An Owl's Rise

Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Aligning Goals

It did not take long before Bylur burst into the room and began examining Evelyn to see if she was not yet fully healed.

"Everything looks good from what I can tell. The missing muscles and bones have grown back and mended themselves. The new growths still feel a bit weak, so I would say you should not do anything strenuous, but normal movement should be fine." Bylur said, once he had finished examining Evelyn with his life magic.

Thanks to his assessment, Aralee calmed down and the rest of Evelyn's companions looked visibly relieved. After being down for the count for so long, Evelyn was finally back on her feet.

"It's good to see that you are doing better." Lucia said, leaning against the back wall of the room.

The moment she made her presence known, Evelyn and her companions all twisted their necks around to look towards her. Frankly they were shocked that not a single one of them had noticed her.

"Ugh! I will never get used to seeing this." Lucia said, visibly disturbed by how owls could turn their necks around in ways that would cause severe damage to most species.

Seeing that Lucia was uncomfortable, Evelyn brought her neck back around and faced their host.

She then bowed her head deeply and thanked Lucia for all the help she had provided them. Not only had she given them a safe place to recuperate, but she had provided them with medicine to restore Evelyn's debilitating injuries.

Following Evelyn, Bylur, Rehni, Verrader, and Aralee turned their bodies towards Lucia and bowed as a show of thanks and respect.

"Hey, there is no need for that. Just a simple thanks is more than enough. It is not like I helped you all out for free. I am expecting for the favor to be returned."

Hearing that Lucia was expecting something from them in return for her aid, Evelyn raised her head and looked into her eyes with a serious expression.

"What is it that you want from us? We no longer have any connection to the Roost so it is impossible for us to bring rare items you cannot procure on your own anymore. As a peak tyrant rank beast, I am sure that you could accomplish anything you could want of us much easier yourself."

"Yes, everything you said is true." Lucia responded, nodding her head. "However, you are counting yourselves short. Right now, you might only be awakened rank beasts, but I can tell that you will be forces to recon with once you move up the ranks. To that end, I will want your help to accomplish my objectives."

Evelyn was a bit surprised to hear that Lucia had any sort of objective. Frankly she thought that Lucia was simply hiding out at the bottom of the Elmot Gorge since it seemed that she never left.

"I would like to agree, but I cannot until I hear what your objective is. I have to think about those that rely on me as the leader." Evelyn said.

"Of course, I would not expect you to consent before knowing what I want. Nevertheless, I believe that my purpose is something you will happily get behind." Lucia said, clenching her fist and exuding an aura of anger before continuing.

"During the last one hundred years I have been slowly gaining power and amassing valuable magical items so that I can take revenge on the ones that destroyed the city of Atsabala. Among the groups that gathered to bring down my home was the Apostata Sect that is part of the Tyrannis Union. After what just happened to all of you, I am sure you can understand the rage I feel knowing the ones that killed my friends and annihilated my home are still out there doing whatever they please."

Even after a century had passed, not one fraction of Lucia's fury had subsided. In fact, it had only grown.

Lucia may have seemed calm from the outward appearance she displayed, but inside she was always moving towards her revenge.

For a few moments Evelyn imagined destroying the Tyrannis Union, and it honestly made her feel elated. Ever since she had escaped from the lab in the Deadlands where her parents died and she was experimented on, she had always planned on eliminating the ones that had destroyed her second family.

Originally this had only extended to the Deamhain Sect, but after the recent attack on the Roost, she wanted to get rid of the entire Tyrannis Union.

However, this fantasy did not last long. As much as Evelyn would like to burn the entire Tyrannis Union to the ground for what they had done, she knew that would be impossible.

She could easily recall the immense power that the leaders of the Tyrannis Union displayed. Even Melisandre, who is far beyond her, lost to the leader of the Deamhain Sect. There was simply no way she could get strong enough to fight on the same level any time soon. Lucia herself had just admitted she had spent the last one hundred years getting stronger and she was only at the peak of the tyrant rank.

Evelyn's expression changed to match how she was feeling, yet Lucia seemed to misinterpret what she was thinking.

"Oh. Do you not approve of my wish for vengeance?" Lucia said, looking shocked. "I thought if anyone would understand me it would be you. Are you going to tell me that seeking revenge is just going to eat away at me inside? I have heard the same thing plenty of times from past acquaintances, but I have no intention of giving up objective. If you disagree, then you are all free to leave."

"Wait, you misunderstand me." Evelyn said frantically. "I would like nothing more than to wipe out the Tyrannis Union. It just seems impossible. I witnessed displays of magical power that were unfathomable. I just don't see how I could ever hope to defeat such monsters."