Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power - Chapter 378

Chapter 378: Chapter 378: The Wheel always turned
Chapter 378 – The Wheel always turned.

Time was a currency. But one with no refund possible. The Wheel always turned, continuously and indefinitely, without waiting for anyone or anything.

So just like that…

Years passed. More precisely, two years had passed since Kaden had begun his training.

It was far more tedious than he initially had believed. And it seemed he had overestimated his own self, thinking he could train by himself.

Prometheus had gone over all his skills again, mastering them to a whole new, frightening degree.

He had used his sister, his brother, and even his father and mother as training partners to better grasp the use and timing of each skill.

He had learned how to better use Stars Rain. That skill quickly became his favorite. Still, it was a large-scale skill, meaning not suitable for every environment or battle.

There was also his Death of Sacrifice. Kaden was stunned by that one. And he stayed in that state for a long while after discovering what that skill truly did.

The Death of Sacrifice was a skill that helped Kaden kill something or someone by sacrificing something in return.

Meaning, if he wished to, he could kill whole beasts if he was willing to sacrifice something of equal value for that to happen. The scary thing about it was that the thing he needed to sacrifice didn’t need to be something he cared about.

But doing so would increase the quantity needed, and sometimes it was impossible.

Yet those aspects ensured that everything he sacrificed would never come back. And that, even if he returned back in time.

After all, the sacrificed would be erased from existence itself, swallowed by emptiness.

That realization made his heart tighten into a clenched fist.

That didn’t stop him from training it, though.

One day, Kaden had wished for the death of the Sun above Darklore. The price was one he didn’t even want to think about anymore. It was ridiculous to the point that it was more difficult to obtain the price than to kill the Sun itself.

This skill showed him something important. If he wanted the death of something, then he needed to sacrifice something he cared about.

Equal transaction.

That idea didn’t sit well with him.

Prometheus was going through all kinds of trouble to be able to protect what he cared about, not to sacrifice them.

In the end, he liked the skill. But the cost was one he was not willing to pay.

Next was the Blood of Crimson Stars. That one was not so different from his previous skill, but now Kaden’s blood was made of condensed crimson stars.

A mesmerizing sight.

Added to that, he could drag down the blood of stars when the night was filled with them. He seldom had the opportunity to train that aspect of his skill, for Darklore was a starless world.

Prometheus always wondered why. But he didn’t dwell on it too much.

Following that was the refinement of his trait, Will, and also his Domain.

Still, training was not the only thing Kaden had done.

He went out often with Meris to take some fresh air, enjoying time together.

He also attempted to see Inara, to discuss with her about their last event. Inara never responded to him.

In fact, the only times he saw her was when there was a meeting and she came with her mother. And even then, the Mother of Mothers never looked in his direction except for a low, almost inaudible hello.

It always shattered Kaden’s heart. Always. And always he would force out a smile and swallow back words meant for Inara when his family stared at him.

It came to a point where everyone knew something had happened between them.

Even Meris.

But the young lady didn’t ask anything, not willing to put herself in an awkward position. Nonetheless, she could guess what had happened.

It made her happy, and somehow sad for Inara. But overall, Meris was very happy that Inara had been turned down.

At that instant, the brief thought of killing Rea whispered inside her head. She shook that sinful temptation out of her mind.

She didn’t wish Kaden to hate her. Besides, Rea was no longer a threat, she believed.

That girl never came back after going to Fokay, as if completely forgetting her family and her own roots.

Yet strangely, Lord Duty — The Orator — frequently received chests full of golden coins that came delicately wrapped and signed:

Your daughter.

Orator always showed them the golden coins with pride inside his red eyes. His tongue was silvery now, so he would start a long talk about how Rea hadn’t forgotten them, and how she must be busy with something important.

Those golden chests came, without fail, carried by a group of merchants who traded goods between Fokay and Darklore.

If they asked the merchants how they obtained them, they would begin to stutter and stammer, elbowing each other, telling them not to ask questions.

Never ask questions. Never ask about the matters of The Hollow Judge.

That was a rule. A rule all people of the City of Sorrow knew by now.

Rea was not willing to spare her story to her family. Even the fact that she was in the Church of Sorrow, striving to become a Saintess, all while already having obtained a disciple under her.

Those were achievements even Meris didn’t yet have. But the God-Touched was somehow afraid of what others would think of her.

The worst part was that whatever they would conjure inside their minds regarding her… it would always be wrong.

Rea had changed.

She was no longer the small, fearful girl she once was. No. Now, she was the one instilling fear in others.

And the God-Touched was merciless.

Kaden became increasingly curious. The desire to know more about his fiancée paraded his mind.

Now here he was, in the present moment, inside his room. He sat on the carpeted floor, his back against the bark of his steel-wood bed, leaning against it lazily.

One leg was drawn upward, the other stretched out.

His eyes, sword-shaped pupils made of crimson stars, rested on the erratic Little Rory flapping her wings all over the room.

She was shouting. Or rather, crowing.

“Master! Master!” Rory chirped, “You need to accept my request!”

Kaden arched his left eyebrow, “Why?” he inquired.

He was now sixteen years old, and in two days, seventeen years old. His features had matured, his voice more hoarse, taller and more muscled.

Prometheus had cut his hair short.

And now that his mastery over his two Intents had reached a dangerous level, Kaden could keep them activated without feeling anything.

His Crimson Sword Intent was always active now, making him able to kill things at will without delay. His Death Intent too, though Kaden hid its manifestation.

“I want to go!” Rory said, now just in front of Kaden, her red eyes serious. Her wings didn’t pause.

Rory had felt left out by Kaden. Because of that, she came to have this sad feeling that her master didn’t actually need her.

She was down for a moment, even depressed, but she had found a new purpose.

Eimi.

Rory liked Eimi very much. She was the one that kept her company when Kaden always disappeared alone.

So she wanted to be with her and help her in her endeavors. Especially now that Eimi had awakened.

Kaden watched his beast quietly, understanding her feelings.

She was going to Eimi because she knew that there she would be needed, and there she could use her power effectively and even have a chance to evolve.

To be something more. Something glorious.

It was something quite impossible with Kaden. He had too much versatility for Rory to shine beside him.

He sighed inwardly in guilt, stretched his hand, and caressed Rory’s head. The beast purred like a cat, closed her eyes, and snuggled deeper into him, now against his chest.

Prometheus smiled.

“I am sorry for letting you down,” he whispered.

“No…” Rory shook her head, and cocked her beak upward to stare into his eyes, “I was the useless one. I am too weak.”

“You are not.” Kaden shook his head, his hand subtly glowing red while caressing Rory. “Your illusion and transformation abilities are incredible. You will shine more with Eimi. So go and help the young girl. My sister likes her very much. Keep her alive for us, okay?”

He grinned next.

Rory nodded energetically, “I will!” She crowed, then flew away enthusiastically.

Kaden found himself alone once more. He exhaled and raised his head to the ceiling.

“It’s time, isn’t it?” he whispered.

‘Will you go back now?’ Reditha asked.

“No. My birthday is in two days, and that’s the day of the Sul Lotus Blood Festival, as you know. I promised to be present for Meris and…”

He paused, smiling forlornly,

“…I want to see Inara one last time before going back.”

Reditha and Blanche fell silent. More than anyone, they knew how the situation with Inara hurt Kaden.

It had been two years. Two years without anything except a simple, dry hello.

Kaden wanted to speak with her. And this festival of love and kindness through blood was his last chance.

Hopefully…

“She will accept my invitation, right?”

Reditha was about to say something rude but truthful. But before she got the chance, Blanche had already spoken.

‘Definitely!’ A crimson-gold spark spawned and stood atop his shoulder. ‘Definitely, sweetie!’

The Phoenix kissed his cheek in tender love, while Reditha rolled her eyes at Blanche.

‘Bloody simp.’

‘Stay silent, sword.’

‘Better than chicken.’

The bickering restarted again. The three hundred and fifty-sixth one.

Kaden only smiled, and willed Death to show him his stats.

—End of Chapter 378—