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Elythion was teaching his son, Kaylor, the magic of the sun. He watched him for a few moments as he tried to grasp the new power he had discovered. In his eyes, he saw excitement and awe, but he also saw many unspoken questions. He smiled at him and patted his head, saying:
"Remember, Kaylor… this power is not just a tool for battle; it is a responsibility. You must use it wisely."
Kaylor nodded eagerly, but Elythion felt that he needed some time to absorb everything. He left him to reflect on his new abilities, then turned and began searching for Miralyn, his wife—the last person he needed to inform of his decision.
His steps led him to the stable, where he found her tending to his loyal horse, Stormeth. She ran her hands gently along its neck, as if sharing a secret only she knew. He watched her silently for a moment, savoring this peaceful moment amidst the storm that consumed his life.
Then, he approached her with quiet steps and spoke in a voice laden with an inevitable weight:
"Miralyn…"
She lifted her head toward him, her gaze not one of surprise but a mixture of worry and understanding. He didn't need to explain—she already knew.
"I am going to find the man in the black cloak… as the king commanded. I will find him, and I will fight him."
Her hand stopped stroking the horse's neck, and she stared at him with her deep eyes, as if trying to read beyond his words. She didn't speak immediately, allowing the silence to carry her thoughts before she finally said:
"These days, you've been so busy," she said in a soft tone, though there was a trace of reproach in it. "We haven't even had a family gathering like before."
Elythion felt a pang in his chest—he knew she was right. War, responsibilities, investigations—everything had drawn him away from his family more than he ever wanted. But he didn't have the luxury of stopping now.
He closed his eyes for a moment, exhaled deeply, then raised his hand to gently touch her cheek.
"I promise you," he said in a warm voice, "this time, when it's all over, we will take the children and go somewhere no one knows. A place with no war, no lurking shadows… just us and our family. We will enjoy our time, just like we always did."
She saw the sincerity in his eyes, but she also saw the looming danger. She was not naive enough to believe this war would end easily, but she did not need to voice her fears.
She stepped closer to him, then stood on her toes to place a gentle kiss on his lips. When she pulled away, she whispered in a quiet yet unwavering voice:
"The Goddess of the Sun be with you… until the very last moment."
Elythion gazed at her for a long moment, as if trying to carve her features into his memory. Then, without another word, he turned, took Stormeth's reins, and left the stable, determined to fulfill his promise… no matter the cost.
Elythion stood outside the castle walls, more determined than ever to capture the man in the black cloak. This was no ordinary threat—it was a shadow creeping ever closer, seeking to consume the kingdom piece by piece. Tightening the reins of his loyal horse, Stormeth, he spurred him forward at full speed toward the Withering Boughs Village, the place where he had last caught a glimpse of this mysterious menace.
The journey stretched for hours, with Elythion traversing hills and plains, stopping only when necessary. The closer he got to the village, the faster his heartbeat—not out of fear, but out of seething anger at what he had previously witnessed… those eerie smiles, the tension that clung to the villagers, and the whispered name that passed among them: "The Redeemer."
Upon his arrival, he did not need to announce himself. The villagers saw him immediately, and the silence quickly turned into a wave of suppressed rage.
"Leave this place!" one of them shouted.
"You are the reason for all of this!"
There was no welcome. On the contrary, the villagers greeted him with hateful eyes, hurling rotten tomatoes in his path. He didn't try to avoid them—his mind was elsewhere.
He arrived at the village chief's house, the man who had never been fond of his presence. Knocking firmly on the door, he didn't have to wait long before it swung open, revealing a face lined with clear irritation and fear.
"We want nothing from you!" the chief spat angrily, as if he had been expecting Elythion just to cast him out. "Leave us be!"
Elythion clenched his teeth and replied in a firm yet restrained voice, carrying the weight of barely contained fury:
"Honorable man, I am not asking for a favor—I am offering you a chance. Call for this 'Redeemer' you speak of. I will wait for him by the Baelin River, and if he does not show… I will search for him in the next village."
His words carried an unmistakable threat—not toward the villagers, but toward the shadow lurking among them. He would not leave without answers… whether they liked it or not.
The village chief froze for a moment, as if Elythion's words were pure madness, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, his body shaking with mirth, as if he had just heard the most absurd joke of his life.
"You? You want to face the Redeemer?" he said between gasping laughs, slapping his knee as if it were the funniest thing he had ever heard.
His laughter rang through the village, drawing the attention of nearby villagers. Some looked on in surprise, while others exchanged knowing glances, as if they were waiting to see what would happen next. A few had blank expressions, while others smirked with a sly, almost cunning amusement.
But Elythion was in no mood for such nonsense. His eyes burned with fury, and the chief's mocking laughter was just another spark to the fire within him. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, gripping it so hard he nearly crushed it. Then, with a cold gaze—one that only a battle-hardened warrior could possess—he said in a calm yet razor-sharp tone:
"Yes. And I will make an example of him for anyone who dares to rebel against the kingdom."
A sudden silence fell, as if time itself had stopped for a moment. The laughter vanished from the chief's face, replaced by a dark expression. It was clear that Elythion's words had struck a nerve. For a brief moment, no one moved, and no one spoke—as if even the air had grown heavy with tension.
Then, without another word, Elythion turned and left, his steps steady, his mind set on wasting no more time with these people.
The village chief watched him go until he disappeared from sight, then subtly tilted his head toward one of the half-blooded men standing nearby. With a slight nod, he gave an unspoken command. No words were needed—the man understood the signal well and slipped away into one of the alleyways.
As Elythion rode away from the village, lost in his thoughts, an old woman suddenly blocked his path. She wore a brown cloak and held a black staff, her steps heavy yet firm. At the sight of her, he felt something strange—an unexplainable sensation he could not shake.
He lifted his gaze, studying her features, and in that moment, he remembered… He had seen her before. She was the same old woman he had noticed in the previous village, the one who had watched him with that strange smile—a smile he had never decided whether it was mocking or pitying.
She stood directly in his path, unmoving. As he approached, she lifted her head slightly, meeting his gaze with her deep, gray eyes—eyes filled with unsettling knowledge, as if she saw what others could not.
Then, in a rough, warning voice, she spoke:
"Leave… or you will regret it, outsider."
Elythion halted, locking eyes with her. Her words carried a heavy weight—not just an empty threat but something more… something darker. Something beyond mere village resentment.
But Elythion was not the kind to be swayed by threats, whether overt or cryptic. He said nothing, merely holding her gaze for another moment before turning his horse and galloping toward Baelin River—toward whatever fate awaited him next.
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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"