A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

On matters concerning Ansel, Seraphina, usually the most anxious, now maintained a composure that Ravenna could only envy. She turned to gaze out the window, speaking softly, "Don't you think that with Ansel already under such pressure, our questioning might only cause him more distress?"

She thought of her sister, recalling the many words Ansel had spoken to her.

Don't excessively praise Marlina's talents and fortune in front of her, don't express envy of Marlina, don't burden her with too much hope and pressure... Though Seraphina had memorized each instruction, she was unaccustomed to concealing her thoughts before Marlina and often inadvertently uttered such words. Marlina never grew angry, simply smiling and moving on.

Seraphina felt that Marlina's personality... closely resembled Ansel's.

No, she wasn't always like this; it was after following Ansel that she naturally developed traits similar to his.

The same gentleness, the same tranquility, the same serenity, the same... concealment.

Ravenna understood Seraphina's meaning, but she murmured, "But saying nothing would only make things worse."

"I know. Aren't I the one who usually asks about everything directly? Shouldn't I understand better than you?"

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, shifting from her reclined position to sit upright, languidly stretching. S

ince Marlina's cold-hearted rejection, her attitude seemed to have undergone a change. She was no longer so impatient and agitated, nor quick to rage or confusion.

Observing her, Ravenna also calmed somewhat. She sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought for a while before lowering her gaze and speaking:

"Ultimately, I still fear that same question... Seraphina, have our thoughts and aspirations become a cage hindering Ansel's progress?"

"Ah, really... How many times have you asked me this? Do you expect a different answer?" Seraphina scratched her head. "Ansel isn't a villain. How could he not want to improve?"

"This isn't about Ansel's desires. I've suddenly realized something more important."

Ravenna raised her head, looking intently into Seraphina's eyes:

"The very expectation of 'hoping you'll become better'... to some extent, might be a burden and a curse for Ansel."

Seraphina was bewildered, unable to comprehend Ravenna's meaning.

How could the mere desire for self-improvement be a burden, irrespective of Ansel's thoughts?

Ravenna patiently elucidated, "My point is not that Ansel doesn't wish to improve, but that our expectations may be causing him distress. Even if he yearns to break free from his past, myriad factors may render him... incapable of doing so, despite his desires."

"..." Seraphina pondered momentarily before musing, "You speak of fate?"

"Fate is the primary factor, though there may be other elements at play. Nonetheless... Ansel may find himself in a precarious predicament due to our expectations."

"Although these are mere conjectures, and Ansel has never exhibited any signs of struggle, yet..." Ravenna sighed, "What if this is indeed the reality? If this is the truth, how can we possibly aid him?"

Seraphina slowly clenched and unclenched her fist, the seemingly delicate arm flexing with streamlined muscles, gradually stretching the bandages.

"These complicated matters you speak of... I cannot understand them either," the young girl stated with remarkable composure. "I only know that I will not allow Ansel to return to his former self."

She turned to face Ravenna, enunciating each word, "Do you wish to see him become that person again? One who would sacrifice innocent lives and trample upon their trust and existence to achieve his goals? Though he didn't like such actions, he committed unforgivable sins to fight that fate...

I will not permit Ansel to make such mistakes again, nor will I allow him to fall into the abyss for lack of choices."@@novelbin@@

"I've said it before: if fate doesn't give him options, I shall give them."

"..."

Ravenna and Seraphina locked gazes for an extended moment before the former chuckled, shaking her head.

"I had thought you had changed significantly, yet you still resort to solving problems with your fists."

"Don't make it sound as if my brain is made of fists," Seraphina grumbled discontentedly. "I'm quite intelligent, Ansel says so himself!"

This conversation with Seraphina, like many before it centered around Ansel, yielded no useful conclusions. Seraphina had progressed from initial self-doubt induced by Ravenna to unwavering determination and assertiveness, while Ravenna found herself increasingly mired in self-doubt and vexation.

Their sole consensus, it seemed, was their commitment to assisting Ansel to the best of their abilities.

"Oh, one more thing," Seraphina whispered conspiratorially, leaning towards Ravenna. "Could you put in a good word for me with Ansel? Tell him I absolutely won't go chasing after fifth-stage dragons anymore, I'll be on my best behavior! Besides, with me around, the efficiency of resisting the Dragon Calamity would increase significantly, wouldn't it?"

Ravenna's lips twitched, "You'd best convey such assurances to Ansel yourself. We'll see if he believes you."

"Moreover, there shouldn't be many fifth-tier dragons appearing now. Ansel and I have already kill—"

Ravenna's expression suddenly froze.

"... What happened? What"

Seraphina, observing Ravenna's expression, immediately sensed something dire had occurred. Her previously composed demeanor gradually gave way to agitation. "Did the extraordinary beings fail to stop the dragons, letting them ravage the city? Or did they fight over spoils? Surely nothing's happened to Ansel! Ravenna, snap out of it!

Speak!"

Ravenna drew a deep breath, placing her hand on Seraphina's shoulder with unprecedented gravity. "Don't run off. Don't seek out Ansel. This is his explicit order - you must not come!"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Seraphina's voice rose sharply. "What's happened to Ansel—"

Before her furious inquiry could be completed, Ravenna's form dissolved into particles, vanishing without a trace.

In the next instant, the scholar materialized beside Ansel in some unknown, lofty location.

"Ansel, is what you just said tr—"

She followed his gaze and found herself rendered speechless.

For she beheld clouds blotting out the sky. No, not clouds, but... a dragon horde!

Rising from the far side of the Celestial Path mountains, completely engulfing the entire horizon, a swarm of dragons so vast its boundaries were lost in darkness, its scale beyond comprehension!

Yet this was but one reason for her loss of words.

Sensing the presence behind her, at once as scorching as heavenly fire and as chilling as the abyss, Ravenna stiffly turned.

On the opposite end from the dragon horde, a massive blood-red fissure writhed and pulsated.

Though not yet open, the edges of the rift undulated, threatening to part.

None could fathom what horrors might emerge from beyond.

"It has come," Ansel's whisper reached Ravenna's ears.

"Ansel, what is—"

"...Ravenna." Before she could inquire further about the unfolding events, Ansel spoke.

"I fear I've made many wrong decisions."

Her heart skipped a beat.

Ravenna turned to face her sole friend and love, but found no trace of his usual composure and confidence that had persevered through countless tribulations.

In those sea-blue eyes, she read only... intense regret.

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"Have I erred in my choices?"

Ansel of Hydral, who had retreated time and again before fate, asked both her and himself.

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