The Incubus System Chapter 1074. No Warning?

The Incubus System Chapter 1074. No Warning?

I paused mid-motion, the spoonful of fried rice hovering just inches from my mouth. ‘Zalira, what’s wrong?’ I answered through our telepathic link, keeping my tone casual but curious.

‘Nothing urgent,’ she replied. ‘I just want to talk to you about a few things.’

I frowned slightly, setting my spoon down. ‘Any particular topic? Or is this one of those general check-ins?’

‘You haven’t told me anything since you brought the angel,’ she said, her tone calm but with an edge of expectation.

I winced inwardly. ‘Right. I definitely owe her an explanation.’ ‘Got it,’ I said quickly. ‘I’ll head over to your place in twenty minutes, tops. Just let me finish breakfast.’

Zalira paused for a moment, then replied, ‘Alright. I’ll be waiting.’

The connection went silent, and I sighed, leaning back in my chair. Celia was watching me with a knowing look, her arms crossed and her head tilted like she was already planning her teasing.

“Are you going out again?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” I said, scratching the back of my neck nervously. “Zalira called me.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she smirked. “And?”

“And I’m guessing she’s a little… restless,” I admitted, trying to keep my tone light. “I mean, I did just take her kingdom’s biggest commodity and then vanish without giving her any news. You know, the holy vaccine made from Puriel’s power. Kind of a big deal.”

Celia snorted, leaning back against the counter. “I’d be restless too if I were her. You’re lucky she didn’t summon you with an army.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said dryly, taking another bite of fried rice to stall for time.

Foxy, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. “Is she going to be mad at you, Master?” Her eyes were wide, curiosity mixed with concern.

I shook my head, though her question hit closer to home than I cared to admit. “I don’t think so,” I said slowly. “Zalira’s more… practical than that. She’s probably going to ask me to settle some deals or smooth things over. You know, reassurance stuff.”

I trailed off as a thought struck me, one I hadn’t considered until now. Her request about the sword… my sword.

“Maybe she wants to see my sword,” I said, mostly to myself. “She needs reassurance about more than the contract. She wants to know I’m serious.”

Celia blinked, clearly thrown off by the shift in tone. “Your sword? Like… your actual sword, or is this some kind of metaphor?”

I sighed, giving her a look. “Yes, my actual sword. The one she asked for when we made our deal.”

Foxy tilted her head, her tails swaying thoughtfully. “Do you think she doubts you, Master?”

I shrugged, finishing the last bite of my food before standing up. “It’s not about doubt. Zalira’s smart. She knows alliances are built on more than words. If I were in her position, I’d want proof that my partner could back up their promises too.”

Celia pursed her lips, watching me. “And you’re just going to show up and wing it?”

I grinned. “That’s the plan. It’s worked pretty well so far.”

She rolled her eyes, muttering something about my overconfidence, but didn’t argue. “Just don’t get into too much trouble, alright?”

“No promises,” I said with a wink.

After that, I finished my food in record time, barely tasting the last few bites as I shoveled them down. Celia gave me a raised eyebrow but didn’t say anything—probably because she could tell I was in a rush. Wiping my mouth, I stood, switched back into my incubus form—Damian—and prepared to leave.

With a flick of my fingers, I opened a portal to Zalira’s room. The gateway rippled like water before me, and without hesitation, I stepped through. The transition was smooth.

When I arrived, the dark sky outside Zalira’s massive chamber windows caught my attention. The time gap always made me pause; no matter how many times I traveled between realms, it never felt quite natural. What was morning for me was the middle of the night here. The stillness of her world contrasted sharply with the chaos of mine.

I glanced around, taking in the sight of her opulent room. The velvet curtains, the faint glow of enchanted crystals lighting the space, the faint hum of magical energy that always seemed to linger in the air—it was undeniably her space. What struck me this time, though, was the lack of pressure. Normally, the holy barrier surrounding her palace would press down on me, triggering a flood of warnings and system notifications. But now? Nothing. It felt… normal. Peaceful, even.

‘Oh damn, this is nice,’ I thought, flexing my hands and relishing the lack of resistance from the holy magic around me.

I barely had a moment to enjoy the calm before I felt a presence beside me. Zalira appeared almost out of nowhere, her movements silent and fluid. Before I could react, she wrapped her arms around me in a firm, almost desperate hug.

“You came… Damian,” she whispered, her voice soft, almost relieved.

I frowned, not because I didn’t appreciate the welcome, but because it was so unlike her. I had expected her to maintain her usual regal, high-and-mighty demeanor, like the last time we met. But this? This was different. There was no mask, no act. It was just… Zalira, not the queen of the Serpent Kingdom.

I placed a hand on her shoulder gently, leaning back slightly to look at her face. “Zalira,” I said, my tone careful, “what’s wrong?”

She hesitated, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, she looked like she was struggling to find the right words, her lips parting slightly before closing again. Finally, she sighed, releasing me from her embrace and stepping back.

“I’ve been restless,” she admitted, her voice steady but tinged with an edge of vulnerability. “Since you took that angel.”

Ah. There it was.

I scratched the back of my neck, offering a sheepish grin. “Yeah… I figured.”