Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 206  [Island Of Drath] [21] [Sorrow and Angel]

The rain stopped.

The heavy clouds covering the sky dispersed, giving way for the moon to shine on the island.

Its light illuminated the entirety of the island, now covered with a layer of mist.

The sounds of animals filled the place, their voices echoing rhythmically.

But something else also filled the air of the island.

...The distinct smell of death and decay.

The rain dampened most of it, but it was still clear.

Someone di—.

A lot of them died.

And that took a long time to sink into Lauryn's mind.

That she... was the one who killed them.

...Her stupidity and naivety killed them.

Looking around the thick forest, dampened by the sounds of different beasts, she could faintly hear the cries of people, begging for help.

"...No." She trembled violently, her hands reaching out to cover her ears from the screams.

There was no life in her eyes—they felt dead.

Her legs moved on their own as she walked aimlessly.

A part of her mind reminded her of everything she did that led to this.

How she met Delwyn at her family's graveyard.

How she met him again at the competition.

How he urged her, manipulated her to bring Esmeray to a place like this.

"...I was stupid." She whispered to herself, her voice filled with despair, her hands grabbing, plucking at her own hair.

"I should have just said no to everything... Why? Just why?"

When Delwyn asked her to kill Azariah.

She refused to do that.

Even though she hated his mother, she never wanted to kill Azariah for what happened.

No matter how much Delwyn tried to convince her, she never once thought of actually killing him.

The only reason she accepted Delwyn's offer to assist him on the island was because he assured her their leader would take care of Esmeray.

But now...

...She was on the verge of killing herself.

"Help!"

A scream jolted her back to reality.

She turned toward the sound.

Her body moved in that direction without hesitation.

But her steps halted as her gaze fell to the ground.

"Huff... Huff..."

Her breath turned ragged, worn out as she looked at the dead bodies sprawled around the place.

"...No."

She whispered, her hand placed over her mouth to stop herself from vomiting, nausea hitting her.

She recognized them.

...Her students.

Their blood stained the ground crimson.

Guts, flesh, being ripped and eaten by small beasts.

They screeched at her as she walked closer before running into the forest again.

"...No." She whispered weakly, trying to deny the reality she was facing.

"Help."

A weak, helpless voice echoed.

Taking a deep breath to alleviate her crunching heart, she slowly walked toward the voice.

"...Help."

"....."

Lauryn quietly looked at the girl, who had her arms ripped off.

Her body leaned weakly against a tree, a dreadful look on her face.

Without much delay, Lauryn rushed toward her as she noticed something.

...Something was eating her eyes.

Something small was ripping them out of her sockets.

But as Lauryn arrived, it ran away.

"...Professor." The girl whimpered silently, gazing up at her.

A smile slowly emerged on her face—a hopeful smile.

"...Help me." She whispered while Lauryn slowly crouched beside her.

Reaching out, she tried to stop the bleeding.

She didn't know how to save her.

Her mind tried to think of a way, but she couldn't come up with a concrete answer.

Her gaze landed on the deep cut running down the girl's stomach.

"...Help me, professor." The girl whimpered softly, her one eye slowly closing, "...I don't feel very good."

"... Don't sleep." Lauryn whispered, trying to stop the blood seeping from her stomach, "...You will be fine, just please don't sleep."

The girl smiled, her eyes closing on their own, her voice slowly turning inaudible, "...You will save m..."

...Her heart stopped beating.

Lauryn just blankly looked at the dead girl.

Her trembling hand reached toward her face as she tried to cover it.

A self-loathing chuckle escaped her mouth as she looked up at the sky.

"...What have I done?"

She asked.

But no one replied.

.....

.....

.....

A silver feather floated past his face.

Kurt looked up, and his gaze immediately hardened as he noticed something flying toward him at high speed.

Without thinking, he jumped back just in time.

BOOM!!!

An explosion occurred, a shockwave following shortly, filling the air with dust and debris.

Arianell gently looked at the girl with silver wings hovering close to her back.

Her golden hair, highlighted with platinum, fluttered as Ashlyn looked back.

"You alright?" she asked, looking at her.

Arianell nodded, touching her side where a shallow cut stung her.

"Tsk, and here I thought my work was done for today." Kurt grumbled to himself, glaring at Ashlyn, "... Delwyn should have taken care of the Avatar by now."

"...Avatar?" Ashlyn asked, tilting her head as she looked at him, "...What are you talking about?"

Kurt straightened his back as he looked at her, "...Aren't you Ashlyn Zyanya?"

"...And how do you know that?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she looked at him.

"...Move." Kurt ordered, looking at her, "I don't have time to play right now."

Ashlyn ignored him as she looked back at Arianell again.

...Should I let her die?

She thought to herself, and a part of her did want to do just that.

...No.

But she quickly suppressed those thoughts as she looked back at Kurt again.

...If she dies right now and Az gets to know I didn't save her even when I can, he will get upset.

She reasoned, trying not to let her dark thoughts get the better of her.

"...Will he be happy if I tell him I saved her?"

She whispered, a desire for his approval filling her mind as she drew her sword.

Kurt steadied both hands as he placed his daggers in front of his face.

"...If you don't move, then I will have to kill you." He snarled, making her focus on him.

"I'll say the same." She said, raising her hand above her head, "...If you don't move, then I will have to kill you."

Kurt chuckled before his body blurred, moving toward her.

Ashlyn calmly watched him approach before she gently whispered, "...Heaven's gate."

A blinding light filled the entire area.

Kurt halted, covering his eyes from the burning light that made him feel restless.

With his barely opened eyes, he looked up.

Above Ashlyn, a golden gate with intricate designs slowly started to emerge.

Her golden eyes shone brightly as the gate opened up.

Someone walked out of the gate.

"...What?" Kurt whispered, his mouth agape as he looked at the being she summoned.

...An Angel.

A living angel with skin as pale as paper and eyes glowing with a burning silver light.

His pure white wings unfurled as the angel slowly descended, hovering just above Ashlyn.

His body radiated a holy energy, warming up the place.

But...

...It didn't end there. More and more angels started to emerge from the gate, all hovering just above Ashlyn.

Ashlyn slowly lowered her hand, pointing toward Kurt, her lips parting, "...Bring him for judgment."

They obeyed her.

Hovering high, they all moved, surrounding the man who looked utterly confused.

A white chain materialized in their hands as they swung it before throwing it toward him.

Kurt looked at his arm as it got entangled by the chain.

The angel pulled, making him stumble, but he quickly regained his balance and snapped the chain in half.

"WHAT IS THIS!?" He yelled, glaring at Ashlyn, who stood far away, "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO SUMMON AN ANGEL!!!"

His words had barely finished when more and more chains were thrown at him, wrapping his entire body as they pulled from all sides.

His body soon started to hover above the ground, but he still tried to free himself.

He moved, snapped, twisted to break free until he realized something.

"...Weak." He whispered softly, looking up at the twenty or so angels, "...Why are they so weak?"

He bent down, jumping high toward an angel.

Throwing his hand back, he thrust his dagger into the angel's body.

...It connected.

The angel's body broke into particles of white, falling, vanishing into nothingness.

And so did the bodies of the other angels.

He landed on the ground, finally realizing it.

...He had been played.

His head twisted toward where Ashlyn had stood, but she was gone.

He frantically looked around to find her but couldn't until his gaze moved up.

...And there she was.

Flying high in the sky, carrying Arianell with her.

"...Damn you!!"

He yelled, his voice echoing throughout the forest as he rushed after them before losing sight of them.

"...Were they real?" Arianell asked, stabilizing her breath as she looked at her.

"...No, just projections." Ashlyn replied, shaking her head, "...I can't summon them... yet."

"...."

Arianell silently nodded.

Her gaze moved toward the ground as she noticed something.

"...Is that Christina and Shyamal?" She whispered quietly, noticing her.

Ashlyn halted mid-air.

Her mind filled with dark thoughts....

....Yet again.