Fire Mage (Web Novel)

Chapter 621: Pursuit

"Evelyn." She said stiffly.

"Good. From now on, do as I say." Saying so, he moved closer to her and said a few things in secret. After that, he cast the [Flame Teleportation] spell and disappeared.

Meanwhile, Evelyn slowly walked out of the bed and glanced around.

Strewn across the floor were her undergarments, which she began to gather and put on. Taking her time, she carefully fastened the bra strap, ensuring a proper fit. Then, using a wooden comb, she meticulously ran it through her hair, gently arranging it into a neat bundle.

Amidst these actions, Evelyn's gaze shifted towards the wall clock; her eyes fixated on its hands as they indicated the passing of time.

'5.45 P.M. I only have a few more minutes to decide whether to trust that mysterious man's words.'

At that moment, her mind was in utter chaos.

A while ago, Charles gave her two options before leaving. The first option was to trust his words and seek help from his friend in Crystal Lane. After that, he promised that she would not only get a free life but also be free of any harassment from Edwin. And the second option was to forget everything about him and stay here as Edwin's wife until her death.

"He just left like that. But can I trust him?" She asked herself before realizing what would've happened if he hadn't healed her.

Only a split second was enough for her to decide her following action. Although she loves Erwin wholeheartedly, she doesn't want to die a dog's death.

"I-It hurts so much." She wiped tears from the corner of her eyes and became more determined.

"I must escape from this house before Edwin returns, leaving a few trails behind. My destination is a single-storied house in Crystal Lane." She hurriedly moved towards the wardrobe, packed a few dresses, and wore a long blue gown.

'Usually, Edwin will come home only at 7.30 P.M. But from what I heard from his friends, his duty ends around 6.00 P.M. Although I asked him why he always comes late multiple times, he never gave me a proper reply.'

Shaking her head, she walked towards the living hall, took her purse from the top of the ornate sofa, and hastened towards the entrance.

Upon reaching the entrance, she wore her black leather shoes, locked the wooden door, and moved towards the fence gate.

But just as she walked out of the house, she saw a young man in his late twenties standing on the opposite roadside and waving his hand at her.

'Curse my luck! Isn't he a Holy Knight of Order directly working under Edwin? Why is he here this early?' Although she couldn't remember his name, she knew he lived in the same street as them and occasionally returned home with Edwin.

'Wait, does that mean Edwin will also come sooner?' Fear gripped her heart.

At that moment, the Holy Knight noticed her acting strange and approached her.

As he walked closer, he saw the large leather bag in her left hand and asked in concern.

"Where are you going at this hour, Lady Evelyn? You seem to be in a hurry."

Meanwhile, Evelyn showed a forced smile and made up a lie.

"I received a letter from my mother that my grandmother died yesterday. So, I'm leaving in a hurry." She paused as she took an iron key from her handbag and gave it to the young Holy Knight.

"When my husband comes home, can you give this key to him and relay my message?"

Upon hearing those words, the young Holy Knight froze momentarily and soon asked.

"B-But Sir Edwin said you were an orphan before."

"This is my adopted parents," Evelyn said in a hurry and started walking towards the wooden rental carriage parked a few hundred meters away from the house entrance.

Although the young Holy Knight was about to stop her and ask more questions, he soon stopped himself and decided to ask his superior later.

Meanwhile, Evelyn drew closer to the carriage, her footsteps echoing against the surrounding silence. As she reached the vehicle, she opened its door and swiftly entered, settling inside. Without delay, she conveyed her intended destination to the coachman, providing him with the necessary instructions.

Simultaneously, the coachman grasped the horse reins, his hands confidently guiding the steed. As the reins were pulled, the carriage lurched forward, setting its wheels in motion, and slowly began its journey along the main road of West Borough.

As the carriage disappeared from the young Holy Knight's sight, he soon saw another carriage coming from the other side.

In stark contrast to the rustic wooden carriage that had preceded it, this particular carriage exuded an air of sophistication and refinement. Its exterior gleamed with a meticulous polish, reflecting the sunlight mesmerizingly. But what truly captured the attention was the emblem adorning its side—a striking depiction of a majestic, goat-like mythical creature. Intricate runes, skillfully etched into the carriage's surface, created an aura of charm and order.

As the carriage stopped before the holy knight, a young man in his twenties stepped down from the carriage and gave him a curious look.

"What are you doing here, Samuel?" The young man asked.

"Greetings, Sir Inquisitor! You barely missed your wife, sir. It seems a big incident happened at your father-in-law's house, so she gave the house key to pass it to you and left the home." The Holy Knight stated while passing the key to Edwin.

"What are you blabbering?" Edwin got the key from Samuel and soon asked what happened.

After listening to his short explanation, Edwin couldn't help but get more confused.

'I hurt her every day to check if she had a secret lover visiting when I wasn't there. But I never thought it would be true! I understand.' A cold glint appeared in his eyes. At that moment, the last shred of emotion and love hidden in his heart had completely vanished.

"Where did the carriage go?" he inquired.

Though puzzled by the question, Samuel didn't dwell on it and simply gestured towards the path taken by the wooden carriage.

"Excellent," Edwin responded, a chilling smile playing on his lips as he climbed into the carriage and issued commands to the coachman.

"Head swiftly towards the main road of West Borough. She couldn't have gone too far."

"Very well, My Lord," the coachman acknowledged, cracking his whip and urging the horses to accelerate as the carriage raced forward at a remarkable speed.

...

Crystal Lane, West Borough, Holy City.

It was around 6.35 P.M

Even though the sun had disappeared from the western sky a while ago, the sky still glowed with a lovely yellow color. It looked pretty and made everything around it seem magical. The sky's brightness against the darkening backdrop made it even more special, and it felt like nature was giving us a wonderful goodbye before the night took over completely.

Around this time, Charles returned to the guest house and sat inside the bedroom while observing the surroundings.

Although only two guards stood at the house entrance, he sensed more than thirty suspicious figures were monitoring the house from different sides.

'4 people staying in the opposite Inn and watching the house through the window, while another six people standing near the street food shop and keeping a close eye on the house.' He also sensed ten more people hiding on the neighboring house's terrace using some strange stealth skill and appeared to be getting ready for a fight.

'Surprisingly, sixteen out of twenty are Rank-2 Mystics while the remaining four are Rank-3. Isn't this too much for monitoring me?' He couldn't help but furrow.

He knew they were sent by Baron Cedric to keep an eye on him and felt confused.

All of a sudden, he stood up and displayed a radiant smile.

"She is finally here."

At that very moment, a young woman with vibrant crimson hair dashed into a narrow alley connected to the adjacent street. She hastened her steps with a sense of urgency, determined to reach Crystal Lane before Edwin could catch up to her.

"If I hadn't encountered that Holy Knight, things wouldn't have turned out like this," she murmured under her breath, her gaze fixated on the deep gash marking her left shoulder. A surge of pain accompanied the sight as blood spurted out, staining one side of her blue gown, creating a gruesome spectacle.

According to the instructions given to her by the mysterious individual, escape from Edwin's clutches seemed promising if she followed the suggested plan. It appeared that a smooth departure was within her reach.

However, her well-laid plan was abruptly disrupted when an unforeseen Holy Knight unexpectedly materialized, obstructing her path and dashing her hopes of a swifter getaway.

Although she eventually managed to outwit the Holy Knight, her triumph was short-lived as Edwin intercepted her amid the road.

Just as the wooden carriage she had been counting on approached the intersection of Crystal Lane, Edwin's carriage emerged on the scene, effectively bringing her progress to a halt and thwarting her escape.

Fortuitously, a sudden commotion nearby provided a momentary distraction and allowed her to slip away unnoticed. She swiftly made her way toward Crystal Lane, propelled by adrenaline.

Regrettably, her respite was short-lived as she fell victim to Erwin's sword attack, resulting in her current wounded state.

...