NOAHDagma speaks to me, for her anyone who approaches me when I am carrying her is an enemy. That's what happened when Balck tried to touch me. I drop the sword on the ground, I run to him, I help him up, he's scared of me.— Sorry Balck, I didn't mean to hurt you, it was the sword, it has powers or something, I'm not sure...— All right...Andrew approaches with a startled look, then stops at the sword that continues to glow brightly.— Noah, since Diric gave you that sword, has anything like this happened before?— No, it's the first time I've seen her like this!Dagma glows even brighter in the middle of the darkened forest. Despite everything, the fear of being caught in that palace, I know that everything is fine now. She belongs to me now. I move away from Balck slowly, I reach down to pick up Dagma, I grip her with my right hand, she is light as a feather.I start to smile frantically. I feel her energy again throughout my body. She's completely with me now, it's like she's be
BALCK— I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you either, Yan! — I hold your hand, bite my lip, and courage comes. — I think that... that... that I like you!— What are you saying to me? he asks, and I can feel his voice breaking as he speaks.— I'm not saying, I'm stating, I like you, it's not as a friend. But if you want to get away from me because of that, I'll understand!My heart beats desperately when his hands touch my face lightly, caressing it gently. He brings his face close to mine, I see my reflection in his eyes, and this closeness makes me very nervous. I bite my lip hoping to feel his touching mine, and to my delight, his lips brush mine lightly. I close my eyes and intensify our kiss, my lips suck his, I feel his tongue invading my mouth.Tasting his lips for the first time is the best feeling in the world, the way he tastes mine is even better. His arms wrap around my neck, I thread my fingers through his hair, and his tongue teases inside my mouth. Somet
BALCK— What?— I want you to come live with me! — that request really surprised me.— Live with you? Like this?— It's a fact that we're in love, and we know that living here in the territory doesn't have much guarantee of survival, one day we're here, and the next we're wounded in battle, and I don't need to say the rest, you know what I'm talking about!— I know, but you took me by surprise, I didn't expect you to ask me to move in with you. I understand very well what you said, but...— I know, we're going too fast for you, aren't we? — he asks and I nod my head, he kisses my hands and continues. — Okay, we can wait a little longer until you're sure, or feel more comfortable.— Yan, don't get me wrong, but even with all the problems we can have living in rebel territory, I wouldn't want to skip steps, all right? Please don't be upset, I...Before I finish my sentence, Yan places his lips on mine, not giving me a chance to speak. His lips are extremely soft. A tender, soft kiss. My
NOAH— That barrier Killian created to protect the territory? — he asks and I nod my head in confirmation. — How did it happen? Did Killian show up?— No, I was the one who got it...— What? How did you get? Was it the ring?— No, I used the sword! — Hearing my answer, he looks more astonished than before.— Tell that story, because when I left here I don't remember any of that, so...— Actually, it was after you arrived from Yan's house...— Like? Explain this to me!FLASHBACK ON Lying in bed I remember everything we went through that night, how much I risked myself for Dagma's sake. I know it was crazy, but it was what my heart was telling me to do at that moment. I feel an uneasiness in my chest, in my mind, as if something is calling me. I get up, look to my side, Andrew is sleeping peacefully, in front of me I see Dagma standing, leaning against the corner of the wall. I walk towards her which reflects the shine of her diamond, something that catches my attention. I approach, my
NOAHDagma glows brightly, and I know I need to open it. Even though I don't know what awaits me, I inexplicably feel safe in that moment. Gradually, it lights up in a dim, slightly yellowish light, like that of a candle. I stare at her, not understanding what is happening, the sense of calm intensifies now, I feel calm all of a sudden, almost like the way I felt when I was transported back in time and saw everything that happened to my adoptive and biological parents. .I open the door. I look up slowly and startle, nearly knocking the vase over behind me as I stare into the face of King Moriam, that is, my father, or his ghost. He's here, his same messy black hair, his beautiful blue eyes, looking at me fondly. He doesn't say anything, just smiles at me, waves his index finger, behind him is another runner. I continue to look at him, who turns his back, and goes down this new corridor, while I stay there, trapped in the same place.He nods, and smiles showing me the way, so I follow
NOAH— Then why would Direl be holding Killian captive?” Could he be planning something against the King? — I ask, Duric and Andrew stare at me, their gazes at me seem thoughtful.— It's a great question, and I think we should better think of it as something that could happen, or has already happened! — Duric exclaims.— You know, I once heard some stories about Direl back at the palace...— What did you hear? — I ask. — What did he do?— That he was Killian's apprentice, and became corrupted because he wanted to use magic for his own good…— That's true! — Duric confirms. — Direl became corrupted and Moriam threw him out of the palace at Killian's request, and after Alexander was crowned, he became the King's Wizard and advisor.— I didn't know that part of the story, but thinking about what I questioned, what could be his motive for rebelling against Alexander?— Very easy, if Direl got tired of being Killian's apprentice, wouldn't she get tired of being my father's doormat?"— It m
BALCK— I won't stop you, wait for me! - he says, runs and catches up with me, holds my arm tightly, I stop abruptly and face him. — I'm not going to stop you, understand?— Then what you will do? — I ask curiously.— I'll help you find Yan!— Like you can't leave the territory? Got mad?— And who told you I'm leaving here? — he answers and raises his sword that shines brightly, making me a little dizzy. — I found a way to help you, without having to leave here!— Like this?— Dagma can help...— What can your sword do, Noah?— Simple, I can use it to find out where Yan is right now!— Is that really possible? How did you find out that the sword does that?— I already said that she somehow communicates with me, remember? — he says, and I nod my head in agreement. — So these days, kind of spontaneously I asked where Andrew was, because I looked for him in various parts of the territory, and I couldn't find him, and she showed me clearly, like on a canvas, a moving painting, or somethin
BALCKI was very afraid of losing Yan, he and Noah are the most important people in my life, thinking about the possibility of not seeing them anymore makes me extremely sad, because I know what it's like to lose the people we love overnight . When I lost my parents, and it was just me and Noah, I became even more attached to him, even though I knew he wasn't my blood brother, and that she was the heir to the throne, so my worries increased even more, mainly because mine before we ran away, made me promise that I wouldn't tell her anything, because everything would be found out in time.I look at Yan lying in bed, sleeping after such traumatic days for him, and for me too, it's a huge relief to see him well, despite everything. I lightly run my hand over his head, move closer and kiss his forehead. Someone knocks on the door taking me away from my moments of affection for my beloved. I open it and meet my sister's concerned gaze. I let him in, close the door, then sit down at the tabl
NOAHThis is wrong!This is wrong!This is wrong!That phrase has been playing around in my head for days, and the memories of that night are so fresh. I remember every detail, but I blame myself for it, after all it is the most absurd thing that has ever happened in my life, Andrew is my cousin, and maybe if I really felt something for him, this would not be allowed according to the laws of Ascabaltt, not that I'm really interested, which would be absurd. I shouldn't feel this way. That kiss wasn't supposed to leave me like this, and it left me extremely disturbed, I haven't been able to sleep very well. No, I didn't feel that way about Andrew, or did I really?I've never felt this way about anyone, it's just too weird. The few times I've been in a relationship with someone, I've never felt as lost as I am right now, what's going on? Why does my mind remind me of the damn kiss every time I think of something that reminds me of him? There are so many questions, and I don't have answer
NOAH— Noah, Noah! — Balck screams desperately as I raise my sword in the air, before counterattacking my opponent. — Noah, your mother is looking for you!— Balck, I can't now! — I answer and continue my fight. — Can't you see I'm in training!— Your mother is coming here...— What? Why didn't you stop her? — I answer, I stop my training, put the sword in my scabbard, and face Balck.— As if there's a way to stop your mother, please, you know there isn't!—I hurry through the large courtyard until I reach one of the entrances that leads to the entrance hall of the palace.— Andrew is at the palace!— What? Who called you?Whenever I think about having any contact with my cousin, my stomach hurts. Andrew is an Alpha Lupus, annoying, arrogant, and thinks the world revolves around him. Since we're kids, there's not been a minute of peace between us, he's always up to something to piss me off, take my peace.— He came to the ball!— But there's a week left for that to happen...— But his
ANDREW — Well, well... It's not that he believed, and followed his uncle's ghost! — the damned Direl manifests himself, and soon afterwards he lets out a great laugh, which echoes throughout the place. — I figured you'd follow your uncle, you're as predictable as your father!The mention of my father makes my blood boil. I stare at Direl with great anger remembering everything that happened.— Who are you to talk about my father? After all, you helped him create this chaos.— Yes, I helped because I took his word for it, that Sattir would be mine, but your father broke his word, in fact Alexander never had a word!— Why did you draw me here? — I ask and observe the place around me, dirty, many cages, and one of them is open.— Very simple, I'll lock you up!The cynical smile on his face is annoying, he walks back and forth, but before he does anything I smell a very familiar smell, and I hear a familiar voice coming from behind me.— You are not going to lock anyone in this cage, you
NOAHLast night's dream doesn't leave my head, I seem to be in an eternal temporal loop. What was it really about? It seemed to be a time that never existed, but that could exist if nothing bad had happened to me, and to my biological parents, and consequently to my adoptive parents. A reality I can never experience. I feel something strange since leaving Andrew's mother's house, Hannah made me agree with the idea that I should wait, I believe she knows something else that I don't, when she told me that, I had the same feeling as Duric passed it to me, they know something, they know Killian's whereabouts, and they know what weapon he's looking for.If I'm going to be the King of Ascabaltt, why are they hiding so much information from me? I know that sometimes I'm very stubborn, and even arrogant in thinking I can beat something, or someone, but everything they hide from me is related to my past, and possibly the future. So, there's no reason to hide anything from me, that's not fair t
NOAH— You must be looking for my son, am I right? — she asks, I shake my head. — I think you better come in, we have a lot to talk about!Hearing this my heart races, I feel that something is wrong, that something has happened to Andrew. She invites us into the house, pushes the door aside and lets us in. I go in, followed by my brother and brother-in-law. The room is not very large, there are some paintings of flowers and landscapes on the wall, a large wooden table with many seats, in the corner of the room by the window.— Feel free! — she says, goes through the door next to the table, and then returns with a tray, with a china vase and some glasses of the same material. — Here's fresh water for you to drink, I think you walked a long way to get here.— Yeah. — I answer, put my backpack on the floor, in the corner of the door, and then sit at the table, take a glass and pour water into it. — You said we have a lot to talk about, does that mean Andrew? Did something happen to him?
NOAHI observe everything carefully to assess the environment around me, I feel frustrated and tired, there is no way I can fight, they are small, but there are many of them, by the heaps. I try to concentrate, like I did at Catarina's, I try to get the power out of me, but it seems impossible, I feel exhausted. Desperation starts to take over my mind as all attempts to get the power out fail. Maybe it's because I'm so tired, I don't know, what's the point of having something like that if it doesn't work when I need it? When I use too much I get weak, and when I'm too tired, it doesn't show up? I'm on my own and alone. With no apparent alternative, I take off running into the forest, tripping over my own feet on the way. Branches scrape my arms and legs, slicing my face as I desperately try to brush them away. I scream for help, I call my brother and brother-in-law's name, but the monsters scream louder and louder as they chase me. I dare to look back if I see them running so fast the
NOAH— What if he isn't on Volcann, what if this is one of Direl's grand schemes to lure you in, and trap you? — Yan asks as we walk between the trees of the forest that gives access to the bridge that connects the petrified area of the territory to Volcann.— I don't know Noah, I don't want to be pessimistic, but what if it doesn't work out? Or we don't find it, what will we do?— Oh, shut up, my God! I heard something, shhh!I look around.— What's it?— No, shhhh!— What's it?— I don't know, I think it came from there! — Balck says and points to a dark cavern just a few meters to our right. —There's something there.— What? I ask, approaching the cave.— Calm down, not so fast! — Yan holds me by the arm.— Stay there, I'll look! — Balck says.— Be careful! Yan replies.Balck walks towards the cave, slowly. He stops beside the entrance, half-hides himself in a mound of crowded leaves, and carefully cranes his neck inward. Yan and I watched in silence.— I think I made a mistake, I
NOAHThe days drag on and I still have no news of Andrew's whereabouts. After that dream, I have other dreams, and I feel like he uses them to communicate with me. Today's training makes me a little tired, restless, until I see Balck from afar, and his expression doesn't look very good, he makes a sign with his hand, for me to go to him. I walk quickly, my heart beating faster than normal, I approach.— What's? Any news from… — he doesn't let me finish.— Yes, I have news from him. Can we get out of here?We leave the training site. We walked towards Balck's house, which is close to where we were. He opens the door, I go in, drag a chair, and sit at the table, while my brother does the same.— So what's new?— The soldiers have returned, and they tell Duric that there is none of the former royal family in the palace of Venas...— What do you mean, there's no one? Is the palace empty?— It's not empty, it's been occupied by a new crop of nobles who seem to support the new King...— But
NOAHHe looks at me intently, lowers his head, then opens his mouth and says something.— Okay, I'll get it for you!— Look for him?— Yeah.— No, I want you to help me look for him!— What? Got mad? You know you can't leave here, Direl is looking for you...— I can't stay here waiting to find out what really happened to him, I can't wait, I want to see him, I need to do this!— Noah, don't be stubborn, you know you can't!I end my discussion with Balck as I know it will get me nowhere. I miss you, I know it may seem stubborn, and reckless, but I need to do something to find you.[...]It rains outside. The rain doesn't seem to want to stop, but along with it, I smell a very familiar smell, which puts me on alert. Andrew is here? How can you be here in this rain? I look around me, and I don't see him in any room in my house, my heart beats wildly, I need to find my love. I open the door, run, following his scent, which is stronger, more intense. The rain keeps falling, but that doesn'