Given the direction of the growl, it was pretty obvious that the monster they just heard was the Broodweaver. The abomination that had attacked them back at the carriages—which was pretty terrifying.
Caelia had managed to turn an area full of life and abominations into a wasteland—everything within had been disintegrated to nothing. No matter where he looked, all Nyx managed to see was a barren landscape without a single sign of life.
And still, this abomination had somehow survived.
If not for Nyx's current condition he would just run away and never look back. This was no monster he could even hope of facing in the near future. So he wouldn't do it. His life was more important to him than some suicidal attack just because his ego was hurt by it. What use had his ego when he was dead?
But he didn't have the luxury of being able to run away. He couldn't move his body at all, so how was he supposed to stand up and run? To top it off, he didn't even know where he was. The saying that Caelia was his current lifeline was not just some exaggeration, it was literally the truth. Naked and ugly.
„Please tell me Caelia is up already and scouting or something like that."
Nyx was almost pleading at this point. Maybe he should even consider praying to the gods. But his pleas were completely ignored.
„No, unfortunately she is still unconscious."
Avelyne's color had been completely drained from her face. She knew that a monster that survived such might was anything but something they were able to confront. If it was just Nyx being in a bad condition she might have managed to carry him.
Seeing Avelyne's conflicted expression, Nyx already prepared himself for what was about to happen. It was true that so far she had only been kind to him and even saved his life. But he also knew why she did all that.
Nyx was, at least from how Caelia presented it, really important to her. So Avelyne had been careful around him. Had sided with him. As this would also help her to get deeper into Caelia's good books. But if the decision was between someone as strong and influential as Caelia and him—someone she didn't even know a few days ago…
The choice was obvious.
'Well, there is also the chance that she will leave both of us here to die.'
Nyx was no newbie to things like politics, public image and so on. He was born in the most 'outstanding' family. Starting with his father who was the leader of one of humanity's strongest assault squads, continuing with his sister who managed to become an ascended within just one and a half years, which was unheard of before.
And last but not least—his mother, who was the strongest awakened to have ever existed.
Be it influence on the masses, political power, wealth or strength. His family had it all. But that also meant that a lot of other houses, clans and even the government always tried to suppress them.
Thanks to the fact that his family didn't care a bit about him and even supported plans to get rid of him, he never really had much to worry about those forces as they didn't care about him either. To damage or get rid of him was something that would actually help his family after all.
So thanks to their public image his family wanted to keep, and the fact that eliminating him was just doing them a favor, Nyx was able to live until this day.
He wasn't strong or gifted like his sister.
Which was the reason for his misery. Nyx had been just normal, and normal was not accepted.
He could still recall all the things they tried to make him 'better'. From injecting blood and other things of strong awakened, monsters, all the way to them trying to merge his body with artifacts—which was painful as hell.
Because of that, Nyx was already used to pain and became numb to a certain degree. If he hadn't, he would definitely have fainted long before from the pain his perception overload had caused.
Thinking about everything he had been through—what he had to endure because of such a shitty reason—it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Especially because Nyx knew who Avelyne would choose without having to ask.
Nyx was tired.
He didn't want to deal with her hypocritical self-pity. Nyx already knew what kind of stupid reasons she would give him to save Caelia instead of him.
Closing his eyes, he spoke calmly.
„I know what you think. Just go and take Caelia with you."
It would take the Broodweaver some time before it could get to his current position. Thanks to the loud growl Nyx was able to tell that the creature was really, really far away.
So he wanted to use a bit of that time for his rest. Not that he had any other option. He couldn't move his body even if he wanted to so—
'Time for a little nap, might be my last one.'
And if he was really lucky at least once in his life, then the Broodweaver would go in a completely different direction. Maybe, just maybe, it hadn't noticed Nyx. It was unlikely as he was reeking of blood in an environment without any other scent.
'Hhahaha, if that monster didn't pick up on my trail, all my fear for it might have been completely unjustified.'
Waking Nyx out of his thoughts, Avelyne cleared her throat.
„Unfortunately I have to tell you that I completely exhausted my essence, because I had to pull someone back from death's threshold. So I doubt that I would be able to outrun that creature."
Nyx frowned.
'Does she have low IQ?'
It wasn't that he didn't feel thankful for her, but at the same time he couldn't help but question how someone like her became duchess. To exhaust all her essence on a random boy, who knows where…
Unaware of Nyx's rude thoughts she continued.
„But I found a river nearby where we could wash off our stench. I could manage to carry both of you there."
That was actually a pretty good idea. If the monster lost their trail, even if only for a short time, they would have more time to recover and maybe survive.
Agreeing with Avelyne's idea, they made their way west.