Immortal Paladin-Chapter 140 – Inside the mist [5]

(POV – Protagonist)

In the end, I managed to slip out of the small meeting Emily and Althea were having. The conversation was abruptly interrupted — two guards, probably standing watch outside, entered without saying a word and escorted Althea to our room.

I have no idea what made Emily leave so quickly, almost like something had suddenly alarmed her. Still, I assumed it had to do with some anomaly. I mean, it might not seem like it at first, but almost every day a new anomaly appears out of nowhere, as if the world is constantly trying to remind us that nothing here is truly stable.

By the way, I’ve tried asking both Nekra and Althea about how, where, and why these anomalies keep appearing on Earth. However, the answers I got were far from what I expected. Nekra, for example, was as indifferent as ever — or rather, she didn’t even show the slightest interest in the subject.

It was like it didn’t matter to her at all. In a way, it’s clear that Nekra doesn’t really get involved with anomaly-related issues, like all of this is just background noise to her.

Sometimes, she’d even stop and chat with me for a few minutes — probably because I preferred talking about anomalies to playing around with her. Althea, on the other hand, just laughed as if she thought the whole situation was hilarious and said it would be much more interesting to watch me struggle to remember than simply tell me everything on a silver platter.

Of course, she mentioned there was another way to convince her... but the moment I saw the drool trickling from the corner of her mouth and the predatory look in her eyes, I immediately ruled out that possibility. I wasn’t sure why, but I had a strong feeling my chastity was in serious jeopardy.

Anyway, in the end, I got no answers from the two people in the world who would surely know how to clarify those questions. To be honest, I don’t think I was ever really that interested — at least not enough to sell myself to Althea for that. In the end, I just decided to drop the subject and move on.

However, strange events started happening suddenly at the base, probably around the second day after the conversation between Althea and Emily — though I’m not certain of the exact timeline. Anyway, it was during this period that the facility started to show unusual activity.

The atmosphere grew so heavy that, for a moment, I thought the world was on the brink of disaster. Scientists were rushing through the halls, exchanging information with tense expressions, while armed guards took up strategic positions, clearly on high alert. There was something in the air — a quiet unease, like everyone was preparing to face the worst. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Additionally, the visits we used to get frequently became strangely scarce. In the past two days, only Laura showed up — and even she seemed different. Her face carried an unusual look of anxiety, like she was scared of something she didn’t dare mention.

I had no idea what was going on, but this time, I chose not to act. At least, not yet. If it was something truly serious, I figured Emily would convince the higher-ups to mobilize me.

While that didn’t happen, I could sense emotions inside the facility growing more intense. It was like an invisible weight was accumulating in the air. If I had to sum it up in a few words, I’d say that everyone’s hope for something — maybe a solution or a miracle — was slowly fading away.

Three days later, I finally got a visit from Emily. She came with Laura and Victor, and last but not least, Rupert — the same guy who accompanied me on the giant fish expedition in the city.

The moment the four entered the room, my eyes automatically turned toward them — and I noticed I wasn’t the only one. Nekra and Althea were also watching them closely.

Maybe because they felt our gazes, the newcomers shuddered slightly, like a chill had run down their spines. I tilted my head in confusion at that sudden reaction. Still, I remained seated in silence, just waiting for them to come closer.

***

(POV – Emily Parker)

The moment Emily stepped into the containment room of the [Angel of Death], she was hit by a sudden wave of cold air that ran through her body like a sharp, icy shiver.

Her eyes instinctively turned toward the source of the cold — an involuntary, almost primal gesture. Before she even realized it, her gaze was already fixed on three silent, motionless figures, the only beings present in that dark, oppressive room.

Sitting peacefully on the bed, like a quiet child in contemplative silence, was the [Angel of Death]. Her eyes, as always, shone in a mesmerizing gold — a hue so pure and intense that, even for Emily, who had seen priceless jewels before, none of them could compare to the beauty held in that ethereal gaze. But that was just the beginning.

Next to the [Angel of Death], golden eyes also shone brightly, but in a way distinct from hers. If Emily had to make a comparison, she’d say the [Angel of Death]’s eyes were like sparkling jewels, beautiful and eternally glowing, while the other anomaly’s eyes resembled a miniature sun, flames dancing with an unsettling power.

Unlike the reassuring serenity of the [Angel of Death]’s gaze, the other presence emitted an unusual energy — strangely warm and enveloping, almost like a comforting hug that simultaneously hid an imminent danger.

For some reason, Emily felt uncomfortable, as if she were on the verge of being swallowed by those eyes, as if she were staring at something beyond the reach of human vision, something that shouldn’t be seen. It was like looking directly at the sun, feeling its intense heat, but fearing the blindness it could cause.

And between both anomalies, there was a third. She was sitting on the floor, covered by a long, soft rug, so fluffy it seemed to absorb the sound of every movement. Around her, several cloth dolls wandered back and forth, playing a silent game.

The anomaly, like the other two, had its eyes fixed on Emily, and like them, her eyes were golden. However, there was a striking difference: her pupils were made of rocks burning like smoldering embers. When Emily stared into them, she felt an overwhelming, endless darkness, a darkness that seemed to swallow any trace of light around her.

In the end, Emily took a deep breath, slowly coming out of the trance. Her body, still stiff and tense, moved toward the anomalies, more specifically, toward the [Angel of Death], who watched her in silence.

Her feet swayed gently back and forth as she sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on Emily with an unsettling calm. Emily had no clear plan in mind as she approached the [Angel of Death]. To be honest, it had already been a tough task just getting permission for the [Angel of Death] to go on a mission.

Even though she had demonstrated her usefulness numerous times, and even her necessity, most of the higher-ups still considered it irresponsible to use an anomaly that couldn’t be at least 90% controlled.

An ironic thought, considering many of them were specifically looking for ways to control anomalies. To Emily, this was the height of stupidity. Anyway, when she approached, she fixed her gaze on the anomaly in front of her.

For a few seconds, she thought about how to start the conversation, searching for the right words, but her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a voice that seemed to come directly into her mind.

(Hello, Emily)

The voice was high-pitched and sweet, like a soft sigh that spread through the air, almost like a calming, addictive drug that enveloped anyone who heard it. Emily felt all her worries vanish in an instant, as if an invisible weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

She didn’t know if the anomaly was using some kind of mental power or if it was just the natural effect of its presence, but somehow, the tranquility she felt was undeniable. Even if it wasn’t intentional, Emily couldn’t help but feel a wave of gratitude for the way the anomaly had calmed her.

In the end, Emily decided to get straight to the point. She felt that she had already established a strong enough connection with the anomaly to be more direct—or at least, that was what she hoped for.

Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke, her voice tinged with barely concealed tension: “We need your help. There’s... there’s something out there. We don’t know exactly what it is, but we sent some teams to investigate the area around the base. They never returned”

Holding her breath, she waited for a reaction. After speaking, Emily kept her gaze on the anomaly, watching it intently. However, its eyes didn’t shift, staying locked on Emily as if waiting for something.

The creature’s head tilted slightly to the side, a subtle movement that sparked a wave of confusion in Emily. She wondered if the anomaly had understood her words or if that gesture was just another mystery.

It had already been confirmed that at least one of the three anomalies in the room could recognize and communicate in human language, but both the [Angel of Death] and the shadowy figure remained wrapped in mystery.

***

(POV – Protagonist)

I watched Emily for a while, reflecting on her words. Something didn’t add up, especially the word she used at the end of her conversation with Althea. Mist? What did that mean? Was it some kind of code related to an anomaly within the organization? The doubt consumed me, but there was something clearer in my mind.

I definitely heard Emily say “out there” There was no mistake. Whatever was making everyone so worried, it wasn’t inside the organization; it was definitely outside.

Although I didn’t know exactly what was going on, there was no personal reason to refuse the help. I mean, even though I didn’t know most of the people inside the facility, they had treated me kindly, offering candy and ice cream.

Somehow, that made me feel indebted to them. I didn’t want anyone to die here, even if most of them were just unknown faces. With that resolve in mind, I shared my thoughts with Emily, Laura, Victor, and Rupert.

(I’ll help)

I clearly noticed everyone’s faces, which first showed surprise, followed by visible relief. But then, as I looked at them more closely, I realized they sighed as if they were truly relieved… wait, did they really think I would turn them down? Well, thinking about it, from their point of view, I probably didn’t have any real reason to help them. Sure, I wasn’t a completely bad person, but I didn’t have a history of generosity either.

Anyway, for a moment, I glanced at Nekra and Althea. I wondered if I should take one of them with me, but soon realized that was a futile thought.

Surely, it had already been difficult for Emily to get permission for me to be released. I highly doubted they’d let another anomaly leave with me, especially considering that both had nearly destroyed the world in the past.

Of course, they didn’t do it because they wanted to; the truth is, both Althea and Nekra could be considered incredibly peaceful anomalies, to the point of not retaliating, even when attacked. Sure, Nekra might look scary, but deep down, her heart—or whatever’s inside her—is as gentle as mine.

In other words, she’s a pure and kind soul. Now, do you doubt my purity? Well, just look at my past actions; I doubt you can point to anything bad I’ve done.

As I got lost in my thoughts, I felt the weight of Nekra and Althea’s gaze on me. They both stared at me with curious and slightly unsettling looks, their heads tilted as if trying to understand something I couldn’t express.

In the next moment, their voices echoed in my mind simultaneously, clear and intriguing: (Who are you talking to?)

I turned my gaze to the side and shrugged, answering casually, almost as if the question didn’t matter: (No one, just myself)