Numbers x Casket-Chapter 35: Silver Hemlock

A blinding light struck Efraim’s eyes, causing him to shut them for a second, and while opening them bit by bit, his surroundings changed and Lindsay was gone.

The appraiser looked around, curious and stunned by the sudden changes in the scenery.

Towering trees with their branches reaching the horizon, shrubs so thick enough to cradle small beasts.

"Lindsay?" Efraim yelled, calling the daughter of the Nightfall’s name.

"Did I get transported to another place?" he added as he received no reply.

Then, he sauntered forward while his hands held the hilt of his blade.

"Is anybody here?" he asked once again without halting his steps.

Afterward, a soft melody entered his ears, a hum coming from a sweet voice. Curious about where it came from, Efraim followed the unusual sound.

While at it, he tried putting his hand on one of the tree trunks, thinking that the place was an illusion made by the casket like last time. However, to his surprise, they were real; his arm didn’t pass through, and he felt the rough, sturdy surface of the trees.

"Now, I’m more amazed at the one who sent me here," Efraim muttered.

As he moved closer to the source of the unusual sound, it became clearer.

’Sounds like a woman,’ he thought.

Then, he increased his speed, and after a few more strides, he reached an open space filled with small white flowers. The wind blew a hot summer breeze, and the alluring scent drifted in Efraim’s direction.

However, the appraiser ignored its intoxicating fragrance as he was busy staring at the woman standing at the center of the area, her silver hair fluttering from the wind.

"Ahmnn, hello?" Efraim said, trying to call her attention.

The melody stopped as the woman turned her head and gave the appraiser a glance.

"At last, you’re here," she stated as if she was expecting the man’s arrival. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Meanwhile, Efraim stood still at his position as he focused his gaze on the woman. Her eyes had the same color as her hair, and the dress she wore hugged her waist and highlighted her curves.

Like a flower so beautiful, so dignified, and enough to capture anyone’s heart, she walked towards the appraiser.

"Who are you? Where is this place? Are you the one who brought me here?" Efraim asked, bombarding her with questions as soon as the distance between them diminish.

"Indeed, I am, and this is my domain," she responded to the appraiser’s query while retaining the warm smile on her lips.

Then, she raised her hand, and black veins began to crawl on the surface of her skin.

"I presume you’re already aware of my existence..." she added and paused for a second and looked straight at the appraiser’s eyes before continuing. "Does Silver Hemlock ring a bell?"

Upon the mention of the words, Efraim dropped his jaw and shook his head.

"The monarch? You’re the monarch, the owner of that drake!" he exclaimed, which made the woman let out a chuckle.

Then, she shook her head and glanced at the casket.

"I’m having chills whenever I hear being called a monarch; that thing just likes to exaggerate things," she replied.

Upon seeing the tangled expression on the appraiser’s face, the Silver Hemlock spoke once again.

"I mean, I’m not like those others to the point that the casket saw me as a failure," she said.

However, her answer caused Efraim to knit his eyebrows even more. He felt puzzled the more he listened to the woman’s explanation.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t get it. Can you please tell me first why you brought me here and if you’re still alive or something?" he stated, shaking his head in confusion.

"I am dead; what you are seeing right now is just a portion of my soul left inside my pet," the woman replied.

Then she raised her left hand and looked at her darkened fingernails before speaking again.

"I brought you here because I wanted to meet you! Is that reason valid enough?" she asked.

"Don’t play with your words," Efraim answered with an unbothered expression.

"You’re too serious; I just want to make you smile even for a second. After all, this might be our first and last meeting; my soul will dissipate once I cancel this domain," the monarch explained.

Then, she turned around, her back facing the young man. She pointed at the bed of flowers where she was standing earlier.

"Those are my favorite, and before I died, the world had plenty of them, and the scent of each of their petals killed hundreds of living beings. Beasts, humans, elves, even fiends fell, crawling on their knees, begging to end their sufferings," she conveyed.

Afterward, she glanced at the appraiser and faced him one more time, her silver eyes full of regrets.

"They were nothing against me. My poison ruled the world; a single drop of my blood could kill a dragon, but despite all of this, my strength fell short, and I ended up getting tricked by that thing," she said and diverted her gaze to the casket.

"Trick?" Efraim asked, curiosity present in his voice.

The woman nodded and let out a disappointing smile.

"The question written with blood, the one talking about the world’s destruction. You have seen it as well, haven’t you?" She paused, and upon seeing the appraiser nod, she continued.

"I was ready to kill everyone, to bring chaos. I thought I was the doom bringer, the one who would crumble everything, but I was not."

Then, her eyes turned dark, and the black veins spread all over her body, which made Efraim take a step backward.

"I was merely a pawn, just nothing but an instrument for the real Harbinger of Destruction," she added.

Afterward, she raised her hand and caressed the appraiser’s cheek; then, it moved bit by bit and touched the wooden earring.

"It forced its way to kill me, but I resisted, causing a fragment of my soul to be separated and fused with my familiar, Cyanide," she said and reverted her gaze back to the man’s eyes.

Every word of hers made Efraim shiver, but he didn’t succumb to fear; he stood still, ready to unsheathe his blade at any point in time.

"I waited for several millennia just to meet you. I want to see with my own eyes why the casket deemed me not worthy to bring an end to this world," she conveyed.

Then, with a playful smirk, she put her face next to the appraiser’s ear.

"Would you let me do so? I swear, you’re going to love having me by your side. I won’t hinder any of your plans, but if you wish for me to step forward, I can help you exact your so-called revenge," she whispered.

’A monarch? Accompanying me? That sounds not bad at all, however...’ Efraim thought, squinting his eyes before speaking.

"If I don’t, what will happen to you?" he asked with a curious tone.

The woman backed away a little and looked straight at the appraiser’s eyes.

"The fragment of my soul would be absorbed by the casket, and you’ll gain another portion of my abilities, though I don’t know what it is," she answered.

"Hmnn, and if I agree to your proposal?" Efraim replied with another question.

"My soul will be attached to yours instead, and I’ll be a part of you. I’ll be able to manifest an ethereal form and be your talking companion," the woman stated.

The appraiser thought for a moment; he wanted to grab the idea of her having around. After all, she’s a monarch, and despite not having a physical body, her knowledge would be useful for him. However, unlocking another ability of the Silver Hemlock rang tempting inside his mind as well.

Efraim didn’t give his answer right away. Instead, he asked the woman another set of questions.

"Do you know who the other monarchs are, and where can I find their relics?" he said.

But the woman shook her head, and the smile on her face vanished.

"I don’t know them. All I’ve learned is they are the peak entities during their respective eras," the hemlock answered, shrugging off her shoulders.

Efraim nodded upon hearing her reply.

’A new ability or a traveling companion,’ he pondered.

Then he looked at the woman, her eyes dark, and the black veins were still visible on her skin.

With his lips curling into a grin, he declared his answer, and the woman’s body disintegrated into a blinding white light.

. . . . .

"Efraim! Hello? Are you still with me?" Lindsay waved her hand in front of the appraiser.

For an unknown reason, he froze in his position a few moments ago, and despite Lindsay’s desperate nagging, he remained motionless.

"If you still don’t respond, I-I’ll give you a kiss!" she exclaimed.

Efraim heard her voice loud and clear as he returned from the unknown dimension. He stared at the woman’s face as it slowly turned red in color. He stood still and chose to play along with her.

However, her next set of words made him dumbfounded.

"You really want to have a kiss, huh? Fine! I’ll give you one! Come, Petra!" Lindsay exclaimed, summoning the massive golem with four faces.

"Give him a kiss!" she commanded, and the appraiser’s petty heart shrank in disappointment.

. . . . .