NOVEL NEXT Chapter 199: Fate Of A Regressor
"Ugh… finally." Rain muttered under her breath.
She could sense him now — he was drawing closer.
At last, he was coming. But there was someone with him…
Her brows furrowed.
He soon arrived and Rain's eyes froze on the figure beside him.
A young woman, black hair and brown skin reflecting off the evening sun.
Rain's pupils widened instantly — how could she not recognize her?
Lorraine.
Her throat went dry. Lorraine had once been her friend.
A warm presence in her past life, someone she had laughed with, fought alongside, and trusted.
But that Lorraine had died.
This one… this one didn't know her. This was their first meeting, at least from Lorraine's side.
A sharp, burning pain swelled in Rain's chest.
Her heart ached in a way she couldn't explain.
'Why? Why do I feel like this?'
She had written exams alongside many people she had once known in her other life. They didn't recognize her as well… She hadn't thought about it like this up until this moment but was the regression worth it when she was in a world where nobody remembered anything about her?
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "H-Hello."
The words stumbled out of her mouth.
Azel blinked, eyes narrowing slightly in surprise.
Rain… was stuttering?
"H… hey." Lorraine answered warmly, flashing a bright smile.
It was the same smile Rain remembered.
The same one that used to make her feel safe, the same one that had once been directed at her countless times in the past.
Now it only made her heart squeeze tighter, a bittersweet ache spreading through her chest.
Azel exhaled quietly and gave a nod to one of the stationed guards they had passed earlier. He loosened his grip on Lorraine's hand, then walked over to his griffin.
The majestic beast gave a low, sharp cry as Azel climbed onto its back with practiced ease.
From there, he let the two girls talk, watching their exchange with mild curiosity.
Lorraine tilted her head and spoke up suddenly. "I wanted to ask a question."
Her tone was gentle but direct.
Rain perked up, nerves thrumming in her chest.
'What does she want to ask me?'
Lorraine leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with sincerity. "Do you like… Azel?"
Rain's heart skipped a beat.
Her pupils shrank in shock and she snapped her gaze toward Azel.
He wasn't looking at them but her face still burned.
"N-No, I don't," she answered quickly, shaking her head. "Why would I?"
'It's just like with Reinhardt… always the same question, always the same wall.'
Lorraine's smile only softened further.
"If that's so, then… I'd like for us to be friends." She extended her hand with quiet earnestness. "If that's okay with you."
Rain froze for a moment, staring at that outstretched hand.
She had no reason to hesitate, no reason to refuse. But she felt nervous about it…
Still, A faint smile made its way to her lips and she reached out, clasping Lorraine's hand almost instantly.
"O-Of course I'll accept," Rain said, her voice quieter this time, as she gave a genuine nod.
Compared to the hugs they had shared in the past, a handshake was somewhat… Rain didn't have the word to describe it.
They waved to each other, their smiles thin.
Azel gave a casual nod, guiding his griffin downward. Rain mounted hers as well, cheeks faintly pinkened.
Together, they swooped off the floating island, wings cutting through the air.
Azel turned his head slightly, his golden eyes flickering toward her. "What was that all abou—"
"Hyah!"
Before he could finish, Rain urged her griffin forward with sudden force. The beast let out a cry and surged ahead, leaving Azel far behind in a single burst of speed.
"…She's really dramatic," he muttered under his breath with a helpless sigh.
…
"Hey, I'm home."
The door creaked open and Azel stepped inside.
He barely had a chance to take another step before a small figure leapt at him, hugging his head with surprising force.
"Papa!"
Lillia's high-pitched voice rang with mock-complaint. "Mama is trying to make me wear what I don't want to wear!"
Her little arms squeezed his head tightly, her cheeks puffed out.
Azel chuckled, patting her back gently. "Oh? Is that so?"
Edna soon entered after her, holding up a pink frilly dress in her hands.
She sighed as she walked over, her lips twitching.
"She refuses to wear this." Edna gave her daughter a mild look, though affection softened her tone. "You've worn cute dresses before, why not now?"
Azel raised a brow.
Lillia had indeed worn outfits like that plenty of times before without a fuss.
Why was she suddenly so picky now? He stared at her small, sulky face.
'Is she… maturing? Already at this age?'
He didn't have long to dwell on it.
Edna leaned forward and pressed her lips against his in a soft kiss, pulling back with a smile.
"Welcome home, love."
Her voice was warm, enough to wash away the stress of today. She shifted Lillia into her arms despite the girl's continued protests.
"I haven't made dinner yet," Edna admitted lightly, "but how were the exams?"
"Aced it," Azel replied simply, kissing her back before glancing at Lillia again.
The little girl looked at them for a long second.
Then, cheeks flushing red, she quickly turned her head away with a tiny squeak, as if embarrassed by her parents' affection.
Azel only chuckled and walked further inside.
In one of the side rooms, he found Veyra, Medusa, and Anya gathered together.
They sat and it seemed they were talking about something.
When they noticed him step in, their conversation stopped and they all sighed in relief.
"Great," Azel muttered, stretching his shoulders before smiling. "Just the people I wanted to see. I've got a gift for the three of you. Oh and where's Feng?"
"Master, I'm here!"
Feng's voice echoed down the hallway before he appeared in a blur, skidding into the room.
He stumbled mid-step and tumbled onto the floor with a loud thud, groaning.
Azel pinched the bridge of his nose but smiled anyway. "Good. I've got something for you too."
He pulled several small packages from his storage ring, tearing them open with casual ease.
Inside gleamed three small rings, shining with enchantments.
"As promised, your storage rings." His gaze fell briefly on Medusa. "Well, I didn't promise you one specifically… but a gift is a gift."
He then pulled out another small package, tossing it toward Feng.
"And for you," Azel said, his tone becoming sharper, "a body-refining pill. Use it carefully. Cultivate with it slowly, don't—"
"Got it, Master!" Feng interrupted with eager excitement.
He was already scrambling up and rushing out of the room before Azel could even finish his warning.
"…I was going to say 'don't rush,'" Azel muttered with a sigh.
Turning back, he found the three women eyeing the rings with a mixture of delight and anticipation.
Medusa, in particular, stepped forward with a playful gleam in her eyes.
"I speak for all of us when I say this, Master…" She tilted her head, her voice softening into a sweet, almost teasing tone. "Could you put the rings on our fingers yourself?"