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
I awoke to the soft, early morning light filtering through the lace curtains of my old bedroom. For a moment, I lay still, my mind struggling to reconcile the familiar surroundings with the tumultuous events that had brought me back to Ferngrove. The quilted blanket, the carved wooden furniture, and the scent of lavender from the garden below—it all felt like a dream, too fragile to be real.I sat up slowly, letting my fingers trail over the edge of the bed, grounding myself in the texture of the embroidered coverlet. A hesitant smile tugged at my lips. I was home, truly home.The door creaked open, and a trio of maids bustled in, their presence both comforting and routine. Each moved with practiced efficiency, carrying towels, soaps, and steaming pitchers of water."Good morning, Lady Maerwynn," the head maid, Agnes, said with a respectful curtsy. "We've drawn your bath."I nodded, still a bit dazed. "Thank you, Agnes."Agnes, like Edina had said, oversees the others. She's more like
The sun was high in the sky, casting dappled light through the canopy as Adrian and I rode into the woods. The scent of pine and earth filled the air, mingling with the rhythmic thud of hooves on the forest floor. My senses were heightened, the world around me vivid and alive.Adrian rode close beside me, his presence a comforting shadow. The path ahead promised not only the thrill of the hunt but also a chance to reclaim a sense of normalcy, to remind myself of the strength I had gained."Ready for a real challenge?" Adrian called out, a playful gleam in his eyes.I grinned, feeling the excitement bubbling up inside me. "Always."We rode deeper into the woods, the sounds of the forest enveloping us. Birds chirped overhead, and the rustling of leaves whispered secrets in the breeze. It was a world away from the whispers of town gossip, a place where I could breathe freely.Suddenly, Adrian reined in his horse, holding up a hand. I followed his gaze and spotted a deer grazing in a smal
As the physician finished his work, the room fell into a tense silence. The injured man lay still, his breathing ragged but stable for now. The two hunters stood by, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion."We need to know more about this creature," the lead physician said, his voice grave. "If it attacked you once, it could attack others."The burly man nodded. "We'll help in any way we can, but we barely escaped with our lives. It was a miracle we managed to get him here."Edina stepped forward, her expression resolute. "We should warn the village. If this creature is as dangerous as you say, everyone needs to be wary of the woods for now and prepared as well."I nodded in agreement. "I should go with you, Edina. We need to inform my father and the council. They’ll know what to do."We hurried out of the infirmary, the air outside cool and bracing. The village was a bustle of activity, people going about their evening routines, unaware of the impending threat. That was an Alg