The lit halls of the citadel echoed with their footsteps as they made their way towards the Grand Commander’s office. Torches flickered, casting wavering shadows that danced along the stone walls, creating an almost haunting ambiance.

Tamiron walked closely beside Everess, his eyes flicking to her often. Her normally composed face was a canvas of barely contained fear, her eyes wide and darting nervously. A frown creased her brow, and her lips were pressed into a thin line. Her usually steady hands trembled ever so slightly, betraying the turmoil within her.

He could see the tension in the way she held herself, shoulders stiff, steps hesitant. The façade she maintained for the rest of the world was crumbling in the quiet corridor, revealing a vulnerability that she showed to no one but him.

To offer some comfort, he placed a gentle hand on her back, feeling the rigid muscles beneath his touch. The gesture was brief but intended to reassure. At intervals, he reached for her hand, squeezing it gently, hoping to convey his support and solidarity through the simple contact.

The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and shared anxiety. The flickering torchlight highlighted the weariness etched on their faces, the burdens they carried evident in their eyes.

As they walked, the grandeur of the citadel seemed to loom over them, its towering arches and elaborate tapestries a stark contrast to the quiet dread that clung to them. The imposing architecture, meant to inspire awe and confidence, now felt like a cold reminder of the gravity of their situation.

He could feel Everess’ pulse quicken whenever they approached a corner or heard a distant sound. He knew that her fear wasn’t just about the immediate meeting, but the larger implications of their mission and the secrets they bore.

In the midst of the dimly lit corridor, their shared glances and subtle touches spoke volumes. The weight of the moment hung between them, a silent acknowledgment of the challenges ahead. Despite the fear and uncertainty, there was a steadfast resolve in their steps, a determination to face whatever awaited them behind the closed doors of the Office.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice a low murmur in the quiet corridor.

Everess took a deep breath, nodding. “Let’s go.”

With a creak, he pushed open the heavy door, revealing the room beyond. Inside, the others were already gathered: Graveloth, present via an owl’s projection; Glaivel; Sevidon; Ravaen; Kaira; and Aderon. All eyes turned to them as they entered. He then stepped aside, allowing Everess a moment to collect herself before she followed him in. The door closed behind them with a resolute thud, leaving no room for retreat.

He addressed the handler with a nod, signaling for her to leave. Once she was gone, he turned to face the assembled group. “I’m surprised to see everyone already here,” he remarked, moving to his chair at the head of the table.

Kaira’s curiosity was palpable. “You don’t just call a meeting of just us, Tamiron. This hasn’t happened in the last five years. There’s a reason for this.”

“I have an inkling of what it’s for,” Ravaen said, uncrossing his arms and fixing his gaze on Everess. “I just want to hear it from her.”

“Ravaen, please, don’t start,” he interjected.

“We’re way past that, Tamiron. I’m tired of your secrecy,” Ravaen replied, his tone sharp. “Either you tell us what’s going on, or we walk. With our armies.”

“Are you going to tell us, then?” Graveloth’s voice echoed through the projection.

“It would be a breath of fresh air if you told us what you’ve been up to,” Glaivel added, his voice edged with frustration. “Moving in the shadows like this is straining our forces. We don’t know if we can trust you right now.”

“Sevidon even accused you of being a traitor,” Ravaen continued, casting a sidelong glance at Sevidon, who remained silent, avoiding eye contact. “Surprisingly, your accuser is awfully quiet. I wonder if what happened yesterday cleared things up?”

Everess stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tension. “I know you have reservations about me right now. But I believe you’ll understand once I tell you what I’ve shared with Tamiron.”

All eyes shifted to him, their gazes heavy with expectation and a hint of betrayal.

“You knew what she was doing and chose to keep it to yourself?” Ravaen’s tone was accusatory, his disappointment evident.

“I suspected something was going on,” Aderon interjected. “But knowing these two, I believe they’re acting in our best interest.”

“And what makes you think that?” Ravaen demanded.

Aderon didn’t reply, leaving Ravaen shaking his head in frustration.

“Whatever they were doing, they’re going to tell us now,” Glaivel said. “We’ll see if Aderon’s blind trust is misplaced.”

“And seriously, did you choose to trust them blindly?” Ravaen snapped at Aderon.

“Why? Have they ever acted against our benefit?” Aderon shot back. “The restoration of the Imperial boundaries in Huertian, the surprise attack that led to the recapture of this city, the reinforcements that saved your troops during our first expedition into Shardon. All those decisions were made by one of them, saving us and you,” he said, pointing at Ravaen’s chest.

“So make sure your blind trust is in the right place, because out of all of us, your judgment has been the worst,” Aderon added, his voice cold and unyielding.

The room fell silent, the weight of Aderon’s words hanging heavily in the air. Ravaen’s eyes blazed with anger, but he held his tongue, unable to refute Aderon’s accusations. Everess stood firm right across from him, their presence a united front against the scrutiny they faced.

He glanced at Aderon, who gave him an approving nod, and then turned his sights to Everess, who received the same silent encouragement.

“I know I am in no position to tell you this right now,” Everess began, her voice wavering slightly, “but I ask for your trust.” She looked around the room, meeting each person’s eyes. “Five years ago, during our meeting with Lyo, she told me I’d be pulling the strings from then on.”

Her lips trembled as she continued, her gaze steady despite the evident emotion. “From then on, we had frequent talks about what to do, when to do it, and how I should go about it.”

The others exchanged glances, absorbing her words.

“I’ve executed their plan to a certain extent, ensuring everything goes according to the gods’ and Animos’ design."

“Wait, are you saying you’re working as a herald for the gods and Animos?” Graveloth asked, the gravity of Everess’ claims beginning to dawn on him.

“In a way, yes,” Everess replied.

“What do you mean, ‘in a way’?” Ravaen interjected, his skepticism cutting through the air. “You are one. At least, that’s what you’re claiming. What makes you so special?”

“Shush,” Kaira admonished Ravaen. “Let her finish.”

“Why should I? This is absurd!” Ravaen scoffed, shaking his head.

“Let her finish, for Animos’ sake,” Glaivel groaned, frustration evident in his voice.

“So far, I’ve executed the plan to an extent,” Everess resumed, her voice gaining strength. “But in these past few months, the enemy has begun to show himself and wreak havoc.”

“The hooded figure,” he interjected, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Yes, him,” Everess confirmed. “He’s the one responsible for Tamiron’s actions five years ago. And now, he’s on the move again.”

“What could he possibly gain from all this?” Kaira asked, her curiosity piqued.

Everess paused, rising to pour herself a glass of water. She took a sip, composing herself before speaking. “The hooded figure wants to rule the world.”

He stood up, then he filled a goblet with matrik, the liquid shimmering as it poured. Everess caught his eye, and he shook his head slightly, a silent exchange of understanding.

“I was there,” Everess suddenly said, her voice softer now. “I was there after the Hidden Tomb in the Empire was raided.” Her revelation left everyone dumbfounded. “I saw the carnage before anyone else could witness the horror. At that time, I wasn’t fully aware of who or what I was dealing with. All I knew was that I felt him—his presence. Half a world away, I felt him as though he were standing right beside me."

The room fell silent, the weight of Everess’ words settling over them. The implications of her story hung heavy in the air, a testament to the unseen battles and the looming threats they faced. The tension was palpable, each person grappling with the enormity of what they had just heard.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“I couldn’t explain it the moment I felt it,” Everess began, her voice trembling slightly as she recalled the memory. “I already knew something was not right. Ever since we set foot on this continent, the feeling of uneasiness was unbearable. Then on that very day, I felt something so strong that I couldn’t ignore it anymore. It drew me to the Imperial Tomb.” She took a sip of her wine, her eyes distant as she relived the experience.

“Were you able to tell right from the start who it was?” Sevidon asked, his voice tinged with concern.

“No,” Everess admitted, turning to face him. “But it didn’t feel right. The sensation I had didn’t sit well with me. I shrugged it off, but almost two weeks later, there he was again. This time, in the holy temple of Mt. Mjior, Ahktum Temple. The same horrific scene awaited me—lifeless bodies, killed in ways I couldn’t even fathom. It was not a pleasant sight.”

“So, Graveloth was right, that an Orderian did it,” Aderon pointed out, as he glanced at Graveloth whom nodded back at him.

“I had confidence that I had accounted for all of my Elite Magisters. Heck, I’m sure by the Gods and Animos, I’m the only being powerful enough to be in two places at once.”

“Wait,” Ravaen interjected, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean, you can be in two places at once? Is this what you did when you lot disappeared the other day?”

Everess nodded, and the room erupted in a mixture of surprise and awe. “I’ve never heard of this magic before,” Glaivel gasped.

“Why didn’t you tell us about this?” Kaira asked, her voice edged with a hint of betrayal.

“Does every Orderian have this ability?” Graveloth inquired, his curiosity piqued.

“No, as far as I’m aware, I’m the only one. But it seems this person can do it too. That’s how he was able to raid far-flung territories within days or weeks. You wouldn’t be able to tell it was just one person. The Gods and Animos of this world are cruel. I felt that sensation in my chest again. So, I followed it. There I was, on the temple grounds, again with bodies in its wake.” She took a deep breath, tears welling in her eyes. “By then, I was beginning to suspect what it was, who it was.”

The room fell silent, the weight of Everess’ revelation pressing down on everyone present. They exchanged glances, the gravity of her words settling in. Everess, usually so composed, now stood before them vulnerable and shaken, her recounting of the events painting a vivid picture of horror and relentless pursuit.

Her voice carried the weight of her burden, each word a testament to the battles she had faced alone, the darkness she had confronted without faltering. “If you had told us about this sooner, maybe—just maybe—we could’ve been better prepared,” Aderon suggested.

Everess immediately shook her head. “As you witnessed, he is too powerful,” she said, her voice steady but laden with sorrow. “You saw that yourself. His power is even greater than mine. I saw that in the Kra’en Tomb in the mountains, where he killed all of those people. They were nothing to him. Like grass being cut down.” She poured herself some matrik and drank deeply, trying to steady herself.

“Everything dawned on me as I saw the power he demonstrated at the underground tomb in the Middle Kingdom. He leveled the entire tomb. The hill that it was under was no more. It was just another crater.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, her voice breaking. “I was frantic, trying to solve two problems at once. Everything went south very fast. I couldn’t contain it any longer, this problem that I have.”

She looked at Tamiron, trying to compose herself. “The last raid that occurred in the La’Sarien Forest was the final nail in my patience’s coffin. It was heartbreaking.” Tears began to stream down her face. “I did everything I could to prevent this. I tried to solve the problem alone, within the shadows. I decided to own up to this, and look how I failed, miserably.”

The room fell silent, the weight of her confession sinking in. Tamiron glanced around, seeing the shock and confusion etched on everyone’s faces as they processed what had been said.

“You haven’t given us a name yet,” Ravaen suddenly interjected. “Who attacked us? You should have an idea by now, right?”

“His name is Marius,” Everess said quietly. “He’s a ghost from our past.”

Everyone was speechless. Even Tamiron, who had heard many of Everess’ secrets, was taken aback. It was the first time he had heard the name. Everess must have pieced it together after their battle in the High Kingdom.

“So you’re saying that the Gods and Animos asked for your help to take this Marius down?” Kaira tried to clarify.

“Yes,” Everess confirmed.

“Is he that much of a threat?” Ravaen asked again.

“Everess threw everything at him in the High Kingdom. I can tell you right now, he is, in fact, a threat,” Sevidon affirmed.

“Then we need to prepare to deal with him,” Ravaen said with confidence. “Shouldn’t we turn around or head to where he’s holed up?”

“We just did. In Oroz’Kram. But I was too late. We waited too long.” Everess’s words hung heavily in the air, a bitter acknowledgment of their missed opportunity.

“Do you feel the resurgence of the Xerxecians and him are connected? Along with the survivors from the race of Men?” Kaira clarified, her voice edged with urgency.

“Yes. So right now, I already have a good idea of where he is holed up. He’s in the ancient Xerxecian capital of Quenttrax,” Everess revealed, her tone resolute.

“How can you tell?” Sevidon asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

“I feel his presence there. Even as we speak, he’s just… there.” Everess said, crossing her arms, her eyes distant as if she could see the looming threat miles away.

“Then Tamiron, since the Kra’en are on their way, along with some reinforcements coming from the Hawis, maybe we should head straight there. With our numbers, we should be able to take it down,” Ravaen suggested, his voice brimming with determination.

“It wouldn’t be that easy,” he responded, dejected as he glanced at Aderon, a silent understanding passing between them.

“Why not? What’s going on?” Ravaen asked, his gaze shifting to Aderon as well.

“His father withdrew the entire High Kingdom Army,” Sevidon suddenly mentioned, his voice steady but grave.

“What?!” Ravaen shouted, his anger flaring. “Come now, Aderon, you aren’t going to follow that, right?”

Aderon only glared at him, remaining silent. Ravaen looked to him and Sevidon, seeking support, but both of them shook their heads, signaling him to let it go.

“Then with the Hawis and the Kra’ens, that should still make up for the numbers we are about to lose,” Kaira said, contemplating the situation.

“It wouldn’t be enough,” Glaivel interjected, shaking his head.

“We will deal with this with the other generals. For now, I would like to ask if me and Everess have your confidence and trust now?” he asked, his eyes sweeping across the room, seeking affirmation.

Everyone exchanged glances before Kaira stepped forward. “As of now, yes. We will choose to believe you. But it still hurts that you didn’t trust us enough to tell us this. We hope that you can give us the same confidence that you give Everess.” She then turned to Everess, her gaze piercing but sincere. “And we hope that you trust us as much as you trust Tamiron.”

Everess nodded, a mixture of relief and guilt washing over her. “I understand. And I will. I promise.”

The room settled into a heavy silence, the gravity of their situation sinking in. Despite the trust issues, the shared objective was clear: to face Marius and the growing threat head-on, united. This much he knew was true. However, he worries as he looked at Everess who gave him a stare that he had always known.

“Thank you, everyone.” He said, beaming a smile at them. “For now, gather with your generals and explain the situation. Not all of it, of course, but inform them about the arrival of the Kra’ens and the Hawis, along with the High Kingdom’s departure.” He then turned to Graveloth. “When can we expect you?”

“We should be there in two days,” Graveloth answered.

“Well done,” he said, nodding before looking at Glaivel. “And the reinforcements?”

“They should arrive in two days as well,” Glaivel confirmed.

“Good. We will address the troops directly at that time. For now, you are all dismissed. Thank you again, everyone.”

The group began to disperse, with Graveloth’s projection fading and the Owl Handler entering to retrieve the owl. Soon, only he and Everess remained. His smile slowly faded as he poured more matrik into their goblets.

Everess accepted the goblet, her eyes fixed on him. They sat by the window, the night sky unusually clear, almost reminiscent of Arumar.

“Tell me,” Tamiron asked quietly, “why did you lie?”

She had anticipated this question. She looked at him, her expression solemn. “They wouldn’t have liked it. They wouldn’t have approved. The truth would have led to them withdrawing and choosing to fight this out.”

He sighed deeply, taking a sip from his goblet. “But you told me.”

“Yes,” she replied, her voice softening. “Because I trust you. More than anyone else in the world. You see things the way I do.”

Tamiron sighed again. “What you’re feeling right now is what I felt when I rampaged through the Empire five years ago. The helplessness, the sadness, the overwhelming sense of weakness. All I could do was watch.”

“That’s exactly what I’m feeling now,” she said, a small, sad smile playing on her lips.

Tamiron looked at her, his eyes brimming with unshed tears as he attempted to muster a smile. “All those people I killed. The lives I ruined. I saw them all, experienced their suffering firsthand. But I had no control. Especially that one family I ended and separated. All I could do was make them a tombstone to honor their memory,” Tamiron confessed, his voice thick with sorrow.

She felt the deep ache in his words. She could only offer him her silent support, a comforting presence in his turmoil. The loneliness and guilt that had haunted him all these years finally made sense to her. Tamiron, once mighty and invincible, had been brought low, his strength used against him, leaving him hollow and broken inside.

He looked at her, a sad smile playing on his lips. “Do not end up like me, Everess. I had it all, and in one fell swoop, it was taken away. I am horrified by what I did. I can no longer wield the fist and weapon of my people properly, for I have defiled them with the blood I was meant to protect.” He gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Do not fall from grace as I did. You can still redeem yourself.”

Tamiron’s gaze pierced into hers. “Do you know why Marius is doing this?” he asked again.

“He wants to rule the world,” she replied. “And he’ll use the spell I found in Oroz’Kram to do it.”

“Tell me,” Tamiron urged.

She looked at him, her face resolute. “Rigos Ressuria Alor,” she said softly. Tamiron’s brow furrowed in confusion. “The Spell of Resurrection.”

His gasp was audible, his reaction one of shock and realization. She waited for him to speak, her heart heavy.

“So he’s planning to,” he began, but stopped as she tightened her grip on his hand.

She sobbed, holding him in both arms. “I need your help now more than ever,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Tamiron enveloped her in his embrace, offering her the only solace he could. “I will help you. I’m here for you,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

“Only you. We do not need to tell the others about this,” she whispered, her voice trembling as her hands cupped his face, shaking with the intensity of her plea.

Tamiron pulled back slightly, his expression resolute. “We can’t keep secrets anymore, Everess. We just asked them to trust us. This kind of secret will be our downfall.”

“If they find out about my plan, it will be over. For us.” Her eyes were wide with desperation, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please, Tamiron.”

Their gazes locked, the weight of the moment pressing down on them. She placed her hand on Tamiron’s chest. She felt his heart pound, torn between duty and the bond he shared with her. She leaned closer, her eyes pleading for his understanding. “I have a plan. I promise you, victory is ours. In the end.”

Her hands were gentle, her touch warm as she caressed his face. Tamiron felt the tear streak down her cheek, and he reached up, wiping it away tenderly. The conflict within him was palpable, but the sight of her vulnerability stirred something deep inside.

Everess moved closer, her thumb brushing against his lips as she wiped them. Her eyes, reflecting the moonlight, were a storm of emotions. She straddled him, her arms wrapping around his neck. Their breaths mingled, heavy with the weight of unspoken feelings.

Their lips met in a fervent kiss, a collision of passion and unexpressed emotions. Tamiron’s arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, a release of the tension that had been building between them for so long. It was not just a kiss; it was a promise, a testament to the depth of their bond.

As they kissed, she opened her eyes. A full luna seemed to watch over them, a silent sentinel bearing witness to their moment of vulnerability and resolve. She stared at it, glancing out at the full luna bathed in a bright, red-hued glow.

End of Chapter XXXII