Chapter 277: Demonic Flower

Chapter 277: Demonic Flower

Eileen saw Zoya’s expression grow serious and realized something was wrong. She followed Zoya’s gaze out to the sea. The water rippled gently, and waves softly lapped at the beach, leaving behind a smear of white foam.

What was there? Could there really be a Wizard as she had said?

Eileen believed she knew Zoya very well. For a time, she even thought Zoya had gone mad. But she quickly found a reason for such madness — how many Wizards were normal anyway?

Bran wasn’t normal, Huahua wasn’t normal, and the White Robes in Northland City weren’t normal either. That Wizard who occasionally burst into flames and ran naked through Northland City had become a joke told after meals.

Yet she was deeply jealous of these crazy people. They were lost in their own world — what did other people’s opinions matter to them?

If she also stopped caring about her family, if she could go mad like Zoya and even forget certain people and events, could she then find happiness?

Familiarity bred a loss of reverence. She was somewhat afraid of people like Danny, Mary, and Zack, but it was hard for her to feel such emotions towards Bran. Just like with Zoya in front of her, Eileen truly couldn’t connect her with being a powerful person.

Being chased by hornets together, imitating Danny together — it all felt like it happened just yesterday. How could she be sure that Zoya’s every move wasn’t a deception, wasn’t an imitation?

After observing for a long while, Zoya started walking towards the sea. Eileen was about to follow when an undeniable command sounded in her ear: “Stay here.”

Eileen was stunned, and anger welled up inside her. Ignoring the warning, she lifted her leg to follow.

“Stay here! I’m not Bran; I can’t protect you.”

“I don’t need your protection yet.”

Zoya stopped and turned to look at Eileen, who met her gaze without backing down.

“Don’t cause trouble for me, Eileen.”

“This is my home! I don’t need your permission to go where I want!”

The sound of hooves interrupted their stare-off. Xialuo rode up on horseback, leading another horse to Zoya. It was a Magical Beast with a fiery red coat, capable of controlling some wind. Bran had picked it out from a herd of wild horses and given it to her, hoping they would become companions.

Zoya raised her hand and patted the horse’s face as it stretched forward. “Are you two ready? The fight is on.”

“What?”

Zoya reached over, took the bow and arrows from the horse’s back, then notched an arrow and aimed it into the distance. To Eileen’s shock, the sharp arrow was already loosed.

Out on the sea, a wave rose up to meet the incoming arrow but failed to stop it, being pierced through. A figure appeared, an arrow shaft trembling in his shoulder.

Zoya threw the bow to Xialuo and commanded, “Stay here.” Then she walked towards that place. This time, Eileen did not move her feet again. She just stared blankly at Zoya’s retreating back, her expression dark.

…

Jose glanced at the arrow in his shoulder, then turned his attention to the girl slowly approaching. Facial Markings… A Northlander? He could have retreated, but he felt unwilling. He had been discovered and even injured — he couldn’t just slink away without any response. Besides, wasn’t this a chance to test things?

So Jose did not retreat. Instead, he moved a few steps towards the shore, standing in water waist-deep. He waited for the other to get closer, waiting for the shift between offense and defense.

The girl stopped at the water’s edge, watching him quietly.

Jose asked, “Northlander?”

The girl nodded. “Was it you impersonating my kin?”

Jose looked towards the distant Dragon Rider camp. “I thought it was just a coincidence, but it seems I was fooled.” He shook his head and continued, “This is fine too. At least it drew you out.”

As he spoke, seawater stealthily soaked the fine sand beneath Zoya’s feet. Jose took a few more steps forward until the water receded to his knees.

“This is a misunderstanding. We came here to find our lost kin.” Jose paused, carefully studying the girl before him — gentle, lovely, she made him feel calm.

“Those Dragon Riders seem to be guarding against some Monsters. Please believe me, I have no connection to those Monsters.”

“Then why were you spying here?” Zoya asked softly, tilting her head slightly.

“Out of a Wizard’s curiosity, wanting to see the Monsters they spoke of.”

Jose felt his head grow heavy. Unknowingly, their conversation had delved deeper, and he found himself saying many things, whether he should or shouldn’t.

The girl before him felt like long-lost family, making Jose let his guard down. The fine sand under the girl’s feet became dry and soft again, and even the sharp arrow stuck in his shoulder was forgotten.

The water gently lapped around his legs. The fatigue and tension of the journey, the unease of being in a strange land — all of it faded here. Peace settled over Jose. His body, tense from vigilance, gradually relaxed…

As his body relaxed, blood slowly seeped from the arrow wound, staining the seawater around him red. The blood attracted something; distant shadows began to stir on the sea’s surface.

From afar, Xialuo watched as a strange, Demonic Mana Flower flickered in and out of existence on Zoya’s back, as if it might solidify at any moment.

It was a bit far; with her ability, she couldn’t clearly hear what the two were saying. After talking for a while, the man drew a Water Orb from his chest. When Zoya reached out to take it, the Water Orb suddenly blazed with Light, illuminating the area in a blinding white glare.

Shouts and the sounds of a scuffle followed immediately. When the Light faded, Zoya held a Feathered Arrow in her hand, with a piece of flesh still attached to it.

Xialuo rode over and asked nervously, “Are you alright?”

A faint smile appeared on Zoya’s lips. “I’m fine.”

Eileen, who had followed close behind, also asked, “What about that man?”

“He ran.”

“Why didn’t you stop him?”

Zoya lifted her chin. “He’s in the sea. You go stop him.”

…

Ruben in the camp was still joking around from time to time, and the sounds of laughter and banter never stopped. Until Jose, covered in wounds, appeared on the sea surface not far away. The lookout immediately noticed something was wrong. When everyone hastily pulled Jose from the water, Jose only managed to squeeze out two words — “Wizard” — before passing out.