THE NEXT CHAPTER

The ending of spring.

The beginning of summer.

"PLEASE, WE DON'T KNOW, SPARE US, WE D-DON'T KNOW."

A group of old men could be seen sitting on the dusty ground, sticking together while joining their hands up in a begging manner. Who were they pleading with? They were pleading with the group of men clothed in black surrounding them. They held swords in their hands and their faces were covered.

One of them stepped forward and kicked the old man in his face, making his head bang on the dusty ground, blood spurting out from the corner of the old man's forehead. His friends immediately grabbed onto his shoulder, pulling him back towards themselves.

"If you don't have the black stone then you must know where it is. Look, old man, if you don't want us to set your little village on fire, you better spit the truth out." The man let out, raising his leg to boot the old man again but he halted midway. A gasp left the lips of those who were sitting on the ground while the ones standing around, quivered backward once they saw a sword coming out of their companion's chest. Blood spilled out of his mouth as he fell to the ground.

"Who told you guys to be the leader huh? I told you to ask not to be the chief." Adonis said, stepping back from the body on the ground. He took out a napkin and cleaned the blood off of his sword. With his head low he whispered something to himself.

"That old man will die but will come back to life only to get all the seven stones. How can one be so greedy for power? If it wasn't for the tremendous stake he and his pay me, I would have left long ago."

"Huh? Commander, is there something wrong?" The man standing beside him asked once he noticed Adonis muttering something. Adonis shook his head and looked at the group of men sitting on the ground.

"Let's go, the stone is not here." He commanded and all the men around him nodded before stepping back. Adonis sighed before stepping back as well.

"Next time, don't ever mention the stones. You don't know when death might knock on your door." He warned the group of old men, who were bobbing their heads without halting as they got on their knees and bowed at Adonis for sparing their lives.

"You guys go back to the manor, I've somewhere else to go," Adonis commanded them and they nodded but one of them raised a question. "Are you going to visit Lord Linya?" The man asked and Adonis tilted his head at him.

"Just do what you're told. What's with this query?" Adonis asked and the man awkwardly apologized as they all got on their swords and rode away. With a heavy sigh, he also got on his sword and heightened it up in the sky.

It's been three years since the death of his soulmate, and that man still hasn't checked his soulmate's mark. What bothers Adonis is the history that anyone merely knows about. All they know is that Megara was a renegade and not the subject within. What happened? It was obvious that the old man knew everything.

If he carefully analyzes the circumstances, then he is fearful that Megara was not at fault but he has no evidence. He knows Evandros was blinded by revenge, all he saw was her killing his mother. He was not wrong in his place and no matter how much you dig into the situation, you get no proof.

That old man is so clever, it's obvious that he recreated with that little girl easily. But actualization struck both Evandros and him at the wrong time. They are not sure about anything.

In the fire of revenge, he did so many things wrong and ended up killing her. Things could have been solved with a lot less disaster but that old man was a stimulus.

If love is blind so is hatred.

Whatever happened, Adonis didn't expect Evandros to act like that. No matter how you see it, everything is a disaster.

The situation is even worse than before, with every passing day the old man is getting restless and assertive because he couldn't discover the black stone. Wherever the word stone is mentioned, the next day they arrive there and torment the people but killing is highly prohibited by Evandros.

"Ahhh, such a messed up situation," Adonis said while rubbing his forehead. It's been three years since Megara's demise. They couldn't even find her body in the end. The search for her body ended after a year of her demise since Evandros went into seclusion. It's been two years since he got into seclusion.

He is sharpening his skills to a tremendous level to compete with his father. He is resting in the forest behind the Manor. No one knows when he will come out, but Adonis wants him to come out now.

Though they still listen to him, take only his commands through spiritual eagles. He is Lord Linya, the Lord of terror who has been silent for a long time now. It's time he comes out and seizes the commands directly in his hand otherwise his men will be drained by his wicked father.

Adonis has been communicating with him once a month. It's been a long time since they last saw him. He cannot stay there forever. It's time to hold the leash again.

Ezekiel is a clever man, he has been conscious of his surroundings ever since he got the hold of the six stones. He knows what his son is plotting but no one knows who will strike first.

Adonis didn't even get the chance to fully compile all of his thoughts when he reached the forest behind the manor. Getting off his sword, he stepped on the dusty ground covered with some dead leaves. He put his sword back in its scabbard and began to walk.

The forest was huge, he didn't know where Evandros specifically was. Walking further in, he stumbled back when an eagle emitting black fog almost clawed his face. "Agghh." He waved his hand in front of his face and was about to unsheathe his sword but then he noticed the eagle emitting a black aura.

It was Evandro's demonic pet.

Did he sense Adonis in the forest and send his pet to guide him? Just as he was about to step forward, feeling happy and welcomed by Evandros the eagle flew near his face and started to flap his huge wings on his head.

"Ah!"

He groaned and stepped back, just as he took a step back the eagle stopped. Adonis dropped his arms down which were protecting his head and passed the eagle a poker look.

He was not welcomed.

"I know you are in seclusion and that you don't want to meet anyone but it's time you come out. It's enough being in there. That old man is getting aggressive day by day. He even harmed some of your men for not finishing off the task and sparing the lives of those people. You know he is not the lord anymore. You are. Co-

"You done?" A deep voice came from the left side making Adonis's head snap toward that direction. His eyes slightly flew open in surprise and his lips unconsciously curved up into a smile. Though they met each other through that wicked man they somehow understood each other's feelings very well. Adonis takes him as his friend but what does Evandros think of him?

To be honest, he thinks nothing of him but a stupid nutcase that only wants money.

Where is the lie though?

"Look who is here," Adonis said, staring at Evandros. For the very first time, he saw him in something other than black. He looked more normal and human.

Evandros was leaning against the tree with his strong arms folded on his strong chest. His long black here was open, resting on his shoulders and he was wearing a simple white robe. His face was sullen as usual and his eyes were even colder and darker than before. His pale skin made him look like a ghost lurking in the grove.

Evandros straightened his face.

"I know what's happening and the time has come for me to leave the seclusion." He said and Adonis nodded, stepping forward.

"But before making the official announcement of me finishing the seclusion. I privately want to go somewhere. Only you know about this so if anyone comes to know about this. I will tear off your neck." Evandros said in a threatening tone and Adonis quickly raised his hands while shaking his head.

"Never." Adonis declared.

It's been three years but this man still doesn't trust him even a little bit. Of course, you can't expect someone like him to trust you so blindly after having such a wicked father.

"Where do you plan to go?" Adonis raised a question.

"I have unfinished work to accomplish. It has been pending for a long time now. I will be departing tomorrow. When I will come back then the official announcement of my seclusion ending will be given to the clan. No extra efforts or celebrations should be carried out." Evandros commanded and Adonis faintly nodded.

His eyes slowly moved down to his chest, his robe was loosened from above so his chest can be seen. There Adonis noticed a necklace around his neck, the ring that belonged to his soulmate, he had it around his neck as a necklace.

This man...what is he thinking?

What is he going through?

All these three years...what did he feel?