Beyond the Gate: The Last Gozzaki - Capítulo 104

Capítulo 104: Beyond the Gate: The Last Gozzaki Chapter 107: The Scent of Iron and Roses

Beyond the Gate: The Last Gozzaki

Chapter 107: The Scent of Iron and Roses

The moon was still high when Xyron finally reached the gates of the mansion. His vision was swimming, and every breath felt like a knife in his lungs. He pushed the front door open, expecting darkness, but he stopped in his tracks.

The entire hallway was transformed. Kage and the other Guardians had worked through the night, draping the halls in silk banners and soft, golden lights. Flowers were everywhere. It was a masterpiece of celebration, but Xyron felt like a stain on this beauty.

As he walked toward his room, thick droplets of dark blood fell from his shoulder, marring the pristine floor. He dragged himself inside his room, clicked the lock, and slumped against the door. The silence was deafening.

Moving like a ghost, he sat at his desk. With trembling fingers, he began the gruesome task of pulling the glass shards out of his flesh. Clink. Clink. One by one, the bloody pieces hit the floor. The pain was blinding, and the carpet beneath him was quickly turning crimson.

By the time the last piece was out, his watch read 5:00 AM.

In the next room, Maki’s alarm buzzed. She sat up, rubbing her eyes with a smile, remembering it was her birthday. She washed her face and stepped into the hall, ready to see the decorations. But as she looked down, her heart stopped.

A trail of dark, red spots led straight to Xyron’s door.

“Xyron?” she whispered, her voice trembling. She ran to his door and began pounding on it. “Xyron! Open up! Are you okay? Xyron, answer me!”

Inside, Xyron panicked. He had managed to change into a clean black hoodie and quickly wiped the floor with a stray towel, but he was still deathly pale. He heard Maki backing up, preparing to throw her weight against the door.

Just as she lunged, Xyron swung the door open. Maki couldn’t stop her momentum and crashed right into his chest. Xyron gasped, his injured shoulder screaming in agony, but he didn’t make a sound. He caught her, holding her steady.

For a moment, they stood face-to-face, the morning light hitting Xyron’s exhausted face. Relief washed over Maki, and she buried her head in his chest, hugging him tight.

“Xyron… thank god,” she sobbed.

“Maki… what’s wrong?” Xyron asked, his voice cracking.

Maki pulled back, her eyes searching his. She looked at the floor, then back at him. Her nose twitched. The smell of the flowers was strong, but beneath it was something sharper. Something metallic.

“You’re okay? But… there was blood on the floor. And Xyron…” she stepped closer, her expression turning into one of pure dread. “Why do you smell so much like blood?”

Editor’s Comment:

The contrast in this chapter is striking—the festive decorations against the gruesome reality of Xyron’s injuries. Xyron’s stoicism is being tested to the limit. He managed to hide the wounds under clean clothes, but he couldn’t hide the coppery scent of fresh blood. Maki isn’t a child; she knows something terrible happened, and Xyron’s attempt to play it off as a ‘joke’ might not work this time.

Fuente: Webnovel.com, actualizado en Leernovelas.com