Chapter 22: Shadows and Secrets
Julie and Mei stood frozen, their gazes locked onto Ellie.
Especially Julie.
This was her first time witnessing it.
Words failed her.
"W-What? What is this?" she managed to stammer.
Mei, her expression calm yet filled with quiet reverence, answered.
"That's Master's ability."
She glanced at Julie, a soft smile on her lips.
"The same happened to me. But Ellie's transformation… it's beyond anything I've ever seen."
There was no jealousy in her voice. No envy.
Because Mei was already Ethan's sword.
Her body, her soul, her very existence belonged to him.
And that truth was unshakable.
Her role was clear—to become stronger, to protect him, to keep their growing family safe.
So instead of jealousy—she felt something else.
Peace.
A quiet, liberating peace.
Julie saw it. Understood it.
And in that moment, she realized something.
Ethan hadn't saved Mei with power.
He had saved her with his presence. With a single sentence.
Just like he had saved her.
She clenched her fists.
She wasn't here to compete.
She wasn't here to be jealous.
She was here for him.
To support him. To stand by his side.
To protect the man who gave her light.
This… this was her new family.
A family that didn't see her as a tool. A family that didn't need her to "restore the bloodline."
A family that simply accepted her.
And for that, she would become their shield. Their sword.
Their executioner.
Her red eyes glowed ominously.
She had made up her mind.
She would be The Slaughterer of this house, of this family.
The house of Ethan Yagami.
…
As the two women reaffirmed their convictions, Ellie's transformation reached its peak.
The girl who emerged…
Breathtaking.
Her once simple features now held an ethereal beauty.
Luxurious black hair cascaded down her back, darker than midnight.
Eyes—deep, endless, as if the very concept of shadow had taken form within them.
Her skin, porcelain pale, contrasted sharply with the black garments that now adorned her body.
And the shadows—
They moved.
Deepened.
Not just around her, but through her.
As if they, too, recognized their master.
Ellie turned to Ethan.
Then—
She stepped forward, dropping to one knee.
But before she could lower her head—
A hand stopped her.
Ethan.
"You're my partner now," he said, voice firm.
"You will not kneel to me."
His gaze met hers.
"You will never kneel to me."
A pause.
"You will stand beside me."
Ellie's breath hitched.
Her eyes widened.
For a long moment, she simply stared.
Then—her vision blurred.
Tears welled up.
She was his.
Completely. Irrevocably. Eternally.
And she could feel it.
Not even death could separate them now.
But—
"I want to stay in your shadow, my master," she whispered.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Ellie hesitated, face turning pink.
"I… I'll be closer to you that way."
Her voice grew quieter.
"And… I can be with you everywhere."
Ethan's brows shot up.
"…Everywhere?"
Ellie's blush deepened. Dressed in her dark attire, the contrast made it almost comical.
"Y-Yes. But if you mind—"
"I don't mind."
Ethan cut her off before she could finish.
Then, with a teasing smirk—
"I definitely don't mind you being with me everywhere."
His voice lowered slightly.
"And seeing all of me."
Ellie's entire face exploded into red.
With a panicked squeak, she vanished—her body melting into shadow—
And shot straight into Ethan's own.
Silence.
Then—
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head.
"She really did it…"
But the warmth in his smile said it all.
He was happy.
More than happy.
He had done what he wanted.
Yet—
A thought crossed his mind.
'What are the consequences of this wish?'
He asked the system, which had been unusually silent.
Then—
[The consequences have been borne by the system.]
Ethan frowned.
"…Why?"
No response.
His instincts flared. Something was off.
Then—
[Because you are—ERROR. ERROR!!!]
Ethan jumped.
His eyes widened.
'System?! What the fuck was that?!'
Silence.
Then—
[You are not ready to know this information.]
[Please, Host, climb the Wretched Tower to learn more.]
Ethan froze.
The message…
It looked different.
Less like an automated response.
More like something… written by someone.
A long, heavy pause.
Then—
Ethan let out a slow exhale.
'I fucking knew it.'
Of course. Of course the system was part of some grand, secret conspiracy.
How predictable.
He dragged a hand down his face.
He had chosen to ignore it before, but damn.
Now he had to address it.
Wretched Tower.
Whoever had designed this system…
Whoever had given it to him…
They hated the Tower.
Ethan sighed. Again.
Then, after a moment—
He turned to the window.
Outside, looming in the distance, the Tower stood tall.
Unmoving. Unyielding.
It had always been there.
Watching. Waiting.
Ethan's eyes darkened.
Then—
One final sigh.
"…I guess it's time."
—End of Chapter 22—
A/N:
We managed to achieve 55 power stones this past week. A small number to others but for me not at all.
So thank you for supporting me. I appreciate it a lot.
Let's achieve 100 power stones for this new week ;).