Way of the Knights

Chapter 857: Yelena And Her Wish

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Nobody dared to say a word after that.

Nobody didn't even dare to breathe loudly after that. 

With their hearts full of trepidation and wariness, they just looked, frozen where they stood as they watched how the residual ashes of those who just died got scattered by the air. 

This has got to be the most afraid they've been ever since coming here. 

They never expected that someone so powerful like this man would even appear in this place. There's nowhere for them to run. Even if there was, it's useless. 

At times like this, it's better to just give up and cooperate willingly. That's the best shot they had if they want to keep their lives. 

Lenna was feeling quite conflicted right now. 

In one-side, she felt remorseful. Her home was supposed to be a paradise in Outer Lands. A land where everyone could peacefully coexist. No conflicts, just civility at best. Now, that status quo was broken. 

It was her who brought Raven here. It was her who suggested this idea therefore, she was also the one who killed those people. 

She never really expected Raven to be this strong. She had a feeling that he was but not this extent where his mere words allowed him to decide whether one should die or not. 

Raven showed a new side of himself to her and frankly, she understood why he acted this way. At the end of the day, only the strong thrives in this trash heap. Raven's plenty strong, and that by itself is enough to make him a god here. 

After the death of those who lied, a palpable silence enveloped the plateau. Raven didn't seem bothered by it though. 

He gently turned around and waved his hand. 

A bunch of tiny seals appeared around him, they released a mixture of golden and silver radiance. They saw Raven kneeling down to the height of the girl. They saw how the girl seemingly flinched in fright. Raven seemed to have said something but they didn't hear a word. 

"Don't be scared, Little One. I'm not going to hurt you." Raven stated, there was a gentle expression on his face as he said. 

The girl looked at him briefly before looking down once more. She gave a soft nod and continued playing with the hem of her worn-out shirt.

"What's your name?" 

"M-my name is Y-Yelena, M'Lord." She replied. 

"Yelena?" 

"R-right." She nodded. 

"I see." Raven dipped his head. "Well, I have some more questions to ask of you Yelena, I'd like you to answer them if you would." 

"T-this one is willing to tell you all she knows, M'Lord." 

"Mn." Raven dipped his head again, "These Nightmares you've said before. Can you tell me what they're like?" 

Yelena seems to be surprised by that question. She bit her lips in hesitation, gripping the edge of her shirt in nervousness. Raven didn't rush her and patiently waited for her to tell him what she knows.

"…they're horrible, M'Lord." She replied after a brief silence. "I-this one heard rumors, terrible rumors about them. M-my parents said that they the locusts of the Outer Worlds. They show up out of nowhere and drain the life of anything they touch. It happened 10 years ago. They said the Nightmares devours everything that lives. They devour every light and color there is. This one saw it happen to our home before. It was horrible M'Lord." 

Raven was silent for a bit before he asked: "You said you've seen them right?" 

"Yes, M'Lord." 

"Can you tell me what they looked like?" 

Yelena nodded, then she started describing them. 

"Their skins were charred black and glossy with some kind of tar." She started, "They were giants. Had fiery red eyes. They have wide maws filled with rows of sharp teeth and always drooling for some reason. They have an upper body of a Terran and the lower body of beasts. In their chest, there is a blazing dark brand which looked like a gaping hole from a distance."

"I-this one has seen the nightmares siphoning life out of everything they touched by simply existing. The brand on their chest was like a vacuum that sucked everything in. They took delight on eating living beings too. It's really horrible M'Lord. Even now, they still scare me." 

Raven pursed his lips upon hearing her description. It was scary how accurate her description was to the image that's been branded to his very soul. It'd be a lie if he said that this discovery made him happy. 

Regardless, he didn't show that in his face. Instead, he kept on asking…

"And you saw them taking the old man?" 

"Indeed, M'Lord." Yelena nodded vigorously. "It was strange since they didn't kill him. They chained him up and brought them to their ship. After that, they flew away, going deeper to the Outer Worlds if I remember correctly." 

Raven got silent once more. He sighed and said: 

"I know I've said that I won't be needing the Spatial Coordinates of your old home but that changes now. May I have it?" 

"Of course, M'Lord!" Yelena replied. She then told him the spatial coordinates of her old home. 

The location was far. Very far away from where is. About decades far even with his shuttle going at full throttle. And from what she said, it happened about 10 years ago. 

Raven didn't ask how her and her family ended-up here since it doesn't really matter. What he's concerned about is that those things were too close for comfort. 

The Nightmares that Yelena described are the Abyssals. Although they might be decades away from the Divine Realm, it is still way too close in Raven's opinion. Not to mention, that was they location ten years ago. Raven had no idea where they're are now. 

Are they closer? Are they farther? He truly doesn't know. All he knows is that, Geezer's with them. Which makes this whole affair more complicated than before. 

After getting the Spatial Coordinates from Yelena, Raven stood up. He got rid if the seals that prevented their conversation from spied-on. Then he said:

"You have my thanks, Yelena. You've done me great service." 

"I-It's this one's honor to be of service to you M'Lord." She bowed down. 

Raven dipped his head and said: "Your service shan't go unrewarded. Speak, Yelena. What is it that you wish?" 

Yelena was stunned. She looked up to Raven out of shock but realized that the gesture might've been offensive so she lowered her head once more. 

She then started hesitating. She looked to her left and saw her parents looking at her with worried eyes. She wanted to ask for their help but she knew she can't risk it since Raven didn't give her any permission to do that. 

Yelena wasn't sure of what to say. She never knew that such an opportunity like would come her way. She felt a heavy burden pressing down on her. She's a kid a crying out loud. She can't handle this! But then again, it was her who got herself in this situation in the first place. She needed to think about this carefully yet she also didn't want Raven to wait. 

Such a conundrum really. 

Honestly, she would've preferred it if Raven just gave her something instead of asking her what she wants. She has no idea anyways. What did she wanted in the first place? 

Well? There's the promised rations that Lenna and her family told her before. She wanted that initially, that's why she stepped forward despite her parents' disagreement. She wanted food and supplies since it really wouldn't hurt to have more. 

But then again, Raven got her with this. Asking her what she wants instead of giving something to her. Yelena wanted many things but she didn't want to let her greediness ruin everything for her. On the other hand, a chance like this will probably never happen again so she was extremely tempted to take her chances. 

The decision was tearing her apart. Does she play it safe or should she take a risk? What to do? 

"Yelena…"

The girl in question let out an undignified shriek upon hearing Raven call out to her. She blushed in embarrassment. 

"Y-yes, M'Lord. I apologize for taking so long! I-"

"At ease, Yelena." Raven coaxed, which seems to have worked. "Good. I'll say this. You may speak freely. Be honest with yourself and you shall know what you truly want. Don't be afraid to tell me what you have in mind." 

Raven's words made Yelena think clearly. She looked down in contemplation. She took a deep breath and asked herself what she truly wanted, making sure to remain honest with herself. 

It's as Raven said. When she honestly thought about it, what she wanted was clear. Yet the fact remains that what she wants is a bit too much. 

…but then again, Raven told her that she can be honest with him, right? 

Whatever then!

"M'Lord, this one's wish might go a little bit overboard but I shall be honest."

"This one requests M'Lord's aid to cure so that we won't have to leave anymore."