Wicked Reincarnation - Chapter 216

But Lia was a bit embarrassed. She turned to Skyla and Mil, “Can you guys leave us for a bit?”

“I’ll help Zero in the kitchen,” taking the hint Skyla stood up and Mil followed her, “Me too! It smells very good!”

“Yano-”

“No, it’s too dangerous,” Yano’s eyes softened seeing Lia cautiously holding onto his arm.

“But it might be… maybe it is Lily,” Lia almost forgot that Lily wasn’t with them during the attack. She was apparently evacuating the citizens. Maybe Lily saw the broadcast and hurried to Lia but was then captured. No matter what Lia needed to bail Lily out. At least someone she could save.

“You’re right, I want to go as soon as possible but I need your help. I’ll listen to your plans and suggestions, so please!”

Yano didn’t answer and Lia sucked in a deep breath before moving closer to Yano and then- sneakily pressed a light kiss on his cheek, “Please, Yano.”

Yano held his cheek and in disbelief turned to Lia. He really couldn’t resist her, so he grabbed her by the chin and pulled her closer. His eyes were filled with desire and Lia watched with panic and excitement how he got closer and closer until, “You’ll really listen to what I say?”

Lia nodded.

“If I say pull away, you’ll do it? Even if it’s retreating just before the goal?”

Lia curled her fingers into fists before nodding, “Yes.”

It didn’t matter. For it to escalate to that point, Lia wouldn’t let it happen. She’d save Lily without complications.

“Alright,” Yano whispered softly and with regret pulled away. Lia expected him to go further and but he didn’t, “You clowns stop peeping in hiding. Come out.”

Oh, Lia slightly turned red. They were watching. Lia wanted to bury herself in shame but Yano was in a good mood.

“However, there are conditions. You first train and we’ll come up with a plan.”

“Ok, but,” Lia looked at the dishes before them, “I want to visit the other hidden families.”

“No,” Yano once again rejected, “You’ll only be found out.”

“I need to, I need to apologise to them. That’s the least I can offer them.”

Yano watched Lia’s lips, “…Alright.”

“You really can’t refuse her you love-struck wimp,” Skyla sneered as she rubbed Zero’s head.

“Skyla,” Yano turned with a smirk to her, “How long has it been? More than 100 years? You and Mil still-”

Mil coughed and almost choked on all the food he stuffed into his inflated cheeks.

“Now, now guys, let’s enjoy the delicious feast Zero cooked for us,” Mil gulped his food down.

“Yes! Lia, how is it?”

Lia has seen so many expectant eyes towards her so many times, she was helpless against them.

“It’s really good. Thanks, Zero,” Lia wasn’t lying. Zero might be a natural talent when it came to cooking.

“Hehe,” Zeo smirked at Yano who was still rubbing his cheeks. Lia wished he’d stop because she was getting embarrassed.

***

“You can just sleep in my room. I don’t know why you’re ven asking for a separate ro-”

“Is this room free?” Lia ignored Yano and walked into the room next to his.

“Well,” Yano sighed, “At least it’s next to mine.”

Sulking Yano followed Lia and sat on the bed with her. The room looked exactly the same as Yano’s. The only difference were the light yellow walls.

“What are you doing here?” Lia couldn’t help but notice how Yano was constantly staring at her lips, prompting her to scoot away.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Where?”

“To visit the hidden families, it’s safer this way.”

Yano going with her would set both of them at ease.

“Also, it’s best to change your appearance too.”

“How?”

“You’ve done it before,” Yano grinned.

“The necklace but the person- wait, don’t tell me,” Lia had a bad feeling.

“Nope, not what you think. It’s my dad’s.”

“It’s Oldie’s?” Lia was baffled.

The strong power that could grant almost everything belonged to Oldie? It did make sense now that Lia thought about it because Yano’s power was also similar. So, it ran in the family.

Then Lia realised, “Is that how you found out about me in the Mortal World?”

“Yes,” Yano laughed, “The moment I saw the necklace I knew you were hiding something, then I negated the power and voila, who knew it was you.”

Yano inched closer to Lia, “My dad can give you a few necklaces. Actually, I should be the one choosing them. Which colour do you like? What kind of-”

While Yano was busy figuring out Lia’s taste, Lia remembered that Xavi said that the owner’s power always required a sacrifice. It was the restriction for such a grand power. Also, Susa said that the owner didn’t have long left.

Did Yano perhaps not know of it? If granting a small wish like changing appearance caused Oldie something to lose, shouldn’t Yano be aware of it?

Or did Oldie keep quiet in order not to worry Yano?

“Yano, do you know of your father’s consequences?”

“Huh?” Yano stopped reciting different jewelleries and perplexedly looked at Lia, “What are you talking about? There’s none!”

Yano looked confident but Lia was sure Oldie purposefully didn’t tell Yano and there must be a reason for it. Lia couldn’t interfere.

“I see, can’t you change my appearance?”

Yano’s power was also basically granting himself anything he imagined.

“That’s hard,” Yano truthfully said, “Any ability related stuff I can create but changing appearance isn’t really-”

“It’s not?” in films it was.

“Or in other words, I can’t influence other people. I can just change myself or what benefits me.”

“Oh, I see,” so it was like that. Not even Yano could have anything. That was why Oldie’s power was so terrifying and probably desired if the public ever came to know of it.

“It’s ok. I don’t want to change appearance anyways. I want to face everyone as Lia. I didn’t even have time to bury their corpses…”

“It’s ok,” Yano raised his hand before gently stroking Lia’s head, “Rest a bit. We’ll leave tomorrow and then quickly come back, so we can prepare to bail Lily out, ok?”

Lia nodded and waited for Yano to to leave.

Time flew past and it was evening already. Lia didn’t move. She sat on the bed. The same position as Yano left her.

Lia was uneasy. Her mind spiralled and her head hurt. There was something she had to confirm. Something that didn’t let her go.

And so Lia stood up. The moon was already vibrantly shining.

The lights in the hallway were out. It seemed like everyone was asleep but from the gap of a door, one room still had the lights on and Lia walked towards it. Her feet stepped lightly over the wooden floor. Trying to be silent, trying not to give her away, trying to not disturb anyone.

Then her thin fingers knocked against the door. The hard surface leaved behind red marks.

“Come in.”

Then the fingers moved to the door handle before pressing it down. With the door closing, Lia found herself in a fairly old looking study.

“Lia, what do I deserve your presence for?” Oldie lightly laughed.

He had a carefree personality but right now he seemed to be working hard. Several documents laid across the table. The question was, what for? What did he need to work on?

“I wanted to talk to you in private.”

“Is it about marriage?”

Lia pursed her lips together. Like father, like son. Although Yano didn’t want to be associated with his dad.

“You should know very well it isn’t.”

“Oh? My son would be devastated, so sad,” Oldie made a whining expression. Lia couldn’t believe he was a grown man.

“I came to talk to you about something important:”

“Well, isn’t that important?”

“Please, stop,” Lia felt a headache coming.

“Haha ok, tell me.”

“Why didn’t you tell Yano about the consequences of using your power?”

Oldie’s grin disappeared and he slowly sighed. His eyes stared at the wall before asking, “So you figured it out?”

“Yes,” Lia wasn’t sure if it was right for her to talk about it but she wanted to know the truth no matter what, “Do you…”

Lia fought for words, “Do you know you don’t have long anymore?”

A heavy silence fell over the room. Back then having power wasn’t the norm, immortals were really almost immortal but to have a power that ate one alive for using it, that was just too cruel.

“I do,” finally Oldie answered.

It wasn’t in his usual chattery tone but that of an old man who has seen too much in his life, “Even though I rarely use my power. It was just once. I made a terrible mistake once and- haha, why am I even talking about the past?”

Lia could hear the pain in Oldie’s voice. She didn’t know what he’s been through but it was clear he was still suffering from it. Lia briefly closed her eyes.

She’s long realised since she came back but it wasn’t only her who felt wronged, abandoned from the world, who felt like the whole universe’s weight was on her shoulders.

Everyone carried a burden yet not all showed it. They hid it under various smiles and masks, in order not to break, in order to appear strong. Because once that façade they’ve built for themselves disappeared, it would all come crashing down on them and they’d give up.

Yet sometimes it was good to let it all pour out, tear down the walls one built.

“Do you know how long?”

“Soon,” Oldie shook his head.

“I see.”

“Lia let me be frank with you,” Oldie spoke up after a while, “Because I’ll be leaving soon, I won’t be able to look over Yano.”

Lia knew where this was heading.

“Yano didn’t have it easy. He’s always wanted to see his mother when he was young but as you can see… The truth’s I don’t want to put him in harm’s way. If he goes with you, if he helps you… I know, it’s selfish but a parent’s wish is simple.”

“I understand,” Lia really did. Everyone else has died.

Oldie feared to have Yano die as well, to lose him too. Lia could understand. She painfully clearly understood. Lia had no right to take away Yano too.

“I also don’t want to harm anyone anymore as well.”

“You’re a clever kid,” Oldie looked at her with pain, “With every power-”

“Comes a great burden,” Lia tiredly smiled, “I’ll try my best to change Yano’s mind.”

“Haha, that’s an impossible task, I just wanted-”

“No, it’s ok. Goodnight,” Lia rose from the chair and walked out.

She should’ve known she shouldn’t have gotten close to Yano. Shouldn’t have wanted to rely on him. It was best to be alone. What was she even thinking about getting comfortable with Yano? Just what-

“Why are you up still so late?” Yano leaned against his door and smiled at her tenderly.

His messy hair shone from the dim light behind him. Yano really…

Ha, Lia took a deep breath, “Yano I don’t need your help anymore. I’ll leave here. Thanks for everything.”