I awoke to the eerie symphony of water dripping onto cold stone, its rhythmic cadence echoing through the dimly lit cell. The torchlight flickered weakly in the corner, casting dancing shadows on the damp walls. Struggling to orient myself, I noticed a stretcher nearby, a silent witness to my arrival, undoubtedly carried in by unseen hands and abandoned on the unforgiving floor. Every inch of my body throbbed with pain, a reminder of the harrowing encounter with the Algoth. As I gingerly shifted to my side, agony surged through my ribs, a sharp, relentless torment that threatened to overwhelm me. Gritting my teeth, I pressed a trembling hand to my injured side, feeling the jagged edges of broken bone beneath my skin. Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to succumb to despair. Amidst the stench of blood, sweat, and dirt that hung heavy in the air, hunger gnawed at my stomach, yet hunger was the least of my worries in this bleak confinement.Trapped in the windowless confines of my
The eerie echo of keys rattling in the distance Sends a chill coursing through my body, and I instinctively press myself against the cold, damp wall of the cave. Time seems to crawl at a sluggish pace, stretching out like an endless abyss. It could be hours or mere minutes since I was thrown into this dark, desolate cell, but every passing moment feels like an eternity.With a heavy sigh, I slump down against the unforgiving stone floor, my back protesting against the uncomfortable position. My gaze flickers to the entrance of my cell, scanning it with cautious apprehension. The faint glimmer of torchlight dances along the corridor, casting eerie shadows that seem to shift and writhe with a life of their own.As the footsteps draw closer, accompanied by the ominous clanging of metal against metal, my heart rate quickens, anticipation coiling in the pit of my stomach like a slumbering serpent. The sound halts abruptly, leaving a deafening silence in its wake.I run a trembling hand thr
Blood pooled around the speared barricade as I turned, and the unfortunate victim trapped beneath it was a night-shaded pixie with fiery orange hair. His outstretched hands seemed to plead for help in his final moments.Tears streaked down my cheeks as I struggled to my feet. An elven guard approached, pulling Asterin away from me, and I reluctantly released her.Turning to Feathers, I glared at him through tear-stained eyes. "That pixie didn't deserve to die because of your twisted games," I spat, my voice thick with emotion."We have laws here. He broke one, so he was punished. If you have any complaints, take them up with the High Lord," Feathers retorted dismissively, his tone cold and indifferent.I shifted my gaze to the balcony, where Valen stood with his usual stoic expression. He seemed unaffected by the tragedy unfolding below. It was a cruel punishment, and his indifference only fueled my anger.With a graceful yet tense motion, he rises from his seat. "Well done, Maerwyn
I can't shake off the haunting memory of the pixie's final moments, the sound of his last cry for help echoing in my mind, and the sight of his blood staining the arena floor. My hands rub together instinctively, as if trying to cleanse the imagined stain from my consciousness.Night after night, I'm plagued by nightmares, where the looming figure of the Algoth draws closer, its monstrous form casting a shadow over me. In my dreams, my hands are bound like the pixie, rendering me powerless as it inches closer, its claws poised to strike at my heart. Each time, I'm abruptly awakened by the terror of the moment, my heart racing with fear.Curling up on the cold, damp floor of my cell, I try to steady my breathing, the remnants of dried tears clinging to my cheeks, a silent cry to the turmoil raging within me.My gaze fixates on the scroll bestowed upon me by Valen. It holds the key to my freedom, the final trial separating me from returning home to Ferngrove. "I am the bridge between
"I am the bridge between two souls..."" Hold the weight of fear and hope..."" Yet fragile..."My fingers grasp the scroll tightly, shadows dancing across the parchment in the flickering torchlight as I strain to decipher the written words. Hours pass, yet I'm still no closer to finding an answer, my mind spinning with countless possibilities.Could the bridge mentioned in the riddle be the barrier? It does separate two worlds from colliding—Kyante's domain and Lyria, along with the rest of our realm. It holds the weight of hope for Lyria's citizens and the dread of facing a demonic army.But "fragile"? How does that fit? Something forged with such immense power couldn't possibly be described as fragile. I'm puzzled by this contradiction, uncertain of how the barrier fits the description of fragility.With a sigh, I unfurl the scroll and read the riddle once more, hoping to glean some new insight.I am the bridge between two souls,In me, secrets find their goals.I hold the weight o
Everything was black for a while, and all I saw were stars. Bright, shining stars plastered on the night sky, looking so pretty. It was like I had been transported to the top of a mountain, so close to them that if I stretched my hand just a little, I'd be able to touch them.Feel them. Maybe they'd send tingles running through my body. Cool air rushed through me, startling my senses. I suddenly felt a chill, but then it was fine all of a sudden.And then there was another light. A very bright light. Was I dead? Or perhaps dying?My body didn't feel as plagued with pain as before; perhaps that was the sweet touch of death. Death is fragile. Death is painless. Death is sweet. Smoky tendrils tickled my skin, stirring me to move my lashes, but they refused to open. I tried and tried, but still, they remained shut.The soft touch continued weaving through my body before I heard a voice in my head. "Wake up, Red."My eyes snapped open in an instant. I was met with a stony ceiling and a gol
I stirred in the carriage seat at the sight of the old church steeple piercing the horizon. Ferngrove. The name whispered through my mind like a forgotten spell. We were still a distance away, the path ahead cluttered with tall bushes and looming trees, but I could see smoke rising from the valley below.My hands rested on my thighs as I steadied my breathing and gathered my thoughts, the rhythmic gallop of the horses a soothing counterpoint to the rocky, grassy terrain. Somehow, I had slept through the entire ride. Exhaustion had claimed me barely ten minutes after we left Valen's country estate. Perhaps it was intentional, a way to ensure I didn’t see the path we took. They were determined to keep the entrance to Lyria a secret.I glanced up at the sky through the carriage window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rhaenan. Valen had promised he would watch over me, but there was no sign of the warm hearted faerie. Shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I tried to imagine the looks on every
The door swung open, and my father stepped into the room, his stern features momentarily softened by surprise. He paused, his eyes flicking between Edina and me, processing the unexpected reunion. His breath caught, and for a moment, he seemed unable to speak."Father," I greeted him, my voice steady despite the swirl of emotions within me."Maerwynn," he replied, his voice gruff but not unkind. "I didn't expect to see you here.""Nor did I," I admitted, forcing a small smile. "But it's good to be home."His gaze lingered on me, a storm of emotions crossing his face—relief, curiosity, disbelief. He took a tentative step forward, his hand reaching out as if to confirm I was real. "We- We thought you were dead. After all this time in Faerie land, we thought you were lost to us forever.""I nearly was," I said quietly, memories of the harrowing journey flashing through my mind. "But I survived."He shook his head, a mix of awe and confusion evident. "How did you escape? No one has ever