The silence in Aurëalis's chambers was dense that morning, heavy as a golden shroud. Each passing second was a grain of sand in an hourglass that she felt, deep in her soul, was running out far too quickly — and inside, everything in her seemed to scream in agony.
— Sigh… is it morning already? — murmured Aurëalis, tired, with heavy eyes.
Suddenly, a few knocks struck the door of her room.
…Knock… Knock… Knock…
— My lady, it's me, Edgar. I came to bring you your breakfast… — said Edgar right after.
— Edgar? But… shouldn't breakfast be served in the banquet hall? — Aurëalis wondered, still seated near the bed.
— Well… whatever. That's not what's important now… — she murmured, making an unimaginable effort to get up.
It was as if her physical, mental, and spiritual energies were being drained at an extremely fast pace. Even so, even in that state, Aurëalis merely let out a deep sigh, straightened her posture, and, as if she had never been in that exhausted state, walked to her bedroom door and opened it.
— Good morning, Edgar! — said Aurëalis, with the same smile as always.
— Good morning, Princess! Did you sleep well? — he asked.
— Certainly, Edgar, this night couldn't have been better… — she replied promptly, automatically.
Despite Aurëalis's incredible ability to disguise her fatigue naturally, her body betrayed her: deep dark circles shadowed her eyes, her hands trembled slightly, and her light — that same light she seemed to carry wherever she went — gave the impression of wanting to go out at any moment, like a candle reaching its end; and Edgar, who had known Aurëalis since she was little, noticed it immediately.
— My lady, I've known you since you were just a hatchling newly out of the egg — he began, with a calm smile, after carefully observing her expression.
— Since then, I've watched you grow and, therefore, I know very well when you're lying and when something isn't right. So… if you need to, you know you can always talk to me, right? — he asked.
At that moment, Aurëalis felt a shiver run down her spine — after all, Edgar was right. He had known Aurëalis since she was little and could perceive, without a shadow of a doubt, the times when she might be lying, with impressive precision. However, the problem wasn't that he, or any other person close to her, discovered that she wasn't having good nights of sleep or was facing some other minor issue. The real problem would be if they discovered that Aurëalis already suspected that I had been captured and didn't give her time to help me and, also, if they discovered about Lyrielle and attacked her. She herself knew how cruel her parents could be — and that, at that instant, began to frighten her.
All of a sudden, several dark thoughts crossed her mind and, for a brief instant, her firm posture dissolved and she staggered. Her vision blurred — perhaps from the fatigue of all she had been enduring — and it seemed certain she would faint.
Edgar, seeing that, quickly extended his arms to support her; however, in a swift, almost automatic movement, she steadied herself again and stepped away, mustering strength she didn't have to keep standing.
— I-I understand, Edgar… — said Aurëalis, bringing her hands to her head.
— But… you don't need to worry. It's nothing serious, really… — she added, letting out a small smile, trying to reassure him.
— As for the breakfast… you can leave it here. I promise I'll enjoy it. — she continued, picking up the large tray right after.
— W-what? But, Princess, at least the tray… let me— — insisted Edgar, being interrupted shortly thereafter by Aurëalis.
— Edgar, please. You can let me carry the tray. You've already brought it here, so… leave it with me now. — she insisted.
Edgar, knowing he couldn't refuse a request from the princess, had no alternative but to accept and hand the tray to her.
— All right, Princess, I'll leave the tray here. But I ask that, as soon as you finish eating, call me so that I can clean everything up… — he requested.
— Understood, Edgar. I'll do that. — she said, with a friendly smile.
— Very well, I'll take my leave, but I'll be nearby in case you need me. Excuse me… — he said, bowing in reverence and closing the bedroom door soon after.
As soon as the door closed, Aurëalis — previously upright and smiling — faded again. Her posture fell apart; her smile vanished. She went to her bed, set the breakfast tray there, and then walked to the bedroom door and locked it. Finally, she returned to the place where she kept her ecoheart and took it in her hands. Into it, she poured her own energy, in yet another attempt to contact her friend Lyrielle.
— I… don't mind spending all my energy if I can find out what's happening… — she murmured to herself, as she poured vital force over the crystal.
There, Aurëalis remained for a while longer. Every minute sounded like an eternity. And when everything indicated it would be, once again, in vain, the ecoheart in her hands began to shine — an intense red, almost crimson — pulsing more and more.
— T-this light… Could it be… — whispered Aurëalis, feeling some of the brightness return to her eyes.
— L-LYRIELLE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? PLEASE, ANSWER! — she said, desperate, squeezing the crystal.
— Please… answer me… what's happening? — she insisted, already without strength, unable to hold back the tears that ran down her face.
— Aurëalis… can you hear me? Aurëalis… — Lyrielle's voice echoed from the other side.
— YES, I'M LISTENING! LYRIELLE, ARE YOU OKAY? WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER ME? WHAT'S HAPPENING? AND KYRION, HOW IS HE? — she asked, seized by a worry that unfolded into many.
— Aurëalis… Yes, I'm fine. I took a while to answer you because, at the moment, things are complicated here at the school… — said Lyrielle.
At that instant, even before Lyrielle explained, Aurëalis felt that something very bad had happened — and that it certainly had to do with me.
— Lyrielle… tell me. No… nothing bad happened to Kyrion, right? — she asked.
For a few seconds, Lyrielle remained silent, as if she weren't there.
— Lyrielle? — Aurëalis repeated.
— Aurëalis… first, please, try to calm down. — Lyrielle began.
— Calm down? Lyrielle, you're only making things worse… Did something happen to Kyrion? TELL ME! — said Aurëalis, agitated, worried, exhausted.
— Aurëalis… Sigh. — Lyrielle began, like someone who didn't want to pronounce those words.
— It seems that… tonight, a student from Aeternal was kidnapped.
— Inside his room there were signs of a fight… and golden blood in several places.
— The room in question… is Kyrion's. — she finished.
At that moment, Aurëalis's worst fear took full shape. Upon hearing that, her mind entered a state of paralysis, as if trying to protect her from a terrible impact — an impact she knew was possible, but still preferred to believe was not.
— How… is that? — she repeated, incredulous.
— Are you… sure?
— …I am. — Lyrielle answered, firm.
— I spoke with his dormmate, Karix. He was the one who discovered everything and called the school authorities.
For a few seconds, silence reigned absolute. Aurëalis felt awful, as if the ground had been ripped from under her and she were sinking, more and more, into a bottomless abyss. It was a fact that, since she had returned to the castle — and in the face of the various signs that I had been captured — Aurëalis already knew, deep down, what the truth was; but she refused to accept it. She wanted to believe that, to some extent, her parents would respect her, even minimally, and leave in peace those she loved. That belief, however, was destroyed at that moment.
And what price was Aurëalis about to pay? To see the being most important to her killed? Tortured? And why? Because her parents didn't accept that? Because they wanted her to act the way they wished? Those questions throbbed in her mind. Her throat tightened. Her hand, holding the ecoheart, trembled.
— No… no, no, no… NO! — Aurëalis repeated, unconforming, feeling her chest tighten more and more.
— A-Aurëalis, are you okay? — Lyrielle asked through the ecoheart, her voice vibrating in the crystal.
— They are with Kyrion, Lyrielle… They're going to kill him… I… I need to save him. They won't hurt him, THEY WON'T… — she said, her voice trembling with pure despair.
— Aurëalis, calm down. If you act wrongly now, you might make his situation even worse… — Lyrielle tried, seeking to anchor her in reason.
— Lyrielle, for days I've felt his presence nearby, along with a terrible sensation in my soul… It's as if I feel what he feels: pain, sadness, anger. I wanted to believe it was just my worry, but… now that I know it's really him, I can't just stay here, standing still, while time drags its feet. I can't take it anymore… — said Aurëalis, while tears scored her face.
— But, Aurëalis… — Lyrielle began, but was cut off.
— Lyrielle… — Aurëalis took a deep breath, like someone taking air before the dive.
— I know you're going to try to stop me, but you know better than anyone: I'm tired of all this.— Tired of not being able to be myself, of always having to do what my parents want. It's been like this since I was little, and I never complained — I waited for the day they would start to respect me, to respect my decisions. But that never happened, and I endured it, in silence…— But now, when I finally found the only light for me in this universe… the only thing truly important to me… they also want to take it and destroy it? — Her voice faltered; anger, clear and hot, took the place of exhaustion.
— So, Lyrielle, my friend… Once again, thank you for everything you've done so far. I will always be grateful and, one day, I'll repay it. But now I can't stay here. I can't.
— As for you, I won't allow anything to happen to you. Go. Now that I'm certain about Kyrion, there's no reason to remain in the middle of this. It's far too dangerous, and I don't want the royal family to find out you helped me. I'll take the consequences. This is something I need to resolve… alone.
— What? What do you mean "go," Aurëalis? I'm not going anywhere… — Lyrielle protested, but the reply was swallowed.
— Lyrielle, my friend… my sister… thank you for everything. Take care. See you soon. — said Aurëalis, for the last time, before cutting the connection of her ecoheart with Lyrielle's.
— A-Aurëalis? Hey, AURËALIS?… Tsk… DAMN IT… Damn, Aurëalis… — Lyrielle's voice cracked into the void when the connection dissolved.
— Shit… the worst thing is that this isn't even everything. I didn't even manage to tell her that there were more strange things behind this. The headmaster is hiding something and… I think Keltherion and other kings are involved in something big… Tsk… — Lyrielle thought, already darting through Aeternal's corridors in search of more answers.
— Aurëalis… Please, don't do anything that puts you in danger… — Lyrielle thought, at last.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Aurëalis stored her ecoheart in a safe place and, without hesitation, headed toward the bedroom door, determined to go out and look for me.
— Kyrion, my love, I will find you and save you, and it doesn't matter whom I need to kill for that… — Aurëalis thought, with incalculable determination.
Then she walked to her bedroom door and opened it. However, as soon as she did, she was surprised: in front of her stood Edgar, with impeccable posture, observing her in silence.
— Do you need anything, Princess? — he asked.
— Edgar, I need to leave. Please, let me pass… — asked Aurëalis, trying to sound as polite as possible, despite the evident impatience.
— Where do you need to go so early, my lady?… You haven't even had your breakfast, from what I can see… — he said, casting a glance into the room, where the tray he had brought remained untouched.
— Edgar, where I'm going is none of your concern. Please, just… let me pass. — she asked again, this time without forcing any smile.
Edgar stared at her for a few seconds.
— Forgive me, Princess, but I cannot allow you to leave without saying where you intend to go. These are direct orders from the king.
— Direct orders… from the king? — asked Aurëalis, feeling her irritation grow.
— Sigh… Edgar, as the princess, I order you to step out of my way right now.
— As I said, Princess, your father ordered me to… — Edgar began, when Aurëalis finally lost her patience.
— EDGAR! — the bellow reverberated through the corridors, making the windows tremble in their frames and the floor vibrate.
The guards who watched her door widened their eyes, terrified by the wave of power that spread. Aurëalis, in turn, let her own energy leak out of control; the air around her rippled as she stared at Edgar, ever more furious.
Edgar then merely looked at her calmly before replying:
— I'm sorry, Princess, but as I said, these are the king's orders. I can't let you leave here. — said Edgar, assuming a battle stance, firm, with his shoulders aligned and a well-planted base.
— Edgar… — called Aurëalis, in a low, tense voice.
— You're going to regret this… — she finished, as her power grew and her eyes were stained with an ever more aggressive red.
--- Message from the Author ---
Hey everyone — how are you?
I've been away for the past few months and wanted to be upfront about why. I had some personal issues — I've been sick, really tired, and also tied up with other work — and because of that I couldn't write the way I wanted to. I'm sorry for the lack of updates, and I truly appreciate everyone who waited patiently.
The good news is I'm back — slowly, but back. My plan is to rebuild consistency and publish at least one chapter per week for each novel. I'm still juggling other personal projects, so some weeks may be busier than others, but I'll do my best to keep that pace and let you know whenever anything changes.
Writing is something I love, and I don't intend to stop.
With gratitude,
SilentWalker