Villain: The Play of Destiny

Chapter 496

"Why are you leaving your Shadows behind?" Alana curiously asked after she exited the study together with Avriel, having witnessed the exchange between the Princess and her Queen Mother.

"They are not my Shadows." The Mortal Goddess smiled.

"You grew up together." She frowned.

"They were always more loyal to my parents than they were to me. And my mother needs them more than I do."

"We can just take them away. Kiara is taking Uncle Damien and Aunt Danielle too..."

"I won't." Avriel shook her head. "I respect their choice, and I have already helped them enough. They will leave this world on their own and will forge their own paths."

"You are just like Keith and Rebecca..." She sighed, smiling a little, recalling the day Raizer, Diana, Caesar, and May announced their decision.

The four of them asked Keith if it was possible to send them to a different world, expressing their desire to start their lives anew and not live as a burden to their family.

Alana did not know what Keith discussed with them after he asked her and the other girls to leave the room, but later at the dinner, they learned that he supported their decision and plans.

It was the same for her sisters, but their beloved Grandmother was adamant about going to a different world, and she asked them to respect their choice.

There was nothing they could do about it anymore, so they just focused on helping her get ready for the Lower Heaven.

A few days later, as if enlightened by Raizer and Diana's decision, Rebecca's parents expressed the same desire, and though their sister was not exactly thrilled with their choice, she did not force them.

"As long as they are willing to explore life, it's fine." There was a light smile on the blonde's face when she said those words, and she looked very calm about it.

Avriel glanced at Alana, and smiled a little, knowing well what the latter was thinking. However, what her dear sister did not know was that Keith and Rebecca had their own plans, and sending their family to different worlds had already been discussed by them.

Similarly, she too had her own reasons for leaving her family behind.

"Avriel!"

A sweet voice called out to her, and they turned around to find Helena approaching them.

"Thank you!" The little girl sweetly said and then touched her face with her right hand, taking off the invisible mask that she had been wearing.

As soon as she took it off, a silver half-mask materialised in her hand, and at the same time, she started growing taller, turning into a beautiful young girl who looked to be around 16 years old.

Helena had been staying inside Aerzar to train with them for a few years, and now she was an adult.

Funnily, enough, as she grew older, she became more and more mischievous, and ever since she had received a drop of Blood from Keith, she had become much more cheerful.

Of course, questions would have been raised if she appeared before her parents in her true age. Thus, she borrowed the Mask of Hel, which allowed the wearer to manipulate their appearance temporarily, but as long as they kept it on.

"You can keep it." Avriel smiled at her, and Helena was taken aback by her words.

"It's too precious..."

"But it isn't of much use to me." She lightly said. "Keep it."

"Thank you!" The young Mourntale did not stand on ceremony and accepted the gift. And she did not forget to hug her tightly to show her gratitude.

"You're welcome." The Princess cupped her cheeks and then planted a kiss on her forehead, which brightened the smile on the girl's face.

Then, in front of their eyes, Helena put the mask back on her face, which blended in with her skin and became invisible.

The Mask of Hel had a multitude of functions, and appearance manipulation was only one of those functions. Wearing the Mask also protected you from the prying eyes, and it even hid your Mana and Aura, making you disappear from the senses of the Aurors.

It was a perfect tool for an Assassin.

This time, instead of turning younger, Helena transformed herself into an aged lady. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes, and soon a grin formed on her pink lips.

Both Avriel and Alana shared a laugh when they saw the girl run off to play a prank on her sisters. Her targets were most likely Amira and Reina, as they were the only ones who would not be able to recognise her straight away.

"Kiara has rubbed off on her." Alana could not help but say, and the Princess nodded her head before turning around and continuing walking.

Resuming their chat, the two girls arrived outside Keith's room. They knocked on the door once and then entered the room.

The two girls found him half-lying in the bed with his head resting against the headboard. In his left hand was a book, and his right hand was wrapped around the girl who had her head on his chest and was sound asleep.

Alana threw a playful complaint at her husband, pouting a little, knowing well that they were naked under those silk sheets, but she did not disturb Ayesha's sleep, who looked very exhausted after her nightly duties.

"Her ears are covered." Keith smiled and put away the book he was reading. "Have Roy and Olivia left?"

"Fiona, Victor, and Harud went with Roy and Olivia. They will drop the two off in Scotland and will come directly to Russia."

"Russia?" Alana surprisedly looked at Keith after hearing Avriel's words. "You are going to Russia? Where?"

"Noxville Russia, Kazan. There is someone I want to meet before we leave."

"Who?" She curiously asked.

"No one that you know about." He smiled. "His name is Aerion Price."

Both the girls looked at him curiously, and before either of them could voice their curiosity, Keith gave them the answer.

"He's a Mortal God as well."

"Oh..."

"Which one?" Avriel curiously asked.

"The Hedonistic Monarch."

Keith laughed when he saw Alana frowning at the name, aware of what was running through her mind now. And sure enough, she voiced it out.

"He's a pervert?"

"No." He shook his head.

"Really?"

"Yes."

She was still a little doubtful, but she did not bother asking more questions.

Aerion Price was not her concern.

"And we will leave from Noxville Russia?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Yes," He nodded to her.

"Where is Lady Nyx going to send Grandma and Grandpa?"

"A world called Siraya, which is linked with the Northern Heaven."

"And Uncle and Aunt will be going there as well?" She asked, referring to Rebecca's parents, Marcus and Susana.

"No."

She raised her brow at him, and Avriel, who was done checking her memories to see if there was any information about the Hedonistic Monarch, raised her brow as well.

"The Graysons and the Angelini will go to Virzak."

Alana frowned as she heard the familiar name, and then her eyes widened when she recalled a story that Minami had told them.

Virzak was a world affiliated with Central Heaven, just like Amaya, where they were going, and from what she knew, it was quite a dangerous place.

She was quite dismayed at the fact that Keith was sending Aunt Danielle and Uncle Damien away to such a world. And when was this decided?

"Ben and Dany..."

"They will go with them."

"Keith..."

"They have to lead their own lives. And it is what they want." He lightly told her, but she remained unconvinced.

"Uncle Damien will be fine, but Aunty, Ben, and Dany are not ready. What if they..." She did not finish her words, but it was clear that she was thinking of the worst in her mind.

"They are blessed enough. If they still fail, so be it." He indifferently said, and as much as his words bothered her, she did not try to argue with him.

Alana knew that Keith was not apathetic towards them. Had that been the case, he would have never helped them.

So, if he was not worried about them and was allowing them to go to those worlds, it only meant that he was confident in their abilities. She could tell that it was a form of test for all of them.

"We will see them again in the Central Heaven, right?" She sighed and put on a smile.

"Hopefully." He chuckled, nodding his head, and then looked into Avriel's eyes.

"Volos has not given an answer," She informed him.

"He's stubborn." He shook his head. "He will leave this world in a few years."

"We can just kidnap him." She harmlessly smiled, and Alana rolled her eyes at her words.

"Leave him be." Keith smiled and then glanced at the clock. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"

"I have already said goodbye to them. We can leave anytime you decide."

"We will leave once she wakes up."

Both Avriel and Alana nodded their heads and smiled at Ayesha, who looked quite cute as she hugged Keith so protectively in her sleep.

"I will go gather them up," The White Princess informed him before grabbing Alana's and leading her out of the room.

As soon as they came out, they found Amira and Reina rushing over.

"Alana!"

"Ask Helena to lend us the Mask!"

"We want to play too!"

"I want to see what I would look like if I grew old!"

The started speaking as soon as their steps came to a halt, surrounding her. And Helena, who was walking over calmly, having returned to her true age, grinned at them.

"It's mine now." She teasingly said, and the twins pouted at her before they hopefully looked at Avriel.

"She's right. It is hers now."

"No fair!" Reina immediately said, but then she hugged Helena's arm. "Come on, let me try it. Pretty please?"

"No."

"Mean!"

Alana helplessly sighed as she watched the three start bickering again.

"Keep your voices low. Ayesha is sleeping." She reminded them, but her reminder had the opposite effect.

Amira and Reina dragged Helena into Keith's room, hoping that he would help them convince her to lend them the Mask.

"Let's go." Avirel giggled when she heard what was happening inside the room, and then started walking down the corridor.

They had to gather everyone, and it was going to take some time to find Little Ben, who had once again sneaked out with a car.