"What just happened-"
"Shut up...just shush." I'm still processing myself. I don't know what to do. Do I go after her? Do I wait for her to calm down? My emotions are heightened. The darkness swirls dominating over the light. I understand now more than ever. That when you're juggling the powers of dark you are irrational, your emotions are exemplified, no matter if you're happy or sad. When you Experience an emotion the feeling is multiplied by a thousand. Karina is a extremely poweful sorceress in the dark arts. So when she experiencenes a pure raw emotion, it is multiplied by a million. She is still learning to control the immense power she holds within her. I wasn't trained to control darkness, is swarming, infecting places that are difficult as it is fuelled by emotion. That's what scares me. I had never been in this situation before. I wanted to tell her, but I'd rather she hate me than me have to see her dead. I needed to solve this, and fast. I understand why she doesn't trust me. So I need to do this alone. So maybe one day she will forgive me. I won't go after her. For now, I need to let her go. It's safest, for her. Even though every atom in my body is urging to run after her. I need to let her go. I need to.
"Hello." I turn to see Ashely. She shudders when she sees Jamie and bows her head.
"Yes Ash?" I ask rubbing my temple, I could feel the darkness swirl around my soul. I felt ill, but I kept it under control. I'm still learning, but Karina's techniques are helping.
"I'm looking for Karina." She is mumbling and had entwined her fingers picking at the skin.
"She is not here Ash." I say. she starts to walk away.
"Wait Ashley!" Jamie erupts and she jumps. He pulls out the ring and drops to one knee. I cross my arms and roll my eyes.
"Will you ash?" He says. She looks at me shuddering like her blood had gone cold.
"I-don't-don't know what to say?" She says stepping away. Jamie sees she is reluctant so he quickly gets up.
"Uhh well, why don't you keep it and tell me your answer when you're ready?" He says lowering his eyes. She takes it and rushes out of the room. Jamie then huffs and turns back to look at me.
"Really Jamie...now was the absolute best time for that?" I say sarcasm dripping from the words. He rolls his eyes and I make my way past him.
"I couldn't think of a better time. Uhhh where are you going?" He jumps infront of me placing his finger on my chest.
"I have something I need to do." I say and push past him clipping his shoulder.
"Shouldn't you be going after your girl?" He said pointing to the exit. I thought about it, Hesitant, but continued walking. He huffed and began walking next to me.
"What do you think your doing?" I say stopping blocking his path.
"Wherever you go..I go." He said. I got the impression he wasn't going to budge. I really wasn't in the mood to argue. He stared me down. He wasn't going to move.
"Fine." I say. He grabs my arm and pulls me into a corner.
"First tell me what's going on." He said crossing his arm. I was reluctant at first, but I trusted this man. With my life. I had to tell him something. I needed him to understand why this was so important.
"When I went to Valtor I was accused of murdering this girl. She was found in my room and but the way she was murdered matched some killings from Haydren. Naturally they thought to accuse me. I was innocent. Father came to visit me in the dungeons. He told me something...and if I tell Karina, everything falls apart. EVERYTHING..falls apart."
"Why are we looking for?"
"We think it was my Father who killed The girl. She was really close with the soon to be King so she knew things that she wasn't supposed too. Things only high members of Valtor would know. In the dungeons he told me to plead guilty so that it would spare Karina's life....but that was only part of the truth. I didn't tell them all of it. The real reason we went!"
"All of what? What can't you tell them?"
"The real reason we went.. she would never forgive me."
"What are you talking about?" He was wide eyed. I didn't think I could say it. But I was fine keeping this inside.
"When we got there. Father asked me to kill the princess as a way of, showing loyalties. I couldn't do it I love her. He knew that. He used Karina as the reason for me to plead guilty. But, in the dungeons, he said something else, he didn't think I heard it. I couldn't put it together until after but..I'm sure of it. I just need proof of it."
"Proof of what? Damien just say it."
"He said 'one day we will bring down the Nightslayers once and for all and we had the knowledge to do it.' I now think I know what he means. Karina and I visited this place called the Tree Iqra, it's where all dark magic originated. The girl Who was killed, she knew where it was... I think my father means to chop it down."
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We start walking towards the Kings Quaters. A private room where my father does business.
"What happens if he cuts down the tree?" Jamie asks in a hush.
"I'm not sure exactly. All I know is that it's bad. We need to find the book." I open the door slightly and scan it for any movement. Empty. Good. We both walk inside.
"What book?"
"My father has a book of ancient tellings. Some prophecies, others stories just alot of ancient information." I jog to the large desk plastered in the centre of the room. Father never let me in here without a real reason, everything of value is kept here. It was a bank of secrets and fortunes. I had only seen this book once. But he took it out of somewhere is great importance. I vaguely remember it being darkish blue with golden writing. Jamie keeps a lookout on the door. His interest is peaked.
"Why do we need the book?" He whispered.
"It will tell us everything about the tree. If I'm right, it might even tell us how to save it. If father really is trying to destroy this tree, we need all the information we can get." He seems troubled.
"Why is your face like that?" I say.
"I'm just curious..why are you fighting so hard for this stupid tree?" He mumbles. Little does he know how special this tree is for them. How special it is to me. The Nightslayers have spent centuries protecting. If this tree falls, there will be war. One that won't end until one has vanquished the other. And Karina won't ever forgive me. I don't answer him. Because he won't understand. I run my hand against the under layer of the desk and feel an odd piece of wood sticking out ever so slightly anybody would have missed it. I push it in and hear a click revealing a secret cuboard concealed in the compartment of the desk. Grinning at myself there was the book. I take it out and start flipping through the pages. There was more in here than I thought.
"Alright here it is.." I scan my finger over the page and remove the dust.
"Tree Iqra.
It's said to be one of the most powerful relics of nature ever to be given by the ancient forces. Grown through the nurture of Pure darkness, sought to be where the dark forces originated. It is where all people of Dark inherit their magic from, the more crystals the tree nurtured the more powerful the people of Dark are become. The tree has existed for thousands of years, a birth place for one of THE most ancient forces."
"What does it say if it should die?"
"If the Tree should demise, the balance of Dark and light would be disrupted. People of Dark would lose their connection to Darkness and become vulnerable to the evils of the earth. Stronger sorcerers would be able to maintain their connection to the dark without the aid of the tree. However sorcerers less connected to the arts would lose their connection completely and would feel the tolls of mortality. Once the forces of Dark have depleted the forces would weigh heavier towards the forces of light giving it the strength of Darkness...oh no." My stomach twists.
"What!?"
"I think...Father wants to destroy the tree to make the forces of light stronger. It will be easier to kill the Nightslayers that way."
"Are you sure that the tree they are going after?" I look around the cuboard and I find a map. I instantly recognize it. It's a map of the Valtorian forest. With a route marked towards the exact location of the tree. I lift it up to show Jamie.
"I'm positive." The book then slips turning the page. I stare down at it for a second.
"What is it?" Jamie said. I can't tear my eyes away. I run my hand over the name of the page.
"There's a page here. It's about Rovara."
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"The Unstoppable Queen of Darkness that our parents told us to scare us when we were children? Really? I didn't think she was real. Just a myth." Jamie said making his way over to me. He was in for a rude awakening. Because She was real. And she would be fighting for Valtor if Father cuts down that tree. We would become extinct. "Read it." He said.
"No."
"Why?" He said snatching the book from me. I didn't answer him, but he was going to read it.
"Rovara." and I guess out loud.
"Queen of Darkness, most powerful sorceress ever to walk the ways of the earth. Born to a blood moon. At the eve of her birth, the child would have to survive a ritual that would cause them to experience the pain of hell fire. If the child survives she would be deemed worthy enough to carry the most impregnable forces of Darkness, enabling her to control fundamental elements like Fire and Air and perform the most hazardous of rituals. Rovara would be dormant in the child until she had felt a grievous pain inflicted upon her. It will also become present in times of desperation to protect the host or kill in times of grave danger. Rovara is created by the raw elements, it is an overwhelming sense of power that the child must learn to control or The amount one pressure of power could engulf the child's soul causing her to become soulless. She would be stronger than the foundation of a mountain, and as deadly and perilous as nature itself. One day she will become strong enough that she will make all forces bow to her feet in fear of her sheer power and control over them- oh shit! This is the girl we are gonna be up against!"
"Keep reading!" Such an idiot.
"The girl will rebuild the world of Darkness into a new age. Her powers were a gift from the Forces of Dark and she will bring the shadows into a new light. She has the skill of a wolf, and the power of a dragon. Destroy all that stands in her way with the wink of her lash. Her might will be feared by kings and queens. She will have the full support of nature as they will deem her their queen. She will become the darkness, and the darkness will follow her and darken the light that looms over the land. She will flood it with shadows, until darkness is tainted into the foundation of the sun, and the moon is the celestial being that shines brightest. She will rule for a thousand years ridding the land of all things light. A true gift to the shadow people oppressed for hundreds of years, sent to redeem them and bring about a new peace between forces. The true Queen of Darkness...Damien!? I don't wanna read anymore..Is this real?" He is scared. But more in denial. "Wait there is a note here...Dark flame? What's that?" The door flies open smashing against the Wall. Drake and Karina emerge, drake armed himself with his bow, his cloak hood up hiding his eyes. But I know it's him. Karina stands there, hair natural and looks me dead in the eye. No emotion. Cold.
"The book." She says. "We need the book."