Cycle of Destiny

Chapter 36 My name is Bella

The second time? How did she know?

Who is she?

A tremendous fear gripped him, making him feel more helpless than when facing the silent killer in the forest.

This woman actually knew she had been resurrected!

However, his long-standing habit of lying led him to subconsciously choose to deny it.

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, his blue eyes straining with confusion, and asked in a dry voice:

"What...what do you mean by 'the second time'? I don't understand."

The woman in the red robe, suspended in mid-air, seemed to pause for a moment. Then, on her beautiful but furious face, the corners of her mouth slowly curled upwards into a cold, even cruel smile.

A cold, almost mocking light flashed in her red eyes.

She did not answer Harry's question, but instead gently opened her right hand, which had been hanging at her side and shrouded in her red robe, toward Harry.

"Well--!"

Harry arched his back instantly, a suppressed cry of pain escaping through his clenched teeth. The faint, phantom ache in his left chest had suddenly transformed into a real, tearing agony!

It was as if that cold blade, which had long since vanished, had once again pierced the same spot with pinpoint accuracy and was now violently twisting!

pain!

It hurts so much!

He tumbled off the bed onto the cold, rough stone floor with a thud, his body curling up uncontrollably like a shrimp thrown into boiling water.

He gripped his shirt tightly with both hands, his fingernails almost digging into his flesh, veins bulging on his forehead and neck, and he was instantly covered in large beads of cold sweat.

Breathing became extremely difficult; each inhalation was accompanied by a sharp, stabbing pain deep in the chest and a feeling of suffocation. It felt as if the lungs were being squeezed by an invisible hand, unable to expand.

He opened his mouth wide, making a "hoarse" sound like a bellows in his throat, but he couldn't inhale enough air. His vision began to darken, and the light at the edge of his field of vision quickly dimmed.

"Ah...ah..." He rolled around on the floor in agony, oblivious to the impact of his body against the bed legs and table legs, his consciousness overwhelmed by the overwhelming pain.

The woman in the red robe floated closer, hovering above Harry as he struggled in agony, looking down at him. Her blood-red eyes held no pity, only a cold, almost scrutinizing indifference and mockery.

"Now," she began, her voice still cold but with a distinct hint of amusement, "do you know... what I mean?"

"I...I know...I understand!" Harry used the last of his strength to squeeze out broken, pleading words through the throbbing pain, "Please...stop...stop!"

The woman in the red robe seemed satisfied. She gently waved her outstretched hand.

In an instant, the excruciating pain that had almost torn Harry's soul apart receded like a tide, disappearing without a trace, leaving only a body covered in sweat and the lingering fear of his heart pounding wildly.

Harry collapsed on the floor, panting heavily, his body still twitching slightly uncontrollably, looking utterly disheveled.

He looked at the floating red figure, his eyes filled with fear, while anger was buried deep within his heart.

Harry collapsed onto the floor, his back and hair soaked with cold sweat.

He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his still trembling body and wildly beating heart. He propped himself up on the ground, slowly sat up, leaned against the cold foot of the bed, and looked up again at the red figure floating in mid-air.

This time, besides the lingering fear in his eyes, there was also an urgent desire to find out the truth. This woman who suddenly appeared knew what had happened to him!

"Who...who are you?" His voice was hoarse, but he tried his best to remain calm. "How did you know...this is the 'second time'? And why did I...return to more than a month ago?"

The woman in the red robe looked down at him with her blood-red eyes. Her anger seemed to have subsided somewhat, but the cold sense of detachment remained undiminished.

She seemed unsurprised by Harry's question, yet showed no intention of offering a detailed explanation. She gave Harry an order:

"Now, tell me everything that happened before, everything!"

This time, Harry dared not hide anything anymore. He told everyone how he was accepted as a disciple, how he returned to the capital, his experiences in the capital, how he was killed on his way back, and everything that was happening now.

Harry finished his narration, and the woman in the red robe remained silent, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, she finally spoke:

"It was all destined long ago." Her voice was icy, devoid of any warmth. "Only when you die will everything begin."

This statement did not help Harry understand his current situation; instead, it deepened his confusion: What does "I die, and then everything will begin" mean?

After saying that, the woman seemed to lose interest in continuing the conversation with Harry, her gaze sweeping over the dark red gem around his neck.

"I usually stay in here. Don't bother me unless it's absolutely necessary." Her tone was full of impatience, as if Harry were just a troublesome item that needed to be temporarily stored away.

Harry looked at her, knowing he probably wouldn't get any more direct answers about his resurrection and death from this mysterious and powerful woman. But he still asked one more question.

"Then... what should I call you?" Harry licked his chapped lips and asked with difficulty, "I can't keep going on without... a way to address you, can I?"

The woman paused slightly. She hovered in the air, her long, silvery-white hair moving without wind, and her blood-red eyes fell on Harry's face again, with a scrutinizing look, as if she thought there was some truth to what Harry had said.

She was silent for a few seconds, as if recalling a code name so distant it had almost been forgotten.

"...Bella." She finally uttered the short name. "My name is Bella."

Before Harry could react, her crimson robes billowed and her entire figure blurred and became transparent, transforming into a thin, solid, blood-diamond-like beam of red light that pierced precisely into the center of the dark red gem on Harry's chest with a "whoosh."

The gemstone's surface lit up slightly, flashing with an extremely faint dark red luster, before returning to its original cold, dull appearance, as if it were just an ordinary ornament.

In the cramped magic room, only Harry remained, sitting against the foot of the bed, his heavy breathing particularly clear in the silence.

He lowered his head, his fingers trembling, and touched once more the gemstone within which the red-robed woman named "Bella" resided. The touch was still icy cold.

Damn it, who is this damn woman?

And who killed me?

I ran through the forest for so long, but I was still caught. Robbers wouldn't do something like that.

Was it all predetermined? Will everything only begin after I die?

What do these words really mean?

……

Not long after, Harry sensed a continuous energy fluctuation coming from the magic house, and he knew that Nasus had arrived.

Harry took a deep breath, suppressing his doubts. He stretched his facial muscles to relax his expression, then opened the door.

Nasus stood outside the door, his face beaming with a perfectly measured smile of happiness for him, his eyes bright, and the curve of his lips seemingly calculated.

His tone was enthusiastic: "Harry! Congratulations! I knew the Holy Magician would see your talent! This is fantastic!"

Everything was almost exactly the same as last time.

Harry could clearly see the subtle jealousy and resentment that Nasus was trying so hard to hide but still managed to seep out in his eyes, and he could hear the barely perceptible stiffness in his congratulatory tone.

However, Harry could sense that his jealousy and anger were significantly stronger than last time, which was not hard to understand. Harry hadn't even managed to cast a spell in this test, yet the Holy Wizard still chose him this time, since he had at least managed to use a "Leaf Dance" spell last time.

Harry looked at Nasus, and a cold thought flashed through his mind: Could it be him?

Nasus's father was a nobleman.

Last time, when he became a disciple of a holy mage, he slapped the man when the latter came to congratulate him, causing him to lose face. For a narrow-minded and extremely jealous person, this was enough to constitute a bloodthirsty resentment.

Being openly resented by a disciple of a holy mage at the magic academy could potentially jeopardize his future. Furthermore, he wasn't sure if Harry would seek further trouble.

Therefore, the best choice at this time is...

Pre-emptive?

At the time, I was wearing a magic robe made of wood-light silkworm silk. To break through its defense, the opponent would have to be a high-level warrior, or at least a mid-level warrior with fire attributes.

It is not impossible for aristocratic children to hire or instruct "professionals" to solve problems.

The killer in that forest, with his precision and ruthlessness, was nothing like an ordinary robber.

Nasus had both the motivation and the ability.

This speculation sent a chill down Harry's spine, but he showed no sign of it on his face.

He took a deep breath, as if he could still feel the damp cold of the forest soil and the rusty smell of blood, and he suppressed all of these deep in his heart.

Fortunately, this time, things can still be changed.

The instant Nasus finished speaking and his smile was still frozen on his face, Harry moved.

He also flashed a smile that looked genuine and excited, even more enthusiastic than Nasus's.

He took a step forward.

Raise your arm—

This time, however, Harry's arm didn't slap his cheek, but instead went over his shoulder and hugged him tightly and firmly.

It was a powerful hug, so strong that Leander Ness was even a little breathless. Harry could feel the other's body stiffen and become flustered for a moment.

"Nasus!" Harry looked into the other's eyes and whispered in his ear, his voice trembling with excitement, tightening his grip on his arm. "Thank you... really. Without your constant encouragement and support, I wouldn't be where I am today. During the most difficult times, you were the one who believed in me." He deliberately emphasized the words "constantly" and "believed."

Nasus was clearly stunned.

He hadn't expected Harry to value him so much, to respond with such sincere gratitude and a big hug. A fleeting hint of surprise crossed his eyes, but it was quickly covered by an even wider smile.

He hugged Harry tightly, his voice growing even more passionate, almost exaggeratedly emotional: "What are you saying, Harry! We're friends! I knew all along that with your talent, becoming a disciple of a holy mage was only natural! I'm truly happy for you!"

Then the two held hands tightly, both with smiles on their faces.

Nasus offered a few more words of blessing before bidding farewell and leaving.

Harry closed the door, leaned against the rough wooden door, and the forced expression on his face instantly vanished, leaving only a weary indifference.

He opened his hands, which had been tightly embracing Nasus, his fingers slightly curled, his palms seemingly still retaining the lingering sensation of that feigned passion.

Last time, he slapped the other person with his right hand, which resulted in a superficial break and a deeper resentment hidden beneath. This time, he hugged him with both arms, said insincere thanks, and put on a show of friendship.

Will the outcome be different?

he does not know.

But at least, he no longer gave this potential enemy a clear reason to hold a grudge.

If last time it was Nasus who wanted to kill him, this time, Harry has given him the position of a good friend of a holy mage disciple, and Harry is sure he won't have that thought again.