"Well, what happened next?" Liora asked, breaking the heavy silence that had settled around them for the past five minutes. Lumari, rising to her feet with a hint of weariness in her demeanor, replied, "That's all I was allowed to see. I couldn't glean any further visions of what transpired afterwards."
Liora mirrored Lumari's action, standing up as well, her heart pounding with urgency. "That's all?" she pressed. "I need to understand what that was and how I fit into all of this!" Lumari sighed deeply, turning to face her with a serious expression. "According to the prophecy, only someone with the Elarinoth bloodline can witness that vision." Confusion knitted Liora's brows together as she processed the revelation. "I know this sounds unbelievable, but you are of the Elarinoth bloodline."
Taken aback, Liora instinctively pulled her hands away from Lumari and took a step back, disbelief washing over her. "There's no way! I'm just a normal werewolf, like all the others. I can't possibly be an Elarinoth!" Lumari nodded slowly, allowing Liora a moment to digest the information.
"Listen to me—we don't have much time," she implored, her voice urgent. "You must trust me when I say this: do not confide in anyone except your mate. No one else. You understand? No one." Panic began to creep into Liora's mind as she noticed the darkness of night creeping closer, its shadows thickening around them.
Lumari hurried on, "I can't reveal her name, but Belyra is still alive, and she harbors a deadly intent to eradicate all of the Elarinoth line. Please, be cautious." The desperation in Lumari's tone painted the gravity of the situation.
"Wait, why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?" Liora felt an unexplainable pull, a force drawing her away. "It's Belyra... she—" Suddenly, Liora was engulfed in a swirling vortex of energy, yanked away from the moment.
She awoke to find herself somewhere unfamiliar, though she sensed a presence nearby—voices murmuring just out of sight. "So you're telling me that my mate is an Elarinoth?" a deep voice, Malzahar's, echoed around her. Liora kept her eyes tightly shut, pretending to be unconscious. If only she could overhear more about the incident from 300000 years ago, especially the chaos that ensued after Belyra attacked that fateful night.
"Yes, I witnessed it. That dreadful night when she betrayed her closest companion out of a love she had never possessed," a familiar voice answered, rich with memory. Malzahar's tone hardened as he recalled the scene he had glimpsed through Liora's fragmented memory. "But why did I see a figure attacking her?"
"The one who attacked her knows her identity; their mission was not to inflict harm, but rather to determine if she belonged to the Elarinoth bloodline." A heavy silence enveloped the room as Liora listened intently, hanging on every word. "But unfortunately, my memories are hazy from that time. I was only four years old, and my sole priority back then was to hide. She was utterly out of control," the woman continued, confidence punctuating her voice.
"If your mate is indeed an Elarinoth, it means she is still alive." Malzahar's voice was firm as he recalled his grandmother's written warning before Belyra could erase all memory of that terrible night. "Belyra swore to eradicate every last descendant of the Elarinoth." The very message Lumari had imparted to her beside the river.
"And mark my words," the woman added gravely, "she will come for your mate." With great effort, Liora began to stir, slowly opening her eyes.
"There, she's awake," Malzahar said, rushing to her side, his gaze a mix of relief and concern. Liora managed a small smile in acknowledgment, gathering herself as she straightened her posture. The priestess, an elegant figure with serenity radiating from her, approached. "Hello, Your Highness. I'm Vaelora," she introduced herself with a gentle smile.
"Thank you for that, I really did need that," Liora replied, appreciative of the priestess's intervention. Vaelora chuckled lightly, exchanging a glance with the king who quietly observed. After a moment of reverent silence, Malzahar leaned closer, whispering, "I'll be back shortly. I'm going to get something for you to eat." He nodded at Vaelora before exiting the room.
"Listen, I purposely sent you to that place to seek answers," Vaelora began, her tone turning serious as Liora's full attention was drawn to her. "Do you know about that location?" Liora inquired, mild dread creeping in. Vaelora took a deep breath. "It was a secret place, accessible only to the Elarinoth. I had my reasons for sending you there, though I can't be certain it bore fruit. You must proceed with caution regarding whom you trust."
The ominous echo of Lumari's warning rang in Liora's ears, reminding her of its significance. "Why do you sound so much like her? That's exactly what she told me—to be wary of whom I trust," Liora pressed, her curiosity piqued.
Confusion flashed across Vaelora's features. "Who told you what?"
Feeling a constriction in her chest, Liora stood and wandered toward a nearby
"That woman-the one who has been visiting me," Liora whispered, her urgency bubbling over.
Vaelora gasped sharply, rushing to Liora's side. "Shh! The walls have ears; you must keep some things secret," she warned, her voice low. "For now, I must depart, but I'll return." Closing her eyes, she recited an incantation in an ancient tongue. With a delicate gesture, she fashioned a necklace, whispering, "Here, wear this. It will alert you—anytime danger approaches, it will begin to pulse in warning. Your powers will awaken upon your transformation, but since you are pregnant, those will remain dormant for the moment. This will shield you in the interim," she explained, tying the necklace around Liora's neck.
As soon as Vaelora stepped away, the necklace vanished, leaving Liora perplexed. "What—?" she murmured, her fingers instinctively reaching for the spot where it had rested, now empty.