HBWnovel Chapter 181 Reaping The Fruits Of His Effort
Chapter 181 Reaping The Fruits Of His Effort
Alicarde was more tired than he had ever been. Even his brutal battle with Wrath back in the hospital, where inhuman amounts of pain wracked his body, couldn't compare to the mental strain he felt now. At least back then, the agony came with a tangible reward: the revelation of his truename.
This time, the rewards were far less concrete. Sure, he'd refined his esper powers, managing to multicast effectively. But once again, his long-cherished goal of flying eluded him.
He'd always dreamed of flight, envisioning himself soaring freely with his gravity manipulation abilities.
Yet, despite his best efforts, the reality fell laughably short.
Floating erratically? Sure. Controlled flight? Not a chance.
Malefica had warned him anyway: magical flight painted a big target on one's back, with numerous spells designed to bring aerial foes crashing down.
Elizalina, the ever-graceful vampire, had tried to help. Her approach, however, was entirely different. Vampires could fly by transforming into mist or conjuring ethereal wings. Alicarde had attempted to mimic her techniques, but their sessions ended in frustration.
No matter how much he concentrated, his gravity manipulation refused to cooperate. It didn't help that Elizalina's misty elegance was utterly unattainable for someone like him.
Amena, pragmatic as ever, had suggested running calculations to refine his control. But her method, though logical, involved so much math that Alicarde's head spun.
"If I have to solve equations midair, I'd rather walk," he had muttered in defeat.
Now, the witches of the village were celebrating Malefica's rise to power in a grand ceremony at the temple. Alicarde had wanted to attend, but exhaustion weighed too heavily on him. Instead, he mounted Wrath, his ever-loyal bicorn.
The creature galloped through the cold night, its violet flames flickering faintly, carrying him back to the small cabin he and Malefica had shared.
The journey was brief, but the chill of the night seeped into his bones. When Alicarde finally arrived, he opened the door to a dark, frigid room. He shivered, his breath visible in the icy air. The fireplace was unlit, the cabin eerily silent.
"Wrath, light it up, if you don't mind," he murmured, his voice heavy with fatigue.
The bicorn's glowing eyes flicked to him, assessing his state. Seeing its master collapse onto the bed, Wrath moved to the fireplace. With a deliberate stomp of its hooves, violet flames sparked and caught on the dry wood. The fire roared to life, bathing the room in warmth and casting long, flickering shadows on the walls.
Malefica moved to the edge of the bed, sitting beside him. Her gaze lingered on the ominous Reaper Vestments he wore, their dark, ethereal fabric flowing like smoke. She frowned slightly. "You should take that off," she said, her tone carrying a hint of concern. "It must be uncomfortable to wear all the time."
Alicarde tilted his head in confusion. "You do realize you burned my clothes with an inferno spell, right?"
"I do," she admitted, her lips curving into a faint smile. She rested her head gently on his shoulder before reaching up to push back his hood, revealing the mask beneath. Alicarde didn't resist, knowing that the hood wouldn't come off unless willingly removed—such was the enchantment of the vestments.
Her fingers brushed against the edges of the mask. With deliberate care, she pushed it off, revealing his face beneath. For a moment, their eyes met in silence. Alicarde's voice softened. "Now what?"
Malefica's smile deepened as she leaned closer. "Now... it's better if I just show you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Before he could respond, her lips met his in a soft, lingering kiss. Alicarde's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't pull away. Her warmth pressed against him, her hands moving to his shoulders as she deepened the kiss. Slowly, her dress slipped from her shoulders, the fabric pooling around her as Alicarde's Reaper Vestments dissolved into shadows, leaving only the two of them beneath the moonlight.
Alicarde did not have to wait for an invitation to draw Malefica into the bed; her soft skin felt warm on his own as she softly pushed her body back on his.
The morning sunlight crept into the cabin, casting golden rays over the room. The fire in the hearth had long since burned out, leaving only faint embers behind. Alicarde stirred, feeling the warmth of Malefica's body against his. His hand rested on something soft and warm, and he smiled, the memories of the night before flooding back to him.
All the fatigue he had felt was gone, replaced by a strange sense of contentment. He leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, careful not to wake her. She shifted slightly in her sleep but didn't stir fully. Alicarde slipped out of bed, shivering slightly as the cold morning air brushed against his bare skin. With a wave of his hand, the Reaper Vestments reappeared, cloaking him once more in their dark, spectral folds.
Stepping outside, he took a deep breath of the crisp morning air. Snow crunched under his boots as he summoned Wrath, his faithful bicorn. The creature emerged from the shadows, its violet flames flickering as it approached. Alicarde ran a hand over its sleek, obsidian-black coat before removing the saddle that had been placed on it earlier.
Mounting the bicorn, Alicarde whispered, "Forward." Wrath snorted, its violet eyes gleaming, and began to move. With a sudden burst of energy, it teleported, the world blurring around them before solidifying once more.
Alicarde's chest swelled with pride. Beneath his hood, he felt a wave of emotion threaten to overwhelm him. "Yes... at last," he murmured, his voice trembling with both relief and triumph. "I did it... I'm not a failure. My lineage won't end with me."
He allowed himself a rare, genuine smile. "Ah, heaven really is a place on Earth."
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Alicarde felt at peace. The weight of his past, the battles fought, and the burdens carried all seemed a little lighter now. The snow-covered landscape stretched out before him, vast and serene, as if the world itself had momentarily paused to grant him this fleeting moment of joy.
And for now, that was enough.