Female Novel
Chapter 5470
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the group gathered around a blazing bonfire, the flames dancing inthe darkening sky.
Charlie, sensing the excitement in the air, had thought ahead, ensuring the ingredients for the dinnerwere abundant. But he went further, acquiring a selection of exquisite wines to heighten the evening’sfestivities.
He carefully infused a touch of reiki into the wine, enough to prevent anyone from growing tired, allwithout leaving a trace, ensuring their enjoyment and secrecy.
The south’s high plateau setting brought a sudden chill as the night descended, but the warmth of the fireand the spirits within sustained the group’s comfort. Hector, master of the guitar, and some spirited youngsingers filled the night with music. Maria, finding herself easily a part of this lively atmosphere, felt trulyrelaxed for the first time in a long while.
As toasts flowed and laughter echoed, one young man remarked, “This wine tonight is something else,not like any I’ve had before. I usually drink much more, but I’m feeling so alive!”
Another joined in, “I’m a bit dizzy, but I don’t feel a hint of being drunk.”
“Absolutely comfortable!” someone chimed in, looking at Charlie. “Bobby, did you bring a rare vintage?It’s different, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
Charlie, with a smile, shared, “The difference you feel is in the atmosphere, my friends. The more vibrant,the more your capacity to enjoy the wine.”
Hector added, “Bobby’s got a point. Your ability to handle alcohol depends on factors like your tolerance,consumption, and surroundings. When we’re gathered like this, full of energy and good spirits, thealcohol goes down smoother.”
The man nodded thoughtfully, grinning. “Makes sense! I’m having a blast tonight, so another round it is!”novelbin
Leonardo, seizing the opportunity, suggested, “Since we’re all in such high spirits, let’s party until thesunrise, then we’ll rest.”
The group enthusiastically agreed, staying awake, sharing skewers, and singing into the early hours ofthe morning. They noticed a few friends leaving the mountain before sunset, but once the darkness setin, they were the only ones around.
Less than twenty minutes remained until sunrise. Everyone added wood to the fire, waiting eagerly forthe sun’s grand entrance from beyond the mountain. The skyline began to shimmer with a golden hue,heralding the impending sunrise.
Suddenly, a sharp sense gripped Leonardo, detecting someone rapidly approaching in the distance.Fearful of being discovered by Morgana, he activated the mental technique he’d learned from Zeba,tightly concealing his aura. He likened their situation to submarines in deep waters, detecting each otherthrough subtle means. Those with higher cultivation were like advanced submarines, harder to detect.
However, even with this technique, there was a possibility that someone skilled enough, like Morgana,could sense them. The key was to maintain absolute silence, minimizing the risk of being found. Morinehad adopted this silent approach, hoping to avoid detection.
At the same time, Morgana, making her way up the mountain, noticed the group below. Seeing the tentsand the gathering of young people, she thought little of it, assuming they were ordinary campers.Outdoor activities were common, especially among the youth.
As Morgana approached, Morine caught a glimpse of her in the distance. Despite her age, she radiatedbeauty and charisma, not unlike Maria. He was well aware of her strong aura and the formidablepresence she commanded.
Sensing Morgana’s scrutiny, Morine drew Maria close, feigning concern for her well-being. He whispered,“You stayed up all night just for this sunrise, my love… Our first together.”
Maria, grateful for Morine’s diversion, whispered back, “Yes, and it’s worth every moment, even with thelate night and the wine.”
Seeing her approach, Morine deliberately glanced in Morgana’s direction, ensuring she saw themengaged in a private moment. He lowered his voice, remarking casually, “Looks like we’re not the onlyearly risers here. Someone else is enjoying the sunrise.”
Maria joined the act, saying, “Seems like she’s alone too. She must’ve camped nearby and decided tocatch the sunrise.”
“It’s a bit odd, though,” Morine mused. “This mountain isn’t the highest nearby. Why choose this spot?”
The conversation between them didn’t raise any suspicion from Morgana. In fact, it had the oppositeeffect, making her realize that appearing alone at dawn might draw attention.
Suddenly hesitant, Morgana weighed her options. She wanted to visit Lucius Clark’s tomb, but doing sowith this group so close might be inconvenient. They were merely a couple of hundred meters away. Ifshe ventured in, they’d undoubtedly notice.
In the distance, Morine had sensed Morgana’s shift in demeanor. He looked at Maria, a mix of worry andrelief in his eyes. “Did you see? She’s coming this way,” he whispered to her.
Maria, now nervous and flushed, gathered herself, “Leonardo, you don’t know her,” she whispered back,her voice trembling slightly. “I’ve avoided her for centuries, and now she’s right here.”
Morine embraced her, hiding the tension he felt himself. “We’ll handle this together. Just act natural.”
As Morgana approached, Morine subtly gestured for Maria to glance their way. “Looks like we’re not theonly ones,” he commented softly, maintaining the illusion that they were simply tourists enjoying thesunrise.
Maria, with great effort, played her part. “True, maybe she’s a sunrise enthusiast like us.”
“But it’s odd,” Morine added, “this isn’t the highest peak. Wonder why she picked this spot. What’s moreis that she is alone…”
Morgana heard every word of the exchange. The conversation between the two seemed innocuous,failing to awaken any suspicions within her. Yet, when Morine subtly voiced his doubts, a sudden shiftoccurred, causing Morgana to reflect on her own presence. Alone, so early in the morning, she couldn’tescape the realization that her actions might seem somewhat unconventional to an outside observer.
Her thoughts, once bent on uncovering something amiss, now turned inward. She felt a sudden urgencyto conceal her own peculiar behavior.
Thus, uncertainty began to gnaw at her, and she thought to herself, “If I were to pay my respects at mybrother’s tomb right now, would these people sense something out of the ordinary?”