A hush fell over the room, and the woman's voice sliced through the silence like a knife. "Leave the room, Keira and Thorne. There's something I need to discuss with this young man," She said, her gaze locked onto Klaus.
Keira's brow furrowed with concern as she noted the chill in her aunt's tone. She trusted her judgement, but the icy edge in her voice and the hardness of her features left her uneasy. "Promise me you won't hurt him, Aunt," Keira insisted.
The woman's eyes flicked to Keira briefly before returning to Klaus. "I can't promise that," she answered, her voice low and even. "But as long as I don't uncover anything amiss about him, he is safe."
"Now leave!" She raised her voice, her hand gesturing towards the door.
Keira turned to give Klaus a reassuring look and then walked out of the room, with Thorne walking behind.
As the door closed behind them, the woman raised her hand and murmured a few words under her breath. A soft glow surrounded the door, and Klaus felt that even if he wanted to escape, he wouldn't be able to leave the room.
Once Keira and Thorne had left the room, the atmosphere grew tense between Klaus and the woman. They stood facing each other, the silence between them thick and heavy.
The woman stood tall with a confident posture, her long black hair falling in loose waves around her face, framing her striking features. She wore a long skirt that flowed down to her ankles. The creamy white blouse she wore was tucked into her skirt, highlighting her slim waist and emphasising her hourglass shape.
A pair of glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, lending her an air of scholarship.
"You can drop all the act now; who are you?" The woman demanded, her voice stern and commanding. "And what do you want?"
Klaus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, unsure of what she meant. "What act? I'm not acting," He replied in a sincere voice.
After Klaus spoke, the woman's piercing stare made him feel uneasy. She seized him, searching for something he couldn't comprehend. Then, without warning, her lips began to move in a murmuring whisper.
Before he could comprehend what was happening, he was surrounded by flames. The flames formed a ring around him, trapping him in the middle.
Klaus stood frozen, his eyes widening as he watched the flames dance around him. He could feel the heat radiating off of them, causing him to break into instant sweats. Fear gripped him tightly, and he struggled to find his voice.
"I really don't remember anything." Klaus managed to mutter those words, and his eyes locked on the woman who had just caused the inferno.
The woman's expression was unreadable as she continued to murmur under her breath. Even though Klaus wasn't able to understand what she was saying, the intensity of her gaze never wavered.
The flames flickered and grew higher and hotter, searing his skin. Klaus felt like he was suffocating as the heat overwhelmed him. He tried to step back, but the flames seemed to follow him, binding him even tighter.
"I will only ask you one last time! Who are you?" The woman's eyes were bloodshot, and it seemed that if Klaus didn't respond to her, she would end him here.
The flames cracked and danced around Klaus, their fierce heat making it difficult for him to breathe. His eyes rolled back and forth around his socket as he was about to lose consciousness.
And when it seemed like he was going to pass out, the flames dissipated, leaving him gasping for air while his body shook in relief.
Klaus stood frozen as the woman approached him, her long hair flowing behind her like flames. The woman stopped a few feet away from him, her eyes locked on his.
"If you don't remember anything," she said, her voice low and menacing, "then you wouldn't mind me searching through your memories."
Klaus frowned when he heard the woman. He recalled the scene of the flames that entrapped him, and he took a deep breath a second later.
"If you're as innocent as you claim you are, then you should have nothing to fear." The woman said it with a sneer. "This way, I can also help figure out who you are since you've said you can't remember."
Klaus swallowed nervously and then nodded his head slowly.
"Good!" She said it, a cold smile spreading across her lips.
As she closed the gap between them, Klaus could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath and steadied himself.
"Turn around," She ordered, and Klaus slowly turned his back on her.
He felt her hand on his head, and he tensed involuntarily. He could feel her fingers probing his scalp, searching for something.
Suddenly, she began to chant softly, her voice rising and falling in a hypnotic rhythm. Klaus could feel the woman's breath on the back of his neck, and he shivered involuntarily.
"Stay still." She said it in a stern voice.
Moments later, he closed his eyes and focused on the sound, feeling his mind start to clear as the woman's words washed over him.
Unbeknownst to him, the woman's body shook violently. Her eyes were wide open with shock present in them as she stared at him. After she began casting the spell, there was a rapid suction of her mana, and within seconds, there wasn't an ounce of mana in her body.
Her body began trembling as, once her mana was depleted, she felt her life force being drained. The suction was fast and rapid, but as Klaus sensed a sudden change in the energy in the room, he realised that something was very wrong.
Klaus slowly opened his eyes and was immediately met with a shocking sight. The woman in front of him had slumped over and was now lying on the ground. His heart raced as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.
He looked around the room, trying to find any clues as to what had caused her collapse. The door was sealed shut, and there was no sign of anyone else in the room. Klaus turned back to the woman, his confusion written all over his face.
As he knelt down beside her, his mind raced with questions. What had happened to her? But as he looked at her pale face and motionless body, he soon realised that the least of his worries was finding out what had happened.
What if she was dead?
Klaus placed his hand on his chin and then decided to wait for the woman to regain consciousness before trying to determine what had happened. In the meantime, he sought something to occupy his anxious thoughts. His eyes landed on the desk nearby, covered in books and papers.
As he sat down in the comfortable chair, Klaus picked up a book and began to read. The words on the page slowly drew him in, and soon he was lost in the story, his worries temporarily forgotten.
Time slipped away unnoticed, and thirty minutes passed in an instant. Klaus looked up from his book just in time to see the woman's eyelids flutter open. Confusion clouded her eyes for a moment before she recalled her ordeal and sprang to her feet in alarm.
Her hand flew to her chest as she took in her unharmed body, relief flooding her features. Her gaze then shot to Klaus, and that relief turned to anger.
The terror and crushing force that took place when she wanted to dive into his memory almost tore her apart. It was still fresh in her mind, and while she was able to glimpse into him afterward, there was really nothing about his past.
'He is really telling the truth," She sighed.
Klaus spoke, breaking through her thoughts. "You're awake. What happened? You suddenly collapsed."
The woman's gaze snapped back to Klaus, and she felt a surge of anger. She calmed herself and stared at Klaus, trying to figure out any clue about him, but the more she looked, the more certain she was that he didn't know what happened.
"Are you alright?" Klaus asked, breaking the tense silence.
"I am," she replied curtly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "But what are you doing at my desk?" She strode towards him, her piercing eyes never leaving his face.
"Oh, I was just reading this book," Klaus explained, gesturing to the pile of books on the desk.
"You're reading the book?" The woman paused, astonishment flickering across her face. "Wait, you can understand what's written there?"
Klaus nodded, puzzled by her reaction. "Yes, of course. Is that a problem?"
With trembling hands, the woman picked up another book from the desk and thrust it towards Klaus. "Can you read this passage?" she demanded, her voice shaking.
Klaus leaned forward, focusing on the text she indicated. After a moment, he spoke. "Phaesphoros, kruentum, exaltus... Invoke the power of light and blood to increase the ability of the caster."
The woman's eyes widened in amazement. "You can read the ancient language," she breathed, her voice laced with awe.
"What is ancient language?" Klaus asked with a puzzled look on his face.
The smile on the woman's face grew wider, and she stared at Klaus as though he were some priceless treasure. The look caused Klaus to feel a bit uneasy, and he smiled wryly in response.
"I haven't formally introduced myself; I'm Margaret Arvandor, sister of King Arvandor." She said this, extending her hand to Klaus for a handshake.