The Rise Of A Shadowsmith

Chapter 222: Departure

The rooftop stood as a desolate platform amidst the noise of blaring alarms and the eerie glow of emergency lights as the Eclipse soldiers rushed out of their base.

Shinon stood there watching them. It was only a matter of time before they discovered Malakai’s corpse. He wanted to wait there and see how the Eclipse treated Malakai’s body and whether he was indeed a traitor to their organisation.

But in the end, Shinon decided against it. After all, whether Malakai was a traitor to them or not didn’t matter anymore. As he had already paid the price for betraying Shinon. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"Let’s head back..." Shinon mumbled and took a final look at Malakai’s corpse before leaving for good.

The journey back to the waiting group felt longer than it should have. Each step carried the burden of the choice he had made and the choice he was about to make.

He knew nobody would be pleased about his decision, but Shinon knew it was the only way he could try and find his father’s whereabouts. If not, he wanted to at least know why the Eclipse was named after his father’s brand and how they possessed weapons he had made.

As he approached the waiting group, Lova was the first to notice his return. Her sharp eyes met his, and she immediately knew something was off.

However, when she saw that Shinon was alone, she knew exactly what had happened and scoffed because what she warned Shinon about turned out to be true.

The others watched closely as Shinon approached them, anticipation etched on their faces, waiting for an explanation. As he approached Lova and the rest, he could feel their gaze on him, a silent demand for answers. But he didn’t need to wait for long.

"So, how did it feel getting backstabbed?" Lova said aloud, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, it was about time someone figured out Malakai was weird."

"Of course, you’re the only one who could have jinxed me."

"Now he’s calling me a witch. Can you believe this?" Lova playfully rolled her eyes.

Shinon couldn’t help but let out a brief, humourless chuckle. Lova’s straightforwardness had always been a source of amusement to him.

Her ability to cut through the tension with a single sentence relieved Shinon. However, Shinon knew it would only last for a while.

Yet, as the seconds ticked by, Lova’s smile faded, replaced by a more solemn expression. She probed further, her concern spilling into her words. fгeewebnovёl.com

"Alright, Shinon," she began, her voice more serious, "What’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Shinon sighed, realising that he needed to be honest about what had transpired on the rooftop. Malakai’s betrayal was no secret, and he should tell them about the outcome of their confrontation.

As he began to recount the events, Lova’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her shock mirrored that of the rest of the group. The revelation that Malakai had betrayed Shinon so easily surprised Lova the most.

"Could that fucker be working with the Eclipse all along?" Lova’s voice held a mixture of hurt and frustration. "We could’ve ended up regretting even meeting him."

"What he did and who he was isn’t important," Shinon shook his head. "As for my decision to kill him, I consider it a necessity. Besides, I already got everything out of him. Therefore, there wasn’t any reason to keep him alive."

While what Shinon said was true, all of them would have done the same in his shoes. The unspoken question remained: What now?

As Lova asked him the question, Shinon knew it was time to share his plans with her as she was the only one he could trust.

He took her by the arm and walked away from the group, leaving the others confused about what was happening. Once they were far away, Shinon opened up.

"Lova," he said, his voice measured, "I need to leave."

"Leave? Shinon, what... what’s with the sudden departure?" Lova’s eyes widened in shock, and she stepped closer to him, her concern deepening. "What’s going on? Where are you going?"

Shinon met her gaze, contemplating whether he should tell her about his father or not. But in the end, he decided to do it. Despite her flaws, Lova was someone who could keep a secret.

"There’s something I need to investigate, something that might lead me to answers about my father," Shinon sighed. "I’ll be gone for a while, maybe a few months."

"Your father? You’re a Relic, though... how will you find your father here?"

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "The Eclipse... the branding on their weapons is the same as my father’s. While it could be a coincidence... I don’t think that’s the case."

"Shinon, I know the turmoil in your heart," Lova’s brows furrowed with worry, and she reached out to grasp his arm, her grip firm. "But think about it again."

She continued, "You have made too many enemies here, especially the Eclipse. Whether they work with your father or not, It would be dangerous for you to travel alone!"

"I have to do this, Lova," Shinon appreciated her concern, but he knew that this was a journey he had to undertake, regardless of the risks. "It’s the only way I’ll find the answers I’ve been searching for. I can’t... let this opportunity go."

Lova’s expression softened, and she released her hold on him, though her worry remained.

"Promise me you’ll be careful," she said, her voice laced with concern.

"I’m not really good with promises," Shinon nodded, gratitude filling his eyes. "But sure, I’ll be careful and return to the settlement as fast as possible. That said, take the radio..."

Shinon gave her the device that Malakai had stolen from the Eclipse. Whether he returned to the settlement or not, with the device, the settlement would be able to track Eclipse’s communications and counter them when the time came.

However, as Lova took the device, she pulled him into a tight hug, her embrace filled with warmth and anxiety. They shared a brief, heartfelt moment, a silent understanding passing between them.

"I hope you find what you’re looking for in the Haven’s refuge," Lova whispered. "But please, make your safety your first priority."

Shinon returned the hug with a sad smile. "Have you ever seen me being reckless?"

With one glare from Lova, Shinon understood it wasn’t the time to make jokes.

With their parting hug, Shinon stepped back, his gaze lingering on Lova and the others.

He knew the road ahead would be treacherous, but he was determined to uncover the truth about his father and the Eclipse’s sinister plans.

With a final nod, he turned away from his companions and headed towards the path that would lead him to the Haven’s refuge—a small city controlled by the Eclipse.