Home / Fantasy / Road to Valhalla / Chapter 45: Shadows That Haunt
Chapter 45: Shadows That Haunt
Author: Yuri
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

"How do you believe in someone?"

Believe it or not, I have never been able to put my trust in anyone my whole life. I simply couldn't confide, no matter how hard I tried. Something in me just made me think no one cared enough to be told anything. I've always thought that people were hiding their true faces. All those people, so terrifyingly capable, they all seemed to be putting on faces, sometimes they weren't aware themselves. But I can almost always see the extraneous layer on people. Its tough but also very thin and transparent. I can almost always see through people.

Almost.

I wouldn't have used that word three months ago, before I met Lady.

****************

Felix and I stood frozen faced by a three headed wolf that growled and drooled, blocking our way forward. It wouldn't have been a big deal if it wasn't emitting that dark aura that covered the ground like mist and danced like a flame all around us.

"Cerberu
Continue to read this book on the App

Related Chapters

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 46: Cassius:Felix

    Almost.I wouldn't have used that word three months ago, before I met Lady.It is a terrifying thing for me but Lady has more than one layer. And though I can see through those layers at times, it is utterly incomprehensible inside. Whatever she is at the core and whatever she is thinking still eludes me. I do suppose it's better to not find some things out, though I'm quite sure that at the end of everything I would eventually learn the truth."I know what you are thinking".That is something I want to tell people. I wish I could say the same to Lady too. I can't, perhaps I'm still far too afraid to let people see through my layers.I'm no different. ****************I could hear the havoc the shadows were wreaking above us. And as we descended down those stairs, I knew everything was coming to an end. This wasn't the first time I was stepping down those stony stairs, I knew what awaited below. I could clearly forese

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 47: Seraph vs Felix

    "And in my dear Ruman!", the old woman raised her hands wide and stood up from her wooden chair which toppled to the ground. Her eyes were seeing some grandeur of Ruman and that of Wallachia, that she had sordidly imagined out of spite for those that ruled her land. Indeed, they were the vilest creatures to her.I found myself seated in her warm little hut with a cup of steaming water placed on the table in front of me. It was supposed to be tea. I looked between her and the cup of tea. She went back towards her kitchen silently, apparently having finished her story and I finally realized where I was at the moment.I took the cup in both of my hands and snuggled it close to my face, feeling the rising vapor from it. I brought it closer to my lips, intending to take a sip when she turned around and addressed me. I looked at her without drinking the tea."When I was a young girl, my father hid me in that trunk over there for 10 days. I could barely keep my head intact in there. It was

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 48: Open My Eyes

    I suddenly opened my eyes as if waking up from a nightmare. I stood surrounded by a hoard of Cerberus shadows between me and Felix who stood at some distance, blankly looking my way. I looked to my side where Deli was still crucified. She wasn't moving at all anymore, though I'm sure she hadn't quit breathing yet.I grasped Ebony tightly and knowing these shadows were no big deal, I launched straight at Felix, easily cutting through all the shadows. It didn't take me long to understand that Felix was just testing the waters. These shadows were weaker than the ones before and I knew he was just trying to conserve his magic.Still, it was no time to be lagging around, I spared no moments before I headed for Felix. I wasn't going easy on him. My entire focus was solely on the move I was making. I could hear the muscles in my body stretching, breaking and exerting with all my strength as I launched back to back attacks against Felix. He remained on the defense and dodged all my attacks.

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 49: A Peaceful Place

    "Seraph!""...Who?""What are you doing?! Oi! Wake up! Seraph!"I wondered who Seraph was as I kept sinking into my darkness. It was really dense but really warm and I couldn't help myself from sinking deeper and deeper into the unknown. Seraph. That name sure had a nice ring to it. But what was it...? I couldn't remember at all. But then when I got down to thinking about my own name, I couldn't remember that either. And that was concerning. I was supposed to have a name...right? I should know it and yet, I couldn't tell you anything at all about myself. Who was I? What was I? What was making me so relieved right now? Why was I so satisfied? And yet, what was this painful sorrow lingering around me, barely avoiding touching me?I opened my eyes as I sank in that ocean of darkness. I wanted to know where that sorrow was coming from. But all I could see was a pair of eyes looking back at me. Crimson red eyes with an endless depth staring right into my soul. I wanted to reach out to tho

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 50: My Only Friend

    Blood spilled on the ground beneath his feet as he stumbled and back away. I let go of Ebony which was still inserted into his chest. He kept looking at me with disbelief. I didn't look straight at him, something in me couldn't face him. He began coughing blood, I suppose his heart had either burst or stopped working."Seraph...", he forced his voice out, "How could you?"I couldn't yet look at his face, I didn't even turn to face him. I pursed my lips and looked up straight to find Chopper's eyes staring straight at me. I think he was urging me to turn around and face the man I had stabbed in the heart. I then looked towards Deli who was confusedly looking between me and Felix. "Seraph", I think Felix extended his hand towards me as he fell to the ground. He had begun to struggle breathing. I clenched my fist and quickly hurried over to his side finally."I told you...to...", he couldn't finish as he began coughing more blood.For some reason, the fact that he was ending made me fe

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 51: Final Trial

    I lost Lady again in all the storm that they were brewing."Why is Lady here?", I asked Chopper."The same reason all of us are here", Chopper looked at me, "You've done good with Ebony, Seraph. But even at your level, you can't beat that guy no matter how hard you try. In fact, even I couldn't take him if I was at my best. The truth is, right now the only one that can take him down is Lady.""Lady...?", it was certainly hard to believe, "Are you sure though?""Who are you doubting, idiot?"I simply couldn't imagine that Lady would be able to best that opponent. "Who is she fighting?", I asked."Lord Magnus", Deli spoke, "Chopper's right. I couldn't handle him either. Only Lady can do it now. And that's because he's immortal.""Immortal...? Then Lady...she can't take care of him on her own, not at her age. Shouldn't we-""The hell are you talking about? What do you mean 'at her age'? This is barely her prime. You just see. She's got something that can definitely save us all", Chopper

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 52: The Winners' Loss

    Deli looked like she was out of blood, her silver hair turned even lighter but her eyes were on fire. Lady was somewhere in that dust storm fighting her greatest enemy and I figured Deli was itching to join her soon.We started our assault on the mutant as strongly as we could. Sight put a barrier on him to muffle his sound and also on our ears to muffle out his magic. Instead of taking different sides, we decided to go head on. First, I cut through the sound wave and Deli then went in for the attack.We were successful at the time as Deli slashed the guy and ripped him in all sorts of ways possible. Her monstrous strength alone was enough to pummel that guy's face that tried to surface and so once she had caught him, he was done for. "Get back, Seraph!", just when we thought we had got him, Chopper called out and both Deli and I quickly retreated. The two of us made it to a safe distance but nothing happened."Chopper-san?", I wondered what had happened to him.Before he could answ

  • Road to Valhalla   Chapter 53: Superiority

    "Ma..."I was perplexed at the feeble sound that had still managed to echo in all our ears despite the insane storm brewing right behind us. Deli looked horrified and lost as she stood between the corpse of the mutant at her feet and the hurricane behind her."Chopper-san, what did it...?", I looked at him but he was focused solely on Deli right now. He had a concerned look on his face as if he knew a disaster was about to hit us. I looked back at Deli who looked like she had lost all her senses. She was a wounded beast and there was nothing more dangerous than that right now, neither for us nor for herself.I think Chopper took a step, heading towards her before something crashed close to us. We all looked at it. "Man...for real?!", Lady appeared from the crash site as the dust settled a bit. We were soon joined by her opponent.Deli looked sternly and wildly at him."Ah, so you've taken it down?", he spoke in the most intimidating voices you could possibly imagine, "It wasn't yet

Latest Chapter

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Final Chapter: A World Where They Are No Longer

    I would like to think to myself that this isn't the end. But seeing as her story went back to where it all started, I realized that my role wasn't saving her at all. I just made sure she'd continue to exist, eternally.In eternal suffering and forgetfulness and new encounters and the last times, in every world, she'll continue to exist.As for me, I couldn't bear to live in a world knowing she was somewhere out there, helpless and torn, just as she'd been when I first found her.When did I first find her?Who can say? I had always been talking about how I wished I'd met her sooner. In fact, I had always known her. Our existences were intertwined so much that I don't think either of us could just pull away and be happy all on our own without thinking of the other.After I'd returned Lady's power to her, I floated away in an empty space for an eternity. I was foolish enough to think that the sorrow would fade away one day. But no matter how long and far I floated away, the memory and th

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 211: The End is The Beginning

    It was the coldest I'd felt in ages, and there was an aching heaviness in my head that I simply couldn't seem to shake off no matter how much I walked. I don't know when, how, or why I was walking through the snow towards the top of some hill I didn't even know.For that matter, I didn't remember who I was, how I'd gotten there, or where I was going.And just like that, before I knew it, I had collapsed in a den of wolves. Luckily, it looked abandoned, so I didn't get eaten off right away. I figured it'd be a long, slow death. I found the idea of such a gentle death appealing, despite the fact that I was walking mindlessly just seconds ago.I must have passed out, for when I came to, I was stiff as a rock. And yet, I wasn't that cold anymore. I lifted my head to find myself covered in a bear pelt. Someone had been so kind as to cover me up. And yet, the pelt was rather old and shoddy. Who cared as long as it could keep me warm?I stood up, looking around, getting accustomed to my surr

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 210: Promise

    "I didn't imagine we'd ever come to a crossroads such as this", I let out a puff of smoke, standing opposite her."But, as a matter of fact, I always had a feeling we would", Lady answered with her signature smirk."Sure, you did", I said sarcastically.It was surprising at first. But things made sense soon enough. Lady had sent all of us away on a mission. She'd isolated herself at Valhalla. Chopper had left of his own accord. She'd sent Sight to look for him. Deli had gone to see her children. And she bid Lubbock and June farewell. She'd even given her fur coat to June. Grim was on a mission, too. And I was looking for Jean V. to deliver her letter.It was all exactly as it had been back then. When I'd return from meeting Jean V., Lady would already be beyond saving. Back then, all I knew was that the person who sent her that blank letter was the one who came to kill her. I never ventured to find out much else.It all made sense now as I stood be

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 209: No Bells Ring in Heaven

    "Must you leave without fulfilling my wish, Seraph?"He had some guts to ask. I looked up at the red sky. There was nothing but barren, burnt land all around us."What else could you ask for?", I looked back at him."You look so old, Seraph", he chuckled, "What exactly did you give the others?"I looked behind me without answering his question. There was no one and nothing."What? It's a long story", I answered without looking at him."We've got time to kill", he grinned."I don't", I said, but went on to answer him anyway, "I gave everyone what they wanted.""Really?"I glared at him, "Yes, really, Grim. I took a fee, of course."He laughed."And what will you take from me?", he asked, grinning.I looked around and then rested my eyes on him."There's really nothing."He seemed to agree."So how'd you manage?""Well, Grim, you could almost call it travelling back through time. Though, it really isn't that. I split the worlds to create new ones. Time doesn't exist for me anymore. Ever

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 208: A Wonderful World

    "I will take death in any way and form it comes to me, anywhere and anytime."That had to be the most brazen statement I'd heard. It took me a bit to take that statement in."You really have no special requests? If I can, I'd like to make it up to you", I sat down and stared at his bloodied face.He shook his head."Make up for what?", he asked.He didn't know me yet to call me "boy" but I suppose that's the way it had to be.I had become better at rewriting the reality. I could write quite far back in certain cases. For example, in Sight's case, I made it so he never met Lady and Chopper on the night he killed the prima donna, Czarna Dalia.Before meeting them he didn't know anything about what he'd been doing. He didn't know what an outcast was, even though he himself was an outcast. Ignorance is indeed the greatest of all blisses. And I thought for Sight, it had to be the biggest saving.Lady was right. People who see things differently are the most dangerous of all. Especially tho

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 207: A World You Deserve

    "This isn't what I asked for, Seraph", she complained, fixing her glasses on her tiny nose."I don't get what the hell it is that you want exactly, June", I was beginning to get tired."You don't understand at all", she folded her arms."You're damn right, I don't. What kind of crazy a-""One thing.", she looked at me sternly, "One thing I'm asking for is a place to be happy. Not a mother, not a wife, not a hero, not any of the other things you're trying to come up with.""What'll make you happy, exactly?", I folded my arms and leaned against the wall of Valhalla.Everyone else was off to fend the red sky off. June had been left behind in a protective barrier.She fell silent."How about Lady? Isn't she your favorite?""I could care less about her", she answered, bluntly, "I hate her.""Huh?", I wasn't sure I'd her heard her right."She does everything on a whim. She claims to understand everything when rea

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 206: The Greatest Ordinary Man

    "They are waiting for you, Monsieur Lubbock", a dark woman poked her head into the dressing room, "It's almost time for the show."The bajillion young ladies that were powdering his nose scattered away.His face was pink with heat and he wore a long fancy coat. It almost looked odd on his somewhat small figure."I'll be right there", he answered, gussying up in the mirror."Aww, you're leaving already, Monsieur?", some of the girls came up to him.He chuckled modestly."What can I say? The life of the greatest singer in the world isn't so relaxing, my dears.""You might be the greatest singer, but Monsieur is also the life of all women's hearts", one of the cheekier ones commented.Lubbock laughed. He didn't try to hide how much he loved being pampered like this."I'm sorry, girls. My audience awaits!"Saying so, he shot out of the room and hurried towards the stage. Backstage was always heated just before his shows. He was the one star that every theater wanted to have. But he was a

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 205: The Stars in Her Eyes Still Shine

    "Do you blame me for mother's death, father?", she asked, placing the empty cup of tea on the little side table.Her father wasn't facing her. He was still locked up in his study, reclining on his chair and looking out of the window at some distance lands.She sat straight, with her back erect. The weight of her gown was enough to tire her but she was made up, as befitting of a noble. She had to look all the more perfect since she was visiting her home for the first time since her marriage."Blame you?", the lord of the house spoke in his grave voice after a while, "I simply don't think you were worth her death. Esme was a wise woman. A level headed, understanding, noble woman."Faye looked at her lap."You refuse to carry out the will of the house of Vlad. You'll go as far as to commit a heinous crime to that end. I'm disappointed beyond measure."Faye pursed her lips. No one but she herself had been hurt the most by what she'd done."Vlad was born to you twice. And yet, you ungratef

  • Road to Valhalla   

    Chapter 204: A Nice Dream For Grey Eyes

    "Tell you what, Seraph, this one time, I met a girl and she had these enormous scars all over her arms and legs. I couldn't help noticing her, of course. When she told me she did it herself, I couldn't help it. I killed her then and there", he chuckled to himself, "I didn't want to do it, of course. Something just came over me. It wasn't that she told me she did it herself. It was how she said it. She was smiling.""I'm sure she wasn't smiling because she was happy", I answered, with a solemn look on my face."I'm sure of that too. I was sure of it back then too. That's probably why I killed her. But do you know how many people I've saved?"He looked at my face. I stayed silent."I've saved more people than I've killed. I've been counting since the beginning. I know, for sure, that my atonement is over. At least, it ought to be. But does it look like I'm still repenting?", he asked, smiling vaguely, knowing my answer."You do.""That's because I am. No matter how many I save...the ato