Chapter 374

Evander watched his close friend leave, his expression serious. After a long pause, he turned his gaze toward Odalys.

"Clarette was Evander's closest friend, and they had a bond that couldn't be broken," Odalys said. "If it hadn't been for the Lark family, Evander would have perished on the battlefield long ago and wouldn't have lived to see this day."

Evander's gaze met hers. She shook her head and said, "This is his fate. You can't help him, even if you try."

She made a cup of coffee and handed it to Evander. Meeting his gaze, she added, "If you insist on getting involved and disrupting things, it might lead to even worse outcomes. Actually, you don't need to worry about it; just wait and see."

Evander remained silent. He sipped his coffee, his eyes drawn to the unfinished chess game, his mind uneasy. It wasn't until he finished the coffee that he noticed Odalys standing in front of him, holding a pen and sketching in mid-air. As her strokes moved, the scenery within the sketch seemed to change.

"What is this?" Evander quickly stepped forward.

As he looked at the image she was creating, he felt the cold wind from the snow-capped mountains, as though it were blowing out of the drawing.

"Magic," Odalys said. "It could be called magic, but it's real."

Evander admired the landscape she had drawn, finding each part beautiful, though something about it felt oddly familiar, as if he had seen it before.

"Isn't this the ancestral cemetery of my family?" Evander asked, astonished.

He remembered that Odalys had never visited the Stewart family's ancestral cemetery, yet she had depicted a scene from the southern side, and he was deeply shocked.

"Yes," Odalys whispered.

Evander looked at her with a complex expression. He vaguely sensed that she might have some form of precognition. She hadn't done anything, yet it seemed like she knew everything.

Evander didn't dare to speak again and simply stood quietly. At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

The sound broke Odalys's focus on her drawing. She put the pen down and walked with Evander to the door, where they saw Lee standing outside, looking exhausted. His face was grim, and when he saw Odalys, his eyes were red from crying.

"My daughter" Lee's voice was choked with emotion.

The young man, known for his iron will, was now in tears, his eyes swollen, as though he were carrying deep hurt and shock.

"What happened?" Odalys quickly stepped forward.

With trembling hands, Lee pulled out the talisman she had given him earlier. His voice was hoarse as he said, "The school where my daughter is there was an explosion. By chance, she was on duty after school today, cleaning the hallways. The entire building collapsed. By the time I got there, I found her thrown She told me that after the explosion, something threw her out. She landed on the lawn and passed out. She has some scrapes and a mild concussion, but thankfully no serious injuries." Lee's voice shook as he spoke.

Lee never imagined he would come to believe in magic. The last time Odalys used a talisman to reveal the truth about a deceased person, he had been skeptical. But now, in this moment, Lee truly believed.

"If it hadn't been for the talisman you gave me, my daughter might have been killed in that explosion," Lee said. "My wife is still at the hospital with her. I came here to ask you to pray for her." He was a police officer, and his beliefs did not allow him to accept magic. Lee believed that things were driven by human effort, not by relying on magic for protection. However, today, magic had saved his daughter's life.

"I'm glad she's okay," Odalys said, greatly shaken. She hadn't expected the talisman's effect to manifest so soon. When Lee had come to ask for a talisman, she had given him two. Lee wasn't exactly the type to have children. As a police officer, he often dealt with sensitive cases and made enemies along the way. His children were likely to suffer and get hurt because of his job.

"Come in," Evander said, his heart sinking. He quickly invited Lee inside.

Lee walked straight to the thurible, bowed, and began to pray. Bowing his head, Lee's emotions were incredibly complicated, but somehow, he felt an unexpected sense of peace. At that moment, as he finished his prayer, all the panic and fear inside him seemed to vanish, leaving him calm.

"Ms. Stone, the talisman you gave me last time is gone. Could I please ask for another one?" Lee asked anxiously. He knew the request was unreasonable, but after today's events, he couldn't shake his worry. What if this happens again? What should I do next time?

As a police officer, Lee knew something was off about the explosion. Explosions didn't just happen in schools, especially not during the time his daughter was alone on duty, cleaning. This was clearly targeted at him. The cases Lee had been investigating recently might have upset someone.

"You don't need another one," Odalys said. "I think she won't face any more danger for at least the next three years. Even if something does happen, it will be minor, just small scrapes or bruises. Kids can be mischievous, and little injuries are normal."

Lee thought he had heard wrong.

"That's a relief! I was worried she might not make it to adulthood," Lee said, quickly reaching for his wallet.

Odalys stopped him. "Lee, I don't accept money. Besides, you've already prayed, which counts as compensation for my star readings. If your wife and child are free, they can stop by anytime to pray." For her, magic wasn't about making money, but about protecting others. For God, the purpose of prayer was to offer help and guidance, not to receive payment. Of course, for bigger tasks, there might be exchanges or money involved, but she would judge the situation.

Lee had been a police officer for many years, but he wasn't wealthy. He was a righteous man, working to protect the people, and Odalys had no intention of accepting his money.

"Alright. I'll make sure they come by when they can," Lee said, his voice hoarse, though his heart was lighter. His wife had urged him to give more money, but he hadn't expected Odalys to refuse it. It wasn't that Lee was stingy, but he knew Odalys's personality. When she said no, she meant it. If Lee had insisted, she might have truly gotten upset.

"By the way, has there been any progress with the case?" Odalys casually asked.

At the mention of the case, Lee's spirits lifted. He had always been passionate about his country and loved investigating cases. The more difficult a case was, the more excited he became. He wanted to delve deep, uncover more clues, and slowly piece together the truth to capture the real culprits. This was his specialty.

He said, "After you helped the spirits appear, we followed the descriptions of the people we saw and managed to find their records. Most of their families had filed reports, but nothing conclusive. We've already notified the families and continue our investigation, and we've uncovered a shocking secret."