Chapter 134 – A Lamb That Can Be Grazed
Inside the asylum, a man quietly seated on a bench caught Audrey's eye.
Miss Justice first noticed his face.
The corridor of the madhouse rang with the clamor of patients, yet he alone sat in silence, lashes lowered, a glimmer of sapphire showing beneath thick lashes. A mask covered his mouth, and a straitjacket buckled with leather straps encased his body, leaving only a patch of skin on his face exposed. That solitary, helpless posture made her heart clench.
A nurse beside him spoke gently, but he seemed lost in his own world, utterly unresponsive.
Is he a patient too?
So handsome… what a pity, Audrey thought, a sincere sigh stirring a spark of curiosity—what could someone like him be thinking at this moment?
Audrey decided to try her power and read his mind.
A few seconds later, she would regret that decision.
At the moment Audrey, accompanied by her maid Anne, was on her way to Professor Anthony's office and had to cross the corridor; the distance between them was closing, near enough for her to use Telepathy discreetly.
So, as she drew level with the black-haired young man, she casually lifted her gaze as though by chance, and a faint gold glimmer flashed across the depths of her eyes.
The signature power of a Sequence 8 Telepathist—Mind Reading!
Shff!
The world before Audrey's eyes changed at once. People's bodies revealed far more detail; the colors of emotion and aura floated vividly on the surface, ready for her to analyze and feel.
Such a chaotic aura, yet the emotions are so calm… She studied the mottled colors wreathing his body and the pale blue of stability hovering over his brain.
Puzzled, she frowned.
Strange—how is this possible? An aura so chaotic means the mind should be in disorder, yet his emotions remain steady!
Wait… there's something deeper inside the aura.
Audrey sensed something odd moving within the colors beneath his skin. Curious, she tried to reach further and emulate his thoughts—
At that instant the young man raised his head.
The one who had kept his gaze lowered seemed to feel her prying eyes; he snapped his head up and looked straight at her. His eyes were a crystalline blue, and the first thing Audrey thought of was her jewel collection.
The clearest sapphire I own is probably this exact shade, isn't it?
But in the next moment she had no leisure to think of gems.
A terrifying, indescribable hunger burst from the man; deep in his pupils lurked a twisted Monster ravenous beyond measure. That Monster had fixed on her body, intent on devouring her whole.
Her flesh would be torn apart and swallowed.
Her soul would be enslaved forever—imprisoned, driven, whipped!
Audrey's body trembled. As a Telepathist she could feel the threat with chilling clarity—the unmasked, frenzied malice. He was no human, merely a dreadful creature wearing handsome human skin!
"Uh—"
She tried to scream, but only a muffled sound escaped her throat; she tried to run, yet terror nailed her in place, forcing her to meet those dreadful blue eyes.
I'm going to be eaten!
Mr. Fool, save me! Goddess, save me!
Perhaps her prayer worked; the oppressive might vanished. The menace in his eyes drained away, leaving only a pair of beautiful, harmless irises.
Audrey saw his mind clear; he looked her up and down, then lowered his gaze and lost interest.
He's letting me go?
Audrey could hardly believe it.
"Miss?"
Her maid Anne, noticing she had stopped, turned back in puzzlement. The youth's pressure had targeted her alone; even Anne beside her had noticed nothing.
"…I'm fine. Let's go."
Seeing he had lowered his head, apparently indifferent, Audrey feigned calm and answered her maid, her voice trembling in a way only she could detect.
She forced her body forward. Only when they reached the end of the corridor and he still made no move did she finally believe she had been spared.
He's a Beyonder too? Terrifying…
Her heart still pounding, Audrey felt a chill run down her back; only then did she realize cold sweat had soaked her underclothes. A simple visit to an asylum, and she had run into such a dreadful Beyonder. She regretted it now and wanted to leave at once for the safety of home.
No—Anne will notice something's wrong, and that man doesn't want me to act unusual…
After a moment's thought she decided to follow the original plan and visit Professor Anthony to observe his patients.
Audrey, be on guard—never use your power so casually again!
She admonished herself.
Lu Ze watched from the corner of his eye as the girl vanished at the corridor's end and gave a cold snort in his mind.
Thought it was that woman's illusion—nearly attacked her.
He reflected silently.
Illusory tides thundered in his mind, quelling every trace of Chaos and noise; he was lucid once more.
Just now, while half-mad, he had suddenly felt someone spying. He looked up and met a pair of golden-glinting eyes, assuming Madam M had appeared again. Fortunately he realized at once the girl was real; he called upon the tides to restore his reason and keep himself from striking by instinct.
Indeed, with the rise of his Sequence he could now summon those tides at will—though it cost spirituality, so he avoided using it unless necessary.
Looks like a Beyonder of the same Path as Madam M.
Lu Ze mused.
How had he known she wasn't Madam M?
Simple: the Shepherd potion inside him had reacted. The Beyonder characteristic of Shepherd was stirring, alerting him that a "lamb" carrying a Beyonder characteristic—someone he could Graze—was nearby, proving she was no phantom of Madam M.
If I'd killed her just now I could have Grazed her soul before it dispersed and taken her power.
The wild, dangerous thought surfaced in Lu Ze's mind, but he quickly shook his head and crushed it.
She was only a low-Sequence Beyonder—Grazing her would bring little benefit. Judging by her dress and green reactions, she's some inexperienced noble miss; I'm not so far gone as to target someone like that.