Ascension of the Dark Seraph-Chapter 267: The Same As Mine

Furious was an understatement.

Lucivar was seething, he wanted to slap Leandra across her face, but he must do something right now.

He caged his intention to confront Leandra and dashed away to chase after Ciri.

Running through the sidewalk, pushing aside people from his way—he sprinted to go around the corner and intercept Ciri in the alley she was in earlier. Gandr appeared on his shoulder while he ran, hissing into his ear, "An angry mind is no mind at all, remember that."

"Tch! It's easier for you to say!" Lucivar barked and sped up.

But even then, he took the advice to heart.

Since Gandr took the time to tell him this, there must be a way to turn this to his advantage.

A random variable would never cease to exist, no matter how perfect the plan is, especially when there was Leandra—who was basically the random variable itself. But not all random variables would impact the plan badly.

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And this might be one of those variables.

It depends on how smart the planner was, whether he could see the crack or not.

Lucivar was confident in his intelligence, his wicked intelligence, so he could certainly use this.

'Unlike me or even Ravenna, Leandra has little to no bad karma. In this world, having little to no bad karma is bad luck. Since she chased Ciri away, it must be for the best,' His lips curled into a smile, one that sent shivers down anyone who saw it. 'Perhaps, it was for my benefit.'

Charging ether into his feet, he made one last dash and managed to reach the alley.

Lucivar stepped his feet hard and slid against the slippery ground and locked gaze with Ciri.

She was running with all her might, but stopped when she saw Lucivar.

"Lucivar…?" Ciri mumbled with a frown, recognizing Lucivar even though his stature—and face were that of another person, another man. She could tell it was him simply from his emerald eyes—and also the face he was making.

"I'm glad you made it, Ciri." Lucivar smiled and walked forward.

He was pushing Ciri back to get away from the people walking on the sidewalk.

"I came here because I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid of being wrong, but it seemed you were planning on ambushing me from the start instead of making your point," Ciri sneered—even though she got into a trap, she felt relieved, mainly because she now knew it was wrong for her to doubt Caldaros.

"Don't misunderstand," Lucivar waved dismissively. "That hot-headed girl has nothing to do with me."

"As I mentioned in my message, I want to prove to you that you're wrong. Caldaros and that stupid Sun Goddess will feel perverse satisfaction when they manage to defeat me," He continued, being upfront and truthful. "Besides, if I really wanted to kill you right now, your heart would stop hours ago."

Upon hearing this, the uncomfortable weight began to weigh on Ciri's heart again.

It came back—the relief seconds ago lasted very briefly.

'I don't want to believe him since he's Loki's avatar, but he might be telling the truth.' Ciri bit her lips.

An ambush like that was thoughtless and messy.

Leandra was acting openly, and she had no real plan other than to chase her down.

Had it been really Lucivar's doing, she would be dead by now.

Knowing how dangerous the situation might be, Caldaros told her a lot of things about Loki's avatar.

Other than that, he also told her about Lucivar in particular from the missions he took, the shady things he did—and even the last battle he had against the Feradith Family. Being able to fight that titan family meant he must be extremely quick-witted.

So this ambush wasn't his doing, that was for sure.

Leandra must really chase after her out of personal feelings.

"This must be some sort of a trap," Ciri gritted her teeth. "Caldaros would not be like that."

"And yet you're here…" Lucivar replied raspingly. "He told you not to come, didn't he?"

"Eh…?" Ciri's eyes widened.

Her heart skipped a beat, and there was a change in how she looked at Lucivar.

"You… Wait… How do you…?" She stammered uncontrollably.

It suddenly hits her.

Lucivar gave her the ticket, knowing exactly that Caldaros would forbid her to come.

Initially, she thought he assumed she wasn't going to come since it was going to be dangerous for her.

But that wasn't the reason, the real reason was that Lucivar anticipated Caldaros forbidding her from coming to watch the tournament. Even the safe place she was meant to go to must have no TV or internet to access the live tournament.

"How did you know…?" She asked, still surprised.

Lucivar chuckled, "No, the real question is, what made him adamant on not wanting you to watch. "He said, ignoring her question. "Why do you think that is, Ciri? You must have your own doubts since you chose to come."

He paused, waiting for Ciri to answer.

Clearly, the answer was already in her mind, but she refused to say it aloud.

"It's because he didn't want you to see his evil side." Lucivar decided to say what was on her mind. "I am here only to serve you by confirming what you suspect. I'm trying to help you by showing you the truth, nothing else."

"So come again tomorrow, and watch the tournament until the end." He added.

Clearly, Ciri was swayed.

One could see on her face that what Lucivar said was spot on.

"And what if I don't come?" Ciri asked whisperingly.

Lucivar paused for a second, letting her question hand before answering it, "Then you'll live in a lie."

Even though Ciri wanted to believe that Caldaros and Sunna are nothing like Lucivar described them to be, there were instances that made her doubt it. Yesterday was one of them. Caldaros could explode like that—that was a side that she had never seen from him before.

So, it made her wonder, what else could Caldaros be hiding?

And perhaps, was Lucivar right all along?

'Is it better to live in a lie happily… or to live with the truth painfully?' Ciri thought bitterly.

She wouldn't be able to face Caldaros if Lucivar was really correct.

It would alter her entire world-view if that were the case.

"If I'm correct and you're wrong, what are you going to do?" Lucivar suddenly asked, breaking the tense silence between them once again. Then, he tilted his head, "If I'm correct, then in your view, Caldaros and his Goddess should also be evil. You have no problem killing him yourself, then, right?"

Ciri didn't speak.

Instead, she balled her fists tightly, turning her knuckles white.

Lucivar's question struck a nerve.

She was forced to wonder if that was the case, what would she do?

Just then, Lucivar glanced to the sky, sensing the trace of energy from a particular someone.

Someone whom he recognized almost instantly.

"Let me give you an appetizer," Lucivar slurred—smirking deviously as he pointed skyward. "Once he arrived and I'm gone, he would instantly ask you why you are here. You're going to tell him that I asked you to come to talk, and, surprisingly, I wanted you to tell him to spare me. Ask him to really spare me, and let you stay to watch. I'll prove that his heart is wicked, the same as mine."

"He'll pause, wearing that conflicted expression he's perfected—and say, 'I'll try… but still, you can't stay.' He'll pretend to weigh the decision, to act like it's tearing him apart. But don't be fooled, Ciri... you know the reason." Lucivar predicted.

Ciri listened but said no words.

Until suddenly, a flash of light appeared on the roof of the building, forming into Caldaros.

Caldaros looked down and instantly fell into rage when he saw Lucivar and Ciri together.

Instantly, he leapt and landed hard right in front of Ciri.

"I thought we were past this—the tournament has already begun," He said with a baritone voice.

His rage was barely restrained in his tone.

"Do you see a single scratch on her? I don't," Lucivar said with a smirk. "I merely stopped for a friendly chat—what's the issue? Don't tell me you're scared I might end up becoming your uncle? Honestly, I get it. You see, I think Ciri and I have chemistry…"

A vein popped on Caldaros' forehead when he heard this.

"You're planning something, don't think I won't notice!" Caldaros roared angrily.

But Lucivar waved his hand dismissively.

He wasn't going to entertain Caldaros today, not when he already got to Ciri.

Not physically, but mentally.

Casting one last knowing smile at her, Lucivar turned around, "Got something to do, I'm leaving."

He bravely exposed his back to Caldaros.

Then again, there were a lot of people, so he doesn't need to be worried.

Once Lucivar disappeared around the corner, his voice rang inside Ciri's mind.

He would instantly ask you why you are here.

"Aunt Ciri," Caldaros turned towards her with a stern face. "What are you doing here?"

Deg!

It was exactly as Lucivar predicted, but his first question was predictable.

Feeling that this might be a bad idea, Ciri doesn't want to listen to Lucivar, but his voice rings again.

You're going to tell him that I asked you to come to talk.

"I…" Ciri hesitated, but did it regardless. She wanted to know the truth. "He asked me to come and meet him here, in this alley. I know that it's dangerous, but people were around, so it's fine. But, there's one thing you should know."

"What is it?" Caldaros raised his eyebrows, troubled by this.

"He… He asked me to ask you to spare him. He wanted to change his ways—and would comply with your demands," Ciri continued, deciding to see this to its end. "Spare him, Caldaros. He seemed really genuine, and let me stay to watch the tournament."

As soon as the last word escaped her lips, her heart began to pound.

I'll prove that his heart is wicked, the same as mine.

'Please… Please don't make it true,' She thought inside, biting her lower lip hard.

Ciri watched Caldaros closely with a bead of cold sweat drizzling down the side of her face.

He'll pause.

Caldaros paused as predicted, causing Ciri's heart to skip a beat.

'No… No, please!' Ciri screamed inside.

Wearing that conflicted expression he's perfected.

Then, Caldaros' lips parted slightly, eyebrows knitted together, as if his thoughts suddenly turned heavy.

Deg!

Another prediction came true, but the last part was the most important.

Ciri unconsciously held her breath as she waited.

And say, 'I'll try… but still, you can't stay'.

Caldaros turned his gaze back to look at Ciri, and finally said, "I'll try… but still, you can't stay."

Deg!

Don't be fooled, Ciri... you know the reason.