Ch 13 Unseen Threads

Hello, my readers!

I hope you liked the last chapter, ahahaha.

Well, it seems cats are out of the bag now.

You folks will be seeing lots of interesting things from now on, that I can guarantee ahahaha.

Well enjoy this short chapter.

Seeya my beloved readers~

Aelwyn Moonshade

My vision blurred as tears welled up, refusing to stop no matter how I hard I try. They fell freely, uncontrollably and raw. My eyes carried over to lifeless shell of Lilia—what remained of it. She had been inhumanly split open from the chest, her guts spilling out like ghastly unnatural—

I gagged, bile rising in my throat. My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed, retching onto the cold ground.

“Aelwyn!”, Caladrel’s voice was firm, but his hand on my back was unexpectedly gentle, trying to steady me. “Go over there, we’ll talk”.

I couldn’t respond at first. I nodded weakly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I Pressed my palm into the dirt and forced myself to strength, though every muscle screamed in protest. One last glance at Dorian's still form—his face locked in an eerie peace—sent another wave of nausea crashing over me.

He reminded me so much of Borin, my elder-sister’s party member.

I was in a daze, as I stared blankly at the floor. My mind was drifting in and out, legs moved on their own accord as I staggered forward, each step felt heavier than last as if I was an unknown pressure was weighting me. My mind whirled back, to the moments: Caladrel saving me from the terrifying chimera just before it ripped me to shreds.

He cut down that chimera—like a knight on a shining armor rescuing a princess, a soft chuckle escaped me, betraying my composure.

His expression never changes—cold, sharp eyes. His distant expression. Sometimes he feels so unreachable, so detached, like a shadow I couldn’t grasp.

After navigating through countless chambers, we met them, Dorian and Lilia…. even if it was for ten hours, I’d felt something I hadn’t for a long time. Although it was fleeting companship—but I had real fun.

My heart clenched, as it came to realization that they were gone. Ten hours was all it took for everything to fall apart!

A soft drip, the sound of water, jerked me away from my thoughts. I followed it—there a clear pool of water in this forsaken place. It was pure, almost out of place amidst the epithet.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I knelt down, scooping up a handful of water, I splash it across my face. Letting it reprieve the carnage around us. The coldness soothed my nerves as my tensed muscle began to relaxed.

I drank deeply, the cool water relieving my parched throat. For a brief moment, the world came to a still, as I shut tight my eyelids until stars burst from within.

I exhaled a sigh. Fidgeting around a lose bang with my finger, I felt my mind whirling back to few minutes. The weight of what I had just learned pressed down on me, heavier than before.

Caladrel is an Archonian.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that why would they, the protector of our Aeloria realm, suddenly decided to turn against us. Destroying everything they once stood for.

“Aelwyn”

His voice, terrifyingly familiar, Cold, cutting through the silence. The coldness of the water was still clinging to my throat but not colder than the Icey blade against my neck.

I hadn’t even sensed him approach.

"Cal?" My voice wavered, my body trembling with a mixture of fear and disbelief. The blade was so close I could feel its icy breath on my skin. My heart pounded, adrenaline surging through my veins. Yet I decided to ask, a gnawing question that has been edging me. "Why... why did the Archons attack our realm?".

The silence that followed was suffocating. I flinched as the edge of the blade pressed closer, the sharp blade grazing my skin.

"What are you talking about?" Caladrel’s voice was like ice, his words laced with venom. "First you lot ally with the Asuras to invade us, and now this? What game are you lesser playing?"

I was dumfounded. “What!? We didn’t—”, I snapped at him, panic raising my voice. I spun around, nearly cutting myself on the blade, but I didn’t care. “We didn’t attack you! That’s... or that’s what we were told!”

For a brief second, his eyes went wide in shock, his cold mask seem to flattered. the icy blade vanished in thin air, but the tension still remained.

“Explain,”, he growled, cocking his head slightly. “or your neck will fall Lesser.”

I stared up at him, my heart still pounding in my chest. His sharp features were cast in shadow by the flickering torchlight. His eyes were sharp yet they something else beneath that— something sad, haunted

“My elder sister was ten when it happened,” I began, swallowing hard. "I wasn’t even born yet, but she told me about it. The human king, Alaric Varyn, and the dwarven king, Thorgrum Ironvein, visited our father, Elandor Moonshade. It was unexpected—no warning, no news of their arrival."

I hesitated for a second, before trying to choose my words carefully. But Caladrel’s gaze bore into me, unrelenting, with a nod from Cal, I decided to keep it raw

“My sister snuck in to eavesdrop on their conversation. They said someone named Auriel had ambushed the human king… and that Asura soldiers had saved him.”

“What a load of crap!”, Caladrel’s voice was sharp, filled with rage. “Auriel? That bastard Krynnor invited him their realm. He gave us a ‘gift,’ all right—an ambush that cost us everything.”, he paused, cocking his head slightly he stared at me.

I met his gaze, my heart racing. “The elves weren’t involved. As far as I know, we didn’t attack you. My sister… she thinks there’s more to this than what we were told.”

His brow furrowed, and for the first time, his posture faltered. He turned away from me, pacing a few steps before stopping abruptly. “Three people know my identity, lesser. Three. And now, you.”

His words struck me like a blow. Lesser. That’s what he called me. Not Aelwyn. I clenched my fists, biting back the sting of his disdain. I now understand, why he sometime feels cold, detached…he probably hates me…but he still did save me.

My gaze fell towards Caladrel’s back. Mixture of emotions surged through me, as I replayed the conversation in my head again. I shook my head, pulling myself from reverie.

“I don’t care,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “I believe in you, Caladrel. Let me help you.”

I am going to help him anyway I can. I promised to myself, my resolved was determined.

He froze, his back still turned to me. For a moment, I thought he might walk away—leave me here in the silence. But then, without turning, he spoke again.

“Follow me.” His words were distant, cold

“Cal, wait!” I called out after him, my voice echoing through the chamber. “There’s something I need to tell you.”