BXBX NOVEL Chapter 431 Brazen Approach
There was an astounding silence in the room.
As Desmond stood, he took a quiet bow and left the stage without hearing the audience's response.
It was because he knew that it would take them a long time to recover from the music he played.
In his heart, he was rejoicing the more that he heard the silence. This was because he knew that he was able to achieve the effect he was aiming for.
"Good job… You did it very well." Eli smiled and praised him in a hushed tone.
Desmond smiled in relief. He knew that his mentor was just as elated as him as he saw the contained excitement in her smile.
No one knew when or how, but it was only for a few minutes that the jury and the audience were able to snap out of their trance.
When they turned their eyes to the stage, they realized that Desmond had already long exited.
At the backstage, the waiting pianist all had terrified looks on their faces.
This time, they finally recognized how formidable Desmond's ability was. They themselves were not confident that they could create music that would leave such an impact as he did!
It became more evident when the rest of the competitors performed on stage.
Although they were amazing in their own right, no one had created such an effect as Desmond did.
And so the cheers of the people surged to the highest when he was named the champion of the Piano competition.
Yet again, a delegate from the Farauld Magic Institute won the top place!
"I know you could do it!" Desmond's friends swarmed at him as soon as the competition ended.
"I was really thankful that Mentor did her best to make the conditions easier for me to play. If not for her efforts, I would have played in a bad condition and everything would be in vain." Desmond's eyes were red as he tried to hold back the tears in his eyes.
The hand that held the trophy during the awarding was still shaking even after the end of the program.
Eli let out a light chuckle as she replied, "I was just there to support you. But this honor, you got it all because of your passion and hard work."
"Indeed! Now let's go to the restaurant and celebrate your win once again!" Dean Athena happily cheered as she coaxed the group to go with her to eat at Ristorante de Rion.
"Yay!" The young students exclaimed in delight as soon as they heard the name of the restaurant. They could still remember the moment when Eli took them there.
Back then, they were just a bunch of students, easily satisfied with having to pass the preliminary stage.
Now, who would have known…
Almost all of them stood until the finals and were even able to get the top places!
It was still early afternoon when the competition ended. And so everyone headed to Ristorante de Rion to have their late lunch as a celebration.
After the sumptuous meal, the bunch along with Eli headed back to the rehearsal room to meet the rest of the members of the orchestra.
"Master… someone is tailing us!" Suddenly, Eli was startled by Baobao's mental warning.
Eli acknowledged Baobao's report through their mind link while she tried her best not to show outwardly that she was wary and aware of whoever was watching her.
There is only one meaning when Baobao reports that someone was tailing her. It means that the pursuer had something to do with curse magic.
"Oh… my word! I suddenly remembered that I left an urgent matter at headquarters that had to be done by the end of the day! I might no longer accompany you to your rehearsal.." Eli suddenly exclaimed, announcing that she had to go separately.
"It's alright, mentor. We just needed a little more enhancement here and there before the competition day arrived. We can handle it." Lainie smiled in understanding as she replied to Eli's words.
"Alright… though I'll be sure to make it on your final rehearsals tomorrow," Eli replied, she looked rather guilty.
After waving them goodbye Eli calmly went to the carriage station to go to the Anti-Curse Committee headquarters.
The stalker seemed to be determined to stay close to her and Baobao kept telling her that he or she was near.
'Who on earth are they?'
Eli pondered. Why would they target her?
'Could it be because I caused a lot of commotion during these days?' She was trying to remember some events that could have triggered the enemy's intrigue toward her.
'In any case, I have to get inside the carriage to hide from his eyes.' She decided.
Since she was being watched, she knew that hiding in a secluded area would be more dangerous and suspicious. So she decided to head to the headquarters where there would surely be reinforcements should a confrontation arise.
Besides, the interval of being inside the carriage would give her time to contact Leon and the rest.
Talking out a notification paper, Eli quickly sent Leon, Nathan, and Mishael.
"Tailed… heading to the headquarters.. 4th road." A short message that gave all the details she could give.
She prayed that they would see the message so that she would also know what to do next.
Although she was heading to the headquarters, she also knew that where she was heading had many innocent bystanders. She prayed that there would be no confrontation as much as possible.
"Master! Not good… the evil scent was also in this carriage!" Baobao cried out in alarm.
'What!' Eli's heart skipped a beat.
How in the world would it be possible? She did not even feel any presence nearby nor hear any unusual sound other than the sound of the carriage moving!
'Calm down…' Eli breathed slowly.
'If he was not up in the carriage then it could only mean that he is in front…'
'But since when did the stalker manage to get into the exact carriage I've been into?'
–
Leon was actually in the Crimson Blade barracks when he heard Little Han scream in panic.
"Daddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!" Little Han shouted while he was crying in great alarm.
"What happened?" Leon ran towards Little who was originally playing with the assigned 'Bladesitter' for the day.
"Master, I don't know… he just suddenly cried without any warning." Helpless, Neil explained.
"Sush… Daddy is here…" Leon did not blame the blades and immediately picked up the panicking Little Han into his arms.
"Daddiii… Mommi… Baobao… danger…" Little Han mumbled beneath his cries. One could see that he was frustrated because he could only communicate through limited words.
But as soon as Leon heard it, he understood.
Just like Eli, Little Han is mentally connected to Baobao and so he must have known through Baobao that Eli's side was in great danger.
"Alright… Daddy will save mommy so behave here ok?" Leon looked at Little Han's puffy eyes and soothed his son's emotion.
"Humm.." As if it was a spell, Little Han gradually calmed down.
"Neil, go immediately to the cottage and keep Little Han safe. Do not forget to inform the Forgeworn elders."
"Master, our madam…" Niel nodded but could not help but asked worriedly.
"I'll go immediately and look for her. Inform the others to stay alert on their post." Leon replied hastily. After that, his image flashed like a shadow and could no longer be seen in the Crimson Blade's Barracks.
Moments after he was rushing, Eli's message arrived.
"4th street… heading towards the Committee Headquarters" Leon immediately pivoted to change direction and headed immediately to the area where Eli was heading too.
However, just a few minutes after, he received yet another notification,
"17th street.."
"Delica alley…"
"Moze gate…"
Leon's face darkened. He immediately conjured more mana and sped up.
For the places sent by Eli were no longer heading towards the headquarters but to a secluded place away from the city!
He was not afraid that Eli would be immediately harmed for he knew that she was strong enough to hold her ground.
What Leon was worried about was the possibility of the enemy pushing her to the corner, so much so that she would be able to use her divine powers.
That would also mean that she would reveal her identity as the true Paladin, the real holy mage!
"I'm tracking you… stay calm." Leon immediately sent a reply, letting Eli know not to move hastily.
On the other side, Eli closed her eyes and calmed her breathing as she read Leon's reply.
Judging from the situation, the culprit was taking her somewhere remote.
And since the other party did not show any signs of speeding up, this meant he knew that Eli had already noticed something but chose not to panic.
This also meant that even if Eli confronted him or called reinforcement, the other party was not afraid.
Eli could not help but show a vigilant glint in her eyes, to think that they would come at her in open daylight…
Just how confident and brazen are they?'