Chapter 37:

Axel’s wishes for us to get a good night’s sleep fell on deaf ears - at least for me. Belferon manifested in my nightmares again, making it impossible to rest. With all the tension building inside me, sleep was already hard to come by. So many lives were on the line, including our own.

In summary, I found myself utterly exhausted by morning.

Axel had left yesterday to ensure the Stormbringer stayed far away from Lind. I wasn’t sure how he planned to accomplish that, given that Leon Valter didn’t seem like the type to listen to anyone. But I hadn’t had time to ask, as Axel left almost immediately after we finished our discussion.

In the morning, Den met with Leia and me before heading to Tehl.

Leia announced that she would leave to Dureg right away. Finding the third rune could prove difficult, so waiting until the last possible moment, when time was against us, seemed foolish. Her logic was sound, and I considered joining her. Den, however, was completely against the idea.

“Don’t even think about it, Leia.” He said, just shy of shouting. “You don’t know what – or who - might be waiting for you there. Going alone would be beyond stupid.”

Leia looked ready to argue, but Den raised his hands to stop her.

“No.” He said firmly. “There’s nothing you can say to convince me otherwise. If you go alone, you’ll just become another person we’ll need to rescue.”

With that, he left in a hurry.

Leia seemed both upset and angry about the whole situation. At first, I thought she might defy Den’s words. After all, he was an experienced warrior, the Head Guard here in Lind, and an acquaintance from their past, but she had stood up to him in the past. Why listen to him now? Yet, she seemed to accept his warning.

“Why did it sound like he was scolding you?” I asked, a weak smile on my lips, trying to lighten the mood.

“Well, he is my father.” She replied and all the pieces fell together.

***

“I never knew my real parents. They died when I was an infant.” Leia began, her vice calm but tinged with sadness as we settled in the living room.

Realizing we had to wait for the others to return before we commenced our operation, I decided to take the opportunity to ask about her relationship with Den. Learning he was her father had caught me completely off guard, though it suddenly explained so much - especially Olen’s confused look during our last conversation. He probably couldn’t believe I didn’t already know and that I was joking.

“We lived in a small village in the south called Nilhan.” She continued, her tone steady as she recounted the memories. “The south of Morthryga is probably the most lawless area in the kingdom. Bandits roam freely there, and military presence is almost nonexistent. Anytime someone wanted to venture beyond their village, they had to hire mercenaries for protection. Smaller villages, like Nilhan, were constant targets for raids. One of those raids turned especially bloody. They didn’t spare anyone. I only survived because Den - who was just a major back then - was leading a small unit from the capital to clear out some of the bandit outposts in the area. He found me in my dead mother’s arms. After failing to find any other relatives, he adopted me.”

I stayed quiet, unsure what I could even say at such a tragic story.

Leia pressed on. “He and his wife, Laura, raised me in the capital as their own daughter. They couldn’t have kids of their own, so despite the circumstances, I was sort of a blessing to them. But I wasn’t a blessing. I was anything but.” Her voice grew quieter, her shoulders sinking. “I know I’m weird. I’ve always been this way. I couldn’t make friends, and other kids bullied me because of how I spoke, or my obsessive interest in magic. Gods, I can’t even make normal eye contact with people most of the time. I’ve tried to change, to improve, but it’s not easy. It’s a constant struggle.”

I wanted to reassure her, to tell her she wasn’t weird at all, but before I could speak, she continued.

“I felt like a burden to Den and Laura. They wanted a normal child, and instead they got...me. Every time I tried be ‘normal’, to make them proud, I failed and got laughed at by everyone else. And that made Den impatient. Eventually, he wouldn’t let me do anything on my own anymore. So, when I turned eighteen, I told them I was leaving to become an adventurer - much to Den’s dismay.”

“Why an adventurer?” I asked gently, curious.

“I needed to overcome my shyness and trauma. To prove to myself that I could be strong and independent.” She explained, her voice firm. “I couldn’t do that at home. Den became too overprotective. I felt like he didn’t trust me to do anything on my own. Even now, he doesn’t...”

I smiled weakly. “Seb had a similar reason. He said he wanted to break free and challenge himself.”

She smiled softly at that. “I know. That’s probably why we got along so well from the start. And now…” her voice cracked, and tears began streaming down her cheeks. “Now I might lose him forever.”

I leaned closer, trying to sound reassuring. “I want to believe he’s okay. And I know my belief doesn’t amount to much, but I also believe we’ll save him - and everyone else in this area.”

Leia wiped her eyes and gave me a weak smile. “Thank you, Luca.”

I shifted the conversation, returning back to Den. “How did Den end up as the Head Guard here?”

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She let out a small sigh before answering. “He helped our party multiple times when we operated around Willox. He was still overprotective and didn’t trust my abilities, but thankfully, he noticed Axel’s talents early on, so he didn’t press me too much. I think he felt like I was in safe hands, even if they weren’t his. After Seb and I retired and moved to Lind, he decided to follow. Laura had passed from an illness, and not long after, he retired from the military. He moved here…to keep looking out for me, I guess.”

I thought back to my conversations with Den yesterday. “I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t trust you, Leia. I think he’s just really worried about you.”

She nodded slightly, her expression conflicted. “I know he is. But his overprotectiveness is suffocating. If I had listened to him and never left to become an adventurer, I’d probably still be in our house in Willox. A nobody. Unemployed, lonely, and alone.”

I tried to offer a different look on things, surprised at myself for supporting the man who wanted me out of the village when we first arrived, but feeling that’s what Leia needed to hear. “Den was a military man all his life, right? He’s probably seen and experienced a lot, and I don’t think he knows how to express his feelings well. I don’t believe his overprotectiveness comes from mistrust – it’s fear. Fear of losing his only child.”

Leia sighed deeply. “It’s not that I don’t love or appreciate him. I do. But it’s so hard to live your life when someone constantly won’t let you. Even if it’s out of love.”

She fell silent, and I decided to share something to shift her perspective. “Yesterday, even with the Stormbringer breathing down our necks, he went against his military instincts to search for Seb. When I asked him why, he didn’t answer, but I think it was because he wanted to make you happy.”

She smiled weakly at my words but didn’t say anything, and I hoped I said the right things to mend their relationship.

My thoughts drifted to my mother, and father. I wished they were still here with me. But they weren’t.

We sat in silence, a shared understanding passing between us. But as my unease about what was coming that night grew, I broke the silence, an idea popping in my mind.

“Hey, Leia.” I began. “Is it difficult to refine a mineral?”

***

Den returned in the afternoon, informing us that Herring would handle the sigil in Tehl. Axel, however, didn’t reappear until late evening, announcing that the Stormbringer had left the area.

Before splitting into our assigned groups, Den approached me, extending a sheathed shortsword. It was just slightly longer than a typical knife or dagger.

“What’s this?” I asked, eyeing the sword nervously.

“What do you think?” Den replied, raising an eyebrow. “It’s a sword. Take it.”

“B-But I don’t even know how to use one properly.” I stammered.

“What’s there to know?” Den shrugged nonchalantly. “You just stick the pointy end in your target.”

“Easy for you to say.” I muttered, dismissing the oversimplified explanation. “I’ve heard you’re one of the best swordsmen in the kingdom.”

“Exaggerated.” He said, waving the compliment away. “Anyway, hopefully you won’t need to use it. But if you do, you’re fighting hellspawn, not trained swordsmen. Your technique shouldn’t be that crucial.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Axel interjected. “If he’s never used one, he’s more likely to hurt himself.”

“Nonsense.” Den waved Axel off. “The three of us have ways to defend ourselves - sword, magic, or both. He doesn’t. He needs something.”

Leia nodded in agreement. “I agree. Luca needs a way to defend himself if something happens.”

“If something happens, I’ll handle it.” Axel countered, shaking his head. “But fine. Whatever.”

With that, we split up. Den and Leia rode to Dureg, while Axel and I trekked on foot toward the forest.

The evening shadows stretched long, and as the light faded, I slipped on Ren’s moonstone ring and conjured and orb of light to guide our way.

“Good thinking.” Axel said, offering a rare compliment.

The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, occasionally giving way to the acrid smell of charred wood – remnants of the ignifera’s destructive presence. The towering trees loomed around us, their branches intertwining, blocking out most of the moonlight. The forest was eerily silent, the expected sound of wildlife was conspicuously absent.

“Do you even know where the sigil is?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Axel glanced at me with mild irritation, though he tried to sound calm. “Yeah, yeah, it’s just over there.” He said, gesturing vaguely ahead.

I frowned but said nothing, trusting he knew more about the situation than I did. He seemed calm. Way too calm. To the point I felt unsettled.

“What about Annabel?” I asked, trying to fill the silence. Axel hadn’t mentioned her in the past two days, which felt odd.

“Nothing new.” He replied curtly. “I believe she’ll return after we deal with the hellspawn.”

His tone betrayed no concern, but I assumed he was just trying to concentrate. If we encountered Adar, Axel would be the one to face him. He was the only one here capable of matching an archdemon – if Adar was as strong as Vorlexia.

Our footsteps crunched against the underbrush as we ventured deeper into the forest. The farther we walked, the thinner the trees became, exposing us to the night sky.

“How much further?” I pressed, trying to keep the anxiety in check.

Axel didn’t answer, likely annoyed by my constant questioning, keeping his focus on the path ahead. The silence between us was palpable, broken only by the occasional branch being crushed under our feet.

Finally, we emerged into a small clearing. The ground was bare except for the sigil carved into the earth and smeared with blood. It was identical to the one we had found in Tehl. It glowed faintly, a red light pulsating from its lines. It felt wrong, like the ground itself was tainted. I swallowed hard, my unease growing.

“There it is.” Axel muttered, stepping forward casually.

“What now?” I asked.

“Now, we disrupt it.” He said, his tone low and serious.

“We?” I echoed in confusion. “I thought only you and Leia could do that.”

“That’s true.” He admitted. “But you can still help speed things up.”

I hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure. What do you need me to do?”

“Stand opposite to me, on the other side of the sigil.” He instructed, positioning himself at the open base of the hourglass.

I moved to the closed base, trying to ignore the growing unease gnawing at my chest. “And now?”

“Just wait.” He said, closing his eyes as if concentrating.

I nodded slowly, though every instinct in me screamed to back away. The sigil’s glow seemed to intensify, and the pulsating light felt alive, malevolent.

“Axel?” I called, my voice tinged with worry.

No response. He stood there silently like a statue.

Panic bubbled inside me. Instinctively, I activated my fluorite ring, enhancing my senses. That’s when I heard it – a rustle just behind me. Too deliberate to be the wind.

Without thinking, I threw myself to the side, hitting the ground hard but rolling to my feet just in time to see a hulking, red-skinned demon land where I’d been standing. The ground trembled beneath his massive war-axe, which buried itself deep into the earth.

It was the same demon I’d seen during the attack in Vedem, even though now he looked a lot bigger and muscular than before. And even more grotesque up closely. His skin crimson, and eyes pitch black. A growl escaped his lips as he wrenched the axe free and rested it on his on his shoulder, turning to face me with a cruel grin.

“That was so close, damn it.” He rumbled. “I almost had you.”

As his lips moved, I noticed something chilling – Axel’s lips moved in unison. My heart sank as the realization hit me.

“Axel was an illusion...” I muttered.

“Got that right!” the demon sneered. “One of my best works. But you figured it out too late. Now that you’re here alone, I’ll take the calcite and your life.”

My blood ran cold. I was alone, facing a powerful enemy, with no way to escape.