The Abused is The Abuser in Another World

Chapter 20: Echoes of the Prophecy

As the group pressed through the forest, the mood was tense and uncertain. The setting sun painted the sky in fiery shades, but the long shadows it cast felt more like harbingers of what lay ahead. Noir, at the front, his crimson eyes betraying nothing, gestured silently for the others to move on. His mind, however, was a storm of calculations, strategies, and lingering doubts about the young duke behind them.

Julian, still catching his breath, stared after the group with a sense of growing panic. He had nothing—no land, no soldiers—just the will to survive. He called out, voice trembling with desperation.

"Wait! Please, let me come with you!"

Noir paused, his expression impassive as he turned slightly. His voice, when it came, was ice-cold. "And why would we burden ourselves with a boy who has nothing to offer?"

Julian stiffened, determined despite his fear. "I... I can be useful! I can fight, I can learn! I'll do anything. Please, just don't leave me here alone!"

Lyralei's sharp green eyes softened slightly at the boy's plea, though her expression remained composed. She glanced toward Noir. "What do you think?" Her voice was calm, but there was a quiet undertone of concern.

Noir's gaze remained fixed on Julian, his intense crimson eyes searching the boy's face for any sign of worth. "What do we get in return?" His tone left no room for negotiation.

The desperation welled up inside Julian, and with a shaky breath, he blurted out, "I... I can be your slave. Do whatever you want with me, just let me stay with you. Let me survive."

A sharp bark of laughter erupted from Grid, his mischievous yellow eyes gleaming as he crouched low, always on the edge of movement. "A slave, huh? Now that's new!" His wild grin exposed his sharp teeth. "What say you, boss? You could use someone to carry all your heavy burdens."

Lyralei's serene expression faltered as she gave Grid a disapproving glance, her compassion warring with her pragmatism. Thalor, standing stoically to the side, said nothing, but his deep blue eyes watched Julian carefully, assessing him.

Noir stepped closer to Julian, his movements graceful but deliberate. His voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone. "Do you think you can survive with us? Do you think you can endure what we endure?"

Julian, his heart racing, nodded. "I have to. I will."

Noir's lips curled into the barest hint of a smile, one devoid of warmth. "Fine. You can come along. But we won't protect you. You're on your own. Survive if you can."

With a dismissive wave, Noir turned away, signaling the group to continue. Julian followed, relief mixing with fear and determination in his chest. He knew he had bound himself to a dangerous path, but he had no choice.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew heavier, and the trees more menacing. The shadows thickened around them, and though none of them spoke, a shared unease settled over the group.

"I hope this isn't a mistake," Lyralei murmured to Thalor, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thalor, ever calm, nodded slightly. "Time will tell." His dark hair moved slightly in the wind, but his posture remained as still as ever, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any threat.

Behind them, unseen eyes watched, a presence lurking in the growing darkness.

The terrain grew rougher as the group pressed on. The jagged rocks and sharp winds made the journey treacherous. Julian struggled to keep up, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He stumbled, his foot catching a loose stone, but caught himself just in time. Lyralei, noticing his falter, gave him a glance, her expression unreadable.