Looking past the terrified expression of the girl hanging between life and death, Cassius retracted a few more steps, returning to the first questions she asked upon arriving. "My na is… not sothing you need to know at this point in ti. But I can tell you how I know about that necklace dangling on your neck."
Stella's eyes widened in genuine shock, as she had already surmised this entire sequence of events to be one big ploy laid out by this man and maybe an organization behind him. She assud they had sohow figured out the importance she held for the necklace adorning her neck, as it was sothing given to her by her mother. But with the mysterious man's most recent words, all of her solid speculations were thrown out the window.
With the sa mildly amused smirk showing through his dark veil, Cassius went on to briefly explain the extent of his relationship with the necklace and, more specifically, the symbol.
Half a minute later.
"...Your mother as well… How can this be…?"
"As well?" Cassius questioned. "Are you saying that your mother had a similar necklace?"
Stella shook her head. "Not just that, but this very necklace was the one she passed on to before vanishing! She also left with a series of warning words, but I don't really think she was lucid at the ti…"
"You must tell what she said, Stella!" Cassius urged as he took his finger away from her throat. "You have to tell exactly what she said!"
Stella, surprised by the mysterious man's sudden change in deanor, was too muddle-minded to realize that she now had a decent chance to counterattack.
Yet, she didn't attack.
Instead, her eyes clouded with emotions developed because of mories from long ago, and she mumbled, "...M-My mother said, 'Beware of the creatures of nightmare; beware of the imposters, and beware of the one that descends clad in purple.'"
"To this day, I still have no idea what she ant by anything she was talking about… Surely she must've just been speaking nonsense because she was feeling pre-guilt over deciding to leave her family the next day—"
"No!" Cassius blurted out, his expression a mixture of several complicated emotions. "There is definitely more to your mother's words than ets the eye, and it is very likely that she left you for a reason as well."
"As well?" Stella was feeling reverse déjà vu. "Are you saying—"
"Yes," answered Cassius. "My mother left as well, but it happened when I was a few years younger than you. However, with our difference in age thrown into the pit, they should've left at around the sa ti. And though I have no idea what the other two things your mother said an, I know that 'creatures of nightmare' are the monsters in the Gates."
"The monsters in the Gates!? But why would she…" Stella found herself at a loss for words, unable to understand a multitude of different things at the mont.
Suddenly turning her head up, she asked, "Then are you also aware of the World Tree's Sanctuary? My grandma rambles about it often, and ever since my mom vanished, she seed to lose her mind, with the World Tree being really the only thing she talks about…"
"I used to think that what she spoke about was just her one way of grieving, with it having little to no chance of actually aning anything… But if what you say is true, then there might just be sothing more to her crazed ravings…"
"The World Tree's Sanctuary…" Cassius wordlessly moved his lips, feeling sothing pull him toward that na and the intent behind it. "...I have never heard of that term, but I feel as if it is vastly important to the mysteries surrounding our mothers… Maybe, just maybe, they left for reasons beyond re human selfishness…"
Even though she had just t this man and didn't even know what he looked like, Stella felt a slight sense of hope bubble up within her because of his words. However, when she rembered where she needed to be, dread washed over her pretty face.
"I want to continue this subject, but I really have to go sowhere! I forgive you for trying to kill , and here, take my number," she hurriedly said while writing down a string of digits on a slip of paper that appeared from sowhere down below. "Make sure not to contact ! I will contact you!"
"Ahh…"
Without even receiving the opportunity to say anything of substance, Cassis saw Stella giddy up on out of there, with her final farewell words being, "Talk to you later tonight!"
Cassius felt like he had done a terrible job at keeping her still, but what he gained from this encounter made all that inconsequential.
He had originally assud that nothing much would co from luring Stella out to a secluded alleyway, but trying never hard anyone, so he tossed out the bait, hoping to snag sothing.
Yet, what he caught was sothing far beyond what even he bargained for!
Though, only the following period would fully articulate what exactly all of this ant for him…
Experience more tales on empire
Three minutes later.
Upon leaving the dark alleyway, Cassius was surprised to find a familiar face staring him down in a barely concealed accusatory manner.
Her long black hair cascaded down her slender shoulders and plump bottom, whereas her sparkling star-like eyes bore through his soul as if they could discern everything with just a single glance. Yet, it was impossible to understand exactly what she was thinking; whether she was mad, sad, disappointed, or annoyed was a complete mystery.
However, Cassius could still tell that she was feeling sothing on the negative side of the spectrum—that much was certain by the sassy way she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk.
Who else could it be but Bella?
"You look as lovely today as always—"
"Ha! Stop with the flowery words and tell who that woman was!" Bella, not even giving him a chance to play coy, raised her voice and demanded.
...
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