Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 309. Blurry Image III

Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 309. Blurry Image III

Even illegal slave traders, known for their ruthlessness and desperation, rarely used the mountains as a route. While they occasionally risked passing through the treacherous terrain, it was only when they had no other choice. The fear of the unknown, coupled with the gruesome stories, kept most of them at bay. They were acutely aware of the death that could await them, an unseen force that could strike without warning.

Adding to the dangers were the terrible, wild monsters that roamed the mountains. These creatures, rarely encountering humans, had grown in strength and size, becoming fearsome predators. The dense forests and rugged cliffs were home to these beasts, making the Erebus Mountains even more perilous. Travelers who braved the area spoke of enormous, ravenous wolves, serpents with scales as hard as armor, and shadowy figures that moved through the trees.

The thought of these monsters, combined with the unexplained deaths, created an impenetrable wall of fear. Few dared to enter, and those who did often never returned. The mountains had become a no-man's land.

Angel gripped the bracelet tightly in his hand, feeling the weight of the cold metal and the smooth, colorful gems pressing into his palm. The guess that the bracelet originated from the Erebus Mountains seemed reasonable, given its unique design and the faint magic flow emanating from it. But what unsettled him the most was the realization that the magic flow within the bracelet was eerily similar to his own. This meant one thing: the bracelet contained dark magic.

Dark magic, in itself, was not entirely unusual. Many artifacts from ancient times held traces of it. However, the similarity between the bracelet's magic and his own made it personal and deeply disturbing. It suggested that the bracelet had once belonged to or had been created by a dark magic user. More chillingly, it implied a direct connection to the dark crystal embedded within him—a dark crystal that had been the source of his father's death.

Angel had always known that his father's murderer wielded dark magic, but the possibility that this same person had crafted the bracelet in his hand was almost too much to bear. It meant that the bracelet was not just an innocent trinket; it was a relic tied to a darker, bloodier past.

He recalled the blurry vision he had seen earlier—a woman running through a forest, chased by an unseen force. The high cliffs of the Erebus Mountains looming in the background had been unmistakable. Was she fleeing from the same dark magic user who had killed his father? And if so, what role did the bracelet play in her flight?

Angel couldn't stop himself from smirking. A weird excitement surged through him, mixing with a bubbling emotion he hadn't felt in a long time. For years, he had been searching for a clue, any clue, that might lead him to the dark magic user who had killed his father. Now, with this bracelet, he felt that he had finally found another step toward uncovering the truth.

The bracelet, with its faint but unmistakable dark magic flow, was a tangible link to the past. Angel could almost feel the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. He needed to find out more about the Pontus merchant who had given the bracelet to Lady Belle. There was undoubtedly a connection to be explored, a thread that, when pulled, might unravel the mystery that had haunted him for so long.

'I need to find out more about this merchant,' he thought, his mind racing with possibilities. Lady Belle could certainly provide some information, but investigating it openly might raise questions and suspicions. He had to be careful, strategic. An official reason to visit the Kingdom of Pontus would make his inquiries less conspicuous.

Angel's smirk widened as a plan began to form. "I guess I have to pick up the princess of Pontus quickly then," he murmured to himself, the idea crystallizing in his mind. He could use the official duty of escorting the princess as an opportunity to delve deeper into the origins of the bracelet without arousing suspicion.

He would set his plan into motion right after Rose's coronation. The timing was ideal. With the festivities and the political atmosphere surrounding the coronation, his actions would be seen as nothing more than part of the diplomatic duties expected of a king. It was a rare alignment of circumstances that he couldn't afford to miss.

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