Ellie stood frozen, heart hammering in her chest, her gaze locked on Kael Thorne. He stirred beneath the fallen sign, eyes fluttering open as the weight of the square settled around them. The townsfolk’s whispers buzzed like flies, thick and inescapable, making it impossible to think. Ellie’s breath came in ragged bursts.

Thorne blinked slowly, confusion marring his face before his eyes finally found hers. His lips twisted into a smile—slow, deliberate, wrong.

"You…" His voice slid through the chaos, laced with amusement. "You truly are something."

Ellie’s breath hitched. What could she possibly say? She hadn’t done anything. Not on purpose. Her pulse thundered in her ears, but the world moved in slow motion as Thorne climbed to his feet, brushing dust and debris from his dark, frayed cloak. The watching crowd edged closer, drawn by the tension, eyes wide, breath held.

Thorne rolled his shoulders, wincing briefly before stretching out the last traces of discomfort. His entire demeanor shifted, the battle-worn mask falling away, replaced by a dangerous curiosity. His gaze swept over her, slow and measured, as if he were seeing her for the first time—like she was some artifact to be studied.

"I underestimated you, Ellie Liddell." His voice was softer now, almost admiring. He gave her a slight nod, the kind reserved for equals. "To wield such power so effortlessly—no spells, no visible strain. You’ve hidden your talents well."

Ellie blinked rapidly. Power? She opened her mouth to object, but no words came. The square had gone unnervingly quiet, the murmur of the crowd fading to a heavy hush. She could feel them—every single person—waiting for her to say something, anything.

Thorne’s eyes gleamed, and he stepped closer. “More than the stories claimed. Greymire’s best-kept secret, hiding in plain sight. Ingenious."

Ellie shook her head, but her limbs felt numb, her throat tight. This is wrong.

"I think you’ve made a mistake," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thorne paused, tilting his head slightly, that smile still curling at the edges. “Modesty, is it?” His gaze flickered over her again, amusement deepening. “Unexpected, but unnecessary. I can see what you are, even if they can’t."

Her heart raced. He was making no sense. Traps? Control? She could barely keep herself upright, let alone—what was he talking about?

"I’m just—"

"Powerful." Thorne’s voice cut through her protest like a blade. “More powerful than you realize. That guild of yours…” He made a dismissive gesture, his eyes scanning the town square with thinly veiled contempt. “They’ve kept you leashed, blinded by their own ignorance. But me? I see it, Ellie. The traps. The precision. You were commanding that battlefield as if the world bent to your will."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

A shiver crawled up her spine. “No, I—”

"You’re wasted here." Thorne’s words fell heavy, each one punctuated by a step closer. “This place…” His eyes swept over the cobbled square, the onlookers. “These people can’t comprehend what you could become. But I can."

Ellie’s fists clenched at her sides. She took a step back, heart pounding against her ribs. He’s wrong. She hadn’t done anything—at least, not intentionally. She was just… trying to survive.

"Join me." Thorne’s voice dropped to a murmur, but the intensity cut through the growing panic in her chest. "Together, we could reshape the very fabric of magic itself. No limits, no boundaries. With your strength and my knowledge…" His smile grew darker, more dangerous. “We could change everything.”

Ellie swallowed hard, throat dry as sandpaper. “I— I don’t—”

Thorne’s hand extended toward her, palm up, as though offering the world itself. "You wouldn’t have to hide anymore, Ellie. No more pretending. No more being less than what you are. You’d finally be free."

The word free echoed in her mind, a hollow promise. Ellie stared at his outstretched hand, bile rising in her throat. She took another step back, shaking her head.

“I don’t want it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Thorne blinked, the smile wavering. “What?”

“I said I don’t want it.” Her words came sharper now, steadier, even though her legs trembled beneath her.

For a beat, Thorne simply stared at her, as if trying to make sense of what he was hearing. Then, slowly, his expression changed—his brow furrowed, but there was no anger, no disappointment. Instead, he looked… impressed?

"You’re not only powerful," he said softly, almost reverently. "You’re principled. You could have anything, and yet… you choose this.” He gestured toward the square, to the townsfolk, to the dull, ordinary life she was clinging to. “Remarkable."

Ellie’s stomach twisted. No, that’s not it. That’s not what I meant at all!

Thorne sighed, a long, deliberate sound, like the release of a burden only he understood. "Very well," he said, his voice low, with a kind of resigned respect. "I won’t press you. But know this, Ellie Liddell…" He leaned in, just enough that his words were for her alone. “You’ve earned my respect today. And should you ever change your mind, should you ever want something more than this…” His eyes burned into hers. “I will be waiting.”

Ellie’s breath caught in her throat. Waiting?

Before she could respond, Thorne stepped back, his movements graceful, almost theatrical. With a final, formal bow, he turned on his heel, his dark cloak sweeping behind him. His entourage followed closely, disappearing into the shadows beyond the square.

As soon as they were out of sight, the silence shattered.

"She turned him down!" someone shouted, disbelief and awe mingling in the voice. "She refused him!"

"A true hero!" another voice rang out. “She chose us!”

The crowd surged toward her, a flood of admiration and cheers. Ellie’s knees nearly buckled beneath her. The voices crashed in waves, drowning her thoughts. They thought she had rejected Thorne out of strength, out of noble conviction. They thought she had made some grand choice. But all she had done—all she had wanted—was to survive.

The cheers grew louder, faces beaming, hands reaching toward her. She stood frozen, heart pounding, feeling like the ground was about to crumble beneath her feet.

“I need to get out of here,” she whispered to herself, but there was no escape. There was nowhere to run.

They were all watching her now.