Chapter 237 - Can You Promise Me?
Damien had already sent two healing pills, one each to the Clive and Rivers Family. And the patriarchs didn't know whether to be surprised or not as they found that the ugly scars did slowly disappear.
They were thrilled when they saw that Dennisa and Roy completely recovered, and there wasn't even an ugly patch left on their bodies, and Roy's manhood seemed to slowly recover as well, although it didn't seem like he would be able to use it anytime soon.
However, this was more than enough for them who felt crestfallen, thinking that they were doomed to look like horrendous beasts for the rest of their lives.
The patriarchs felt like kissing Alchemist Azrael's feet for achieving a miracle yet again. They felt that they were right to put their hopes in him, and the humiliation was worth it.
However, they remembered Alchemist Azrael's warning that even if Roy and Dennisa got cured, it was not necessarily permanent as the disease might rebound, and until he became a Rank 6 alchemist, they wouldn't truly be cured.
They consulted their family doctors, and indeed it did seem like the pills Alchemist Azrael gave were suppressing and holding the diseases at bay like a dam holding back a vast stream.
If any unknown variable affected them, the disease would come back again with greater vigor.
Now the patriarchs felt even tenser as they felt like their heirs were walking around with a time bomb attached to their bodies.
They were extremely tempted to sacrifice one of their precious resources like a Rank 7 Healing Pill to see if it could heal their heirs. But again, they didn't dare to since this disease was extremely strange, and their family doctors advised not to use any healing pills without Alchemist Azrael's advice as it could only worsen the condition.
Dennisa and Roy felt it the worst as they always have to be scared, thinking when the ugly disease might hit them back. They felt like a knife was constantly pressed against their neck, not knowing when it would slice their necks.
However, they felt that this was better than not healing at all as they could at least now go outside without shutting themselves inside their mansions.
But they still felt the shame, indignation, and anger for what they had to do to get these healing pills. They couldn't forget how mortifying it was to kowtow to Valentina, and they decided to vent all their anger and hatred for the upcoming match against Valentina and Damien.
It was afternoon when Damien and Reva were having their usual discussions. Damien noticed that Reva's eyes looked as if she was distracted thinking about something else.
"Did something happen today?" Damien asked with a narrowed gaze.
Reva's eyes suddenly shifted towards him as she shook her head, "No, nothing happened. Why did you ask?"
"Your mind seemed elsewhere, especially when we were discussing the medical formulas. Are you facing any troubles?" Damien prodded.
Reva shook her head with a calm smile, "Nothing of those sorts. It's just thinking about the recent attack on our city by the Forsaken; I wonder what their next moves are. Damien, what do you think about the Forsaken?"
Damien was a bit taken aback by her sudden question, but he answered calmly, "I don't know much about them other than the fact that they are not happy about who is ruling this empire. Is their enmity really that strong against this empire?"
Seeing his oblivious expression, a certain emotion flashed past Reva's eyes as she said, "Yes, it is, and we are trying our best to stop their terrorism. We need peace in this empire, and these constant attacks and fights are a menace to the people. I hope to resolve all this without destroying this land or any wars that might cause millions of innocents to die."
She continued as she looked at his eyes, "I believe that in the future, you will rise up to become a prominent figure. A marvelous talent like you would easily cross the present limits of this realm as if it was nothing. You are the first in the history of our world to have so much talent that even I can't imagine how powerful you would become in the future. But I hope as a friend, I can count on you when the time comes and when this land needs you."
Seeing her serious expression and hearing her words, Damien was surprised and wondered why she was talking about these things to him as if she was sure war was going to happen in the future.
However, he put up a gentle smile as he said, "Of course, what are friends for?"
Reva leaned her head forward as she asked in a soft voice, "Do you really mean that? Can you promise me?"
"Promise?" Damien wondered why she was becoming so serious, and when she asked him to promise her, he felt some strings in his heart being pulled.
He had no problem in lying to his enemies or giving false promises to them, but even though he was telling himself that Reva was just his target to gather information about the Xeton God, he was strangely finding it hard to make an empty promise to her, especially while looking at her eyes.
Despite how used to he was at lying to his enemies' faces, oddly, he was finding it hard to make himself do that to Reva, especially when it seemed like she was genuinely asking him.
He also wondered if something recently happened to ask this or whether she was trying to place some trust and faith in him.
He, however, said in a sincere tone as he grasped her wrist, having the friendship bracelet, "Reva, don't worry, as long as we are friends, I will always be there for you no matter which situation. That's the least I should do as a friend."
Reva looked at his hands, holding her wrist gently, and then looked at his clear eyes without a single ripple as he said his words, showing how sincere he was about his words.
Her gaze flickered as she heard him mention the condition about their friendship, but inwardly, she felt satisfied.
She smiled faintly, "Mmm.I knew I could rely on you since I have no one else to ask. Thank you, Damien."
Damien waved his hand, "No need for thanks or anything. As friends, it's only a given we should be there for each other."
——
It was already night when Damien was sitting in the meditation room of his villa.
Luna came out of her Shard of Essence and asked, "What was that all about during your extra class with Reva? Why did you hesitate?" She asked with squinted eyes.
Damien glanced away as he said, "It's nothing. I was just surprised that she asked me to promise her out of nowhere. I wonder if it's because she has started to accept me as a friend."
"Or maybe she's testing whether she could trust you. Anyway, whatever might be the case, why did you hesitate even though you only want to use her for information?" Luna asked with a fanciful smile.
Damien was at a loss for words hearing her question as even he wondered why he felt bad when he thought about making a false promise to Reva.
If it were his enemies, he wouldn't even blink while making such promises, and surely Reva wasn't his hated enemy or anything. Still, she also wasn't someone he had feelings for, or so he thought.
He still didn't know if he could truly trust Reva even though so far she didn't seem like someone who could be his enemy. He was afraid to trust her without knowing for sure and sometimes wished that he could get the information he wanted and end all this farce immediately.
The longer he spent time with Reva, the more hesitant he was becoming. And seeing that her life was not as he imagined but seemed to have gone through difficult times especially after the death of her mother, he felt a tug in his heart.
"It seems the longer you live in this world, the more bad you are becoming, tsk tsk. Finally, your harem senses are kicking in," Luna chuckled with her arms crossed.
Damien rolled his eyes, "Oh please. I just feel strange whenever I see her, but I can't explain it. Unless she's some sort of psychic who can play tricks on someone's mind, I can't explain why I am feeling this."
"In other words, you got the hots for her," Luna abruptly remarked.
"No, come on. Why do you think that I am after every girl I try to get close to?" Damien asked with an exasperated sigh.
"Because you really seem to get into character whenever you are near her," Luna whimsically said.
Damien waved his hand and said, "Anyway, forget about it.. About my Anti-God Arts, I had something to ask you which could help me for my upcoming match."