BXBX NOVEL Chapter 378: Envy’s Room
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Author's Note:
Exile: This effect means the affected card is removed from the game. It doesn't count as "Destroy", so a card with "Indestructibility" would still be exiled from the game.
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Daniel gazed into Envy's eyes, noting the genuine concern mixed with a faint hint of hesitation, barely perceptible. He understood that this hesitation stemmed from the last vestige of Envy's concern for the Hightower, an organization she still held a soft spot for despite its flaws. A silent understanding passed between them.
Daniel wouldn't actively seek to destroy the Hightower, at least not for now.
"Okay, I understand. Don't worry. Also… as long as Golden Scale doesn't come knocking or someone doesn't try to mess with me in the name of the Hightower, I'll try to play nice," Daniel assured Envy before turning to Reiko.
"Thank you very much, Reiko. Would you like a body for you to reside in? Always residing in my blade wouldn't be that comfortable… I think?" Daniel offered, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Reiko's spectral form shimmered with anticipation. "It would be my pleasure, Lord Emberweave. I'll surely repay this kindness," she replied with a polite bow and a grateful smile.
The process of transferring Reiko's essence into a new body would have to wait. For now, she returned to the blade, content with the promise of a more tangible form.
Daniel glanced at Envy, wanting to discuss something further, but the presence of outsiders at the table made him hold back. While he tolerated Ragnar's gruff demeanor, Dupont and Lust still inspired a healthy dose of suspicion. Dupont's connection to the Hightower was concerning, and Lust's unpredictable nature was a constant worry.
After the feast, Daniel excused himself and headed to the living room where little Sylvana and Koyuki awaited him. The evening was spent in lighthearted competition, with a Monopoly board serving as the battleground.
Greed, unsurprisingly, emerged victorious, her avarice translating well to the game's mechanics. Sylvana, fueled by childish determination, came in a close second. Koyuki, ever the pacifist, landed in last place, her good nature and lack of strategic ruthlessness proving to be a disadvantage.
Daniel cherished these moments with his family, smiling as they basked in the warmth of togetherness. He knew he couldn't ignore the situation in Texas for much longer. Helping Greed resolve the issue would free him to spend more quality time with his loved ones, a prospect that filled him with warmth.
As for Ragnar and Dupont, they returned to their hotel after the feast. Lust, ever the shadow, remained with Greed in her room. Greed, with a weary sigh, knew the importance of keeping Lust in check. One wrong move from this unpredictable succubus and Koyuki's wrath, along with a trail of property damage, would surely follow.
Daniel walked into the room and found Koyuki and little Sylvana already asleep, with Koyuki gently caressing the little one's head. She turned toward Daniel, her eyes filled with a knowing warmth.
"Danny, can I sleep with Sylvy tonight? Just the two of us?" Koyuki asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Perhaps you could sleep with Envy? It might be safer for you, considering Lust is still under our roof."
Daniel couldn't help but smile wryly as he responded, "Okay… have it your way, love." He knew better than to argue with Koyuki when she had that determined glint in her eyes.
As he left the room, he noticed Satan sprawled across the floor in his dog form, blissfully unaware of the world as he lapped milk from a bowl. It was a strange sight, a stark contrast to the menacing demon lord Daniel had faced before.
"Woof!" Satan barked at Daniel, wagging his tail as if greeting an old friend. Daniel felt a wave of complicated emotions wash over him. There was a part of him that found Satan's current state almost pitiful, a former Hell Lord reduced to a playful canine. Yet, another part couldn't shake the memory of the destruction and death Satan had caused.
Daniel kept the thought about Satan in the back of his mind and walked toward Envy's room. Outside the door, a whimsical sign with curling script read 'Please Knock 4 times before entering.' Daniel tilted his head in amusement, a smile playing on his lips. He followed the guideline, rapping his knuckles against the door four times.
A slow, creaking sound filled the air, the weight of the door far exceeding that of a normal room. As it swung open, Daniel's eyes widened in surprise. Instead of the expected bedroom interior, a breathtaking vista unfolded before him.
A stone path stretched out across a crystal-clear lake, leading to a floating gazebo bathed in the ethereal glow of a large yellow crescent moon. Lush greenery lined the path, and tiny, glowing green fairies flitted through the air, their laughter tinkling like wind chimes.
He glanced down at the point where the path met the hallway floor, momentarily disoriented by the shift from mundane reality to this magical space. It was clear Envy had used her magic to create a pocket realm, an opulent retreat hidden within the confines of the mansion.
Daniel stepped onto the stone path, the coolness of the stone beneath his bare feet a grounding sensation amidst the fantastical scenery. As he walked, the green fairies darted playfully around him, their tiny forms leaving trails of shimmering light as they closed the massive door behind him with a soft thud. Reaching the gazebo, he found Envy lounging on a long, red cushioned daybed.
She held an old wooden smoking pipe in her hand, a plume of fragrant smoke curling towards the unseen ceiling. Her back was turned to him, her nightgown a vision of sleek black silk that left little to the imagination.
Envy slowly turned, her amethyst eyes gleaming with amusement as she caught sight of him. A smile, both kind and strangely seductive, played on her lips. She stood up to receive him, her movements fluid and graceful.
"A rare guest," she said, her voice a melodious purr. "Why are you here, love?"
Before Daniel could answer, she leaned forward and brushed a light kiss against his lips. The unexpected gesture sent a jolt through him, a mix of surprise and desire warring within him. This wasn't the business-like Envy he was used to. This was a side of her he hadn't seen before, and it was both alluring and unsettling.
"What is this place?" he finally managed to ask, his voice slightly breathless. Awe and wonder battled with a flicker of unease in his chest. The beauty of the room was undeniable, but there was an underlying sensuality to it all that made him feel strangely exposed.
The Lake of Avalon..." Envy spoke with a mysterious smile, her eyes gleaming with an unspoken expectation.
The words struck Daniel like a bolt of lightning. The Lake of Avalon? Wasn't that the location card he held within his mindscape? But this idyllic scene, bathed in moonlight and populated by glowing fairies, bore no resemblance to the landscape on his card.
Confusion and something deeper, a flicker of something Envy couldn't quite decipher despite her years of experience, clouded his expression.
Envy's smile faltered, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features. She let out a sigh, a hint of melancholy tingeing her voice.
"No, it's not right…" she admitted. "This should be… a part of the Lake of Avalon that I can barely remember. A fragment I tried to recreate from the hazy echoes of my past."
Her gaze drifted upwards, tracing the luminous arc of the crescent moon. A veil of sadness seemed to descend upon her as she spoke, her voice tinged with a longing for a forgotten time.
"Is all of this an illusion?" Daniel asked, his own voice hesitant. He was captivated by the beauty of the room, yet the sensuality of the atmosphere and the unexpected intimacy of Envy's greeting stirred a disquiet within him.
"No, not entirely," Envy replied, shaking her head. She crouched down by the lake's edge, her hand dipping into the crystal-clear water before emerging, palm outstretched towards him. The water clung to her skin, glistening in the moonlight.
Daniel reached out tentatively and brushed his fingertips against the water droplets. It felt real, undeniably so. A spark of curiosity ignited within him.
"Is it real?" he repeated, his gaze locked on hers.
Envy smirked, a playful glint returning to her eyes. With a flick of her wrist, the crescent moon morphed into a full, luminous orb, bathing the scene in a soft, ethereal glow.
"At least… the moon is not," she confessed. "This place holds a special meaning for me, Danny. I used scraps of memory – soil, water, air, even fairy dust – the very essence of the Lake of Avalon, to weave this pocket dimension within my own magical realm."
A wistful smile graced her lips. "I yearned to recreate the moon of that night… but alas, I cannot simply travel to the moon itself and pilfer its soil." Her voice trailed off, lost in a dream of a bygone era.