Chapter 83

Lennix had finished his cry, letting all those emotions he had built up out. "Do you feel better now, Master Lennix?" asked Clarissa in her usual emotionless tone. "Yup, thank you, Clarissa," Lennix replied, as Clarissa curtly added, "I just secured my job, Master Lennix, nothing more."

As they exchanged these words, the sound of the black knight approaching reached them, prompting both Lennix and Clarissa to turn and face him. "Soo, do you hate me?" asked the black knight, awkwardly standing there. Lennix let out a sigh before responding, "No, I don't hate you. You're just doing your job, and besides, it's not like I have any right to hate you. I wanted to do the same anyway."

The black knight released a sigh of relief, saying, "Thank goddess. This makes my job way easier." Lennix, raising an eyebrow, questioned, "What do you mean?" The black knight shot him a look, as if questioning his memory. "Did you forget already? Your sister told me to protect you!" he exclaimed, prompting Lennix to take a step back. 

"Oh yeah, sorry. I was just out of it back then. Orien Fox, her master that she never told me about, he's after me." Lennix sighed, rubbing his arm. "Damn it, I was hoping you would have some info about that guy. Well, whatever, let's go," the black knight declared, grabbing Lennix's arm and starting to walk, much to Lennix's surprise.

"Wait just a sec!" Lennix protested, pulling his arm free. "At least tell me where we're going, would you?" The black knight turned to face him, explaining, "We're going to my covenant. We can protect you best there, and besides, you still have to be punished." Lennix looked shocked, asking, "Punished? For what?" The black knight clarified, "While you may not be a murderer, you still assaulted a lot of people. So, you still have to face judgment."

Lennix facepalmed, muttering, "Damn me and my addiction!" He regretted all the fights he constantly got into, though a part of him insisted, *it was still worth it.* The black knight seized his arm again, urging, "Now let's go. We shouldn't stick around here for long. Some people want you dead for being Eirisse's brother." As he began to pull Lennix along, he was abruptly stopped when Lennix refused to budge.

Annoyed, the black knight turned to him again, asking, "What is it... now?" He slowed down as he noticed Clarissa grabbing Lennix's other arm. In her usual emotionless tone, Clarissa warned, her voice more eerie and threatening than any natural voice could ever be, "He can walk himself, so unless you want your hand removed, I suggest you let him go." 

"Yes, ma'am!" the black knight quickly responded, releasing Lennix's arm. Despite being mostly unharmed and Clarissa being severely injured, an unspoken tension lingered, and the black knight appeared, for lack of a better word, scared of her.

"Thank you, Clarissa, but aren't you doing the same right now?" Lennix remarked, glancing at Clarissa's hand still firmly grasping his arm. "I'm your maid, Master Lennix. I'm permitted to do such things, unlike him," Clarissa explained matter-of-factly. She then turned to the black knight and stated, "If you're taking Master Lennix to your covenant, then you're taking me along as well."

The black knight scratched his helmet, uncertain. "Sorry, but we can't really let even more outsiders into the covenant. So you can't come," he explained. Clarissa looked at him and tilted her head, asking, "Did I ask you?" The black knight, confused, replied, "Yes? You just asked for me to bring you along."

Lennix smirked as he knew what was coming. "Mr. Black Knight, I didn't ask for your permission to allow me to come with you. I'm telling you that you're taking me along as well," Clarissa stated firmly, leaving the black knight flabbergasted.

"Sorry, mate, but you're going to have to bring her along; she can't be without me," Lennix jokingly insisted, and Clarissa turned to him, stating, "It's the other way around, Master Lennix. Without me, you will most likely meet your end due to your own incompetence." Lennix felt a metaphorical arrow pierce his undead heart as Clarissa delivered the blunt truth.

"Besides, you still need to drink blood, Master Lennix, and I don't trust him or his covenant," Clarissa pointed at the black knight, "to provide you with proper quality blood. So I have to stay with you, ensuring you drink mine." Lennix looked surprised, asking, "You want me to drink your blood?" Clarissa clarified, "No, Master Lennix, I don't want you to drink my blood. However, it's the best way to ensure you remain healthy."

She then turned to the flabbergasted black knight. "Let us leave, Mr. Black Knight. I'm sure we have a far distance to travel," Clarissa said, prompting the black knight to shake himself out of his stupor. "Sure, I guess I don't really have a choice in the matter," he conceded. Clarissa simply replied, "You don't." The black knight shrugged and walked back to Karin, picking her up. "We're leaving. Remember, I won't hesitate to cut you down if you try to escape."

Karin squirmed uncomfortably before expressing, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's just go. Being bound in rope isn't exactly comfortable." The black knight shot her a glare as Lennix and Clarissa approached. "Handle her for a bit while I get Mari," the black knight instructed, handing Karin over to Clarissa.

"Woah, Mari's coming with us?" Lennix questioned in surprise as the black knight walked past him. "Yup, just watch her while I bring her," the black knight replied, leaving Clarissa to look at Karin and dryly remark, "Looks like you're back in my care." Karin let out a few nervous chuckles, cursing her luck at being entrusted to Clarissa once again. *Why her of all people!*

The black knight approached Mari, who stood close to Zee, holding her hand. Zee and Xain were engaged in conversation nearby, while Larkin spoke to Victoria about something the black knight had no interest in. Ignoring the ongoing discussion, he walked up to Mari and said, "It's time to leave, Mari."

Both Zee and Mari turned their attention to him. Mari looked up, sounding hesitant as she asked, "Right now?" The black knight nodded in confirmation. Zee knelt down to Mari's level, her voice gentle as she asked, "What is it, Mari? Is there something you want to do?" Mari nodded and expressed, "I want to talk to someone."

Curiosity piqued, Zee asked, "Who?" Without uttering a word, Mari glanced at the person she intended to talk to. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she began walking slowly toward that person. As she approached, the person noticed her, their gaze alone instilling fear in her. Despite the apprehension, Mari continued walking until she stood in front of him. Ercale, annoyed, asked, "What do you want?"