Chapter: CHAPTER 81: THE HELPLESSThe thunder cracked, yet there was no lightning. The thick, dark clouds were menacing, but the rain seemed to be postponing.The winter cold breeze was chilling. It brushed my skin, making me shudder.But nothing mattered to me more than Serena. Aside from her suffering, she was my only hope for setting those creatures free and for Eric, my Eric."Who the heck is that?" I asked myself, peeping through the edge of the wall and sneaking a look."Your stinking possession has poisoned you, you've turned your back on your people! Take your soul back and save what's left of your barony," Serena grunted.She was shackled and helpless, it seemed like those chains were capable of stifling her magic.What should I do?"The baron is now under my control, and you, you brought me the gift I needed. Where is the human?" The baron grumbled his voice as he questioned her."Away from you," Serena fought the urge to moan in pain when the shackles were pulled. "You will not lay a hand on her, Zeth, ever
Last Updated: 2024-02-03
Chapter: CHAPTER 80: THE BARONThe creature guided me to a place much farther than the spot Serena had instructed me to wait. The more distance I covered, the eerier the surroundings became.Though still within the barony's boundaries, it felt as though I had stumbled upon a forgotten area.The walls were ensnared by the roots of an ancient, lifeless tree. Fallen leaves crunched under my boots and dust had claimed the once pristine bricks."Hey, slow down!" I called out, trying to catch up, my fingertips tracing the rough texture of the walls.I jogged carefully, doing my best to avoid stumbling.As we ventured further, we entered a cave. The roots now sported thorns, resembling rose stems. However, there was nothing beautiful about this place. It was filled with darkness, an unsettling view, and a palpable sense of danger."Where have you gone?" I lost sight of the creature and peered deeper into the gloom.The darkness enveloped me with an intensity that seemed to devour any trace of light, leaving me utterly bli
Last Updated: 2024-01-31
Chapter: CHAPTER 79: THE SANCTUARYThe night was pitch black, and the morning hadn't brought any light. The wind bit into my skin, causing my teeth to chatter in the frigid air.The fire must have died out.With each shivering breath, I forced my eyes open, only to be greeted by an unwelcoming environment. I was still here.It felt like waking up inside a nightmare, trapped within its confines."Serena?" My voice, hoarse and shaky, called out for the only ally I knew. But she was nowhere to be found. "Serena?"I found myself lying on the cold, hard ground. The remnants of the fire stained the stones around me, and the log where Serena had been sitting remained undisturbed.I was alone.This was not promising.Wrapping my cloak around myself for warmth, I clutched the sword at my waist."Serena?" My voice echoed through the trees, the birds mimicking it and sending ripples through the forest.A deafening silence filled the air, so quiet that it was almost painful.Suddenly, the ground beneath me started to shake.The st
Last Updated: 2024-01-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 78: THE WITCHAn abrupt exclamation slipped from my lips when I spotted the wolves. However, these were not any ordinary wolves with soft white, grey, or black fur like snow."They're made out of smoke?" I shivered.Their eyes were yellow, filled with rage and menace.The paws that should have been digging into the dirt were invisible as they seemed to hover in the air, carried by the dark smoke of the malevolent Zeth."The bringer of fear," Serena murmured, her hand beginning to form a defense against the gloom these wolves, summoned by their master, brought with them."Indeed, they really do instill fear in me." I swallowed the rising tide of negative emotions within me, but the scent of fear still escaped as I heard their growl crawling on my skin."No weapon can harm it while it feeds on you," Serena warned. "You must be strong.""But I'm not," I protested, shaking my head in denial as my worries started to overwhelm me. "I don't know how to fight them.""It's simple," Serena reassured me, look
Last Updated: 2024-01-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 77: THE OBSTACLEDespite the danger, we plunged into the water, fighting against coldness.As soon as half of my body got submerged in the waters, I felt my whole body stilled from the sudden drop in temperature."I just remembered how I hate cold baths," I uttered."Wait, stop!" Serena suddenly held us up just as we swam."What is it?" I asked.The bottom of the river is shallow, I couldn't reach it. But I can feel something softly bristling on my legs."What the hell is that?" I flinched."Don't move," Serena warned me.The waters aren't as clear as it must have been. I can't see what's underneath.Serena looked in the water with a deep frown. "There is something in the waters," she said that alarmed me.And before I could say a word, something pulled me down."Serena!"My voice was muffled. Bubbles come out of my mouth.From the bottom, there are whips of leaves that are darker than the night and have hands that vine around my limbs.I'm losing my breath, and I have nothing on me to fight against i
Last Updated: 2024-01-03
Chapter: CHAPTER 76: THE JOURNEYI nodded, understanding her pain. "We will end this, Serena. For Eric, for Mellon, for everyone who's been affected by this creature. We will bring peace back to this world."Justice, I don't know how to explain to her what it means, but I know that she feels it.I can hardly hear my old self whenever I open my mouth. Is this where I get to grow?Her eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw a glimmer of hope in them. "Yes, we will."As we stood there, under the starlit sky, I felt a sense of camaraderie with Serena. We were both fighting for the ones we loved, ready to face whatever came our way.And that's more than enough for me to keep the urge to step further forward.The next day, armed with the knowledge from the Oracle of Time, we set out on our journey.I do not have enough strength to face what's waiting for us, but all I know is that I have a reason to be strong."You have such a great heart, Nicole." Lady Marmara read my eyes. "I may not accompany you in the world of da
Last Updated: 2024-01-02