ll Who's he ll Chapter 9

"Melwyn Sardonyx?"

A pair of dark brows pulled together. Lyriel forced his mind to calm down. Melwyn Sardonyx. The name felt strange yet awfully familiar. Like he'd heard it somewhere. Or seen it? He tried muttering the words out, piecing them on the familiarity, cracking his brain. But everything just gave him an ache. He thought of giving up.

Finally, Lyriel realized he didn't have to. He'd now remembered where he heard it.

He fell speechless.

It was from the formers memory. Specifically it evolved around the surname than the actual name itself. Sardonyx. Powerful line of prestigious warlords and Sentinel generals throughout the history of Avarlan and Elyria's existence. Were people blessed with extraordinary abilities and abundant riches, rumors even had it that they were part founders of Avarlan's civilization. The home to all humans. Also, that they were granted, perhaps two provinces, to cater over.

How could he have forgotten. The original's father once honorably served under them before he tasked under the Elyrian alliance academy and vanished. Secondly, popularity— like other noble houses—every single soul in least Avarlan should know about them.

Lyriel gaped at the woman, inquisition taking over. If she was a Sardonyx? What then was she doing here, cause he was sure as hell this place wasn't province ruled. Even if it were, house Sardonyx weren't the rulers. Lyriel's head lightly tilted. That explains her guarded actions. Either she was sent after those beasts, or got tangled in an unpleasant situation that got her here.

Well, it wasn't his business. It would be stupid trying to manipulate her again when she could tell. Although it was tempting, the man resorted to enjoying her company while it lasted.

Meanwhile, the woman before him was closely examining his reaction. Melwyn accessed Lyriel. Lyriel's movement were languid as he gazed upon her, and for the first time Melwyn decided to allow her eyes roam over. He was light toned. A beautiful kind of pale. Well sculptured, every part of his body jarred with rippling muscles. The heavy proportion of his chest were as though chiseled from the hardest rocks. Those abs popped like they could lift a hundred boar at once. Silver hair strands hung like moon crown. And then his eyes. Silver and startling... Were the most dashing pair of sight Melwyn had ever come across. He was undeniable handsome.

And that means she had come across many handsome men. Including her brothers. But compared to this man over her, neither of them stand a chance.

Lyriel stood after few moments of silence. "Well, Lady Sardonyx, although it's been a pleasure discussing. The night's less pleasurable. We have to find something to eat, before we find something that eats us." The more time they wasted discussing, the more time hunting animals became a death chase. Much worse creatures were bound to be lurking around. Lyriel had failed to hunt earlier because of training.

To his surprise, Melwyn only placed a gentle smirk at him. " That shouldn't be an issue."

"How so?" Lyriel felt purple, there wasn't any catch on sight.

"Just relax, and take a seat. " She repeated, gesturing back to his sit. "Trust me."

He obeyed. She snapped her fingers. The corners of Lyriel's brows moved to raise in doubt when the most fascinating thing happened, a platter filled with food appearing on the slab ground close to him. He looked down, words stuck in his throat. Not only exotic, but various mouthwatering dishes filled the iron platter, ranging from small berries to roasted chicken.

A delicious aroma covered the air. The scent of broth and steamed honey. The sight made his mouth hunger and his stomach growled loudly it reached Melwyn's ears.

Shit. Lyriel glanced up, face flushed in embarrassment, as he met the lady's indifferent look. So much for not eating after training. The look of amazement in the Lyriel's face after Melwyn's direction was unhidden. As quick as heartbeat.

The scent was distracting, the food was mouthwatering, but Lyriel's curiosity was most of all. Lyriel was baffled. His mouth opened and all he could say was just...

"This... how?" His eyes inclined as he stopped himself from stammering. His thought buzzed. Could this possibly be an ability?

Hell, because he wanted it.

"Just a trick I learnt growing up" As though something bland Melwyn glanced at the position of the white tiger. Feeling a slow movement as the silver tails pulsed softly.

As the aroma thickened, It didn't take long before the tail cocoon of a certain creature opened, furry tails swaying left and right. A black snout emerged from the comfort of his tails and then sniffed upon the air. Kar's whiskers twitched as he took in the delicious aroma that had just awoken his precious sleep. His stomach growling.

Its beady eyes peeled from its thin lids, pupils targeted until they found the food platter and instantly it's salivating! its appetite humongously grew!

UwU!

The beast's sounds reached every ears however, it was only the prestiged Sardonyx that turned. Purple orb followed its line of sight.

Melwyn said something. Lyriel's chest sank. "Kar, don't. We could share this equally, can't we?"

Both Lyriel and Kar shot each other exchanged looks. Lyriel's heart shivering at the notion of sharing food with Kar. The beast maybe small, but it definitely ate thrice it size. Lyriel panicked, hunger sweat forming. If he didn't act fast Kar would gobble everything up then plead with his eyes knowing fully well he would ignore it and sleep hungry.

At once, both master and pet lunged for the platter. Neither cared to invite the dark haired woman nor pay her attention as they gobbled the food hungrily. Melwyn chuckled softly at the duo, the breeze swinging her hair heartily, and a tenderness blossomed her chest.

This young man, and his pet were quite funny... an extraordinary pair even. The dark haired lady absent-mindedly scrutinized the pair, finding the similar of their colours fascinating. Like a treasure. She was enthralled by just witnessing their simple interaction. For a moment, she almost assumed that they were one personality.

Growing up, she known of countless cases of people bonding with spiritual beasts that gained them extra abilities, she couldn't help wondering if this was such case. Don't blame her, her mother stories and what she had read convinced her. But she wasn't stupid not to notice the closeness. Their affinity towards each other were splendid.

She wishes to spend more time with them...

"...."

Unfortunately, she couldn't. The smile on her lips declined. Her people are on their way...

....

The night passed, and the first light of dawn urged the youth to step out into the cemented grounds shivering. In search of someone. A pall of cold smog escapes his lips as he hugged himself tightly. The morning breeze was frigid, courtesy of the glacial mountains beyond this region, but the gripping worry was more than enough to make Lyriel feel colder.

Melwyn was gone. She had not informed him and she left. Not even a goodbye. The man searched around the area in a haste and before he knew it was already snowing. The sky dimmed above his head. Dark grey clouds rolled over and accumulated into darker shades.

Lyriel's leather boots heavily planted on the ground, and Lyriel strained his sight, even if it would catch a glimpse of black metres within the woods.

When he found nothing, his shoulder slumped.

Had she really gone? Without telling him...

The tiny voice in Lyriel's head lured him into a second search.

The fireplace. The firepit. The second chambers where she'd slept in, incase his eyes malfunctioned at the moment. Heck, Lyriel even wandered few yards around the shrine. Not even a single corner was sparred. He couldn't find her anywhere. She wasn't there.

Perhaps, she had truly gone... just like that...

Disappointment tasted like a stale bread in Lyriel's throat. He sensed his innards churn in suffocation. A strangling sensation arrested his soul, freezing his core like the frostiness gradually encroaching this area. Standing within the sized space of the cemented grounds, Lyriel allowed himself to wallow in silence ignorance of the snow falling around him.

The gentle fluffs of pure white snow from the sky upon the floor was indeed mesmerizing. Unfortunately, the youth indulged in his thoughts didn't even spare the scene an admiring glance.

This would have been Lyriel's only chance to truly meet someone. To feel that warmth in his chest despite having been betrayed once. Lyriel couldn't have been sure but there was a thump in his chest the moment he saw Melwyn covered in blood. For the few moments he joked about it, he... Unknowingly felt a sting. Then when he took her in an abnormal yearning began struggling to surface. It was silent battle.

The feeling was confusing. He wasn't sure if he was actually attracted to the dark haired's unfathomable beauty or that the woman's company didn't fail to amaze him. Whichever it was, now she's gone, shouldn't everything return back to normal? Why was he even worked up trying to find someone as if this place was her destination?

As he stepped back to turn around, he wished the woman safe journey and protection from the biting cold. Lyriel had only turned sideways. His focus slid past a dark form emerging from the corners of the trees, He froze on his steps abruptly.

The familiar figure of a woman with raven hair as long as midnight was walking past the trees and unhurriedly making her way towards him. With her hands dyed in red, Melwyn was gradually approaching the man. The woman held two dead animals on both hands. Red blood trickled continuously from both corpse to the ground in drops. A trail of blood mapped the snow-covered floor behind her, she advanced on the stilled Lyriel whom only observed her surprisingly.

At last, she stood before him with the brightest smile that would make any man addicted. Could it be that Lyriel was addicted?

Maybe, if he wasn't more concerned about a third presence. His vision darts far behind Melwyn. A man dressed in black is watching them from the distance.

The exact spot she came out from second's ago.

A drowning storm floods thinned silver gaze dangerously.

Who's he?