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The Ravenster estate sat quietly atop the hill. Will Ravenster was indeed a cautious man; to prevent Yalin’s escape, he had brought every last one of his men. The consequence was that the recently occupied manor now stood utterly deserted.
“Come in,”
Yalin pushed the door open and stepped inside, Liyang following closely behind him.
‘Was this truly Yalin’s former home?’ Liyang surveyed her surroundings, taking in the room’s interior.
The estate bore the marks of its long history; the plaster was peeling from the walls, and the grand chandelier suspended from the ceiling showed signs of loosening. As a fallen noble house, the Ravensters had left behind no substantial wealth. What little there was, Will had plundered, discarding many valueless items, leaving the already sparsely decorated rooms feeling even more desolate.
In a corner near the entrance lay several bundles of weapons, evidently left behind by Will and his men.
“Find somewhere to sit if you like,”
After giving his instruction, Yalin crouched down, meticulously opening each bundle and sifting through its contents, hoping to uncover any valuable clues.
Liyang nodded silently. As she made her way towards the living room, a glint in her peripheral vision caught her attention: a fallen photo frame on the floor. The frame had likely once adorned a counter, but now lay amidst the scattered debris.
Liyang bent to pick it up, revealing a family portrait inside: two adults and two children, their smiles radiating warmth. One of the boys bore a striking resemblance to a younger Yalin. The glass surface of the frame had been shattered, and a brutal, deep ‘X’ had been carved across the photograph with a knife, betraying immense fury.
“Are these… Yalin’s family?”
“Hm? Let me see.”
Yalin reached out, took the frame, and nodded. ‘This was indeed taken when I was a child. More than a decade has passed.’ He gazed at the black-haired woman in the photograph. ‘His mother—Livia.’
She wore an exquisite gown, her hair elegantly coiffed, a faint smile gracing her lips. Even standing still, her poise and grace were undeniable. ‘Just as he remembered, his mother hadn’t changed. Yalin found it difficult to reconcile this image with the mother Fulin and Crow had described.’
“Is that girl your sister?”
“Yes, that’s Carol. She lives with me in Ailanmia now.”
Yalin replied casually, then stood and placed the photo frame back on the counter. ‘Just as he expected, Will’s men were nothing more than disposable pawns, yielding no valuable intelligence.’
“It’s cold out here. Let’s go back inside.”
Yalin locked the main door, entered the living room, and settled onto the sofa. He then glanced at Liyang, who sat opposite him, her head bowed.
“I imagine you have many questions. Feel free to ask anything; I’ll tell you what I can.”
Liyang slowly raised her head, her body trembling slightly as she met Yalin’s expressionless gaze. ‘Earlier, when he met Saki, Yalin had worn a gentle smile and presented himself as perfectly courteous. Yet, the moment Saki was gone, he seemed to transform into a different person entirely. Was it because, in front of her, there was no longer any need for pretense?’
Liyang murmured, “Have you always lived like this?”
“If you’re referring to my pretense, then yes.”
“Why… why do you do that?”
“You’ve seen what I am, haven’t you?”
Yalin flexed his right hand. Liyang had witnessed Yalin sever his own arm, blood splattering across the ground, the clean cut still visible at his sleeve. Yet now, his exposed arm was perfectly intact, the skin smooth, without a single scar. Not only that, the gaping wound that had pierced his chest had vanished without a trace. Such an unnatural rate of recovery, coupled with the black mist that emanated from his healing wounds, spoke volumes. ‘That was the power of the Abyssal Church… a power only those connected to an evil god could possess.’
“Tell me, if the Academy or those court mages ever found out about this, what do you think would become of me?”
Liyang offered no reply, but she knew precisely what that fate would entail. ‘A desperate dead end, with no other possibility.’
“You… are you one of the Church’s people?”
“No, at least I don’t believe so.” Yalin shook his head. “Whether it’s connected to the Church is another matter, though.”
“Is that so…”
Liyang’s hands, which had been clutching her clothes tightly, loosened their grip slightly.
“So, Yalin… is this your true self?”
“Yes. The one who can sever another’s head without a moment’s hesitation—that is the real me.”
Yalin’s tone was flat, devoid of any attempt at evasion.
“Well? Are you disappointed?”
Liyang lowered her head again, averting her gaze. ‘But… Will and his men wanted to kill you too, didn’t they? And Mr. Saki also said he had killed many former servants… I just think, that kind of torturous cruelty is a bit…’ At the time, Liyang, hidden behind the trees, had overheard their entire conversation and knew Will would not simply let Yalin go. To save Yalin, she had even steeled herself to kill. Yet, she couldn’t comprehend how Yalin could decapitate those men without a flicker of remorse, as if it were as natural as breathing. And when torturing his own uncle, he had maintained that same detached demeanor.
“You don’t need to make excuses for me, you know.”
Yalin interrupted her.
“As you’ve said, my uncle not only wanted to kill me but also intended to torture me. He was, indeed, a complete scoundrel. However, the me who tortured and then killed him is also a scoundrel. There’s no contradiction there. The reason I tortured him was to find the mastermind behind the plot to frame me. Even if he had been a good man, if he had refused to speak, I would have used the same methods. That’s all there is to it.’
Liyang pressed her lips together. Yalin’s cold, stark words had shattered the last vestiges of fantasy in her heart.
“Your sister… are you like this in front of Carol too?”
“No, she doesn’t know.”
“Is there anyone else who knows your true self?”
“Mother might have known, but she’s dead. Which means, you’re likely the only one who truly knows me.”
Yalin’s gaze bored into Liyang’s eyes, dark pupils seeming to swirl with vortices.
“So, Liyang, now that you know the real me, what will you do?”
You’ve got to see this next! In the End, It Was You will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : In the End, It Was You
