2024-01-21 21:31:33
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Dead Soul Exorcist 10 | Form of Revenge
That evening, like countless others, the Nyxshade family Manor stood deserted and desolate. Contrary to the circulating rumors, the Nyxshade Manor had been left abandoned after their legitimate heirs were ousted, and their titles unrecognized by the Valorthorn kingdom. Now, Kieran returned to that home with a heart deeply wounded. Thick carpets, antique paintings, chandeliers of gold and diamonds, grand vases crafted by Varidianth's finest artisans, weapons—all of it had vanished, looted by thieves and smugglers. But that was only the surface of the lost treasures.Kieran walked calmly on the dusty marble floor. His mind echoed with memories of a time when servants would clean the manor, exchanging jokes and gossip, always taking a moment to inquire if Kieran needed anything.However, in every pleasant moment, it only served to remind him of the time when Kieran, along with the few remaining residents, toiled all day burying the entire population that succumbed to the plague. Later, t
Dead Soul Exorcist 11 | Overcast Skies in Rainvale
Five years ago."Kieran, strengthen your legs," his father's reprimand made Kieran tremble. The man kicked Kieran's ankles several times to demonstrate how weak Kieran's stance was.Kieran dropped his sword onto the concrete floor. "Ah, I don't know! I don't want to practice anymore. Sword lessons are foolish!" He shouted in frustration. "We're not backward Valorthorn citizens! We don't need sword training or anything—"Before Kieran could finish speaking, his father's hand had already slapped his face so hard that Kieran nearly stumbled."Pa!" Kieran protested, but his father just looked at him with profound disappointment, and that gaze alone felt far more painful than the slap Kieran had just received."You shouldn't complain, Kieran! You are the sole heir of the Nyxshade family! Two swords are in our family crest. You're not a Nyxshade if you're not skilled with a sword!" his father scolded. "And one more thing, the Nyxshade family doesn't demean others!"Kieran swallowed hard, mo
Dead Soul Exorcist 12 | Invitation
Night arrives swiftly in the city of Rainvale. The overcast sky never seems to fade, so by evening, the entire town is draped in darkness. House and building lights flicker to life one by one, their colorful glow reflecting in puddles on the asphalt streets. From the small window where Kieran stayed, the view resembled a beautiful oil painting.Kieran dons his long coat, then briefly checks himself in the mirror to ensure his appearance is in order. His attire looks neat, his hair recently combed; overall, he appears quite handsome.Wait a moment. Why is he paying attention to his appearance like this? It's not because he's going to meet that peculiar postgirl, right? Annoyed, Kieran tousles his hair with his hand. Who said he's excited to meet that girl? He's just coming to inform them that he rejects their offer to join the guild. Nothing more.While putting on his shoes, Kieran glanced at Lunabelle sitting on the sofa, enjoying biscuits with a glass of milk and listening to a talk
Dead Soul Exorcist 13 | Disillusionment
Kieran pressed his lips together, ensuring his facial expression appeared nonchalant. But seriously, what's the deal?! He never intended to accept that invitation from the start. Yet, why did he feel so disappointed as Serena stood before him now, canceling the invitation with a cold demeanor?"Oh, is that so?" Arlo muttered disappointedly, preempting everyone. The boy still held Kieran's hand, gazing at him for a while. "But he is really good at eradicating dead souls... I'm sure he could be a great member.""Arlo," Serena stared at Arlo sharply, to the point that Kieran felt sorry for her. Without warning, Serena pulled Arlo into the house, the action so abrupt that it left Kieran blinking in surprise. "You don't understand the meaning of a fugitive, do you? He is dangerous!""Well, at least I'm not entertaining strange little girls and hurting little boys on the same day, am I?" Kieran retorted coldly. He pulled out the letter Serena had left for him earlier. Even the paper remained
Dead Soul Exorcist 14 | Final Farewell
As Dravon descended from the horse-drawn carriage and set foot on the porte-cochère of the Silverlake residence, the wind blew so strongly, tossing his hair and palace cloak. However, unexpectedly, the Silverlake residence appeared grand and luxurious, resembling a palace. With tall and large buildings adorned with beautiful architecture and genuine gold embellishments on the walls and ceilings. Not to mention two statues of women holding a bouquet of flowers used to welcome guests on the terrace. Dravon realized every inch was made of gold, diamonds, and various rare gemstones. Compared to the Silverlake family's residence, the Lotus Palace was truly nothing."I fail to understand why Princess Silvanna left everything she had in Valorus for the city of Umbravale," Dravon muttered as William joined him. "I fail to understand why she endured being the Crown Princess when my brother didn't treat her well. With wealth and status of this magnitude, she could have married a Crown Prince fr
Dead Soul Exorcist 15 | Unexpected Truce
One year ago.The birthday celebration of the Crown Princess of Varidianth was always grand. The party took place in the heart of Varidianth, the dazzling city of Remirer. It invited nobles from all corners of Varidianth and extended invitations to Princes and Princesses from neighboring realms. It was a well-known secret that Princess Seraphina enjoyed extravagance and revelry.Usually, the party was a joyful affair, featuring performances by the world's most famous bands, delicious foods, dance floors with disco lights and DJ games, and even some alcohol-infused beverages.But that night, Kieran attended the party with a somber demeanor. Surprisingly, it caught the attention of almost-drunk Princess Seraphina. The girl suddenly sat on Kieran's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her black hair smelled like blueberries, Kieran's favorite scent."You know, Nyxshade," Princess Seraphina whispered in his ear. "I want to leave this place. With you."Kieran tried to ignore the gazes o
Dead Soul Exorcist 16 | Esoteric Command
The night before.The lights in Lord Grand Duke Elios' working chamber were seldom lit, but since the arrival of Miss Silvanna's coffin, they consistently glowed. Lord Grand Duke Elios returned home and never ventured out of that working chamber again.As a servant with six years of tenure at Silverlake House, Lana found herself not truly acquainted with Grand Duke Elios, unlike her fellow servants accustomed to Elios's eccentric work habits. Lana, however, is entirely unaccustomed. She yearned to be the one who serving tea and meals to Mr. Grand Duke Elios, offering blankets, and gently reminding him to rest. Unfortunately, those opportunities remained elusive, as her duties were confined to the task of dusting the walls.Lana understood that her thoughts about The Grand Duke should be restrained, yet observing his conflicts with his parents over the funeral arrangements, she couldn't help but feel a sense of compassion. Particularly when the Duke's own parents, Lana's superiors, orch
Dead Soul Exorcist 17 | Deception in the Game
On the cold and rugged stone floor of the prince's bath chamber, Dravon sat with both knees drawn to his chest. His hands held an open book, reading it while muttering the incantations inscribed within. Each spell had its own recitation rules for success. The incantations in this book were meant to be spoken softly and swiftly, yet Dravon recited them with a normal tone and an unusually slow pace, merely attempting to memorize them.Suddenly, the door of his bath chamber swung open. Dravon squinted as the light from his room flooded the bathroom, obscuring the newcomer's face. However, Dravon couldn't mistake the tall and composed figure, a blend that made them appear enchanting and unapproachable."Will. Maybe we should set boundaries on when you're allowed to visit," Dravon remarked. "I'm genuinely uncomfortable right now.""I fail to understand why you're so upset," William Zephyr stepped into the bath chamber, sitting cross-legged in front of Dravon on the stone floor. "I heard yo
Latest Chapter
138 | Endings That Become Beginnings
"I decided to trust you, Dravon," Kieran replied. "But you betrayed my trust in you. Over and over again." He maintained his smile, as the tip of his sword was still in Dravon's grasp. He pushed his sword harder, but Dravon's defences were as hard as granite. The prince began to fight back, until the blade of Kieran's sword slipped out and pierced the bed. The Valorthorn prince immediately jumped out of bed. His diamond-hilted sword formed in his hand from millions of pieces of magic light. "Read my mind, Kieran," Dravon growled, almost pleading. "So that you may know what truly happened." Kieran's gaze dimmed. "I don't want to know," he refused. The next instant all the glass in the place shattered and struck Dravon. The Crown Prince immediately ducked, creating a protective wall of magic around his body. Dravon gritted his teeth as he got back to his feet. "Alright if that's what you want, we fight," he said. The man immediately swung his magic sword at Kieran. Both their swo
137 | Blinded by Vengeance
Kieran was woken up by a jolt on his shoulder. He opened his eyes, instantly overcome by a feeling of nausea. But when he realised that it was Julian who woke him up, he was shocked to death. Because Julian's clothes were soiled with blood and sweat. In his hand was a sword, which Kieran realised he had borrowed from a palace knight. Around them was only chaos. "I think they mixed something into my drink," Kieran said. "A lot of something and—" "That's not important," Julian interrupted. "Everly betrayed us. But somehow she didn't give me enough sleeping pills. So I woke up early, and saw a lot of dead souls out there. A lot of them. The phone rang, and I called Serena's father. It was just as bad there. There's a plague of dead souls that's attacking our entire kingdom." Each sentence pierced Kieran like a sword. He quickly got up from his chair and for a moment desperately fought off the dizziness and nausea. Even so, he immediately searched for Elios Silverlake's whereabouts, an
136 | The Fall of Chessboard
"It's weird seeing four revenants in one room," was the first thing the King of Varidianth, Elios Silverlake, said as they were all ushered into the Throne Room."Yeah, maybe not as weird as all of us seeing you suddenly become King, Elios," Jace replied kindly from the corner of the room. But everyone ignored him, especially Morana."We may look like immortal, rebellious seventeen-year-olds, but I hope you know that recently the number of revenants has increased due to the rise of The Malevolent Sorcerer-King. I hope it's not you," Morana said calmly.Elios immediately stood up from his throne chair, as if he was uncomfortable sitting there. The man approached all the prisoners, with a sad smile. "You don't look like a seventeen-year-old to me at all," Elios said. "But the fact that you're here, away from Zyronox, I think proves that you're in good hands. For a long time, Princess Morana."Morana gritted her teeth. "Don't think you know me just because you know my name," she exclaime
135 | Indecisive between Two Sides
In her entire life, Everly had never heard of the Black Tower. But from the bones scattered in the corner of the room, it was most likely the same place as the Red Tower in the northern area of Valorthorn that was reserved for the exile of traitors. The difference, though, was that there were no alogojos and torture devices waiting here. There was only darkness and emptiness, which was actually another form of torture."So..." Everly tried not to glance over as her cousin, Oliver, inched closer while rubbing his hands together. "How have you been?"After the past six months of being exiled by their extended family simply because of the curse in her blood, the words 'How have you been?' really felt ambiguous. Nonetheless, Everly shrugged. "As you can see, Odd," she muttered. "I'm confined here with you on traitorous charges. And since that's the way it is, I try not to protest."Oliver laughed awkwardly, as if he thought she was trying to be funny. But she wasn't. There was nothing fun
134 | Fixing the Past
Dravon was right, that Kieran did not need mind-reading magic to know what had just happened. He could feel the coldness of William Zephyr's gaze on him, penetrating his skin. He could feel the emptiness that Dravon hid behind his casual demeanour. But it was the fact that Dravon came straight to him after his fight with William that bothered Kieran. It made him, inevitably, remember the past between the two of them in Umbravale."You think," Dravon muttered as he leaned against the magic wall. He casually removed his court robes and placed them on his lap. Kieran had never noticed it before. How graceful Dravon was. How he was more fit to be a prince than a king's son really was. How friendly and kind he was to his peers and the people who worked for him. "What will become of us. I mean, what fate awaits you and me."Kieran huffed. It was more because he felt cold than because he wanted to be cool. Dravon's magic fire was right behind his back but he couldn't feel
133 | End Everything
The two of them climbed more and more stairs, until they were on a fairly high floor in the Black Tower. The higher they got, the cleaner the rooms became. It was as if no one had dared to climb these stairs before.Until finally Will stopped at the highest floor, as the only room that had furniture in it. A canopied bed, a sofa set, a dresser and a closet.Dravon was not at all surprised, he simply lit a fire in the two lanterns that lay on top of the pair of nightstands in the bedroom, and sat down on his dusty, fragile bed. A centipede poked out of the hem of his blanket, but Dravon deliberately ignored it."So," Dravon asked cheerfully. "What did you want to talk to me about, Will?"Will moved closer to him. All his cool demeanour slowly crumbled, replaced with a fragility underneath. "We lost badly," he muttered. "But it's not too late. I know atop this tower we can still paint the final magic pattern. Or we can go home to Valorthorn, and def
132 | Black Tower
When the cloth covering their eyes was finally opened, only darkness and cold greeted them. A building, which Julian finally realized was the Black Tower. Although it seemed like this place wasn't as scary as Lord Swiftwind had told him about. Or perhaps, the wizards around him made Julian feel that way.After the presence of the knights enclosing them had long since faded, Dravon snapped his fingers, summoning blue magic flames that danced around them all, burning what Julian realized too late to be bones. The bones of those who were once trapped in this place."We are only three hours away from the palace," said William. His pale and handsome face looked beautiful against the blue firelight."Maybe only an hour," Dravon muttered as he looked at every burnt bone. Not at all bothered by the heat. So like it or not, Julian thinks about Jace. That those who have fire elemental magic cannot burn. "They deliberately chose a circuitous path to confuse us.""Now what do we want to do?" Oliv
131 | True Love
Arlo finds Lunabelle in her room. His foster sister was sitting on the bed, while Lana combed her hair. From Lana's chuckle and Lunabelle's annoyed voice, Arlo realized that his sister was discussing romantic matters with Lana. Also complaining about Arlo. Because they both remained silent when Arlo entered the room."Well," said Arlo cheerfully as he sat on the sofa with his legs propped up on one of the arms. "It seems like you two are doing fine while Varidianth is getting destroyed overtime."Lunabelle's pink eyebrows rose. "What's going on with Varidianth? The plague of dead souls?""Yeah, almost actually," Arlo answered. "But what I want to say is, Seraphina died." Lunabelle froze in shock. And Arlo proceeded cautiously."Seraphina was killed by Prince Vikrant. After that, we were forced to appoint Elios as king. So that's it. You are officially a royal princess again," he explained. Then added grimly. "Yet Elios sentenced Dravon and his fri
130 | Make Peace and Forgive
Previously, the Black Tower was just a bedtime story for Kieran. Different from prison, this place was used to lock up nobles who betrayed the kingdom. The location is unknown, and the place is very dark without the slightest source of light. It is said that every prisoner locked up there would rather die than stay there for the rest of their lives.Now, Kieran knew that it wasn't just a fairy tale.His eyes were covered by a black cloth while his hands were tied by another cloth. He, Julian, Serena, as well as Dravon, Oliver, William, Everly, and their servant whose name Kieran didn't know, were forced to sit in a horse-drawn carriage whose cabin was quite long. During the uncomfortable journey because the carriage kept shaking due to rocks or roots, they could hear the galloping of the horses of the knights accompanying them."It's really sad that now you and I are on the same train, heading to the Black Tower, Kieran," Dravon said sarcastically. Only the two of them understood how
