Delythena's POV
The next day, while I was packing the things I would bring for our mission, I couldn't get the conversation with Zadkiel out of my mind. I couldn't help but laugh, but also feel a bit irritated by his persistence. Still, I didn't answer his question.
As I closed my bag, his words about marriage kept replaying in my head. I didn't know how I felt about it. I wondered if there were things he was expecting from me that I wasn't ready to give or if it was just because of his position as a Supreme Ruler. But despite all those thoughts, part of me couldn't forget, and I was afraid of giving an answer that might open a door to complications.
In the middle of my thoughts, I heard a gentle knock on the door. "Lady Delythena, are you ready?" Evely asked.
I turned and pushed those worries aside. "Yes, Evely. Almost done," I replied, even though the truth was, there were still questions I hadn't answered for myself.
"Is the carriage ready?" I asked.
"Yes, Lady, it's waiting outside" she replied.
I straightened myself up and brought my things outside. "You take care of my parents, Evely" I said.
"Take care on your journey, Lady Delythena" she reminded me.
I glanced at her and gave a small smile. "Thank you, Evely. You too."
I stepped into the carriage, feeling the weight of the journey ahead. The air was cool, and the quiet hum of the horses pulling the carriage added a sense of calm amidst the swirl of thoughts in my mind. It looks like this will be a long journey since we were assigned to the North. As much as I want to teleport, I don't actually know the exact location, so I opted for a carriage instead.
The idea of traveling through unknown lands made me uneasy, but I had no choice but to rely on the journey ahead. The steady rhythm of the horses' hooves and the occasional rustling of the trees outside were the only sounds breaking the silence as I tried to steady my thoughts, focusing on the task at hand.
Out of exhaustion and drowsiness, I fell asleep during the journey.
I suddenly woke up when the carriage jolted, as if it had run over something.
"Lady Delythena, please don't go out" said the knight driving the carriage.
"Why?" I asked.
"There are enemies" he replied.
I glanced out the window and saw the two knights guarding my carriage fighting against five figures dressed in black. Their aura was different I could feel that they weren't human.
I stepped out of the carriage I couldn't just sit there and watch while my knights fought using only their weapons.
"Please, stay inside, lady!" one of the knights urged, but I ignored him.
I walked toward the enemies, feeling my aura shift. A purple flame ignited in my palms, and without hesitation, I unleashed it upon them.
The enemies attacked, and suddenly, their numbers multiplied.
I continued releasing my power, and every enemy struck by my flames disintegrated into ashes, vanishing completely.
The flame that I am using is not made of fire but is created by combining my four elemental powers because I cannot use fire.
I noticed that these enemies weren't ordinary. For every one that was consumed by my powers, more of them appeared.
Suddenly, an attack came from behind me a sharp black spear speeding toward me. I turned just in time and summoned an energy shield. The spear crashed against it, but it didn't break through.
"Lady Delythena!" one of the guards shouted, worry evident on his face.
I ignored him. I needed to end this quickly.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, letting my power flow through me. When I opened them, the purple flames in my hands burned even brighter.
One final attack.
I raised my hand, and in an instant, a massive surge of flames rained down from the sky, engulfing all the enemies around us.
When the flames finally faded, there was nothing left no trace of the enemies remained.
"Let's go" I said to the guards, my voice calm as if nothing had happened, while they stood there, frozen in shock.
They remained silent, still staring at me in disbelief. I sighed and walked back to the carriage.
"Are you coming or not?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder.
The guards quickly snapped out of their daze and rushed back to their positions. Without another word, we continued our journey.
As I sat inside the carriage, I stared at my hands. The purple flames had disappeared, but I could still feel their warmth lingering on my skin.
What was that power? I had never used it before. It felt... natural, yet terrifying at the same time.
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists, trying to steady my thoughts. I needed to understand this power before it consumed me.
The journey continued in silence. The guards, though still wary, didn't question what had happened. Maybe they were too afraid to ask.
After what felt like hours, the carriage finally slowed down. Peeking outside, I saw towering ice-covered mountains and a vast stretch of white plains.
"We've arrived, Lady Delythena" one of the guards announced.
I stepped out of the carriage, and the cold air immediately bit into my skin. Snowflakes danced in the wind, and the ground beneath my feet was blanketed in thick ice.
In front of me stood a massive fortress made of dark stone, its towering spires disappearing into the stormy sky. The walls were lined with glowing blue runes, pulsating softly as if alive.
"This is the Frostbane Citadel" the guard beside me said. "The heart of the North."
I pulled my cloak tighter around me and took a deep breath. Something about this place felt... different. Ancient. Powerful. And deep inside, I had a feeling that whatever awaited me here would change everything.
I entered the mansion where we would be staying during our mission.
"Delythena" Azmier greeted me as I spotted him along with Shamera, Terrence, and Haden.
"You all arrived first" I said.
"Of course! We were too excited" Shamera replied cheerfully.
"This place is breathtaking" Terrence added, admiring our surroundings.
I quickly noticed someone was missing.
"Crisella isn't here yet" Haden said, noticing my searching gaze.
Just as he spoke, the entrance doors swung open, and Crisella stepped inside, carrying her belongings.
She shot me an irritated look. "I just got here, and you're already talking about me?" she scoffed.
I rolled my eyes. "Out of all the people I could be stuck with, why does it have to be you?" she said in annoyance.
I crossed my arms. "Right back at you."
Her face twisted in frustration, but before she could say anything else, Shamera stepped in.
"Can you both not fight already? You guys just got here, and it's only the first day."
I sighed, deciding it wasn't worth my energy to argue with Crisella.
We each went to our assigned rooms. Though they weren't particularly large, they were spacious enough for one person, and since we were only staying here temporarily, it was sufficient.
After settling in and unpacking our things, the caretaker took us on a tour of the mansion. We explored the entire estate, including the beautiful garden outside.
I couldn't help but admire the place. It was quite grand, though still smaller than our own mansion. The fountain, the garden, and the towering trees were stunning. There was also a vast open field where, according to the caretaker, visitors came to train.
"What is that?" Shamera asked, pointing toward something in the distance.
We all turned to look at a floating landmass, where a massive tree stood. Its leaves were a mix of pink and purple hues, glowing faintly under the light.
"That is the Aetherbloom Arbor a mystical garden" the caretaker explained. "But it is not easy to enter."
"Why not?" Haden asked, intrigued.
"Only those who are not curious can enter."
"How is that even possible? Almost everyone is curious" Terrence questioned.
"That's all I know. No one from this region has ever been able to enter" the caretaker responded.
"Let's test that theory then" Crisella suddenly spoke up, making us turn to her.
"What are you planning to do?" Azmier asked.
"Obviously, I'm going to try and get there" she replied confidently.
She closed her eyes, her body beginning to glow as she attempted to teleport. But nothing happened she remained in place.
"You didn't make it?" Shamera asked.
Crisella's face twisted in frustration. She tried again, concentrating harder this time, but still, nothing happened.
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "This is pointless" she muttered irritably.
"Don't even try" the caretaker warned. "You'll only waste your energy. If you attempt to enter that place without permission, it will drain your strength."
Hearing that, we decided not to bother and continued our tour of the estate, choosing to ignore the mysterious floating island.
Even me is curious
"We'll continue the tour tomorrow since it's getting late. We'll head to the village in the morning so you can meet the people you'll be protecting" the caretaker announced.
We all nodded in agreement and started heading back inside the mansion.
As we walked down the hallway toward our rooms, Crisella suddenly fell into step beside me.
"There's something different about you" she said abruptly.
She really has a sharp sense.
"You sure are observant," I replied nonchalantly.
She raised an eyebrow. "Don't get cocky. I'm watching you because I don't like you, and I will make sure you don't surpass me."
I let out a small sigh. "You're really competitive, you know that?"
Crisella stopped walking and turned to face me.
"That's because I know I'm better" she declared. "So, remember this, Delythena stay out of my way and don't interfere with what I'm doing."
I met her gaze, unbothered. "I honestly don't care about your life."
"I'm just warning you. You're messing with the wrong person." She smirked. "Don't try to steal the spotlight."
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Tch. Her power isn't even fire-related, so why is she always so hot-headed?" I muttered under my breath.
Now in my room, I was about to sleep when I noticed a bird tapping at the window. I walked over and opened it, revealing a green eagle with a small letter tied to its leg. I carefully untied it, unfolded the parchment, and began to read.
Dear Delythena,
How was your journey? Did you arrive safely? I wanted to tell you something be careful in that place. It's known for having many deceivers, so stay sharp and don't let your guard down.
Your friend,
Savena
A smile formed on my lips as I read her letter. Savena was always so caring, always worrying about me. But her warning made me pause deceivers? My mind immediately went back to the strange individuals we encountered during our journey, the ones who weren't entirely human.
Not wanting to leave her message unanswered, I grabbed a piece of parchment and quickly wrote back.
Dear Savena,
I'm doing fine here, and thank you for worrying about me. You take care as well. Let's have some time together after this mission I miss you. See you soon.
Your friend,
Delythena
I carefully tied the letter to the eagle's leg, and as soon as I finished, the bird flapped its wings and soared into the night sky.
The soft rustling of the wind filled the silence of my room as I watched the eagle disappear into the distance. I sighed, feeling a mix of warmth from Savena's concern and unease from her warning. Deceivers... The word echoed in my mind.
Shaking my head, I decided not to overthink it for now. I needed rest. Tomorrow would be a long day, and I had to be in my best condition.
I lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling for a while. The events of the day replayed in my mind the mission, the unfamiliar territory, Crisella's hostility, and now this mysterious warning. A heavy feeling settled in my chest, but I pushed it aside.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and my eyes grew heavier. Before I knew it, sleep claimed me, pulling me into a world of dreams.
The night passed in silence, and before I knew it, the morning sun peeked through my window, casting a soft golden glow across my room. I stretched, rubbing the sleep from my eyes before sitting up. Today marked the real start of our mission.
I quickly freshened up and changed into a more comfortable yet presentable outfit fit for traveling. As I stepped out of my room and walked toward the dining hall, I noticed the others were already gathered.
Azmier, Shamera, Terrence, and Haden greeted me with nods, while Crisella simply scoffed and looked away. Typical. I decided to ignore her as I took my seat beside Shamera.
"We'll be heading to the village after this" Azmier informed us. "Our task today is to familiarize ourselves with the area and meet the people we'll be protecting."
I nodded, taking a bite of my food. "Any information about the village?"
"The village is known as frostbane citadel" Haden answered. "It's relatively peaceful, but strange occurrences have been reported lately disappearances, odd weather patterns, and... rumors of creatures lurking in the woods."
I paused, remembering Savena's warning. Deceivers
"That doesn't sound like ordinary trouble" I muttered.
Terrence leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Exactly. That's why we need to be careful."
A heavy silence hung over us as we processed the information. Whatever awaited us in Frostbane citadel, it was clear that this mission would be anything but simple.
After finishing our breakfast, we prepared for our journey to frostbane citadel. The caretaker had already arranged for carriages to take us there, though I would have preferred to travel by horseback. Still, given the unpredictability of the situation, it was wiser to stick together.
As we rode through the dense forest path leading to the village, I couldn't shake the eerie feeling creeping up my spine. The air grew colder, despite the sun still hanging in the sky. Even the trees seemed unnaturally still.
Shamera must have noticed my unease because she leaned toward me. "You feel it too, don't you?" she whispered.
I nodded. "Something's off. The energy here... it doesn't feel natural."
Azmier, who sat across from us, glanced at me. "Stay alert. If what the villagers say is true, we might not be alone in these woods."
I tightened my grip on the dagger hidden beneath my cloak.
A few moments later, the carriages came to a sudden stop.
"What's going on?" Haden asked, pulling back the curtain to look outside.
The driver's tense voice reached us. "There's someone on the road, blocking our path."
I immediately pushed the carriage door open and stepped out, my eyes narrowing as I saw a lone figure standing in the middle of the dirt road. They were cloaked in deep blue robes, their face hidden beneath a hood.
The presence they exuded was suffocating, pressing against my senses like a heavy fog.
"Who are you?" Azmier demanded as he stepped beside me, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The figure remained silent for a moment before lifting their head slightly. Though their face remained obscured, a chilling voice echoed through the air.
"You should not have come here."
"And why is that?" Crisella asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You don't belong here," the figure replied.
Azmier let out a scoff. "And who are you to decide that?"
The cloaked figure remained still, their presence unnerving. "This land does not welcome outsiders. Turn back before it's too late."
Crisella crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "Oh, please. If you're trying to intimidate us, you'll have to do better than that."
I stayed silent, observing the figure carefully. The energy around them was strange heavy, yet elusive, as if slipping through my senses the moment I tried to grasp it.
Shamera shifted uneasily beside me. "Something's not right" she murmured.
The air around us grew colder, a whisper of wind brushing against my skin. Then, the figure raised a hand. The moment they did, the trees rustled violently despite the lack of a breeze, and the ground beneath us trembled ever so slightly.
"You have been warned" they said before disappearing into thin air.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Haden exhaled sharply. "Great. That wasn't creepy at all."
Crisella clicked her tongue in irritation. "Coward. If they really wanted us gone, they should've tried harder."
Terrence frowned. "You're missing the point. That wasn't a normal person."
I narrowed my eyes at the spot where the figure had stood. The sensation of their presence still lingered in the air, unsettling and foreboding.
"We should move" I finally said. "The sooner we get to frostbane citadel, the better."
No one argued as we climbed back into the carriages, but the uneasy silence between us spoke volumes.
As we continued our journey, I couldn't stop thinking about the ones who blocked our way earlier. Based on my observations, they weren't from here, nor did they just appear randomly whenever they wanted. It seemed as if they were waiting for us in other words, someone was watching us and pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Savena was right. There truly were deceivers lurking around.
I also noticed that their hands had green veins, just like the creatures that attacked me during my journey.
Who could be behind this?
When we arrived at the village, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The weather was just right, and the people were living prosperously.
But I didn't let my guard down because of what Savena had told me. I needed to observe carefully.
As we walked through the village, I carefully observed my surroundings. The people were smiling, going about their daily routines, but something still felt... off.
"Delythena," Azmier called, walking beside me. "You're unusually quiet. What's on your mind?"
I glanced at him before shifting my gaze back to the villagers. "Nothing. Just... keeping an eye on things."
"You're overthinking again" Shamera teased from behind. "Everything looks perfectly fine to me."
Crisella scoffed. "Of course, she's overthinking. She always does."
I ignored her and continued walking. Despite their words, I couldn't shake off this uneasy feeling. I just needed to figure out why.
The caretaker walked ahead, guiding us through the village. Everything seemed peaceful children played, merchants sold their goods, and villagers greeted us warmly.
"This place isn't much different from the Obsidian Citadel" Terrence noted. "People here seem to be thriving just as well."
Shamera nodded. "Yeah, I was expecting something... I don't know, more tense?"
I remained silent, my eyes scanning every corner of the village. On the surface, everything looked normal, but something about the atmosphere didn't sit right with me. I could feel it a strange energy lingering in the air, subtle yet undeniable.
As we continued exploring, a little girl carrying a basket of oranges approached me.
"Big sister, please buy some" the child said. She looked ragged, but she was undeniably cute.
"How much is it?" I asked as I bent down to her level.
"It's 20 per piece" she replied.
"Why are you the one selling these? You're still so young" I said.
"My parents are very sick, so I'm the one selling to buy their medicine" the child explained. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.
At such a young age she looked no older than six she was already working hard just to help her family.
"Where are your parents? Take me to them" I said, excusing myself from my companions while they continued exploring.
The child led me into a wooded area, and we arrived at a small, solitary hut.
"This is our home" the child said before stepping inside. "Please come in, I'm sorry our house is small."
I entered and saw her parents lying on the floor, looking weak and in pain. They weren't that old, but it was clear they were suffering from some kind of illness.
"What illness do they have?" I asked.
"I don't know either. They just suddenly became like this" the child said.
I approached her unconscious parents, examining and sensing their condition.
I could feel that this wasn't an ordinary illness that humans could contract so easily. I raised both of my hands, summoning water and earth, merging them together to create a healing remedy. I directed it towards them, and moments later, they slowly regained consciousness.
"Mom! dad!" the child called out to her parents, quickly running to them.