Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-115. Spells and promises

[Xanthea]

Blood streamed down my broken hand, merging with the holy rain as it dripped from my fingertips, pooling around my bare feet as I stood against Yandor, the masked celestial prince, and Nikolai.

The celestial prince panted, his bated breaths cautious as he stared at me, a glowing white sword drawn to his side.

Yandor's axe fell off his hand as he grabbed his chest and fell to his knees, vomiting blood.

"Lord Yandor!" Nikolai rushed to my grandfather, breathless. "Wh-what the hell just happened? We crossed the darkness barrier, and then you attacked Asher. But he couldn't fight back. So when... who... wait-"

His confused gaze widened with a mix of horror and incredulity when they met my indifferent scrutiny.

"Don't tell me she..." Nikolai frowned. "But that's impossible... she's just an omega, too weak to inflict this kind of damage on a celestial alpha, let alone an armed warrior like-

"Please revoke the spell, my lady," the celestial prince pleaded, trying to step closer when-

"I dare you to take another step," I said in a rugged, calm tone.

The celestial prince's grip tightened over the hilt of his sword. His figure was blurred lightly because of the misty downpour, but I could see the wariness crystal clear in his demeanor.

"Losing five years of your life for a demon? Is it worth it?" the prince asked.

Although his words were condescending, his tone seemed rather neutral.

His calculating gaze flicked past me to my mother's grave, where Asher lay on his back - barely conscious. His black overcoat spilled over the white marble, streaked with blood that trailed down the edges, seeping into the roots of the blue forget-me-nots. 'Your heart is pure and innocent, Xanthea. Don't let bad karma stain it. Promise me. No matter what happens, you will never use your mother's knowledge to hurt or kill...' Asher's words echoed in my head. 'You must keep your soul clean.'

I had promised Asher that I would always remain within the restraints of righteousness, adhere to the strict boundaries of morals and ethics Freya Plath had planted in my subconscious.

But what use is a pure heart if all I can do is stand by and watch you suffer?

What's the point of a clean soul if I can't even save you?

You think I don't understand that once the curse is lifted, once it's all over... you plan

to send me to paradise? To my home. The place I rightfully belong.

But what use is paradise to me when I want to belong in hell with you and your brothers?

Even so... I didn't want to break the promise I made to you and look where it has led

us.

Right now... even though it may seem that I had broken my promise, I was still standing within the realm of righteousness.

Gritting my teeth, I clenched my fingers into fists.

The moment Asher told me about the celestials, I knew that this meeting, above all of Asher's other reasons, was to test me. To see how I handled my mother's inheritance when seeking power wasn't a temptation, but a compulsion.

I might have failed his test, but I wouldn't change a thing about this situation.

moments. While my mind and body reacted almost on its own, I was fully aware of my actions and

that needed to be done to lead us to

***

(A few moments ago)

thirty percent..." I remember Asher

than twenty minutes until the dome was

still feel the tremor of the shudder that had crawled down my spine as the horrifying images of demons being annihilated in the divine domes surfaced from my mother's memories. No matter what countermeasures she used, no demon had ever survived her divine

my mother's knowledge, experience and abilities manifested in their full

mother's basic healer skills, which included things like

of my mother's advanced abilities. Spells, intricate magic circles, and a whole nother

category of spells and mana symbols designed for the mana-less, granting me

from the caster's or the sacrifice's life force, shortening their lifespan, the duration ranging from mere seconds to

despite an eternal

through a few

that reveals all the ailments/weaknesses/wounds/vulnerabilities someone has suffered on the physiological, psychological, magical, emotional, or spiritual level in their lifetime. The scribble below it were

1. 5 hours' life-force (irreversible)

the back. There, in my mother's handwriting,

had invented - each classified

reverses the subject's healing process. It can reopen old wounds, both visible and invisible,

tongue, undivided visible focus on the targeted wound, chanted thrice to activate fully Side Effects: Phantom

requiring the caster to cut, bite, or

full experience. You won't find the next

mental traumas, memories, distorting their perception of reality until they turn suicidal.

of life-force (reversible with caster gaining additional life-force from the subject once they kill themselves), blood tongue, an emotional connection with the subject, to be chanted when the subject is in a mentally vulnerable state for most

forcefully tried to stop my mind from memorizing any more of those X-forbidden spells. But because of my

the spells, so

circles, even mortals could create mana symbols

effective. And drawing them correctly without magic was

test subjects and experiments until she created the ultimate

efficient, eliminating the need for intricate patterns and lengthy incantations. The best part, they could achieve the same efficiency as the magic circles with

person at the same time. Doing so would put a severe strain on their body,

remained oblivious to these revolutionary symbols because my mother had destroyed them, along with all her research data. Bringing them back could lead to

I decided to use them to heal Asher because his condition was worsening with every passing second. Despite never having created a mana symbol before, I was certain

the magic circles and symbols so many times that they became an instinct ingrained in her. And that instinct was passed down to

Ignoring Asher's protests, I drew the recovery symbol, a symbol that accelerated healing, on his charred

work, and it wasn't just because the rain smudged

be effective on a demon as

"Damn it!"

again when Asher grabbed my

clenched his jaws. "Don't waste your... blood on me. It won't work. I told you not

and I told you to not worry about me, to let me suffer

drained the color right off his irises

His trembling fingers brushed against my

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