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After hours of continuous marching, the generals returned to the camp, but their faces bore something unfamiliar to them… disappointment. There was no need for words, as exhaustion and despair were evident in their eyes. Even the soldiers who greeted them sensed that something was wrong.
Alethion stepped heavily toward the private meeting room, where Velaria, Ragarath, and Serinus were gathered. They all entered in silence, as if words had lost their meaning in the face of what had happened.
Alethion sat in his chair, resting his elbows on the table, then let out a long sigh, as if trying to lift an unbearable weight off his chest. Then, in a quiet yet bitter voice, he said,
"Two of us were injured… and it's all because of me."
Velaria immediately raised her head, her eyes gleaming with firm rejection of his words, and she said with a sharp yet serious tone,
"No… it wasn't your fault, Alethion."
She then looked at him directly, trying to make him understand the truth that everyone knew, and added,
"The man in the black cloak… he is stronger than all of us. There was nothing we could have done. Even if we had all fought him together, he would have crushed us effortlessly."
Alethion didn't respond immediately, but her words brought him some comfort. However, it was not enough to erase the gnawing feeling inside him.
At that moment, he noticed something he had never seen before… Ragarath was silent.
Ragarath was always the first to speak in any meeting, whether with sarcasm, anger, or straightforward battle plans, but this time? He sat still, staring at the table before him, as if even he had been shaken.
Alethion glanced at him briefly before shifting his gaze to Serinus, who didn't seem to be in a much better state. He looked lost in thought, staring into the void as if haunted by a ghost.
After a few moments of tense silence, Alethion suddenly stood up, looked at them all firmly, and said in a decisive tone,
"I will go to see the king. He must know everything that has happened."
No one objected, nor did they ask him what he planned to do next. It was clear to everyone… that things were no longer the same and that the shadow looming over the kingdom was darker than ever before.
Within the corridors of the royal palace, where the walls were adorned with the ancient emblems of the kingdom, Alethion walked with steady steps toward the throne room.
When he reached the grand doors, adorned with golden engravings, he stopped before the guards and said in an official tone,
"I request permission to meet His Majesty."
But the guard did not open the door immediately. Instead, he replied in a neutral tone,
"His Majesty is already expecting you, General."
Alethion did not hide his surprise, but he masked it quickly, then entered the vast hall where the king sat upon his throne of gold and ivory, surrounded by towering columns and royal drapes that swayed gently with the quiet breeze.
He advanced until he reached the throne, then knelt on one knee, bowing slightly in respect before speaking in a voice mixed with anger and sorrow,
"Your Majesty… the unit we sent to track the man in the black cloak was ambushed. Many of our soldiers were slain by his hand, and none of the scouts we sent returned. It wasn't just an attack… it was a massacre."
He fell silent for a moment, trying to suppress his rage, but he felt fire burning inside him, especially as he recalled the charred bodies hanging from the trees as a gruesome warning.
The king gazed at him calmly, as if he had expected this report, then said in a low yet firm voice,
"The man in the black cloak… do you know what the people of the half-blood villages call him?"
Alethion did not hesitate in his response, as he had already reached this conclusion during his investigation:
"Yes, Your Majesty. They call him 'The Redeemer.'"
The king nodded slowly, as if he had anticipated the answer, then asked,
"And what was the name of the village you were in when you discovered this?"
Alethion replied without delay,
"Withered Bough Village."
The king's expression changed slightly upon hearing the name, but he did not show great surprise. He merely said,
"Indeed… according to the reports I've received, that was the last village he visited. But he did not stop there… he moved through all the others as well, and he did so within just two weeks."
Alethion felt a tightness in his chest… Two weeks? How could this man travel between dozens of villages in such a short time? And how had he managed to extend his influence so far?
There was still something unknown… something they had yet to understand about the Redeemer… and his true power.
Alethion stared at the king, awaiting his response, but he was not prepared for the words that left His Majesty's lips without hesitation:
"He is targeting you, Alethion… You are the head he wants to sever. So why don't you go and face him directly?"
A brief silence gripped Alethion… It wasn't fear of battle that held him back, but he knew that facing this man unprepared would be reckless and suicidal. Yet, he lifted his head and said in a steady voice, concealing the doubt he had felt for a moment,
"My king, if that is your command, I will leave at once."
The king did not respond immediately. He simply remained silent, his gaze unreadable as he studied Alethion.
Sensing that the discussion had ended, Alethion bowed slightly and said respectfully,
"I request Your Majesty's permission to take my leave."
The king nodded in approval, and Alethion turned to leave, but before he reached the door, a soft yet subtly mocking voice interrupted him:
"Alethion, why not take a stroll through the villages? You might find him one day…!"
The speaker was the king's advisor, a man with a calm face and a faint smile, though it was far from reassuring.
Alethion paused briefly, feeling something unsettling in the man's tone… It was not merely a jest but carried an underlying challenge… or provocation.
Before he could respond, however, the king interrupted in a firm tone, his displeasure evident,
"This is no time for jokes. Stick to your duty."
The advisor fell silent, yet he did not erase that faint smile that adorned his face—a smile… devilish.
Alethion exited the throne room, his mind still preoccupied with the conversation that had taken place between him, the king, and the enigmatic advisor. However, he had barely taken a few steps when he was met with a sight that lifted some of the weight off his chest—his daughter, Elora, standing in her lovely pink dress, her innocent eyes gleaming with joy at the sight of him. Beside her, with her poised stance and captivating gaze, stood his wife, Miralen, waiting for him with patience.
The moment Elora saw him, she rushed toward him, her voice carrying a mixture of reproach and longing:
"Father! Why didn't you tell us you had returned?!"
Alethion smiled and knelt slightly, embracing her tightly as if he hadn't seen her in years. He whispered in her ear,
"I only just returned, my little sugar blossom."
Elora giggled as she clung to his neck, while Miralen examined him carefully before speaking in a calm tone that carried a hint of deep concern:
"The same as before?"
Alethion lowered his voice, whispering in her ear so that Elora wouldn't hear:
"Worse."
Miralen's eyes widened slightly, but she remained composed, asking directly:
"Where this time?"
Alethion sighed and replied in a firm tone:
"Everywhere… I have to find him."
But before the conversation could delve further into this heavy topic, he decided to shift it. Raising an eyebrow, he asked with a faint smile:
"And where is Kaylor?"
Miralen, understanding his intent to lighten the atmosphere, answered,
"In the courtyard, swinging his wooden sword as usual."
Alethion chuckled softly and said,
"Good. I'm going to him… I'll teach him something new before I leave."
He cast one last glance at Miralen, as if trying to reassure her without words, before heading to the courtyard, where his son, Kaylor, awaited him—his eyes burning with excitement, his wooden sword gripped tightly in his small hands.
Alethion saw his son, Kaylor, in the courtyard, swinging his wooden sword with enthusiasm and clear effort. The boy was fully immersed in his training, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead under the sun's rays, yet he did not stop.
Alethion couldn't help but smile with pride. He picked up another wooden sword from the corner of the courtyard and approached with steady steps, still clad in his gleaming white armor adorned with gold and silver. The moment he reached Kaylor, he swiftly raised his sword to parry one of his strikes.
Kaylor was startled for a brief moment, but his eyes soon sparkled with excitement, especially when Alethion smiled at him with a challenging grin and said,
"Duel me now."
Kaylor did not hesitate for even a second. He stepped back, took a combat stance, and attacked without fear. He unleashed a series of strikes, some swift, some calculated, but his father deflected them all effortlessly, as if testing him.
After several successive blows, Alethion said,
"Excellent… You're on the right path, but—"
In a sudden movement, he countered one of Kaylor's strikes with greater force, and with a swift maneuver, he disarmed him, sending Kaylor's sword flying and embedding itself in the dirt.
Kaylor stopped, staring at his father in astonishment, while Alethion stood before him, raising his wooden sword slightly as he spoke in a calm yet firm tone:
"You're good at attacking, and you're improving quickly… but your defense is terrible."
Kaylor lowered his head slightly, reflecting on his father's words. He did not argue but merely nodded in silent agreement, which made Alethion smile in satisfaction.
Then, in an unexpected move, Alethion knelt before his son, placing a hand on his shoulder, and said with a faint smile,
"I'm going to teach you something new."
Kaylor's eyes widened with excitement as he lifted his head to look at his father, eager to learn what he had in store for him this time.
Alethion looked at his son, Kaylor, who stood before him with keen, expectant eyes, then spoke in a tone that was both serious and warm:
"Listen carefully, Kaylor. You know how to use magic, don't you?"
Kaylor nodded eagerly. "Yes, Father!"
Alethion smiled slightly and continued,
"Good. As you know, magic works by drawing energy from your surroundings and shaping it into the element you desire—whether it be fire, water, air, or even lightning. But more important than that… is imagination."
He paused for a moment, staring intently at his son before speaking in a softer tone:
"Imagine what you want precisely… not just the element, but its shape, its power, its direction. Magic isn't just energy—it's an extension of your will."
Kaylor listened with intense focus, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. He asked curiously,
"So, does that mean I can shape magic in any way I want?"
Alethion nodded and replied,
"Yes… but it's not that simple. You need strong concentration, continuous training, and an unshakable will. Otherwise, the magic will spiral out of control."
He took a step back and gestured toward Kaylor's wooden sword lying on the ground.
"Now, I want you to use magic in a new way… something you've never tried before."
Kaylor looked at his father with excitement and determination, ready to discover the new lesson he was about to learn.
Standing firm, Alethion gazed at his son, who was listening intently, then spoke in a calm yet commanding voice:
"This time, I want you to do something different… Instead of shaping an element like fire or water, focus your energy in the surroundings, but don't let it take an undefined form… Instead, imagine a person… or an animal."
Kaylor raised an eyebrow in surprise before asking,
"Imagine a person? How?"
Alethion folded his arms across his chest and answered,
"Magic isn't just a force you use for attack or defense—it's also a reflection of your will and perception. When you imagine a specific person or creature, you give magic a more complex form… something closer to life. In this way, you can use it in ways you've never considered before."
Kaylor looked at his father for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He began gathering the energy around him, feeling it flow through his body, rippling like an invisible current of power.
Then, he recalled an image in his mind… a strong, fast, and fierce wolf. He focused on its details—its glowing eyes, its gray fur, and its power as it ran.
Slowly, the air around him trembled, and threads of energy began to gather before him. Kaylor opened his eyes to see a faint apparition of something shaped by the magical energy, but it wasn't fully formed, as if it was incomplete.
Alethion smiled and said in a calm yet admiring voice,
"Not bad… but focus alone isn't enough. You must believe in it, feel its presence as if it were real. Try again, Kaylor."
Kaylor clenched his fist and took another breath, determined to succeed.
This time, he closed his eyes and meditated, but he took his time, allowing himself to gather the energy at his own pace. He remained still until he heard his father's voice say,
"Kaylor, open your eyes."
Kaylor's eyes widened as he stared at the two small angels fluttering their wings around him, their tiny bows in hand as if they were ready for battle. He didn't know how he had done it, but he felt as if they were a part of him, as if his very energy had taken this form.
Looking at his father in astonishment, he asked,
"What is this, Father? How did I do that?"
Alethion smiled with pride and replied,
"This isn't just an ordinary magical ability—it's a rare gift that only one person in each generation of the Sunfolk possesses. It is a very special power, requiring an innate talent and an exceptional force of will."
Kaylor slowly absorbed his father's words before asking curiously,
"And you, Father… can you do this too?"
Alethion chuckled lightly before raising his hand upward. Suddenly, energy began to gather around him—golden threads shimmering like sunlight. And with them, another figure emerged…
A massive angel, as large as Alethion himself, wielding two long crossed swords. On its back rested a shield of gold and silver, with the radiant symbol of the sun at its center.
Kaylor froze in place, staring at the majestic angel before him. Then, in awe, he murmured,
"It's… it's incredible!"
Alethion responded with a confident smile,
"And this isn't the largest one I can summon… I have one even greater than this."
Kaylor gazed at him in even deeper astonishment, his eyes filling with determination. He realized that he still had a long way to go before he could be like his father… but now, more than ever, he wanted to follow in his footsteps.
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If you like the story ! please support it
And the best way to do this is through patréon
You get access to +5 chapters !
Or even 12+ chapters if you want !
So please check out my patréon
https://www.patréon.com/c/zakx205
Don't forget to change "é" to "e"