at strategic points throughout the territory.

Yet, the entire place was silent.

There was no movement along the streets.

No smoke rose from the chimneys.

No lights shone through the countless windows.

Beyond the territory stood six gigantic castles, each occupying its own section of the surrounding land, a few dozen metres away. Together, they formed a wide circle around an even greater structure at the centre.

The central castle dwarfed all six.

Its enormous towers rose high above the surrounding buildings, while massive walls enclosed a sprawling complex that seemed almost like a fortress-city of its own. Even from this distance, its sheer scale gave it an unmistakable presence.

Unlike the six castles surrounding it, the castle Ray occupied stood apart from the others, separated from the settlement like an outcast.

Looking down, he could see that the estate surrounding his castle was completely silent and empty, almost like a graveyard.

However, from the edges of his perception, he could hear snarls coming from other parts of the settlement.

There were also distant voices and movements coming from the territories separated by a massive fence.

From what Ray could see, each castle had its own estate built around it, almost like a territory where other Werewolves lived.

Only his territory was devoid of a single soul.

"What happened here? Why is this place abandoned?" He muttered to himself.

There was nobody around to answer his question.

He couldn’t ask Bruce because of their argument.

And even if they were on good terms, it wasn’t as though the Werewolf had any clear recollection of whatever might have happened here.

’I need to find out more. Maybe I can find some clues in the estate?’

With that, Ray rolled his shoulders and stepped away from the balcony.

He closed the door that resembled a window before leaving the castle.

Within minutes, Ray had descended from the castle and stepped into the estate.

The silence became even more apparent once he was on the ground.

A broad stone road stretched before him, wide enough for several carriages to travel side by side.

Buildings stood on either side of it, constructed from dark stone, timber, and weathered bricks.

Some were modest two-storey houses with sloped roofs, while others were considerably larger, possessing balconies, courtyards, and enclosed gardens.

Everywhere he looked, there were signs that people had once lived here a very long time ago.

Wooden doors remained shut.

Some had been shattered, as though they had been broken into.

Shutters hung loosely from windows.

Old signs remained above abandoned shops, their lettering faded after years of exposure.

Market stalls stood empty beneath wooden awnings. Some had been overturned, while others were buried beneath layers of dust and dead leaves.

A stone fountain occupied the centre of a nearby square.

It had long since stopped flowing.

Cracks spread across its basin, and weeds had begun growing through the gaps between the surrounding stones.

Ray continued through the streets.

The estate was enormous.

One road branched into another, which led to yet another, creating an expansive network of streets that stretched between countless buildings.

Narrow alleys separated clusters of houses, while broader avenues connected the different districts of the settlement.

There were old training grounds surrounded by waist-high stone walls.

Abandoned workshops with rusting tools still scattered across wooden tables.

Large communal buildings with enormous doors built to accommodate much larger occupants.

Taverns with empty benches outside.

Small squares where market stalls had once filled the space.

Even the houses varied greatly in size, suggesting that the estate had once been home to thousands of people.

Yet, there wasn’t a single person anywhere.

Nature had begun reclaiming the settlement.

Grass pushed through cracks in the roads.

Vines crawled across walls and balconies.

Moss covered sections of stonework.

Trees had begun growing through abandoned courtyards, their roots slowly breaking apart the foundations around them.

Some houses remained surprisingly intact, while others had partially collapsed, leaving broken walls and exposed rooms open to the elements.

The further Ray walked, the more the estate began to feel like a city frozen in time.

Everything remained.

The streets.

The houses.

The shops.

The training grounds.

The walls.

But the people were gone.

And their absence seemed to hang over the entire settlement like a lingering shadow.

Ray stood in the middle of it all with a baffled expression, slowly turning his head from side to side as he took in his surroundings.

He stepped forward, about to take another step when—

[Stealth Activated]

His body began disappearing from his feet upwards until not a trace of him remained.

His aura, scent, and physical presence vanished like the wind.

"...."

At that exact moment, a young lady emerged from the shadows, a baffled look on her face.

’Wh-Where did he go? He suddenly vanished! Damn. This is ba—’

"I’m curious. Who are you, and why are you following me?"

A cold voice slithered from behind the young lady, pressing down on her neck like an overwhelming threat.