Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 106: Adma

Rav sauntered off as Adma bowed again. Ezra couldn’t tell whether she found Rav rude or if he was such a legend that he could simply get away with it.

She watched him head toward the gate, muttering aloud. "To think this famine has become so serious... even the Great Sage of the Clouds has arrived."

She shook her head, bushy brown hair waving from side to side. She turned back to them, glancing to Ezra with her one good eye as he spoke.

"Rav the Sage. He’s... kind of a big deal, isn’t he?" Ezra asked. He had known so little about the world when he became Rav’s disciple. To him, Rav was just... Rav. It was weird to see him being acknowledged so highly even outside the realm of the Ferin.

Adma gave him a baffled look. "Why, of course. Has he not shared with you the extent of his legendary exploits?"

Ezra scratched his head. "I always kinda assumed he was lying to make himself sound more interesting."

"Preposterous," Adma said with a firm shake of her head. "An honored Sage would not deign to lie, not for something so trivial. No, with that man - the stories don’t do him justice. He is a hero."

Ezra took a deep breath. A hero, perhaps - but not to everyone. Ezra recalled the pain in Cliff’s heart all too well.

"Ah, but where are my manners - what brings you to a place like this, Oberyn? Are you seeking refuge from Asteria? If so, I must recommend you turn back. The situation in the Northern Country is nothing to seek salvation in."

"No. Master Rav, Ezra and I - we’re here to defeat the Harbinger causing this famine."

"Harbin- are you serious!?" Adma said, raising her voice. She looked over her back cautiously.

"That’s not a word you should be speaking aloud, not here," she warned. "Tensions are high in the kingdom right now, what with..."

"With Demetrius being dead?" Oberyn spoke quietly, guilt racking his brain. "I know it hurt a lot of people, but..."

Adma gulped. "Oberyn...haven’t you heard?"

His amber eyes rose to meet her green one. Her stoic, warrior-like demeanor shifted into something more reserved and anxious.

"The king of Asteria has enlisted the services of a Harbinger. And...this Harbinger has brought Demetrius back to life."

"What!?" Oberyn shouted, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. "You can’t be serious! There was nothing left of him!"

Adma furrowed her brow. "Long have I been cautious about the upper echelons of Asterian society, young Oberyn. But as of late...I find it difficult to perform the duties assigned to me. Take this, for example - I am now Warden of this land. But my goal is not to provide support for the refugees coming out of the north. It is to stop them at all costs."

"Adma, I..."

Ezra cracked his knuckles. "If Asteria is working with Harbingers, that’s all the proof I need to know they’re in the wrong. Don’t worry, Oby. That creep Demetrius might be alive again, but you and I are going to put him right back in the ground, and deal with that Harbinger while we’re at it."

Oberyn looked to Ezra, his eyes glowing. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Adma noticed the soft look between the two young men, glancing from one to the other before settling on a subdued grin.

"I see you are in good company, Oberyn. I once worried that light in your eyes would never shine again, and now I see my fears are dispelled in their entirety. I am proud of you. Proud of you both. Ezra, was it? Keep looking after Oberyn here, would you? If only I could do the same..."

A familiar streak of blue through the sky interrupted their conversation as all three glanced closer to the gate. Bree, the azure-feathered Ave, landed on the ground gracefully, batting her wings as she settled.

The Sage approached her reverently - she was one of the only few in all the world who could garner his utmost respect. Oberyn beckoned for Adma and Ezra to follow him, and jogged over toward Rav.

The Sage and his companion began to chat before their allies arrived - he was filled with a burning question that begged answering.

"Bree, my darling," he said - but once he saw the fierce look in her eyes he stopped the flirting. "My...friend," he corrected himself. "Have you figured anything out?"

She ruffled her feathers. "You never seem to give me a minute to even gather myself. Hmph. Since you’re dying to know - yes. A farm, not far from here. The mana in the air is particularly unstable, but there’s naught I can do besides observe. I’ll guide you there myself."

As Ezra reached them, his eyes locked onto the necklace Bree was wearing. She’d referred to it before, but the way she cradled it in her wing feathers made it seem important and precious to her.

He peeked back to Adma. Come to think of it, the strong and tall warrior - a woman who made even Ezra feel short - wore a similar pendant to the one Bree donned.

It was as if Adma sensed Ezra’s curiosity, and clutched her own necklace. "Curious about these, are you?" she asked, her question directed at Ezra. Everyone looked to him, but Adma raised her hand and shook her head.

"It’s quite alright," she said. "These are called Corestones. I suppose you haven’t seen one in person before? They’re - "

Before she could finish, there was a loud sound just from the other side of the gate that startled all of them.

Adma looked toward the gate, her expression tense. In that moment, it was open. But as an alarm bell began to sound, it started to close - quickly.

Ezra looked through the narrowing gap, and just before it shut completely, he saw something - or someone - lurching toward them from the other side. Moving wild and fast.

It looked almost human...

But what he saw was a monster.

"They’re here," she said quietly. "The Hungry."