CHAPTER 53: LOOKING FOR?
As Atlas sensed Creed’s simmering frustration, he glanced over and noticed Creed’s usual cold expression was edged with a hint of something else—an irritation Creed seemed to try and mask. “Creed, are you okay?” Atlas asked.
“Yeah,” Creed replied curtly.
“Atlas, I miss hanging out with you. Seeing you here somehow makes me happy,” Nowell said with a smile.
Atlas shifted, feeling slightly awkward. “Erm, okay.”
“Shut it, Nowell,” Darren interrupted, which earned him a satisfied look from Creed. Atlas, still confused by the strange tension, glanced between the three, unsure of the whole situation.
After a few more minutes, they finally finished dinner, and night began to settle around them. Yet they hadn’t made any progress finding the hidden entrance to the manuscript they sought.
“Dude, let’s just call it a day. I’m exhausted,” Darren said, yawning deeply. Everyone nodded in agreement, and they returned to the living room where they’d first gathered.
Atlas knelt down and cast a protective spell, chanting, “Protecro Baria.” The entire house bathed in a soft scarlet light for a few seconds before fading. One by one, they lay down to sleep, but Atlas remained awake, quietly reading the Stellaria Coetus.
As he read, he came across an unfamiliar line. “When the dark has come, I will be your brightest light; once I shine, you should know your path.” He mumbled to himself, trying to decipher its meaning. “Ugh, what does that mean?”
“Need help?” Creed asked from the other side of the room, startling him.
“Whoa, I thought you were asleep,” Atlas replied, glancing over.
“I can’t sleep,” Creed said, moving closer and peering over Atlas’s shoulder at the passage. He read it thoughtfully, then looked at Atlas. “No idea,” he concluded flatly.
Atlas rolled his eyes, sighing. “If you have no idea, then don’t look at me like you do,” he muttered, mildly annoyed.
As they continued mulling over the words, Atlas recalled Creed’s earlier reaction. “Creed, why were you moody during dinner?”
“Why would I be moody?” Creed deflected.
“I just... I could sense it,” Atlas replied, though he felt a bit unsure of his own observation.
Creed shrugged. “It’s in your mind,” he said, brushing off the question.
Deciding to let it go, Atlas lay down and closed his eyes. “Goodnight, Creed,” he said softly.
Creed stayed silent, watching him. After a moment, he reached over, his hand gently grazing Atlas’s face before he finally lay back, surrendering to sleep.
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Rewrite The Star
FantasyIn a world where whispers of the legendary "Heartmiller" family echo through the ages-rumored to possess unimaginable power accessible through their blood and heart-a young wizard named Atlas Heartmiller survives a brutal attack that claimed his par...
