A QUEST OF DEATH : Dawning Darkness

25 | Sword (new.unedited)

The day's hustle and bustle had faded into the tranquil embrace of evening by the time Ada was ready to call it a day. She locked up the café, waving goodbye to her colleagues, David and Lucy, who returned her gesture with warm smiles. The quiet of the evening wrapped around her like a comforting cloak as she turned toward the street.

Leaning casually against a nearby lamppost, Devereaux waited. The soft glow of the streetlamp illuminated him, highlighting his sharp features and casting long shadows behind him. His gaze never wavered as he watched Ada approach, her face lighting up with a warm smile that rivaled the glow of the evening light.

"You're early," Ada remarked, a hint of surprise lacing her tone as she stepped closer.

"Am I?" Devereaux replied, his lips curving into the faintest of smiles.

Again, his usual hooded cloak and veil were absent. Tonight, he wore a classic ebony trench coat, his hands tucked casually into its deep pockets. His dark hair was slightly tousled, a deliberate mess that suited him all too well. Despite the more grounded attire, Devereaux's presence still carried an air of timeless elegance, his movements deliberate and poised. Ada couldn't help but notice how effortlessly he seemed to embody both mystery and grace.

After their brief morning exchange, Devereaux had come to pick her up for the evening training session. It was exhausting to juggle the chaos of serving cups in the café by day and learning whatever arcane tricks the Dark Lord had up his sleeve by night. But Ada had little choice. She needed to tame the fragment of the snake's soul embedded in her body.

Ripping the parasite out would've been ideal—but that's not how bargains with dark entities worked. Once they marked you as their own, their claim was etched deep into your very soul, nearly impossible to scrape away. The fragment of Gan inside her would thrive as long as the serpent himself remained undefeated.

For now, her only option was to learn to negotiate with the fragment, to bend it to her will. And that required strength—strength she didn't yet possess. Until she could muster enough power to confront Gagagore and strike a bargain with him directly, this was her reality.

Ada sighed, dragging her tired feet toward Devereaux, who stood waiting under the glow of a streetlamp, his expression unreadable. Another long night lay ahead, and she could already feel the weight of it settling on her shoulders.

"Tired?" Devereaux asked gently, his voice tinged with concern as he noticed the weariness in Ada's posture.

They walked together down the quiet alleyway, the soft glow of streetlights casting long, shifting shadows that danced with each step. Ada rubbed the back of her neck absentmindedly, every movement revealing just how drained she felt.

"Mhm. Long day," she admitted with a soft sigh.

"But we need to practice," Devereaux reminded her, his tone kind but firm.

"I know." She glanced up at him, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes. "What are we doing today? That yoga trick you taught me really helped calm my nerves. I wouldn't mind more of that."

A faint smile played on Devereaux's lips. "I'm glad to hear that. But today, I was thinking we might try something a little more... dynamic."

Ada narrowed her eyes at him. "Dynamic? That sounds suspiciously exhausting."

"Swordplay," he said with a glint of excitement in his eyes.

Ada groaned dramatically. "Of course, it's swordplay. Because nothing says 'relaxation' like swinging a blade around after a ten-hour shift."

Devereaux chuckled softly. "You'll thank me later. Trust me."

***

Auden had always been better with a sword than Ada. She liked to pretend otherwise, teasing him mercilessly, but the truth was glaringly obvious whenever they sparred. At fifteen, Auden had been handed his first real blade, and despite her two decades of experience, Ada could barely keep herself from getting stabbed every time they faced off.