Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss-Chapter 165: Terms of Travel

"Ren!" Lilith exclaimed in shock, but Ren didn't answer. He stood there, glaring at Valen.

"If you smile, I'll kill you." He repeated coldly.

Valen stared straight into his eyes, immediately getting the message Ren was sending. They both knew that Ren wasn't bluffing. Valen's lips twitched again as he glanced at Lilith, before stepping back slightly. He paused, his eyes flicking to Lilith.

"Enough." Ren said, turning fully to glare at Valen.

Valen hesitated, then nodded and stepped farther back.

"And you…" Ren exhaled, turning to Lilith.

Lilith stared at Ren, her expression shifting between guilt and frustration. Her lips parted, but no words came. Finally, she found her voice. "I'm sorry."

"Lilith... how many times do I have to tell you?" His voice wasn't angry. It was tired. He took a step closer. "You can't keep using Soul Dominion like this. Every time you do, a piece of you disappears. How am I supposed to protect you if you keep erasing everything about you?"

Her eyes shimmered. "I was just... I didn't want him to take you from me."

Ren sighed, then reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder. "You can't keep going like this, Lilith. How many times have I told you that I'm not going anywhere? Don't attack people for talking to me, Lilith."

She nodded quickly, brushing tears from her eyes. "Okay. I won't do it again. I promise. I'm sorry."

Without another word, Ren turned and led the way back to the camp. The soft sound of footsteps behind him told him that both Lilith and Valen were following.

As they passed the tents, a groggy voice called out. "What's going on?" Thorn poked his head out, hair sticking in all directions.

"Go back to sleep." Ren said.

Thorn blinked, yawned and then, his head disappeared back into his tent.

Ren and Lilith entered their own tent in silence. She laid down first, facing away from him. He lay beside her, but neither of them spoke.

There was no need to.

[][][][][]

The next day, Ren woke up to a feeling of emptiness. Not within him, but in the tent.

He blinked, sitting up slowly. "Lilith?"

She wasn't in the tent.

He stepped out, rubbing sleep from his eyes and looking around the camp.

Elias and Thorn were still asleep, but Valen sat on a log near the fire pit, sharpening one of his shortswords. Ren didn't see Lilith.

He wandered farther from the tents, eyes scanning the treetops. And sure enough, he spotted her, perched on a thick branch high above, legs dangling, back pressed against the trunk.

"Lilith." He called up. "What are you doing up there?"

She didn't look down. "Avoiding you."

Ren frowned. "Why?"

"You're mad at me."

Ren sighed. Then, he stepped forward, grabbing a low hanging branch, pulling himself up. He climbed the tree until he was seated on the same branch as her, only a foot of space between them.

"Lilith." He said softly. "Last night, yeah. I was mad. But not now. You know I can't stay mad at you."

She looked at him, her eyes uncertain. "You said I'm losing parts of myself. What if I can't get them back?"

Ren leaned back against the tree trunk beside her. "I'll still be here. With you. Helping you find them again. Every single piece. Until you're tired of me."

"I can never be tired of you." Lilith murmured.

"Then prepare to put up with me forever."

She stared at him, then slowly scooted closer, resting her head on his shoulder.

They sat there in silence for a long time, watching as the sun rose into the sky.

Eventually, Ren patted her knee. "Come on. Let's go down before Thorn burns breakfast."

She nodded and together, they climbed down.

When they returned to the camp, Thorn was hunched over the fire, holding a stick and muttering to himself about their lack of actual cooking implements. "Next time we travel light, someone's getting this stick up their—"

At the side of the camp, Elias was helping Valen strap a saddlebag to a newly acquired horse. When he'd woken up, he'd made a trip to the nearby town, getting a stallion for their new companion.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

Valen straightened when he saw Ren, giving him a shallow bow. "Lord Ren, I would like to apologize for last night. I acted... hastily."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Valen nodded. "And I would still like to travel with you, if you'll have me."

Ren glanced at Lilith beside him, then back to Valen. "In case you don't know, Valen, I'll say it now. I like unique individuals such as yourself. But I hate those who don't listen even more."

"You can join us on our journey but as long as you're one of us, my word is law. You follow my lead. No solo duels. No surprise fights. Understood?"

Valen inclined his head. "Understood."

Ren clapped him on the shoulder. "Good." He turned away, looking towards Thorn. "Let's have breakfast."

After breakfast, they continued their journey. They fell into a routine of journeying during the day and sleeping at night. And so, a week passed.

They traveled through rolling fields and dense woods, with Thorn keeping everyone entertained or irritated with his endless commentary. Elias took on the task of keeping them fed, and Valen remained the quiet warrior at the back of the group, always alert and watching.

They finally arrived at the Elnorian border, just as the sun reached its apex in the sky.

The road widened and leveled out, revealing two tall wooden watchtowers on either side. This was the Elnorian border outpost.

Ren pulled his horse to a stop, looking up at the towers.

"Well," Thorn said, riding up beside him, "they certainly like their symmetry."

Lilith's horse stepped up to Ren's. "Are we going in?" She asked.

Ren nodded. "Let's make sure we don't wear any white cloaks. I'd like to get through this border without causing a holy war."

Thorn chuckled. "Shame. I look great in white."

They rode forward, and the closer they got, the more Ren's frown deepened.

Finally, Thorn spoke up, voicing out what they were all thinking.

"Is it just me or are these outposts deserted?"

Ren's eyes narrowed as a sinking feeling appeared in his gut. He could just tell that something had gone wrong, and a part of him was praying that it wasn't the Red Plague coming early.

Up ahead, there were no soldiers. No movement. Just silence.

"Be ready." He said to his companions behind him. "We might have to fight."