The return to the barony seemed close, but, at the same time, distant. After Kael and Isabela reached Thalia and Doros, the path through the forest seemed to stretch infinitely, each step making the return heavier.
Kael, upon feeling a strange distortion in the environment, slightly furrowed his brow. His seismic vision captured every vibration around, and something simply was not natural."Really… a fine trick," he said in a low tone, with a slight ironic smile. "Now I understood how the baron managed to hold on until today."
Thalia responded with an angelic smile, but the aura that Kael felt from her revealed a certain effort to maintain composure."But even so, I could not fool you for long. You are more perceptive than I imagined."
"Well…" Kael raised his head as if observing the void, but, in truth, he only felt the pulse of the ground. "I also can create false presences. I cannot imitate voices like you, but… it serves in some way."
Thalia hesitated for an instant before proceeding. Her voice, although sweet, carried a weight difficult to hide."A week ago, the forests around the barony began to react to my presence… and today I understood why. I would never imagine that the bearer of the divinity of Gaia would come here."
A discreet smile arose on Kael's face, and his bodily vibration conveyed a firm calm."I can say the same. I would never imagine that I would meet a direct descendant of Gaia." He gave a pause, slightly tilting his head, as if weighing the environment around. "Well… since you isolated us from the other two, it means you have something to tell me."
Thalia breathed deeply, and, for an instant, Kael felt her hesitation in the air, like a soft tremor in the ground."You know that you will not manage to hide for long that the divinity of Gaia has returned. When Zeus finds out… he will come to kill you personally." The sweetness of her voice was replaced by seriousness. "So, as someone tied to the gods, tell me: why must we get involved?"
Kael was silent for a few moments, pondering. His expression remained calm, but his voice sounded grave and firm."This applies the same to you. Do you really think that Zeus, a selfish being, would let someone below him serve another? As you well know, we not only inherit abilities, but also fragments of the memory of the gods." He slightly tilted his head in her direction, as if sensing her heart waver. "Do you still think you are safe?"
Thalia's body trembled slightly, but she forced softness into her voice."I only want a calm and peaceful life at Doros's side… nothing more."
Kael let out a brief sigh, laden with something between compassion and hardness."That will be impossible. Do you really think the gods are at peace?" His voice echoed deep, like a contained thunder. "They are dominant beings, and, with each passing day, their forces increase. It would be foolish of you to believe you will come out unscathed when a new era of war begins among them."
There was a tense silence. Kael remained firm, his seismic perception capturing the slight tremor in Thalia's chest, a reflex of fear or doubt."But… the choice is yours. Just remember: there will not be a second chance." The tone of his voice ended like an implacable warning. "You have until our arrival at the baron's castle to decide."
Like a whisper among the leaves, almost inaudible, Thalia said:"Kai."
The word, simple but laden with power, spread through the forest like an invisible breath. The ground vibrated in a different way, and Kael slightly raised his head, capturing through seismic vision that Isabela and Doros had been distanced from the conversation, trapped in the illusion. For them, nothing had changed.
Isabela, walking at Doros's side, furrowed her brow for an instant, as if she had felt a fleeting shiver. She looked around, but everything seemed normal to her: the dense forest, the gentle wind, Kael walking ahead.
With a short sigh, she shook her head and continued walking, believing they were only continuing the journey.
The path through the forest advanced under the mantle of the starry sky. The moonlight filtered between the branches, casting dancing shadows upon the trail. The distant sound of nocturnal animals mixed with the rustling of the leaves, making the silence even deeper.
Kael and Thalia walked side by side, absorbing the weight of what had just happened, while Doros remained attentive, measuring each step in the forest.
In the distance, the towers of the baron's castle arose cut against the sky, its walls reflecting the light of the moon. The group advanced under the starry sky until the first barrier, the bronze wall: simple, firm and marked by time, protecting the area of workers, mercenaries and low-rank knights. Robust houses aligned the streets, and the rustling of nightlife reached them — hurried steps, creaking gates, low voices discussing shifts.
Between the bronze wall and the silver one, the space was wider and clearer, but life still remained humble; the ground echoed with steps and light carriages, and Kael felt every vibration of the city through the soil.
Ahead, the silver wall rose, cold and imposing, reflecting the moonlight. Behind it, resided the nobles and high-level knights, in solid and well-positioned houses, illuminated by imbued stones that highlighted the hierarchy of the place.
Upon crossing the gate, the group entered the fortified city. Narrow streets opened into small squares, guarded by knights and discreetly observed by residents and mercenaries. In the center, partially hidden by the constructions, the castle awaited, protected and majestic, ready to receive the visitors.
As they approached the gates of the Castle, one of the guards raised his voice, cutting the silence of the night:"Stop!"
Thalia, without hesitating, removed the cloak that covered her shoulders. The gesture was quick, full of confidence and authority. Seeing her thus, the guard almost immediately knelt, his rigid posture yielding to reverence."So then… miss Silvanis, you are back. Forgive my insolence. These delay…" he began to speak, trying to complete, but Thalia did not give him a chance. With a fierce look that seemed to pierce through the gate and reach the ground, she interrupted him, her voice laden with firmness and impatience:"Until when will I remain out here? In case you have not noticed, I am not in a good mood. If you know about the mercenaries, you also know why I am here."
The guard remained kneeling, completely dominated by Thalia's presence. Behind her, Kael, Doros and Isabela remained in silence, observing, each one attentive to the reactions around, but aware that the situation was under the young woman's control.
With the crash of the gates opening, Kael, Isabela and Doros advanced behind Thalia, entering the interior of the castle without finding resistance.
The internal space was wide, but simple. Stone corridors led to small rooms and inner courtyards, illuminated by torches and by some imbued stones on the walls that cast a constant and soft light. Every detail seemed thought more for functionality and defense than for luxury or ostentation.
Soldiers and high-level knights circulated with discipline, maintaining the routine of the barony, but none approached in a hostile way. The environment conveyed order and vigilance, with a palpable climate of authority.
Thalia stopped for an instant and addressed one of the guards who passed nearby:"Inform immediately the Baron Silvanis that I am here. Do not delay."
The guard slightly inclined and responded:"Yes, miss Silvanis. I will go immediately."
Ahead, the inner courtyard opened, and beyond it, still partially hidden by the constructions, arose the central silhouette of the castle. Solid and imposing, but without exaggerations, it reflected the practicality and organization that defined the barony. Kael, Doros and Isabela followed behind Thalia, attentive to the movement of the guards.
In the main hall, Baron Silvanis was seated, a cup of wine resting between his fingers. Upon noticing Thalia's approach, he raised his eyes and, with contained irony, commented:"How good that you decided to appear"
Thalia raised her chin, a smile of disdain on her lips, her arms slightly open:"By the care of your escort, father, I see that my escape was under such… zealous watch that only remained for me to return and thank you."
Baron Silvanis raised his voice, laden with reproach and coldness:"Thalia… your recklessness always surprises me. You let yourself be carried away by passions without measuring the consequences."
"Doros… he paid with his life for daring to love you. A low-rank knight, inconsequent, thinking he could be up to a Silvanis."
He took a sip of wine and raised his firm and piercing gaze upon Thalia:"I ordered his death not out of cruelty, but out of necessity. Our family is destined to expand the barony, to take the neighboring county. A daughter of a count cannot stain the honor of the family with such a relation."
"You must learn that personal feelings cannot surpass obligation."
Thalia breathed deeply, raising her chin, her voice laden with determination, but also with contained pain:"Father… do you think that ordering his death will erase what we felt? That my life sums up to strategies of power and family honors? Doros was not only a low-rank knight. He was… important to me."
The Baron narrowed his eyes, the rigidity of his posture firm, but there was a glimmer of contained frustration in his expression:"Thalia, you confuse feelings with duty. The Silvanis family cannot allow itself failures, nor scandals."
"You need to understand that the heart of a daughter cannot surpass the survival of the barony."
"And do you think that killing who we love solves anything?" retorted Thalia, her voice slightly rising, the heat of indignation evident. "If you believe that Doros died because of a whim, you are mistaken. He died for trying to protect what you do not understand: my right to choose, even if that goes against your orders!"
The Baron breathed deeply, anger and disappointment mixing in the severe expression, but the daughter remained firm before him, defying him with her eyes."You are still young and stubborn, Thalia. But know… I will not retreat. Any challenge to the order of the family will have a price."
Thalia took a step forward, facing her father with firmness:"And I will not retreat either. But know, father… I will not remain silent anymore before what is wrong."
Kael, Doros and Isabela remained behind her, observing every movement, every word, aware that that confrontation, although familiar, carried political and personal weight that would define the next steps within the barony.