Chapter 11. Darkstar Family...[2]

Inside The Mirror...

At this precise, pivotal moment, an elderly gentleman, adorned in a pristine white robe that seemed to shimmer in the faint light, emerged from the throng of onlookers.

His countenance was wise and weathered, with deep lines etched into his face, telling the tale of a life well-lived. A bamboo hat, worn and faded, sat atop his silver-haired head, casting a subtle shadow over his eyes, which twinkled with an air of quiet authority.

As the guard, whose grip on the stick had momentarily relaxed, sensed the sudden interruption, he instinctively recoiled, retracting the instrument of punishment from its intended target.

Simultaneously, another guard, seizing the opportunity to feign ignorance, pretended not to have noticed Valeria's presence, thereby affording her a fleeting chance to escape the clutches of her tormentors.

However, in a stunning display of defiance, Valeria eschewed the opportunity to flee, instead opting to rush towards Cris, whose battered and bruised body lay prone on the ground, a testament to the brutal treatment he had endured.

Her eyes, brimming with tears, locked onto his, as she implored, "Cris...! No, no, don't die...!" The desperation in her voice was palpable, as if the very thought of losing her brother was an unbearable burden to bear.

As Valeria drew closer, her gaze fell upon Cris's wretched visage, and her emotions, already frayed, reached a breaking point. She burst into tears, her body convulsing with sobs, as if the very fabric of her being was unraveling. Eve, sensing her distress, began to wail in tandem, their collective cries piercing the air like a mournful dirge.

Cris, his face a latticework of pain and exhaustion, mustered a faint, reassuring smile, as he endeavored to comfort his distraught sister. With a Herculean effort, he wiped the crimson-tinged drool from the corners of his mouth, his eyes, sunken and dark, conveying a deep-seated weariness. "Don't be afraid, Sister," he whispered, his voice barely audible, "I am fine..." His hand, trembling with weakness, rose to gently pat Eve, who, sensing his touch, gradually ceased her crying.

Valeria's sobs, though slower, still racked her body, as she struggled to compose herself. Her chest heaved with each ragged breath, as if the very act of respiration had become a Herculean task.

Meanwhile, Alex, his countenance a mask of imperious disdain, raised an eyebrow, his gaze swiveling towards the interloper, as he demanded, "Who are you...? Dare to meddle in my family's business...?" The tone was laced with menace, implying that any opposition to his authority would be met with swift and merciless retribution.

In this town, where his influence was paramount, daring to defy him was tantamount to courting death itself.

The elderly gentleman, however, remained impervious to Alex's intimidation, his eyes fixed intently on Cris, as he approached with a deliberate, unhurried pace.

His hands, clasped behind his back, seemed to convey a sense of quiet confidence, as he posed a question that was both innocent and piercing: "Child, if your sister becomes the maid, the three of you can live without worries, why do you refuse his offer, even if it means death...?"

Valeria's gaze, still red-rimmed from her tears, locked onto Cris, her expression a mixture of confusion and curiosity. This was the second time Cris had rejected Alex's offer, and she couldn't fathom why. To her, the proposition seemed a simple one: become a maid, and their lives would be transformed, free from the constant specter of hunger and want. Why, then, did Cris refuse...?

Cris, sensing the bewilderment in his sister's eyes, smiled helplessly, his lips curling upwards in a faint, mirthless smile. "Sister, do you know what being a maid means...?" He paused, as if collecting his thoughts, before continuing, "Maid, here, means slave to this man for the rest of your life, and you can't have your freedom or disobey him, no matter what he orders you to do."

Valeria's face, still streaked with tears, wore an ignorant expression, as she shook her head, her ponytail bobbing with the motion. "No, I don't know..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Cris's expression turned grave, his eyes clouding over with a deep-seated determination. "Sister, remember, I'd rather be a beggar than a slave, as long as I'm still alive, I will never let you or Eve be a slave or a maid." His voice, though weak, was laced with a fierce conviction, as if he would rather suffer a thousand indignities than surrender his family to a life of servitude.

As he turned to face the elderly gentleman, his eyes flashed with a fierce defiance, and his voice, though still weak, grew in intensity, as he thundered, "A member of my Darkstar Family can never be a servant, slave, or maid! Even the great emperors, who reign supreme above, do not possess the qualification to make my family their servants or slaves, let alone this old bastard!" His finger, trembling with rage, pointed accusingly at Alex, as if daring him to refute the assertion.

Outside The Mirror...

"The Emperor Of Heaven is truly a unique man, a paragon of unwavering determination, his resolute spirit burning brighter than a thousand suns, even at the tender age of six, when most children are still learning to tie their sandals. His unshakeable resolve is a beacon of inspiration, illuminating the path for all who dare to follow in his footsteps."

"That's right, if you're a slave, shackled by the chains of oppression, it's a Herculean task to break free from the yoke of servitude, not to mention that this Alex is patently a malevolent force, his very existence a dark stain on the fabric of society."

"It's truly a twist of fate, a serendipitous convergence of circumstances, that this Valeria intended to alleviate the burden of the Heavenly Emperor, but alas, he was brutally beaten."

"Even the most exalted of Great Emperors, those paragons of power and wisdom, are not qualified to utter such words, only the Emperor Of Heaven, that celestial being of unparalleled majesty, can proclaim such a truth, his voice like thunder in the heavens, shaking the very foundations of existence."

Not far away, Eve's countenance was a picture of perturbation, her features twisted in a mixture of anguish and remorse, as the memories of that fateful year came flooding back, like a tidal wave crashing against the shores of her mind. She realized, with a pang of guilt, that she owed an unpayable debt of gratitude to Valeria and Cris, those two selfless souls who had nursed her back to health, their kindness and compassion a balm to her wounded spirit.

She gazed into the mirror, and the reflection that stared back at her was a testament to the tender care of her benefactors, who had tended to her every need, like a gardener nurturing a delicate flower.

Seeing this, Ray's countenance was suffused with a sense of urgency, his eyes flashing with a deep understanding of the complexities of the human heart.

He knew that although Eve still harbored a deep-seated resentment towards Cris, she could not deny the debt of gratitude she owed him, a debt that bound her to him like an unbreakable chain.

"Lady Eve, you don't need to feel that you owe the Heavenly Emperor a debt of gratitude. Remember how he treated you in the Future"

Eve was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise, as the memories of that tumultuous era came flooding back, like a deluge of recollections.

Then, she nodded in solemn agreement, her face a picture of determination, as she acknowledged the truth of Ray's words. She could not forget, would not forget, the manner in which the Cris had treated her in the Future, his actions a stark reminder of the capricious nature of fate.

And the old man in the white robe, if Eve's memory served her correctly, was the venerable master who had guided her and Cris onto the path of cultivation, Ben Hexan, a sage of unimpeachable wisdom, whose teachings had illuminated the darkness, like a beacon shining bright in the void.

Eve's heart still swelled with gratitude towards him, even to this day, her spirit nourished by the wisdom he had imparted, like a tree that had grown strong and resilient under his guidance.

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Next Chapter "12. Darkstar Family...[3]"

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