Eternal Undying Chronicles

Carrisa watched the bustling cityscape blur past through the tinted window of the luxury sedan. She held her phone in one hand, scrolling through the message she had just received from Elizalina Crimson. Alicarde had apparently left the city, traveling with the witch, Malefica. He had left his car with Elizalina and instructed her to inform Carrisa of his departure.

Carrisa exhaled sharply, her ruby-red lips forming a slight frown.

"At the very least, he could have had the courtesy to inform me personally, especially when traveling with another woman,"

She pushed back a strand of her raven-black hair, her fingers brushing against her flawless skin.

"I assure you, Amena, this has nothing to do with jealousy," she added, her voice calm but firm.

"And, before you speak, yes, I can sense your expression from all the way over here."

Amena, who was focused on driving, maintained her stoic demeanor but couldn't help responding.

"I never suggested otherwise, my lady. However, I do find it rather implausible that you could discern my expression without so much as glancing in my direction."

Carrisa leaned back in her seat, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly.

"That is irrelevant now. It seems Alicarde has decided to leave the city… as you are well aware, given that you've been tracking his location in real time."

Her tone was unchanging, her words deliberate. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Amena remained silent, her hands steady on the wheel as they neared their destination. The city lights reflected on the sleek black exterior of the car as they drove through the posh district, heading toward a luxurious building.

As Carrisa's thoughts drifted, they inevitably returned to Alicarde. His rapid growth in power was remarkable. From an ordinary human with no extraordinary lineage, he had awakened his truename and even partially unlocked its second part.

'He has grown powerful in such a short time…' she mused, her expression remaining neutral.

The memory of his confrontation with the Espers surfaced. Alicarde had defeated them handily, although the time reversal ability of Chrona had undone their deaths. Even so, he had killed them multiple times before the timeline shifted. The sheer determination and adaptability he displayed in combat were undeniable.

'By the time we challenge the demiplanes, he will be even stronger,' she thought, a faint smile playing at her lips. Whether she should be concerned or proud of his rapid ascent remained unclear.

The car slowed as they arrived at their destination, a towering building exuding wealth and refinement. Amena stepped out first, her movements precise, and walked to the door, knocking firmly. Within moments, the door swung open, revealing a young man with dark skin. Standing beside him was a girl with soft brown hair, her demeanor reserved.

"Welcome," the young man, Caden, said nervously, his voice betraying a lack of confidence.

The girl glanced at him, exhaling softly.

"Forgive him. He's a bit on edge. Please, come in."

Amena inclined her head and stepped aside to allow Carrisa to take the lead. Carrisa entered the residence with poise, her every movement measured and deliberate. Amena followed closely behind, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.

The residence was spacious, with luxurious furnishings and tasteful decor. Yet, Carrisa's attention lingered on none of it. She rarely concerned herself with such details. The only reason she had acquired this particular property was to exert control over Alicarde. Initially, her involvement in real estate had been entirely strategic—buying out his apartment building to ensure he had no choice but to stay with her.

That single act had spiraled into purchasing an entire real estate company, followed by several others, simply to guarantee her influence extended to any residence he might attempt to procure. For good measure, she had acquired a prominent hotel chain, using its clout to blacklist him from alternative accommodations.

Carrisa allowed herself a fleeting smile at the memory of those early days. Alicarde, stubborn as he was, had begrudgingly played along. Of course, she doubted he even cared about such trivial matters now.

The Espers led her into a grand living room, its expansive layout centered around a plush seating area. Carrisa seated herself gracefully on the largest sofa, her posture regal. Refreshments were brought over, but she ignored them, maintaining her aloof demeanor.

A thin, enigmatic smile graced her face, one that often unsettled those unaccustomed to her presence.

Around her, the Espers began to gather. Five of them took their places in the living room, though some lingered by a small bar at the far end of the room. Their unease was palpable, though they tried to mask it with polite expressions.

Carrisa's piercing gaze swept over them, and her smile widened ever so slightly.

"Now then," she began, her voice smooth and commanding. "Shall we begin?"

Carrisa cast a measured glance at Amena, her intentions clear without a word. The maid, ever attentive, retrieved a folded sheet of paper from her uniform with a fluid motion and stepped forward to hand it to Caden.

"These are the terms of your employment," Amena stated with her usual poise.

Caden accepted the document, his expression tense. He read the contents carefully before passing it to John, the middle-aged man seated nearby. John inspected it thoroughly, then shared it with the others. One by one, each of the espers examined the terms, exchanging uncertain looks.

"This seems too good to be true," Caden muttered, narrowing his eyes. "What's the catch?"

Carrisa exhaled softly, a trace of impatience coloring her otherwise composed demeanor.

"We have already discussed this, have we not? I suggest you accept the terms without further delay, so we may proceed to more pressing matters. My time is not yours to waste."

Caden's hand curled into a fist, his frustration evident, but Christina, seated beside him, placed her hand over his. Her warm smile softened his expression as she took the pact and handed it back to him.

"We're in this together," she murmured.

Caden's features relaxed, and he nodded resolutely. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a fruit knife from a distant counter using telekinesis. Catching it deftly, he made a shallow cut on his palm and let his blood drip onto the paper. The parchment absorbed the blood instantly, glowing faintly as the pact solidified.

Carrisa's lips curved into a faint, satisfied smile.

"Excellent. From this day forward, you are under the protection of Carrisa Evernight. Provided you remain loyal and abstain from betrayal, I will fulfill my obligations under the agreement."

Caden inclined his head. "Understood, Princess."

Christina's calm demeanor shifted slightly as her eyes sharpened. She fixed Carrisa with a piercing look.

"You haven't forgotten, have you? You promised to help Caden break his previous agreement."

Carrisa met Christina's gaze evenly, her tone unwavering.

"I remember, and I assure you, I intend to resolve that matter personally. The individual responsible will be dealt with."

Amena stepped forward, producing an artifact from her belongings. The cube-like object shimmered faintly in her hands, its intricate runes radiating a subtle energy.

"What is that?" Christina asked, her curiosity evident.

Amena's tone remained level, though her eyes glinted with cold detachment.

"This is a Dummy Cube, a relic from the era of the great mage Callum. He created it to counteract and nullify magical pacts after being deceived by the demon Everangel. Despite its brilliance, Callum's ingenuity failed him, and the cube's secrets fell into chaos when Everangel made its existence public."

The room fell silent as the espers processed her words, their initial skepticism giving way to intrigue.

"This cube," Amena continued, "is not something you will encounter in the mundane world. By placing your blood upon it, we can trace the original pact's magic—or even locate the individual who forged it."

Caden exchanged a meaningful look with John. The older man scoffed, leaning back in his seat.

"So, you're telling us this is a glorified tracking device. Must be some dangerous guy if you need this kind of tool to find him."

Carrisa's expression didn't waver, though her voice held a faint edge of amusement.

"The alchemist is skilled at staying hidden. As for his motives, they are irrelevant. What matters is that we will find him."

"And if he's heavily guarded?" Caden asked, his wariness evident. "For all we know, he could be holed up in a bunker with a hundred men."

Amena placed the cube on the table with deliberate precision.

"We do not require an army to deal with alchemists. Strategy and precision are all that's necessary."

Christina's brows furrowed as she processed Amena's words.

"Wait… are you saying you have an army?"

Carrisa's smile offered no answers, but her silence was enough to unnerve the room.

Without hesitation, Amena took Caden's hand and pressed it to the cube. A burst of light filled the room, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass as the original pact dissolved. The cube glowed brightly, projecting an image of Evergreen City with a glowing compass marking their target.

Amena's tone was firm and commanding. "We have our destination. Prepare yourselves."