Chapter 26 - John Graves (End of Volume 1)

Chapter 26: Chapter 26 - John Graves (End of Volume 1)

Chapter 26 - John Graves (End of Volume 1)

In the Goblin Lair, three women sat silently each in their own world waiting for John to return.

Lyra wanted nothing more than for him to hug her tightly and tell her how much he loved her. The longer he was gone, the more restless she became.

On the other hand,Aiko sat with her hands in her lap trying to find the courage to tell him how she felt. Every time she thought she had the courage, she was stopped by her doubts.

Airi kept pressing a hand to her chest. Her heart had been beating a strange rhythm ever since that day he and she talked outside the cave. It didn’t make any sense. She had only known him for a few days.

Strange how three totally different women sat waiting for the same man. He truly was a menace.

Their thoughts were broken up by the sound of footsteps echoing throughout the lair. All three women immediately rose, drawing their weapons in their hands.

Then John entered the lair with a wide grin across his face.

The first to reach him, of course, was Lyra. She ran to him and he gave her a deep hug.

"I missed you, darling," she whispered on his chest. "I’m ready for tonight, you know."

Next up was Airi who wrapped her arms around him. The surprise hug caused Aiko to narrow her eyes at him, although Lyra just watched silently.

Airi was tearing up. John patted her head softly.

"It’s fine now," he told her.

Lastly, Aiko. Like the other two, she greeted him with a hug... and then to everyone’s shock, she leaned in and placed her lips on his.

When she pulled off, her face was bright red from her cheeks all the way to her ears.

"John... I don’t know if you’ll take me as one of your harem, but... it would be thrilling to have you as my husband."

Airi smiled at her.

"So you finally made a move, huh? He hasn’t denied you or accepted you yet... maybe he just needs some time to think..."

It wasn’t until another presence appeared out of nowhere that the others noticed her.

A woman stepped out from the shadows cloaked in light, form-fitting black clothing for silent movement and piercing eyes from a professional killer. This was Vesper Quinn, one of the S-rank adventurers of the Frostveil Guild and a true assassin.

Even to someone like Lyra who specialized in being invisible with illusions, Vesper had managed to sneak up on her. This woman was the real deal.

John spoke first.

"Sorry everyone. This is Vesper Quinn. She’s here to watch over me for the next three days... until my execution."

The three women tensed at the word. The thought of losing him made them quake, though none of them spoke. They all believed deep down that John would find away. There was no way he would actually be executed.

Vesper pulled out a paper and began reading with a voice as sweet as honey.

"Mr. John Graves, class Necromancer is expected to be executed in three days for the crime of killing an S-rank adventurer and the massacre of a village. Furthermore, his class is forbidden. Signed by Minister Glen Roberts."

Everyone flinched at that name.

Aiko’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. Her master was alive.

John’s mind raced as he remembered the Guildmaster’s earlier words about a man that became one with the sword... who had in the blink of their eyes defeated her and the other S-ranks.

They didn’t comment on that name, it would have been too suspicious.

Vesper turned to John.

"I will be back."

Without another sound, she spun on her heel and vanished from the lair at tremendous speeds.

As soon as she was gone, Aiko released a shaky breath and smiled.

"Master is alive... I’m glad."

But the truth of the situation soon hit her. If her master was alive, then her long search for revenge might never come.

John looked at her gently. "Aiko, I’m happy for you. You’ve been chasing revenge this whole time.. but your master is alive. So what are you going to do now?"

Airi exploded with fury.

"What do you mean ’what is she going to do’?! Are you trying to send her back to that terrible man?! Didn’t you hear that he wants to kill you?! What is wrong with you, John?! She just poured her heart out to you and you’re asking her that?!"

Aiko looked at Airi in shock. She had never seen the usually cheerful gyaru so angry.

John’s expression turned distant. "It’s better if she goes to her master. I’m going to die in three days, anyway."

Lyra grabbed his hands tightly.

"Darling, this isn’t like you at all. Why are you saying these things?"

John gently yanked his hands away. Am sorry, ladies."

He turned and walked out the lair without looking at any of the three women. None of the three women chased after him. They all knew it was pointless.

Aiko broke down completely. Tears flowed down her cheeks. This was the first time she had ever truly felt love, and the first time she had ever been heartbroken..

Lyra placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Maybe he’ll come around later. He’s my master... and you’re his ally. Airi is too."

---

Three days passed.

The three women sat there waiting, hoping that at least John would come say goodbye.

He didn’t.

Then, on the day of his execution, footsteps once again echoed through the lair. The three women all turned to see who it was.

The Ice Mage, Elise.

Lyra and Aiko both stood up at the same time.

"What are you doing here?!" they hissed together. "You should be in Alderia, you witch!"

Airi looked confused for a moment before realizing that Elise was the Ice Mage of the Five Great Mages.

Elise raised her hand lazily.

"Relax, you three. I’m not here to kill anyone. This is about John. He’s about to be executed... the three of you need to come back to Alderia with me so he can find a way to return as well."

She continued,

"He and I talked last night. He didn’t want to involve any of you. He said he would escape on his own."

Aiko’s eyes blazed with fury.

"You’re lying. He just wants to sacrifice himself for us. He doesn’t have me, or a key, or any way to reopen the rift."

Airi wasn’t sure what was going on, but Lyra soon explained. "Without a key, John can’t leave this world. A Hero can act as a key as well. If the two of you go now, he may never be able to return to Alderia."

Elise looked somber. "If the three of you refuse to come, Glen Roberts will kill you all and John’s sacrifice will be all for nothing. So decide. Are you in, or out?"

The three women looked at each other for a long time. Then, they all nodded.

Elise smiled and gestured for them all to come.

---

Somewhere, a white-haired man sat alone on a simple chair.

He knew he had been executed by Glen Roberts already.

Why was he still alive?

Looking around, all he saw was a white void.

Then soft footsteps echoed behind him.

He turned to see an ethereal woman. Her mere existence was beautiful.

Then she spoke her voice was even ethereal as well.

"John Graves," she said gently. "I need you to go on a mission for me."

---

A/N:

This marks the end of Volume 1: The Beginning.

The next arc will be focusing on another plot line. Stay tuned.

Remember to send gifts, power stones and golden tickets for bonus Chapters. Thank you for reading.