Chapter 253: Unexpected Reunion

Near the royal city of Thesmeris

The royal city of Thesmeris, with Glimmereach floating high above it, the three of them stood hidden at a distance and observed the main gate.

The security was tight.

Very tight.

Guards were stopping everyone entering the city, checking papers, questioning merchants, inspecting carriages. It made sense—today was the wedding of two royal heirs. No kingdom would leave something like this lightly guarded.

Maera frowned. “Now what?”

Selene kept watching the gate, her brows slightly furrowed. “Professor Zane should’ve been here by now…”

Drevin remained calm. “He could be late.”

Maera clicked her tongue. “We don’t have much time.”

Then she turned.

“Let’s go. Selene—take out the clothes.”

Selene nodded immediately.

Maera looked at Drevin next. “Do your shadow thing.”

He nodded once.

Darkness spread from beneath him, forming a spheres of shadow that swallowed each of them for a brief moment.

Inside the concealment—

They changed.

Then the shadows dispersed.

Maera now looked completely different. Her hair had changed to a light orange-red, her eyes altered to match, and even her wolf ears and tail had vanished through the use of an artifact. She now wore mercenary-style armor fitting for a mercenary escort.

Selene had changed into elegant merchant attire. Her hair and eyes had turned black, and her half-elf ears were hidden beneath an artifact that made them appear human.

Drevin wore simple adventurer armor, his unique dark bow disguised as a normal one. Even his dark blue hair had turned blond.

Selene adjusted her sleeves and said, “From now on, we’re the Silver Shine Merchants.”

She held up a set of papers.

“I prepared merchant documents.”

Then she looked at Maera.

“You have the carriage and fake goods ready?”

Maera grinned. “Yep.”

From her size-reducing purse, she took out a miniature carriage.

The moment it touched the ground, it expanded into full size.

“This is an automatic carriage I borrowed from Professor Mira Sorenhal,” Maera said proudly. “It creates illusion horses and runs on magic stones.”

Selene nodded. “Good.”

She climbed into the carriage and began taking out fake trade goods from her own storage bag, arranging them neatly.

Drevin moved to the front and took the driver’s position, acting as if he held reins for the illusionary horses.

Maera took her place beside the carriage like a mercenary guard.

Selene looked at both of them and gave a firm nod.

“Alright.”

“As planned.”

Maera and Drevin nodded back.

Then Selene settled inside the carriage and said—

“Let’s go.”

The disguised carriage rolled forward toward the gates of Thesmeris Royal City, its illusionary horses trotting smoothly as the three kept their composure.

They were almost at the checkpoint when Maera suddenly narrowed her eyes.

“…Hey.”

She pointed ahead.

“Look.”

Selene and Drevin followed her gaze.

Standing near the roadside was a man in a black long coat over a white shirt and dark pants.

Black hair.

Familiar build.

From a distance—

He looked exactly like Zane.

Maera’s face lit up. “Professor!”

Selene’s expression brightened immediately. “He’s here!”

“He must’ve been looking for us!”

Without hesitation, they guided the carriage toward him and stopped nearby. Maera stepped forward first.

“Professor, we’re here—”

The man turned.

And smiled.

“Professor?”

His voice was wrong.

His eyes—

Light purple.

Not deep violet.

He looked them over with amusement.

“So you’re his students.”

The three froze.

Maera’s eyes widened.

Selene’s did too.

That wasn’t their professor.

The man smiled wider.

“You kids should really be more careful when identifying people…”

His tone dropped.

“Now then—”

An overwhelming pressure exploded from him.

It slammed into the three like a mountain crashing down.

Their breathing stopped.

Their bodies locked.

Pure instinct screamed one thing—

Danger.

Then—

A hand tapped the man’s shoulder.

“Stop bullying my students.”

The pressure vanished instantly.

The purple-eyed man froze.

He turned slowly—

And his eyes widened.

Behind him stood Zane.

The real one.

The students looked toward him as relief flooded their faces.

The purple-eyed man’s expression instantly changed from playful to panicked.

“B-Bo—”

He coughed awkwardly.

“You’re here! Long time no see! H-how are you?”

Zane smiled with closed eyes.

A normal smile to anyone else.

But one that somehow felt terrifying.

“Indeed,” he said calmly. “It has been a long time, hasn’t it…”

A pause.

“…Zayne.”

Zayne immediately started sweating.

“Haha—y-you changed outfit, huh? Nice look! The blue hoodie—top notch—”

Zane kept smiling.

Zayne laughed more awkwardly.

“And about what I was doing with your students—don’t misunderstand! I was joking! Just testing them, haha…”

Selene, now out of the carriage with Maera and Drevin, stared in confusion.

“Professor…” she asked slowly, “what is going on?”

Maera pointed at the identical man.

“Who is this?”

Zane sighed.

Then looked at them.

“Meet my…”

He paused briefly.

“…little twin brother.”

“Zayne Creed.”

Zayne instantly grinned and threw up a dramatic twin V-pose.

“Hi, guys! Sorry about earlier!”

The three students stared.

All of them had the exact same thought.

This guy is even weirder than Professor.

Zane looked at his supposed “brother.”

“So.”

“Why are you here?”

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“And before you lie—I heard some interesting rumors about you.”

Zayne visibly sweated.

“Well, I’m here for—”

“Zayne Creed! I finally found you. You are so dead for giving me such headache for running arou—”

A female voice cut through the conversation.

Everyone turned.

A beautiful woman strode toward them with visible irritation. She had silver-white hair, cerulean blue eyes, and wore a white one-piece dress with a sword hanging at her waist.

It was Valeriana Azurecrest.

She stopped upon seeing the group.

Then looked at Zane.

Then Zayne.

Then Zane again.

Then the students.

Her expression became utterly confused.

“…Um.”

She blinked.

“What exactly is happening here?”

Zayne moved instantly.

He rushed toward Valeriana Azurecrest and slipped beside her with a bright smile. “Val, I was just looking for you—”

She folded her arms and looked between him and Zane again.

“Explain.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Is this one of your strange pranks from your home country?”

Zayne laughed nervously. “N-No, no, no. Let me introduce you properly.”

He quickly pointed toward Zane.

“This is my amazing, wonderful, handsome, best big brother—”

He coughed.

“—and the savior of the world.”

“The great Zane Creed.”

Valeriana’s eyes widened.

“…Zane Creed?”

She stared at him in disbelief.

“But how is that possible? You died six months ago.”

Zane answered calmly, “There were some complications.”

A brief pause.

“But I resolved them.”

Then he gave a polite nod.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Valeriana , I presume.”

Valeriana returned the nod.

“Likewise.”

Then she glanced at Zayne.

“…Though your personality is very different from what Zayne told me.”

Zayne froze.

His face paled.

He slowly began stepping backward.

One step.

Two—

Then Zane grabbed the back of his coat.

Zayne stiffened.

Zane smiled pleasantly.

“Oh?”

He pulled him back.

“And what exactly did Zayne tell you about me?”

His smile remained unchanged.

“I would love to hear it.”

Valeriana thought for a moment.

“Well… he said you were quite narcis—”

“LALALALALALA WOW WHAT BEAUTIFUL WEATHER TODAY!”

Zayne shouted suddenly, sweating profusely.

Valeriana blinked.

“…What happened to you?”

She stepped closer, now genuinely concerned.

“And why are you sweating so much?”

“N-Nothing! Nothing at all!”

Zayne laughed nervously.

“Oh right—brother! About why we’re here! Let me explain that instead!”

He forced the topic away so aggressively it hurt.

Nearby, Selene, Maera, and Drevin stood in silence.

All three had the same thought.

…What exactly are we watching?

Then Maera suddenly realized something.

She deactivated her disguise artifact.

Her wolf ears and tail reappeared.

” You are Captain Valeriana Azurecrest, right ?

Valeriana blinked.

“You’re…”

Recognition flashed in her eyes.

“Duke Stormheart’s daughter.”

“What are you doing here?”

Before Maera could answer, Zayne quickly spoke.

“Val, you can tell my brother and his students why we’re here.”

Valeriana nodded and her expression turned serious.

“Well… we’re here for the wedding.”

Then she added,

“But mainly for a secret investigation.”

Everyone’s focus sharpened.

“We received intelligence that someone connected to the terrorist organization Vassel is present here.”

The three students stiffened.

“…Vassel?!” Selene blurted.

Maera’s and Drevin’s expressions darkened instantly.

Zane remained silent, simply nodding once as he processed the information.

Valeriana continued,

“But because of the current political situation—war tensions and all—we can’t investigate openly.”

She glanced toward the city and the floating kingdom above.

“That’s why we’re attending the wedding while conducting the investigation discreetly.”

Zane nodded after hearing Valeriana’s explanation. “I understand. We’re here for something similar as well.” He glanced toward the city before adding, “You two should continue your investigation.”

Valeriana frowned slightly. “You can tell us what you’re here for. If we can help, we should.”

Before Zane could answer, Zayne quickly said, “It’s fine, Val. He can handle it himself.”

She turned toward him immediately. “But he’s your brother. If we can help, then we should help.”

“Alright, alright,” Zane cut in before the two could continue. “Stop arguing. You can help us enter the city.”

Valeriana nodded at once, clearly satisfied with that answer.

Then Zane looked between the two of them and asked casually, “By the way, I never asked. You two seem quite close. What’s your relationship?”

Zayne instantly stiffened and began sweating. “Hahaha… b-brother, she is my girlf—”

Valeriana gave a pointed cough.

“Ahem.”

Zayne straightened immediately. “I mean fiancée. She is my fiancée.”

Valeriana smiled with obvious satisfaction, a faint blush on her face. Zane’s eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise before a small smile appeared.

“Well then,” he said, “congratulations to both of you.”

Zayne blinked, clearly not expecting that reaction.

“Anyway, we should move,” Zane said, turning toward the city.

Everyone nodded and began walking.

Zayne quietly let out a breath of relief, but then a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

I’ll talk to you later.

His entire face paled. Sweat returned instantly and tears nearly formed in his eyes.

Valeriana looked at him with concern. “What is wrong with you today? You’re acting even stranger than usual… wait—are you crying?”

Zayne forced out a trembling smile, his eyes watery. “I’m just… so happy to see my brother…”

Valeriana stared at him silently with smile..

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep