The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 246

Chapter 246

Chapter 246: Dear Old Friend

Even as I said his name and knew who he was, Elijah had changed tremendously. Aside from the fact that he was now a head taller than me with skin as pale as alabaster, his short jet-black hair and sharp eyes made him look almost completely different.

Elijah let out a chuckle, his gaze fixed on me. “Long time no see, Tess. How’s Arthur doing?”

I shuddered as a sharp chill ran down my spine. Elijah and I had gone to school together—he was Art’s best friend. So why were his words so threatening?

“He’s doing fine,” I mustered, trying to stand taller as the pressure Elijah gave off continued to weigh down on me.

“Of course he’s doing fine. That fool has been as resilient as a cockroach for as long as I’ve known him.”

My brows furrowed at the unfamiliar word. “Cock...roach?”

“Guess you wouldn’t know yet,” he smiled, taking a step closer to me. “Come. Let’s go.”

“Go? Where?” I asked, my heartbeat quickening. “Elijah, what happened?”

Elijah flinched slightly at the mention of his name. “I’ll explain on the way. For now, it’d be best if you come with me.”

“Don’t!” a voice croaked from behind. I looked back to see Madam Astera back on her feet, her sword in hand.

“Impressive that you can talk despite the pressure I’ve put on you especially,” Elijah said. “But I advise you not to speak again.”

Madam Astera raised her sword, hands trembling. “H-He’s the...one...battlefield.”

I barely had time to think when I sensed danger. The instincts embedded into me through assimilation with my beast will caused me to tackle Madam Astera.

Glancing back to where she was standing before, there was an all-too-familiar black spike, jutting from the ground with blood dripping from its point.

Madam Astera groaned in pain, but my eyes remained glued to Elijah. “Y-You? How...”

We were told that the only ones able to conjure those black spikes were some of the scythes and their retainers. So why—how—was Elijah able to use it?

“A-Are you with the Alacryans?” I asked.

Elijah’s expression turned serious. “The Alacryans and I both have something we want to get out of this war. That is it.”

Realization dawned on me. “It was you—you were at Etistin. W-Were you the one that...”

Elijah took another step toward us. “Step away from the woman, Tessia.”

“I refuse,” I said through gritted teeth.

“G-Get out of here, Princess. It seems he can’t kill you,” Madam Astera whispered. “We’re no match. He’s the one that slaughtered scores of soldiers at the bay shore battle. There’s no mistaking it.”

“I’ve trained and suffered, waiting years for this, Tessia. Come with me and I’ll leave the others alone.”

I tightened my grip around Madam Astera.

Elijah let out a sigh. “Okay. I really didn’t want to leave any distasteful memories, but you leave me no choice.”

Another chill ran down my spine, signalling danger.

With just the faintest rustle, another black spike was conjured, piercing through the wounded soldier we had just found.

But it was too late.

Madam Astera jerked within my grasp, trying to reach her fallen comrade, but I kept her down.

“Come with me, Tessia,” Elijah repeated.

My mind spun as I tried to think of a way out of this. I knew I couldn’t go with Elijah. He was purposely keeping me alive for something. My first thought was that he was going to use me as a hostage, but then Elijah said he didn’t want to leave any distasteful memories...

Another chill ran down as I felt the fluctuation of magic. This time, there was only a surprised grunt in the distance before I saw it.

Jast had been pierced through the chest and hoisted into the air...just like my parents had been. The traumatized soldier’s expression wasn’t of pain but of surprise and confusion as blood dripped from the corners of his mouth.

“No!” Madam Astera screamed, trying to pry herself away from me.

“Now...” Elijah held out a pale hand. “Come. With. Me. ”

My gaze shifted from Jast’s corpse to Madam Astera and to Nyphia and Herrick.

I was caught between two choices: relent until everyone but me was killed, or go with him.

Desperation sunk in, and I decided to make my own third option.

Grabbing the blade of Madam Astera’s sword, I held it by my throat. “Don’t.”

A look of surprise skirted across Elijah’s face before he revealed a smirk. “You’re not going to kill yourself.”

Without another word, I pressed the edge of the blade against my throat until I drew blood.

This was a dangerous gamble, one that could get myself and the people around me here killed, but I knew I couldn’t go with him—I knew something far worse might happen if I went with him.

Fortunately, the gamble paid off. Elijah visibly stiffened and his brows knitted in frustration before he snapped. “Stop.”

I held the blade in place, keeping my expression firm despite the sharp pain radiating from my self-inflicted wound.

Fear bubbled up in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t want to die now. I didn’t want to die.

The hand holding the blade trembled, and it barely lowered because of my hesitation, but that was all Elijah needed.

Instantly, a thin spike shot through Madam Astera’s sword, knocking it out of my hand.

“I’m sorry I had to risk your life like that, but I’ve waited too long,” Elijah said sincerely as he walked towards me.

I fell back and scrambled desperately away from the man that was once Arthur’s friend. What had happened to him?

I hated myself for being so weak. Because of me, everyone here was going to die and I couldn’t do anything about it.

Elijah flicked his wrist, and another black spike shot up from the ground...through Herrick. I closed my eyes, unable to watch as Nyphia’s scream pierced through my ears.

My heart hammered against my ribs as my breath turned shallow. I tried to keep calm, but I was suddenly reminded of the battle in the Elshire Forest—all of the deaths that had been caused by me. I opened my eyes again to see the world spinning and tipping. I felt like I was drowning underwater as the only noise I could hear was my frantic heart beating and the short desperate breaths coming out of my mouth.

Then, suddenly, a hailstorm of golden white light rained down on Elijah. Clouds of dust enveloped the entire area as trees fell and the ground crumbled.

A dragon as black as the conjured spike a few steps in front of me appeared. Moments later, even through my blurry vision, I could make out the all-too-familiar figure with a head of long auburn hair, holding someone. Faint golden markings glowed just beneath his eyes as he appeared. As he looked at me, a mixture of emotions washed over me as my vision darkened: embarrassment, guilt, but most of all, relief.

“I’m sorry,” I said, not even able to hear my own voice.

I could make out more of Arthur’s face as he got closer. He was sweating and his usual composure was nowhere to be found. His mouth moved but I couldn’t hear what he said as the world faded into black.

ARTHUR LEYWIN

I dropped Nyphia, who I had practically pried away from her dead friend, and caught Tess as she fell unconscious. Slinging her over my shoulder, I snapped my fingers to get Nyphia’s attention.

Soon after, the black dot multiplied and I found myself facing another two dozen black spikes the size of spears. _{freewёbnoνel.com}