Chapter 87: A Familiar Saviour!

Chapter 87

".....?!"

The voice sounded strangely familiar to Asher, even though his back was still turned toward the woman behind him.

He remained on his knees, staring at the asphalt beneath his hands for several seconds.

He desperately tried to recall where he had heard that voice before.

It took a few moments before the memories began clicking into place.

And when they did, his eyes stretched wide in horror.

That same voice...

It was the same voice that had rescued him from the clutches of Nuel.

He had been on the verge of death that night when the mysterious woman had appeared and saved him from Nuel’s grasp—healed his injuries and even gave him information about the Nightmare and the other things he would need to survive.

That same woman was standing behind him?

Before Asher could say anything or even react, a strange voice suddenly spoke to the woman.

Why had Asher immediately tagged it as ’strange’?

Well, because it didn’t sound anything like a human voice.

He couldn’t place what sort of voice it was, but whatever it was, it definitely didn’t belong to a human.

"Can’t believe that he woke up after so long. I thought maybe at some point, he would die."

"...."

"Well, I didn’t really doubt his prowess... for him to have still been alive after so long in the Nightmare meant he was fighting hard against the Nightmare and would have survived. The only thing is that..." the woman uttered before lowering her voice.

".... I didn’t expect him to wake up with me not around. And most especially, to get into a fight with a Shade and win. Damn. That’s crazy."

’Huh? The hell is going on? Who’s this woman? I was unable to get her face the first time, but I won’t miss my opportunity today.’

With a gnash of his teeth, Asher recalled the warning the woman had given him the first time they met about not opening his eyes or looking at her.

A smirk slowly formed on his face.

Without thinking twice, he instantly spun around, catching the woman off guard.

".....?!"

Asher froze in shock.

For some reason, he had assumed that he was only able to see the Shade because of his Eidolon.

But it turned out that he could see perfectly well in the darkness.

.... Speaking of his Eidolon, why hadn’t the Hollow Watcher appeared throughout the entire fight?

Uh...

He was getting sidetracked now.

Back to the woman.

"You?!"

Asher’s voice came out completely stupefied as he stared at the woman again and again.

The woman had striking pink hair that fell in soft, slightly tousled waves around her shoulders.

It contrasted sharply with her calm, piercing blue eyes, which seemed almost unnaturally steady, as if she were always quietly observing everything around her.

Her expression carried a subtle mix of confidence and mystery, making it difficult to tell what she was thinking.

She stood with an effortless posture, her presence naturally drawing attention without her needing to say a word.

She wore a sleek, midnight-black attire that allowed her to blend almost perfectly into the darkness.

The outfit clung tightly to her frame, accentuating her curves without compromising the mysterious aura surrounding her.

In her hand was a brown whip, its tip curling and wagging almost like a dog’s tail.

"Miss Mia?! The hell?! You were the mysterious saviour from that night? Wait... what is going on?!" Asher uttered in total shock.

His next-door neighbour had been the one who saved him from the jaws of death, healed him, and brought him back home safely?

So why hadn’t she said anything the day he visited her?

He had visited her twice... or thrice?

He couldn’t even recall.

Rubbing his face in mental exhaustion, Asher frowned.

’That’s not right. Why is her voice different from now? That’s why I didn’t suspect a thing. Now it all makes sense why she kept stalking our house then. She’s.... What even is she?’

Mia sighed exasperatedly when she noticed the boy staring at her from head to toe as if he were seeing her for the first time.

But that was understandable.

"Well, I suppose it’s okay now. You are also a Daywalker, so I don’t need to hide my identity anymore," Mia uttered, her eyes slanting slightly.

"... Not like there’s any real use in hiding our identities now."

"Also?" Asher questioned, raising a brow. "You’re also a Daywalker?"

"If I’m not mistaken, that’s what she implied, unless you’re just being a fool," the strange voice spoke with utter irritation.

"...."

Asher slowly traced the source of the voice.

And to his utter shock, his gaze landed on the whip in Mia’s hand.

The damned whip was speaking to him?

Or was he going crazy now?

Mia sighed and scanned the empty street, which was completely devoid of both Shadows and humans.

She looked behind her again, toward her house in the distance.

"But why the hell did you even have to come outside at this time of the night knowing the dangers you would face? Are you stupid?!"

"....?!"

Asher blinked.

Then sighed.

He slowly pushed himself to his feet, a pained grimace spreading across his face as every movement sent another wave of pain through his body.

He held his shoulder, which was still bleeding.

In fact, every bone and muscle in his body was screaming in pain. His entire body felt as though it might simply give out beneath him at any moment.

But he wasn’t collapsing anytime soon.

"Why? Can’t I go over and visit my house again? I wanted to see my sister.... Even though she’s a Shadow now, I still want to see her and ma-maybe-maybe put her to rest."

Mia stared at the boy for several seconds before slowly shaking her head.

"How do you think I was able to bring you over to my house? I already put her to rest for you."

"....?!"

"You mean—?!"

"Yes. I killed the Shadow standing guard outside the room."

Asher’s hands curled into tight fists.

His teeth ground together as emotional pain twisted inside his chest.

For a few seconds, he remained silent.

Then he inhaled deeply.

And exhaled.

The breath seemed to calm him down, even if only slightly.

"How long was I out for?"

"...."

Mia gulped silently before rubbing her chin.

"Do you really want to know that? I promise you, the answer is not what you expect."

Asher blinked.

"Huh? How bad can it be?"

"Real, real bad, Asher. The world has also changed beyond what you knew when you went to sleep."

"Huh?"

Mia nodded.

She glanced toward her house and, without immediately saying anything else, began walking toward the building.

Asher had no other choice but to follow if he wanted answers.

"I don’t understand," Asher replied as he followed behind the woman.

Mia sighed.

Then she stopped in front of her front door.

"We are in a furious war, Asher."

She pushed the door open and stepped aside, silently inviting the boy inside.