The elder one

Xavier grasped the window railings, his gaze lost in the vast expanse of the night sky. His expression was unreadable, his thoughts a million miles away.

Without warning, he released his grip on the railings, and a soft, ethereal glow enveloped him. In an instant, he vanished from the room, reappearing in what seemed to be a vast forest.

Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting feint glows on the ground. Leaves rustled softly in the gentle breeze, and the air was cool and crisp. The dark silhouettes of trees stood tall, their branches creating weblike designs against the night sky.

At the center, lied a massive tree, both broad and tall. Its trunk was immense, rough with age, and strong enough to support its towering height. The tree's vast canopy spread wide, its thick branches creating a natural roof that stretched high into the sky. Moonlight filtered through it's dense leaves, casting a serene glow around the tree's base. Fireflies danced around it lightening up the darkness like tiny stars.

Xavier approached the tree, halting ten meters away from its trunk. An invisible barrier seemed to encircle the tree, stopping any further advance.

He didn't bother to breach it, instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, waiting silently.

A short while later, a figure materialized before him, shrouded in a long, dark cloak that concealed it's face and body entirely, rendering their appearance hidden.

"Who are you? And w..."

"Just tell Irene that Xavier's here to meet her" Xavier cut in, waving his hand in a relaxed gesture. From the voice, it could be told that the unknown figure was a man.

"Our queen? How dare..." The figure suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his body stiffened.

"D..Did...you...Did you just say you're Xavier?"

"Looks like I'm getting quite popular, huh?" Xavier smirked, neither confirming or denying it.

"I'm so sorry, my lord. I didn't recognise you" The man hurried to apologise, his voice suddenly filled with respect. He bowed deeply, not daring to raise his head.

Xavier waved his hands dismissively. "It's okay, I'm just here to see Irene."

The man sighed in relief, his shoulders relaxing. "Of course, the queen will be very pleased with your presence." He finally raised his eyes to meet Xavier's gaze and stretched his hand out towards him.

Before Xavier could respond, a soft white glow enveloped him, making him feel strangely light.

"Follow me," the man gestured, turning to walk towards the tree. Xavier followed, feeling the glow surround him as they stepped into the tree's trunk.

In an instant, they disappeared from the forest and reappeared in a small, cozy room. The room was simply furnished with a single sofa and a table beside it, casting a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

"Please wait here, my lord. I will bring the queen," the man bowed before disappearing once more.

Xavier walked over to the sofa and sat down, crossing one leg over the other as he patiently tapped his fingers on the armrest.

A short while later, a woman appeared, her icy platinum-colored hair cascaded down her back , glowing like the moonlight. Her sapphire-like eyes sparkled with a hint of warmth, and her curves were accentuated by her large hips and thighs, which contrasted with her smaller bust and waist.

Xavier couldn't help gazing at her greedily.

"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were really interested in me," she smiled, her eyes sparkling in mischief as she sat down beside him on the sofa.

Xavier chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers. "And what makes you think I'm not interested in you?" he asked, his tone playful.

"We both know that isn't true," she shrugged.

"But if it is," she leaned in closer, her voice taking on a sultry tone, "you know I'm more than willing to...get to know you better." As she spoke, she pressed her breasts against his shoulder, flirting shamelessly.

"Okay, okay. That's enough," Xavier gently pushed her away.

Irene smiled, her expression unfazed, without a hint of embarrassment.

Xavier knew she had feelings for him, she had even confessed to him before but he had rejected her, with the excuse of not liking tall girls.

She cleared her throat, her expression turning serious. "So, why did you suddenly visit me? Don't even bother saying you just missed me or anything like that. We both know that's not the reason,"

Xavier scratched his nose awkwardly, avoiding her gaze. "I found one," he muttered.

"Who?"

"Aldric's daughter,"

Irene's eyes widened in surprise, and a delighted smile spread across her face as she sprang to her feet. "Really?"

Xavier frowned, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why do you seem so happy about this?"

"Nothing, I thought they were all dead," Irene's brows knitted, a puzzled look on her face."Didn't you kill them?" She sat back down, her eyes fixed on Xavier.

"I don't know, guess she somehow escaped."

"So, what did you do to her?"

"Nothing, but..."

"But what?"

Xavier's expression turned serious. "But she's human."

Irene couldn't help raising a brow. "Huh? How is that even possible?"

"I don't know"

Her brows furrowed. "Then how are you sure it was her?"

Xavier hesitated. "I've seen Aldric's daughter before, and I compelled her."

Irene's expression turned thoughtful. "Hmm...this is very strange. I'll have to contact the elders."

Xavier snorted. "You mean those old geezers?"

Irene glared at him fiercely. "Yes, those old geezers. And they'll be more, if you hadn't killed half of them,"

Xavier shrugged helplessly. "They deserved it."

Her face fell. "Yes, but they changed, they wanted to start anew..."

"If we let every traitor who's sinned get away with it, all in the name of starting 'anew', the world will be rampant with criminals," Xavier growled, his frown deepening. "Just because they are elders, they think they deserve some kind of special treatment?"

Irene rubbed her temples, a headache brewing. "You should have at least given them a chance to explain themselves before outrightly behea..."

"Enough!" He stood up, his voice thundering. "A traitor is a traitor, no matter their status. I made the mistake of trusting one once, and what did I gain in return? The headless body of my mother and the cold lifeless corpse of my sister."

"Okay, sorry, sorry." She hurriedly apologized, standing up and gently pulling him back down to sit beside her.

Xavier took a deep breath, calming himself down, before turning to face her again. "So, what do you propose we do with the girl?"

Irene thought for a moment before responding. "Keep her by your side for now. She might still be of some use. After all, she's just human, she can't possibly cause any harm."

Xavier nodded in agreement. "Okay, you discuss with those old fogeys and find out what happened. You know where to find me when you're done."

"Okay, then I won't be seeing you out," Irene stood up.

"And also, please inform me in advance next time you're coming," she continued. "I don't want any of my people getting 'accidentally' killed."

"Hahaha..." Xavier burst into laughter. "Do I look like someone who just goes around killing people for no reason?"

Irene stared at him meaningfully, her expression seeming to say, 'don't you?'

"Okay, okay. I'll definitely inform you in advance next time," He sighed helplessly.

He stood up and vanished into thin air, leaving Irene alone in the room.

He reappeared in his room, the silence enveloping the entire space. He turned to the bed, his eyes weary.

'I can't remember the last time I had a peaceful sleep,' he thought to himself. Ever since his mother's death, he had been plagued by constant nightmares, as if their spirits were constantly hunting him, tormenting his soul. The restless spirits left him completely drained, both physically and mentally.

He sighed helplessly and sat on the floor, his gaze drifting towards the night sky. 'Mom, be at peace, wherever you are. I'll avenge you and sister, no matter the cost. I'll kill that old bastard, even if I have to sell my soul to accomplish it. All those involved in your deaths shall die a painful death without even a proper corpse to bury.' he vowed.