The return of calamity (3)

In a study room stood a pale-skinned woman, her sharp dark blue eyes reflecting the sunlight, enhancing her breathtaking iris. She stood by the window, gazing up at the sky.

Her red lips curled up, displaying a proud smirk. "Even if you didn't notify me of your presence, I would still know that you're coming here."

"Wake up, we're here." Acre gently wobbled the sleeping boy. Levinte slowly opened his eyes, rubbing the drowsiness. There was still a small portion of his sucked energy that he needed to regain.

An attendant opened the door and bowed, "Welcome, gentlemen. The Duchess is waiting."

They got out of the carriage and the attendant assisted to carry their bags. He was particularly surprised by the weight of Levinte's bag and the weird shape of Acre's bag.

"How convenient of you to notify me beforehand, if not I wouldn't have the time to dress up." The Duchess' voice greeted them as soon as they entered.

"No need to be formal. I'm just a commoner." Acre saluted.

The Duchess' eyes moved to Levinte. "Hey there little boy, you did a wonderful job conveying my message to your uncle." She smiled, emphasizing the last word.

In response, Levinte saluted, trying to hide his confusion. The atmosphere was tense as both elders stared at each other with animosity. He gulped and took a deep breath.

"I need to talk to your uncle in private. You can go to the dining room and order whatever you want to eat." She giggled. As her eyes met Acre, her gaze sharpened.

Levinte looked at Acre, asking him with his eyes. Acre gave him a soft smile and nodded, then the attendant assisted Levinte to the kitchen.

"Have a seat." She sashayed to the couch and sat down. "I hope you like the tea." She chuckled.

Acre sat across from her and calmly took a sip. "Explain."

She sighed. "I was shocked to hear you claim as a commoner while you're supposed to have a higher rank than me."

Acre shook his head. "Nonsense."

The Duchess placed a hand on her cheek with a sad expression. "You're too humble, I'm ashamed and honored to be in your presence," She paused, stood up, and dip into a curtsy. "The brother of the celestial."

Acre preserved his calmness and took another sip, closing his eyes. "I suppose if you know, you're not a mortal anymore."

She sat back down. "My ascension was decades ago so I'm new. The Syur court was fussing about the return of the calamity. I did my research and surprisingly, the one who caused the commotion in the court is in the empire."

Acre sighed. The Syur court... Annoying.

"So why did you want to meet me?" His eyes penetrated her soul, sending a shiver down her spine. "Do you want to report to them that I'm here?"

"No way." She nervously chuckled as his piercing glare subdued. "I wanted to talk about the attack in the city."

Curious, he raised his brow. "What is it?"

The Duchess: "It's a relief you were there at the time. It's not like I can't beat him but if I'm being honest, I would have a hard time battling that creature. That creature is no ordinary villain, even the Syur court took the matter seriously."

Acre: "So who is he? I heard his conversation with the emperor about gathering enough mana."

The Duchess: "Tsk, that wimp was putting Diana's life in danger. The power source of the empire is the mana inside the Gertrud Bloodline, drawing it was equivalent to pulling her soul out. Although we, a distant relative of the empress still carry some mana, it's scant but they won't miss a single drop."

Acre: "What does he want with the mana?"

She frowned, "Apparently, he's involved in an evil organization, a threat not only to this planet but to the universe. The immortals in the Syur court did some investigation and they found out that the organization is spreading their army across galaxies to absorb power from powerful beings. I'm telling you this because we need your help."

Acre sighed, "I'll do whatever I can, but there are other immortals that can help, especially those who are older than me."

The Duchess stirred her tea. "I don't the full detail of what happened between you and the Syur court, but I'm sure that one day they'll summon you for your aid."

"Please enjoy." The chef presented a plate full of seafood in front of Levinte. His eyes sparkled and the delicious aroma made him salivate.

"Thank you for the food," He smiled at the chef. Before digging in, he uttered a standard phrase. Just looking at the giant lobster and king crab almost made him tear up in happiness.

At first, he felt bad for ordering a plate of seafood boil, but since he was free to order anything, this was his only chance to do it.

Delicious and fresh! He savored every bite, appreciating each flavor he tasted. Resembling a child who was eating his favorite dish, the chef was touched by Levinte's honest reaction. The moment was pinned on his heart, finally, someone who showed how much they relished his cooking.

With a cute smile, the chef stood in a corner where he wouldn't interrupt Levinte's view. His fellow friends who contributed to the cooking stood by his side, admiring their work of art.

The ambiance in the kitchen was relaxed and friendly, with every individual feeling content. While in the other room, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense during the discussion.

Acre knitted his brow, his patience running low. "I'll keep my mind on this matter but I have other things to prioritize."

The Duchess clicked her tongue in displeasure. "This matter is very important. I understand your personal life but you're acting as if this can be put on your third list of important things. In my opinion, this should be put on the first list."

She was irritated because Acre did not take her words seriously as she had expected him to. Acre sighed and kneaded his temple, his straight face staring at her with unknown intention.

"I'll think about it, but instead of focusing on me because she's my sister, the Syur court should focus on protecting the earth." He put down the tea on the table and got up. "I'm in a rush. I hope you have a nice day." He saluted and walked away.

He halted before crossing the threshold and turned his head. "Tell them that there's no need to apologize for the past. It'll only bring bad memories."

After wholeheartedly eating, Levinte could feel the sleepiness slowly kicking in. His eyelids were becoming droopy. When the chef saw Levinte's big yawn, he knew he had succeeded to make him full.

They quickly moved him to a comfortable couch to rest. Levinte gave many thanks for their amiable treatment.

As soon as he closed his eyes, the feeling of comfort flowed in him. The soft pillows and the room temperature were perfect for a good nap.

Suddenly, he was back in the kitchen, this time the chefs were cooking at a fast pace. It was like they were in a hurry to finish things up. The maids operated swiftly, decorating the dining table nicely as if expecting a VIP.

Was this another dream? To confirm, Levinte slowly walked past the maids and toward the kitchen. No one stopped him or noticed him.

Minutes passed and everything was set up. The dishes were ready on the table and the maids were lined up. Then, the door creaked as it opened, revealing the head of the household, who was none other than Grand Duchess Selene.

She sat down and looked at the food for a few seconds, then glared at the head chef who lowered his head. Rolling her eyes, she began to eat with no traces of emotion.

Levinte who sat across her frowned at her reaction. If he was given such a superb dish, he would have praised the chefs and eaten in euphoria.

The nice chef peeked at her, but seeing her unimpressed expression made him sad. He looked so downcast Levinte had great sympathy for him.

Just as Levinte was about to grab the food nearest to him, his consciousness was pulled back to the real world.

"Wakey wakey," Acre's voice came within his earshot as he felt someone patting his shoulder. "We're leaving."

Levinte's eyes snapped open, staring widely at him.

Everything made sense now. He finally figured out why he was able to dream of other people's memory. The trigger was standing before him.