The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98 The Elemental Circle

Venus stayed calm after hearing the report. “If Oliver thinks he can escape the law,” she said coolly, “then I’ll make sure he pays the price in my own way.”

Another group of wandering spirits returned with news.

The Menzies and the Claytons were terrified because they believed Gregory had returned for revenge. Nightmares haunted both families all night.

No one dared to dream about the compensation money again.

After all, what’s the point of having money if you don’t live long enough to spend it?

Ava’s matter had finally settled.

Just then, Saul came over with news. “Everything for the ritual is ready. Ms. Oracle, we’re waiting for you.”

After showering and changing into clean clothes, Venus picked up her gear and headed next door.

Drake was already there, lounging under the parasol in the garden. He was still in his black silk pajamas, sitting lazily in the morning sun.

Venus stepped in and instantly found her eyes caught by him. Oh, come on! This man’s doing it again. He’s trying to seduce me again.

Ahem.

Well, you blame me for thinking this.

Drake had shamelessly used the same tricks in the past to win her over.

Annoyingly, they had always worked.

“Ms. Oracle, what are you staring at?” Saul asked when he noticed her frozen in place.

Venus snapped out of it and quickly pushed the thoughts from her mind. She silently chanted something to steady herself.

“Your boss is delicate and weak,” she said calmly. “It’s early, the grass is still wet with dew, and the air’s chilly. He should wear something warmer.”

Saul chuckled. “That’s the strange part. Mr. Drake only wears pajamas in the bedroom. He never stepped outside dressed like that.”

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Chapter 98 The Elementar Circle

He grinned and added, “But don’t worry, Ms. Oracle. He’s been getting stronger lately. Keeping him too warm isn’t a good idea.”

Venus smiled lightly and decided to change the topic. “Where are the supplies?”

“Right there.” Saul pointed at the spot under the parasol. “Everything’s ready, just like you asked.”

“Good.” Venus nodded, her tone steady again.

Venus walked over and began setting up the elemental circle.

Drake pretended to read something on his iPad, but his gaze kept drifting toward her.

He watched as she carefully placed each charm and crystal in its precise position, drawing runes and pressing sigils into the dirt with her fingertips. Her movements were calm and exact, so focused that she didn’t look up once.

“Ms. Oracle truly deserves her title as Mr. Dust’s only chosen mentee,” Saul said in awe. “Look at that circle; I have a feeling this ritual might just extend your life by decades.”

Drake didn’t respond right away. “Any trace of Mr. Dust?” he finally asked.

Saul shook his head. “None. Mr. Dust vanished nearly twenty years ago, like he was erased from every record.”

Drake’s eyes lowered slightly. He remembered the first time he saw Venus.

She sat alone on the steps of a crumbling cottage, the door half-rotted and the wind pushing through the gaps. She must’ve come back searching for her mentor, only to find him gone.

“And her?” Drake asked quietly.

Saul blinked and played dumb. “Her? Who do you mean, Mr. Drake?”

Drake gave him a dark, warning look.

“Oh-Ms. Oracle, of course!” Saul chuckled nervously. “I looked into her background. She’s not the foster daughter of the Burns, like people said. She’s the biological daughter. Eighteen years ago, two babies with the same surname were switched at birth. Ms. Oracle’s adoptive father, Nigel Burn, turned out to be a drunk and a gambler. He wasted everything they had-sold furniture, pawned the roof over their heads. The family was so poor that they were always starving.”

“Ms. Oracle didn’t even finish middle school. Nigel pulled her out and sent her to work on a pig farm.”

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Saul sighed. “Her childhood was miserable. Barely a teenager, and she was already working chores, finding food to feed the livestock, planting vegetables, tending to the animals, and taking care of those awful foster parents. The fact that she grew up to be who she is now, honestly, that’s a miracle.”

Drake listened, his brow furrowing deeply.

His eyes

drifted toward the small figure standing quietly in the corner of the garden.

No wonder she was so thin and frail. She’d grown up in that kind of environment, in a place where she was never fed enough, never loved.

Saul clenched his fists and said in resentment, “After her grandfather brought her home, the whole family bullied her! They even accused her of stealing! Ms. Oracle ran away because she couldn’t take it anymore. Oh-and that day we met her at the cottage? That’s when she’d just left home.”

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