The Incubus System Chapter 996. Strict Protocol II

The Incubus System Chapter 996. Strict Protocol II

I stood before the crystal, doing exactly as Mia had done moments before. As soon as my fingers touched the cool, smooth surface, the crystal glowed with an intensity that caught me off guard. For a moment, I felt warmth—no, almost heat—radiate from the crystal, spreading through my hand like the touch of a hot pot. I realized this was it; the crystal would expose me as a demon.

But then, just as panic started to creep in and I was about to use my Illusion skill, I heard a familiar voice in my head, clear and cheerful. 'Ethan, you’re really here!' It was Puriel, her voice filled with a joy that was almost infectious, as if she had been eagerly waiting for my arrival.

'Yes, I promised, remember?' I replied internally, trying to keep my emotions in check. 'Now, can you help me?'

'Ah, they’re checking you, huh? Okay, leave it to me,' she said confidently, her tone shifting from playful to serious in an instant.

The heat in the crystal abruptly faded, cooling until it felt like I was touching any ordinary object. The bright glow dimmed, returning to the same subdued light that had appeared when Mia touched it. Relief flooded through me, though I kept my face neutral, not daring to show any outward sign of what had just happened.

'Thank you,' I said to Puriel, my mental voice full of gratitude.

'I should be the one saying that,' Puriel responded, her tone now much calmer. 'I really want to hug you in the real world.' There was a softness to her words, a vulnerability that made me pause.

But before I could respond, my thoughts were interrupted by a sharp voice. "This is strange. The crystal has never shown this kind of reaction before," Elros said, his eyes narrowing as he stared at me with suspicion.

I slowly removed my hand from the crystal, careful to maintain an expression of innocent confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked, feigning ignorance as I turned to face him. My voice was steady, my tone mild, but inside, my mind raced to think of how to handle this new development.

Elros stepped closer, his gaze still fixed on the crystal, then back to me. "The crystal usually reacts more distinctly when it detects anything unusual. But this time… it was different."

"Different how?" I inquired, keeping my voice casual as if I were simply curious.

"It’s hard to explain," Elros replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "Usually, if there’s anything remotely demonic or dangerous, the crystal’s glow would intensify, signaling a threat. But with you, it seemed almost… hesitant, like it wasn’t sure."

I shrugged, doing my best to appear unbothered. "Perhaps it’s because I’m not a threat. Or maybe it’s just a fluke—sometimes artifacts don’t behave the way they’re expected to."

Zalira, who had been watching the exchange closely, finally spoke. "Then touch it again," she commanded, her voice as cold and authoritative as ever.

I bit back a sigh, inwardly acknowledging that I had underestimated her. 'I thought Elros would be the most troublesome, but it seems Zalira herself is worse than that,' I mused. There was no escaping her scrutiny, and it was clear she wouldn’t be satisfied until she was certain of my intentions. But of course, I didn’t say any of this out loud. Instead, I gave a small nod of compliance and prepared to follow her order.

With deliberate movements, I extended my hand once more, allowing my fingers to brush against the crystal’s smooth surface. This time, I concentrated even harder on maintaining my calm while hoping Puriel was still on my side. I could feel the tension in the room ratcheted up a notch as everyone waited for the crystal’s reaction.

To my relief, the crystal responded exactly as it had with Mia—its glow remained soft, pulsing faintly before dimming completely. There was no heat, no sudden flare of energy, just a normal, muted response that indicated nothing out of the ordinary.

I pulled my hand back, allowing it to drop casually to my side. "See? I’m not a threat," I said, keeping my tone light but firm, as if this second test had been nothing more than a slight inconvenience.

Elros’s eyes narrowed slightly, still clearly suspicious, but even he couldn’t argue with the crystal’s second, more normal reaction. He took a small step back, though his gaze never left me. It was obvious that while the test had technically cleared me, he wasn’t entirely convinced.

Zalira, however, seemed more satisfied. She regarded me for a long moment, her expression inscrutable. Then, with a wave of her hand, she signaled the end of the test. The tension in the room eased slightly, though I could still feel the undercurrent of suspicion.

"You’ve proven yourself," Zalira said, her tone indicating that the matter was closed—for now. I nodded slightly, acknowledging her words with the formality she expected. I thought the protocol was finally over, that I had passed the test. But once again, I was wrong.

Zalira waved her hand, and the maids, along with the remaining guards, silently exited the room, leaving only the four of us: Mia, me, Zalira, and Elros.

Zalira’s gaze shifted to a chair near her, and she gestured for Mia to sit. "Sit with me, Mia," she ordered, her tone firm but lacking the warmth one might expect between sisters.

Mia obeyed without hesitation, moving to take the seat next to her sister. I remained standing as she studied me with cold, calculating eyes. It was as if she was dissecting me, trying to peel back the layers to see what lay beneath.

Then, without warning, Zalira’s gaze turned sharper, and she delivered a command that made both Mia and me freeze in place.

"Now, Mr. Lucio. Strip."

For a moment, time seemed to stop as I processed what she had just said. I saw Mia’s eyes widen in shock, her usual composure slipping for just a second as she turned to her sister. Elros, however, remained impassive, his face a mask of calm as if this was just another day in the life of the queen’s bodyguard.