Chapter 2309 We still have some time.
Chapter 2309 We still have some time.
The central plaza of Umbrasol was always lively, it was loud, chaotic and… full. People here moved freely, talking, laughing, screaming, selling their goods and… living.
Stone paths here curved gently around a wide open space, meeting at the center where a large fountain stood, a fountain where clear water flowed endlessly, catching the sunlight and reflecting it in soft ripples across the ground. Small stalls were lined at the edges of the plaza selling fresh fruits, baked goods, and simple crafts.
A couple sat near the fountain, sharing a quiet conversation. A group of children ran past them, chasing each other without care. An old man adjusted his stall, arranging fruits in careful rows, humming under his breath.
No one watched over them.
There were no guards.
There was no fear.
It was… peaceful.
"…and then I thought—"
Suddenly, a woman paused mid-conversation, unable to finish her sentence.
It wasn't just her, a man walking in a hurry stopped without realizing it, another turned slightly, and one by one, more and more people looked at the centre.
Conversations softened.
Voices lowered.
None of it was forced, heck, most people didn't even realize why they had all started gathering around.
They just… did.
As if something attracted them.
As for what it was—
Those who were able to think clearly knew the answer.
It was a voice.
"No, no.
You have to guess properly."
A playful, calm and oddly charming voice.
"That's not fair!"
Then there was this loud voice of a little girl puffing her cheeks and that soft, charming voice chuckled.
"It is."
He replied calmly, his voice wasn't loud, he wasn't screaming, it didn't even feel like he wanted others to hear him, they just… did.
And the moment they did, their minds constantly thought of one thing, to put a face to his voice.
Honestly, if Umbrasol was normal, every single being present here would have instantly recognized who this voice belonged to. After all, they had heard it so many times.
But…
Umbrasol wasn't normal.
Umbrasol had… rules.
Strange rules.
Because no ranks existed here, people did not recognize the royalty, be it the princes, the princesses, the queens or even the King, no being recognized them. Even if they had a conversation with them, the moment they learned the truth, their minds would forget about it the next hour.
This was the reason Mira was able to play with other children without being singled out, this was the reason Skyla was sitting together with other parents as she watched over Mira.
And this was the exact reason people did not recognize this voice, and because of that—
They moved.
Closer to the voice, wanting to fill that… image in their head and as they drifted closer, the air felt… warm. It wasn't similar to the warmth that had been produced when Drakar and Zyrax fought against each other, it was… different.
It was… comforting.
And as people came closer, the first batch finally saw him—
A child, no older than ten, sitting near the fountain, one foot swinging lightly, a small piece of candy held loosely between his fingers. He had fair skin that looked smooth and flawless, almost glowing softly under the sunlight. His long white-purple hair fell neatly around his face.
Two small black horns curved subtly from his head, giving him an otherworldly charm. His ears were slightly longer than normal, adding to his unnatural beauty.
As for his face…
Well, his face was… perfect.
Almost too perfect.
Soft yet well-defined delicate features, the kind of beauty that didn't feel real. He had a soft, gentle smile on his face.
His deep purple eyes were warm and quietly captivating, holding a strange pull to them. They were… hard to look away from.
Sitting beside him was a little girl, she looked like she was around five or six years old, and as he looked at her with a soft, warm gaze, people, be it men or women, felt their hearts at ease.
"You're just not trying hard enough."
He chuckled, the little girl beside him huffed again and leaned closer.
"…Is it sweet?"
She asked curiously, looking at the candy.
Azarion tilted his head, then, a small smile appeared on his face and—
"Maybe."
He answered and—
"That's not an answer!"
The little girl raised her voice, she sounded annoyed, but she didn't seem… angry. She seemed… at ease, like she was enjoying this game.
Azarion chuckled quietly as well.
And the people around them, they had stopped.
A woman standing nearby felt herself relax, her shoulders dropped, her breathing slowed. For a moment, she frowned.
Why was she feeling so… calm?
She wondered in her head, but then shrugged and stopped thinking entirely, almost like she was in a trance.
Others were the same, a man just stared at the almost mythical child in front of him.
More and more people began to gather, there was no reason for it, they were here… just because.
The boy did not notice it, or maybe he did, it didn't matter.
He continued speaking with the little girl, completely naturally, completely at ease, as if nothing around him had changed.
The girl finally guessed again.
"…It's sour!"
Azarion smiled.
"No."
"That's unfair!"
She groaned.
The boy laughed softly.
"You'll get it eventually."
And the more they interacted, the more people gathered, so much that it began to crowd up, but not once did any person present here… start fighting. Even if someone mistakenly pushed another, these people were so entranced that they just… let it go.
But just then—
Just as more and more people were about to gather, just as the crowd was about to grow much thicker—
The air shifted again.
The warmth remained.
But something else entered.
Structure.
Order.
People near the edge of the plaza straightened slightly. It didn't happen because of fear, it just… happened, out of instinct.
The low conversations about what was happening, the soft humming, the 'ease' that was there, it all disappeared and… a path formed.
People moved away on their own, without being told to, and through that space, he walked.
Like the boy sitting near the fountain, he looked like he was about ten years old, but nothing about him felt like a child.
His dark black hair was perfectly arranged, not a single strand was out of place, as if even the wind knew better than to disturb it. His pale white skin carried that cold, flawless tone unique to a vampire. It was smooth, almost unnatural, with no imperfections at all.
His red eyes were clear and sharp, holding a quiet authority that didn't need to be shown. His face was strikingly handsome, with sharp features that gave him an elegant, noble appearance.
He wore regal clothing, dark and finely tailored, with subtle intricate designs woven into the fabric.
As he walked, the air around him felt orderly, the people automatically straightened their posture, as if it was the most natural thing to do.
A man who had been leaning against a pillar stood upright without realizing it. A woman mid-step slowed, then moved aside with quiet respect.
The boy didn't look at them, he looked ahead, at the boy sitting near the fountain, playing with that girl.
It was… strange to see the two exist in the same space, their auras felt… completely different from one another.
One pulled people in.
The other made them stand properly.
A strange form of tension was forming in the air but—
"It's sweet!"
The little girl raised her voice, because she was so close to the Incubus, she wasn't affected by the Vampire's Aura, she didn't even notice his presence.
"See? Not that hard."
The Incubus chuckled.
"I said sweet before!"
The girl pointed at him and the Incubus just shrugged with a smile—
"I didn't say you were wrong, you just assumed it."
"You are cheating!"
The girl complained. The Incubus just laughed as he ruffled her hair, then finally, he looked at the Vampire standing in front of him and—
"Samael."
He smiled.
"Eldest brother."
The Vampire nodded.
"Is it time?"
The Incubus, Azarion, smiled.
Yes, he was the eldest.
The first child of the Leanders, Allura's only son, the Primordial Incubus, Azarion Leander and the one in front of him was Samael, one of the most disciplined children, Aeliana and Nux Leander's, Azriel Ruinous's grandson.
"Yes."
Samael nodded.
"So should we leave right now?"
Azarion asked.
Because he was the oldest, all the children respected him, of course, there were many who didn't follow that, many who wanted to challenge him, but still, as the oldest, Azarion understood the responsibility that came with it and usually acted as the mediator when there was a conflict between his siblings.
"We still have some time."
Samael answered and Azarion smiled—
"Oh, we do?
Then why don't you come sit with me? It's been a while since we chatted, no?"
"…as you say."
Samael nodded and just as he was about to sit with the eldest—
"What? You really said that huh?"
Another voice was heard, a voice that alerted both brothers.
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