I gazed into her eyes. She was telling the truth. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists as I thought of the so-called royal family. "Then I'll just have to find a way to snatch that shard from their grasp," I declared, my voice filled with confidence. "No matter the cost."
I turned my back against her one more time and stepped into the swirling portal that I had created. The portal behaved as a memory lane as I was dragged into the abyss.
As I emerged from the portal, the world around me shifted and swirled into a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. Memories flashed before my eyes, fragments of my past intertwining with the present, a reminder of the journey that had brought me to this pivotal moment.
I found myself standing in the midst of a lush forest, the scent of pine and earth filling my senses as I took in my surroundings.
Ahead, I could see the outlines of figures moving through the trees, their forms familiar yet distant. With a sense of determination coursing through my veins, I set off towards them, my footsteps echoing in the quiet stillness of the forest.
As I approached, the figures came into clearer view, and I recognized them instantly. Rowan, Alina, Elijah, and Anna stood together, their expressions a mix of concern and relief, as they caught sight of me.
Alina dashed towards me and pounced on me with a hug. I lost my balance and fell on the grass. Alina was still hugging me. I placed my hands around her and said, "It hurts, Alina. Get up." My voice was almost breaking.
Alina released me and got me into a sitting position. I followed her and sat next to her. She grabbed my hand and bore her eyes into mine. "You promised me that you would never leave." I could sense a bit of possessiveness coming from her.
I touched her hand and went closer to her face. With a soft smile, I gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, my fingertips lingering against her cheek. "I promised you because you mean everything to me," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alina's gaze softened, a tender expression replacing the worry that had clouded her features earlier. "And you mean everything to me, Magnus," she whispered back, her voice filled with sincerity.
In that moment, the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us lost in each other's eyes.
As the tender moment unfolded between Alina and me, I was oblivious to the amused glances exchanged between Anna, Elijah, and Rowan. Lost in the depths of each other's eyes, we were completely immersed in our own little world.
But as the silence stretched on, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird, Anna couldn't contain her excitement any longer. "Oh, come on!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Are you two going to stare at each other all day, or can we get moving?"
Elijah chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, we've got places to be and monsters to defeat, remember?"
Rowan grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "And besides," he added, "I'm pretty sure we've already got enough material for a romance novel here. Can we move on to the action scenes now?"
Alina and I exchanged sheepish glances, realizing that perhaps we had indulged in our romantic moment for a bit too long. But before we could respond, Anna was already pulling out her phone, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Say cheese!" she exclaimed, snapping a quick photo of us.
Caught off guard, Alina and I shared a laugh, the tension from before dissipating in the lighthearted moment.
With Anna's playful interruption, we reluctantly broke away from our tender moment, rising to our feet amidst laughter and teasing remarks from our companions. Brushing off the grass from my clothes, I glanced around at my friends, feeling a sense of camaraderie and determination wash over me.
"Alright, let's get moving," I said, my voice filled with newfound resolve. "We've got a royal palace to visit, after all."
Elijah's expression softened at the mention of his home, a mixture of nostalgia and determination flickering in his eyes. "Yes, let's go," he agreed, his voice steady despite the memories that surely awaited him.
With Alina by my side and the rest of our group close behind, we set off through the forest, the path ahead filled with uncertainty and adventure. But as long as we were together, I knew we could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Gathering my friends around me, I took a deep breath and began to recount the events that had transpired in Nyx's domain. I spoke of Nyx's betrayal, her manipulation, and the revelation about the Eldorian Shard. I described how Aelarion had shown up and begged for my help in resolving the crisis in the Gloria Empire, but I had refused to give in to their entreaties.
As I finished recounting the interesting events that had unfolded in Nyx's domain, my friends exchanged concerned glances, their expressions reflecting a mixture of shock and determination. Anna, Elijah, and Rowan listened intently, their unwavering support evident in their attentive demeanor.
Anna was the first to speak, her voice tinged with concern. "Magnus, this is... a lot to take in," she began, her brow furrowing with worry. "Are you sure we can trust Nyx and Aelarion? They seem to have their own agendas, and I'm not convinced they have our best interests at heart."
I nodded, understanding Anna's apprehension. "I share your doubts, Anna," I admitted, my voice heavy with uncertainty. "But we can't ignore the threat they pose. The crisis in the Gloria Empire won't resolve itself, and if we don't take action, countless lives will be at risk."
Elijah's expression was thoughtful as he weighed our options. "Perhaps there's a middle ground," he suggested, his voice measured. "We can't blindly trust Nyx and Aelarion, but we also can't ignore the need for action. Maybe we should proceed with caution, keeping our eyes open for any signs of betrayal."
Rowan, who was usually the impulsive person, nodded in agreement. "Elijah's right," he agreed, his tone resolute. "We need to be vigilant, but we also can't afford to sit idly by while the Gloria Empire suffers. We must help, even if it means treading carefully."
Before we could go on, I said hurriedly, "Oh. I forgot about one more thing about the Eldorian shard."
As I finished recounting the shocking revelation about the royal family of the Eldoria Empire's involvement in orchestrating the monsters' attacks, Elijah's expression shifted from concern to utter disbelief. His eyes widened in shock, and his jaw dropped slightly as the weight of the revelation settled over him like a heavy cloak.
Anna, as she read the novel realized it was a one-sided love towards Arianna by Elijah, noticed Elijah's reaction, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Elijah, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Elijah shook his head slowly, his mind clearly racing to process the revelation. "I... I can't believe it," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ariana's family... How could they...?"
I placed a hand on Elijah's other shoulder, offering what little comfort I could. "I know, Elijah," I said softly, my heart heavy with empathy for my friend's anguish. "It's a lot to take in."
Anna nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring Elijah's disbelief. "But we can't let this revelation paralyze us," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within her. "We still have a responsibility to help the people of the Gloria Empire, no matter who's behind the attacks."
Elijah took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself against the shock of the revelation. "Anna's right," he said, his voice gaining strength with each word. "We can't afford to lose sight of our goal, no matter how difficult things may seem."
Deeper into the forest, our senses sharpened by the eerie atmosphere, we came upon a clearing where several people in masks stood talking quietly to each other. Their attire, adorned with symbols of balance and equilibrium, marked them as members of the enigmatic Keepers of Balance.
Anna's grip tightened on my arm as we observed the scene from a distance, her eyes wide with apprehension. "What are they doing here?" she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.
Rowan, ever the observant one, studied the group intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It looks like they're discussing something important," he remarked, his voice low with caution.
Elijah, always one to seek understanding, suggested, "Maybe we should listen in and see if we can glean any information about their intentions."
I nodded in agreement; my curiosity was piqued by the presence of the keepers in such a remote location. With cautious steps, we edged closer to the clearing, straining to catch snippets of their conversation without revealing our presence.
As we listened, snippets of cryptic dialogue reached our ears, hinting at a grand design beyond our comprehension. Words like "destiny," "power," and "control" echoed through the clearing, sending a chill down my spine.
But before we could decipher their true intentions, a twig snapped beneath Rowan's foot, betraying our presence to the Keepers. With a start, the masked figures turned towards us, their eyes gleaming with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
A figure stepped forward from among their ranks, his presence commanding attention. Clad in robes adorned with symbols of authority, he exuded an aura of power and wisdom that left us momentarily speechless.
The Keeper's leader inclined their head respectfully towards the newcomer, acknowledging his presence with a solemn nod. "Arbiter," they said, their voice a soft murmur that carried a hint of deference.
The arbiter returned the nod with a slight inclination of his own, his gaze sweeping over our group with a piercing intensity. "What brings you here, travelers?" he inquired, his voice resonating with a quiet authority that brooked no argument.
Before I could reply, Anna widened her eyes and pointed towards the arbiter with excitement. "No way, are you Edward, Ariana's younger brother!?"
This revelation really took us by surprise.