Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 539: Not The Same ()

Azkar grew still for a moment, the expression on his face was difficult to decipher.

There was a look of displeasure in his eyes, yet those eyes were obviously missing a look of surprise and it was hard to tell if Azkar just did not let his surprise show or he simply was not surprised to know that there was someone else out here.

"Why, Kaz? Are you not going to say a word to me?" The voice came again.

Azkar clenched his fists even tighter, so tightly, his fingernails tore into the skin of his palm.

"Do not ever...call me that again..." Azkar warned in a dark, deadly tone as he got up to his feet.

Azkar turned around slowly to face the woman who stood behind him, clad in a black dress and a glinting iron mask that completely covered her entire face, hiding away all her features from view.

It was a mask quite similar to Azkar’s own mask, only that while Azkar’s mask was black, this was made of iron.

Even now, there was still no surprise in Azkar’s eyes which attested to the fact that Azkar did know this woman and while he was not surprised at her presence, he was not pleased by it either.

"You should be pleased to see me. At the least, your blood could awaken one thing around here...it should be considered an achievement." Ida stated with a casual shrug.

Azkar’s brows twitched slightly at the obvious slight, but that was all the signs of displeasure his face reflected.

"Ida. What have I said about you stepping foot into the tower?" Azkar asked with a dark glare in his eyes.

The woman Azkar had called Ida tilted her head to the side in what one could only guess was amusement.

"Not many things..." Ida murmured, slowly walking up to Azkar.

Ida stopped right before him, gazing up into his eyes for a moment before she brushed past him.

"You are never here, you see. How could you have said much?" Ida asked, though her question was not in expectance of a response.

Ida crouched down beside Azkar, studying the rune that was now completely covered in blood.

"Something tells me awakening this is a little more complicated than summoning your kobolds. It would require more than blood...a spell, perhaps?" Ida asked thoughtfully.

Ida glanced over at Azkar who was still faced away from her.

"Do not tell me..." Ida gasped dramatically.

"You do not know the spell, do you?" Ida asked, her voice taunting.

"I mean, I have heard that all the most powerful spells were only passed on to the most promising heirs... and you were never one of that."

"It could not be that you were not taught this spell also, could it?" Ida asked again.

Clearly, Ida knew the answer to her questions and she cackled to herself afterwards.

"What did you have in mind, then? Did you hope your bloodline would be sufficient enough to access one of the dark lords pets?" Ida asked after she had laughed to her satisfaction.

Azkar did not respond, he turned around and fixed Ida with a blank look.

"What do you want, Ida?" Azkar asked directly.

Ida scoffed audibly at Azkar’s question.

"Decades after leaving me here...in this dark, dreary place, with nothing for company but my thoughts, my pain and these horrendous beasts...you finally grace the dark lands with your presence."

"Do you not think it would be ungrateful of me to ignore your arrival and fail to bid you my greetings?" Ida asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm and a tinge of rage.

"You are well protected here and you know this. Cut to the chase, Ida." Azkar replied uninterestedly.

"You left me! You cast me into darkness and left me here! I have waited and waited and waited again for your return! For the chance you promised me! Yet you seem to have forgotten all your promises!"

"Or perhaps you are incapable of fulfilling them! You say you have a plan, but I think that is all an excuse!"

"A lie you tell yourself because you do not dare to admit you are too scared to make a move! Too terrified of failure to actually try!"

"Too terrified to disappoint a family who never regarded you! You can try and try but it will never change the fact that the recognition you seek will never be given... because those who can give it are all dead!" Ida snarled viciously.

Azkar whirled around in a flash, his hand shot out to grab Ida’s throat in a crushing grip, completely sealing off her airway in one move.

"Saved, you meant to say... I saved your pesky, unworthy life when you were too stupid to know your place, you worthless tramp!" Azkar hissed.

Ida gasped for breath, clawing at Azkar’s hand. Her nails dug into his flesh as she struggled fiercely to free herself, but Azkar did not even flinch. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"And there you go again, not any wiser than you were when you were at your life’s end...makes me wonder if I should have just left you to your death and be done with it." Azkar’s gaze was dark as he leaned in close.

Azkar then tossed Ida aside, glaring down at her as she curled up on the ground, coughing and gasping for breath.

"If it tires you to wait for my plan, you may well return to the stronghold... right back where I found you." Azkar replied with a casual shrug.

"I... forgive me... my desire for vengeance clouded my thoughts and the terrors of this dark place..." Ida gasped out an apology.

Azkar sighed quietly, tilting his head back to calm himself.

"Listen Ida... I have promised to give you a chance and I shall, but you cannot return to the stronghold in this state."

"My men are scouring the entire stronghold, and the moment I find a suitable body for your soul, it will be your time." Azkar said in a much calmer tone.

Azkar leaned down, patting Ida’s head.

"You and I, we must trust and rely on each other. You need me if you ever hope to return and on my path...you are my hidden card, a failsafe of sorts." Azkar murmured.

"You and I are the same...we are both among the very last of our kind...we are both driven by the need for vengeance, we both carry the pain of our people in our hearts." Azkar murmured.

Ida was quiet for a moment before she replied.

"You must loathe your fate, the responsibility of taking vengeance for your people when deep down, you have always loathed them..."

"While you were the inadequate one, I was beloved. While my people were innocent, yours were not. No Azkar...you and I are not the same." Ida replied, her tone cold and firm.