The afternoon glow cast rays of sunshine through the windows of the carriage, painting patterns on the interior and as we rumbled along the worn cobblestone streets. The rhythmic clatter of hooves creating a soothing song that gradually calmed my worries.
Fleur had her gaze looking out towards the passing scenery. The tall and refined buildings getting smaller and smaller as we departed from Fallholt.
Fleur finally broke the silence after the last few buildings left our view. "There are things you can't know, Elias," she said softly, her words carrying an undercurrent of secrecy yet serene.
"I beg your pardon?" I replied
"Father August. He's not someone I can oppose, not even Darius." She averted her eyes over to mine, "There are things you can't know," she repeated.
"I get you have to follow the rules and such, but isn't there anything you can tell me? At all?"
Fleur hesitated from my audacious response and took a moment to think before responding, her expression filled with scepticism.
"Elias, I understand your curiosity, and I wish I could tell you everything. I really do. But the truth is, the less you know now, the better," she said and paused to think of how to continue. "There are forces at play that go beyond what any of us can fully comprehend. It's, for your protection."
Her words hung in the air, a barrier between me and the answers I desperately sought. It was clear that Fleur had made up her mind, that there were boundaries she couldn't even cross. My frustration grew, mingling with a sense of helplessness that threatened to overwhelm me. Unfortunately, now I had even more questions.
I was starting to get desperate, to know anything at this point. All the previous questions that had been placed in front of me had yet to come forth, and now I had even more. What kind of powerful forces were there and was I getting myself into something too far above me?
"Fleur," I said, my voice tinged with a mixture of determination and frustration. "I can handle the truth. I want to know. I need to know."
She turned her gaze back to me, her eyes filled with empathy. "I know you're capable Eli, I've told you before. But sometimes, knowledge can be a double-edged sword. The more you know, the more you become entangled in this dangerous web I've unfortunately got you in. And I won't allow that to happen to you. I can't do this again."
Fleur had a slight pain in her voice, the kind I was familiar with. I must've hit a nerve.
A surge of emotion welled within me, and yet I still felt gratitude for Fleur's concern. "Fleur, I appreciate your concern, I truly do. But I can't just sit back and remain ignorant. I need to understand why I'm here, why I'm caught up in all of this."
Fleur's grip tightened. "All I can tell you is that the person that saved us is not only very powerful, but they have our best interests at heart. You won't have to worry."
I knew there was much she wouldn't be able to tell me, and questions I know I can't even ask. Thankfully I was very determined and had a stubborn resolve to uncover any kind of truth on my terms. I wouldn't stop until I was satisfied with the outcome.
Silence settled between us, the carriage carrying us forward as the weight of the unspoken hung heavily in the air. I knew Fleur spoke with sincerity—with a deep-rooted concern for my well-being. And yet, a part of me yearned for the knowledge to shape my own destiny, to grasp the unknown that lay just beyond my reach.
After a while longer, I pressed again. "What about Pandora and the pendant? What was her connection to all of this?"
"There are things you can't know," she repeated with more of a stern voice this time.
As the cityscape of Leode came into view, the simpleness of its architecture came into view, reminding me of how much grander Fallholt was. Although the late afternoon bustle of the people hurrying along the streets was still as busy as always.
The carriage finally rolled up to a few buildings, about a block away from the Den on Argyle Lane. Fleur and I stepped out of the carriage, our footsteps tapping on the cobble street.
Fleur reached into her pocket and retrieved the necessary coins to pay the driver, his grateful nod a silent acknowledgment of the transaction. As the carriage pulled away, disappearing into the flow of the town, I turned my attention to the familiar sight of the Den up ahead as we walked over.
The Den stood proudly, its weathered façade welcoming us back to the familiar sanctuary of our workplace. We both walked inside, entering the lobby where I would usually see Jean reading his paper, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Fleur kept on walking toward the door of the main room, pushing it open as we both went further inside. "Elias, wait here for a moment," she said, her voice urgent. "I need to speak with Darius."
Without waiting for a response, Fleur hurried past the main room and down the hallway, her demeanour purposeful. I watched her disappear through the doorway leading to Darius's office, a knot of anticipation twisting in my stomach. A good kind of anticipation though, as there was a possibility that I would finally get some answers if she was talking to Darius. Well, one can hope.
Lost in my thoughts, I took a seat in the main room at the large meeting table, my gaze wandering around the room. It felt rather empty since nobody else was around, except for the few decorations and furniture. Though I was used to the quiet as I frequented the library back at my university, it still felt too desolate here. Maybe Darius hired me just to liven up this gloomy place heh.
Just as my thoughts threatened to overwhelm me, the door to the main room swung open, and Jean emerged from one of the adjacent rooms. Surprise washed over me, momentarily distracting me from the whirlwind of questions swirling in my mind.
"Jean." I exclaimed, unable to conceal my relief at his unexpected appearance. "I thought I'd see you in the lobby when I got here. Where have you been?"
Jean's eyes met mine, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Ah, Elias," he replied. "You do know I'm not the lobby boy heh. I actually do do proper work around here, I don't just sit and read the news."
I laughed, shaking my head at Jean's response. "Of course, of course."
Jean took a seat beside me, his posture rather relaxed. "I hear that you had an interesting encounter today. What happened?"
Jean's casual remark about my encounter caught me off guard, resurfacing the events and lingering questions from earlier today. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to say. After all, Fleur had been tight-lipped about the situation, and I didn't want to leak anything to privy.
"Yeah, not much,"
"That's all?"
"Well, I was unconscious most of the time. Not much I can remember to be honest," I half lied.
Jean raised a brow as curiosity danced in his eyes. "Unconscious? That doesn't sound like 'not much'. Surely you remember something?"
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my mind wrestling with the decision of how much to reveal. Fleur's words echoed in my mind, cautioning me against delving too deeply into the mysteries that surrounded me. But the weight of the unknown tugged at my curiosity, urging me to seek understanding.
"Fleur was talking to me about some strange things on the way back, what's up with her? It was as if she was keeping something from me, from possibly all of us too."
Jean glanced over at the door at the end of the corridor where both Fleur and Darius were talking.
"You're not alone in that sentiment, Elias. We all carry secrets, burdens from our past that can shape our present," Jean returned his eyes to me. "Fleur, too, has her own share, her own reasons for guarding the truth."
My curiosity piqued, and I leaned forward, my voice barely a whisper. "What do you mean?"
"From what I know, Fleur's life has been marked by hardship and sacrifice," he began, his voice tinged with a sombre tone. "She's faced challenges that few could comprehend, and she's chosen to bear them silently, keeping her past shrouded in mystery."
A mixture of admiration and concern welled up within me. Fleur had always exuded a vibrant energy, her infectious laughter and unwavering determination inspiring those around her. But now, I saw a glimpse of the struggles she had fought to conceal.
"We respect Fleur's privacy," Jean continued, his voice carrying a note of reverence. "She's earned our trust and loyalty, and it's not our place to pry into her personal demons. But know that she has our best interests at heart, Elias."
I nodded a newfound appreciation for Fleur's strength and the complexities that lay beneath her lively exterior. Again I too had secrets that I can't share with anyone, about where I've come from and other personal things too.
Silence settled between us once again, the weight of unspoken truths lingering in the air. My mind wandered to the church, the pendant, and the enigmatic figure named Pandora. The questions burned at the back of my mind, urging me to seek answers. But something held me back just a touch.
"Jean," I started, my voice cautious. "What can you tell me about the church? Fleur mentioned something about it. Is there some kind of connection there that I don't know?"
Jean's gaze turned introspective, his words measured. "The church," Jean began, his voice lower. "It is indeed connected to all of this, but that's as much as I can say. The church holds ancient knowledge and power, but those secrets are closely guarded. Even among us, there are limits to what we can share."
I felt a mixture of frustration and intrigue bubbling within me. It seemed like every piece of information I uncovered only led to more questions, more mysteries. I was at a roadblock of sorts I was getting little information as I didn't have any kind of status. My initial goal to achieve success finally came into play and would have meaning. But I understood that Jean had his reasons for keeping certain things concealed, that was obvious.
"I see," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of slight disappointment.
Before our conversation could continue further, the door to Darius's office creaked open, and Fleur emerged. Her expression was calm, yet I sensed an underlying tension in her posture. What could they have been talking about? Did it involve me?
"Elias, Darius wishes to speak with you," Fleur announced, her voice soft but urgent. "He's been informed about your encounter, and he wants to discuss it further.
With that, Fleur and I exchanged a glance before I made my way down the corridor towards Darius's office. The wooden door stood slightly ajar, beckoning me inside.
I pushed the door open and entered the dimly lit room. Darius sat behind his desk, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. He looked worn, the lines etched on his face deeper than usual. I couldn't help but wonder what Fleur had discussed with him and how it had affected him.
Darius gestured for me to take a seat in the chair opposite him. I complied, the tension in the room palpable. I watched as he took a sip from his glass, the liquid swirling within, before setting it down with a heavy sigh.
"Elias," he said, his voice low and measured. "You're ready."