Chapter 217: Mother Of The Endless
"What? Of course I can. He’s the odd one standing in the far corner. He’s very suspicious."
In that case, everyone should be able to take notice of him. However, only Diana could, and she stared right at him with an unwavering gaze.
I gulped, looking back to Corvin, watching as he tipped his head. Did he notice Diana could see him too? Even though his face was concealed, I could tell he did. I can’t let him set his sights on Diana.
"I need some air."
"Right now?"
"Yes, I don’t feel so good. The music is making everything wobbly. I need some quiet."
"Okay, let me just—"
When she turned her back, I used that opportunity to slip out. Thanks to the crowd, I blended in perfectly. I saw movement, and Corvin strolled too. I turned away, stepping into another hall, a gallery, but it was empty.
I heard footsteps approaching me.
"May I ask who that lovely lady is?"
He’s asking about Diana.
"No one."
"Hmm..."
I faced the intruder. "You’re here, which means you never left."
For some odd reason, I could tell he smiled. "I was waiting..."
"You made a mistake following me." I walked, observing him strongly. "All I need to do is scream, and a battalion of knights will fight their way into this gallery, or worse, my husband."
I needed him to know he was at a great disadvantage in case he tried anything funny. However, there was nothing hostile about him; he was impossibly calm.
Corvin chuckled. "As expected of the Mother of the Endless."
That name again.
"Rest assured that my presence isn’t to cause you fright. I simply came to your ball. It’s to celebrate the royal baby, after all."
I got straight to the point. "The tongue shall not speak. That is what the paper said, and after that, I couldn’t speak of you to anyone. Did you curse me?"
"Curse you?" He placed a hand on his chest like I had accused him of something horrendous. "Mothers, no! It’s simply a precaution."
"Precaution? Cursing me was a precaution?" I have had enough of this. You’ll not set foot out of this gallery."
"I did not curse you, it was simply a spell. It was needed. My presence should be kept a secret for personal reasons."
A spell?
"The tongue shall not speak.
You said the words out loud, and it became reality." He raised his black gloved hand and crammed them except for a finger. "Reality is often hard to break from, well, except when death comes.""What are you?"
"Finally asking the right questions? I believe I mentioned the next time we saw each other, you should," he amused.
"Is that what you want from me? To ask questions."
"At the moment. I shall provide five answers to five questions. Make it count, Mother of the Endless."
I inhaled and exhaled sharply. I must not ask hastily; this was rare, but he was providing a chance for me. I shall ask what I need to know.
"How would I know you’d be truthful with me when I ask my questions?"
"I will. Lying is not my way. I came here for a purpose, and it shall be met. So ask me your questions, Mother of the Endless."
I swallowed thickly, feeling a sudden pressure in the air.
"What are you?" I questioned.
There was a violet glow to one of the eye slits engraved on his black mask. "I’m a warlock. A practitioner of the craft, not belonging to the Order or anyone."
A warlock. I have read about them, but they were history. Shouldn’t they be extinct? I shouldn’t ask about his existence. A warlock standing before me was proof that they still lived. This wasn’t wartime, where supernaturals tried to conceal themselves any longer; as frightening as it may sound, I believe extinction was just a facade.
He claimed he belonged to no Order, which meant his appearance in Valkanor was a secret. He’s acting alone.
"You call me Mother of the Endless. Why?"
"There was a prophecy given to the Order by the oracle three moons ago. The prophecy spoke of a child who would eat the world."
"E-Eat the world?" I stuttered. "What does that mean?"
Is he talking about my baby?
"The oracle called this child the Endless, for there is no beginning, only end. Eating the world was emphasised by the oracle simply because the future of such a child was a great mystery, but of great might, unlike anything we have ever seen. A future seen but shrouded in enigma, with countless possibilities."
"You speak nonsense," I said, but I was trying to convince myself.
I thought I had had enough with the future of my child being dictated by others, and now this? Some oracle is saying such things about my baby. It was utter nonsense.
"Nonsense? Nothing I say is such. It’s simply the truth I promised."
I gulped. "You said you’re not among the Order. What do you want with my baby?"
"Hmm... I play neutral, my wants are inconsequential..." His violet glow dipped to my stomach, and I instinctively placed my hand on it. "What I fear is what the Order wants. They see a greater power; they once saw the same for the lycans and snowbloods. We were thrown into war because of that, and now you carry the Endless... a child with a mysterious future."
They want to harm my baby?
The mere thought sharpened my instinct, and before I knew it, I seethed at him. "Do they want to kill my baby?"
"Wouldn’t that be better?"
"Excuse me?"
"That goal of killing the Endless would have been much preferable, but I’m afraid that is not the case."
"What do they want with my child?"
"That is your last question."
"Answer me!"
"They say the Endless sacrifice will bring about a greater strength to magic in a world where it fades."
My blood ran cold.