Deborah's POV
The sharp gunshot jolted me awake, wiping away all traces of exhaustion. My consciousness, filled with alarm, snapped back to full alertness.
I spun around to find Matthew collapsed on the ground, his leg wounded, blood pouring from the injury, staining his pure white fur. The sight was so painfully piercing that it reached a place deep within me.
Even now, he remained in his wolf form—a tall, noble White Wolf Alpha—yet he looked so vulnerable. I wanted to rush to him, but the brutal scene rooted me in place.
Around us, the wolves emitted low growls, carrying tones of fierce anger and sorrow. They quickly formed a protective circle, their eyes glinting with hatred as they fixed their gaze on the mysterious man standing beside me. Matthew's fall ignited a fire in them, a burning resolve to protect their companion, no matter the cost.
But the situation left no room for fighting. The Sanctuarium barrier had been damaged, and the wolves' condition was uncertain, yet I knew the situation was far from ideal. Staying here to resist would only lead to greater loss. I took a deep breath, willing myself to remain calm, and raised my hand, shouting with all my strength at the wolves surrounding us, "No!"
My voice cut through the air, and I felt a flicker of hesitation among the wolves. Their fierce gazes turned uncertain, and I seized the moment to signal the man beside me, urging him to quickly leave Tirfothuinn.
In this moment, I had to make a decision. Whoever this man was, he was clearly key to breaking the current deadlock.
I had no choice.
The man didn't linger, taking me aboard the small aircraft.
The craft quickly powered up, rising into the air and carrying us further away from Tirfothuinn. Through the window, I watched Matthew lying on the beach, his blood staining the sand beneath him. His helpless figure seared into my mind, piercing my heart.
How desperately I wanted to stay by his side. But reason told me that if I truly wanted to protect Tirfothuinn, I had to make sacrifices, to find a way to change everything.
As we traveled, the aircraft's interior was far more sophisticated than any mission craft I'd ever boarded. Every detail radiated a blend of refinement and power—the streamlined seats, touchscreens, and tranquil cabin all conveyed a sense of remarkable superiority. This level of meticulous design and advanced technology felt like an entirely different world, a stark contrast to the stifling machinery of the underground cities.
I silently took in the surroundings, my heart full of unanswered questions. The man beside me sat quietly, making no effort to explain. I hesitated briefly, then decided to probe him gently, asking, "How… should I address you?"
He smiled softly, a warmth in his expression that seemed strangely close. He turned to look at me, his gaze kind, as though my presence awakened a long-buried emotion within him.
"Dara," he said in a gentle yet steady voice, "call me Father. I am your real father."
I felt a surge of absurdity, disbelief crashing over me.
Was this truly how he chose to reveal our connection? Could he really be Deborah's father? Every fiber of my being resisted the idea, unwilling to instantly accept this man's claim.
Our eyes met in that moment.
In his deep, dark eyes, I glimpsed a mix of guilt and longing, emotions that flowed toward me like a tide, drawing me into a shared sensation of complexity. His remorse seemed embedded in him, a feeling that had only intensified over time. As he faced me now, that emotion overwhelmed him, and somehow, it wrapped around my own emotions, intertwining us both in a way that was difficult to unravel.
This sensation of empathy was something I'd never felt before, even when using Telepathy.
His emotions seemed to hold me in an invisible grip, clutching my heart, making it nearly impossible to pull away. I felt an odd sense of sympathy, even understanding. My rational mind screamed at me to break free, yet he possessed a force that pulled at my will, merging with it.
In that brief second, he spoke again, his voice soft yet filled with undeniable pull: "Call me Father."
Without thought, I found myself saying, "Father."
The moment the word left my lips, a sharp realization dawned on me. I'd spoken without thinking, obeying his command as though in a trance. The sensation left me stunned and disoriented—was this what it felt like to use Domination?
Could it be that Domination, the power I always thought stemmed from Maeve's bloodline, wasn't witchcraft at all? Perhaps it came not from Maeve but from this man before me. Could it be that this power wasn't magic, but a trait inherited from him?
I averted my gaze quickly, trying to shake off the emotions binding me, forcing myself to remain calm, suppressing the turmoil in my chest. I shifted the subject, pretending indifference as I asked, "So, where are we headed?"
He continued smiling, a tenderness in his expression that seemed to dissolve my doubts, blurring the line between sincerity and deceit. "To the Sky Cities," he said, his voice both serene and confident.
Feigning curiosity, I pressed further. "Sky Cities? Where is that? From what I know, only Tirfothuinn on the surface is suitable for human life."
He chuckled softly, the sound filled with an unsettling patience and tranquility.
His demeanor was so kind and gentle, as though I were not some lost stranger but a long-lost daughter.
A surge of caution swept over me, a reminder to stay alert, to keep my thoughts clear and not let his emotions sway me. But that strange connection, as though stemming from blood itself, clung to me, an invisible bond that refused to let me completely escape his influence.
His gaze was patient, gentle, as he replied, "You'll understand when we get there."
Since boarding the aircraft, I had deliberately avoided looking directly at him.
Something about meeting his gaze felt… dangerous, as though looking into his eyes placed me in an inescapable trap. It was as though an invisible chain bound my mind, as though he held me entirely within his grasp. And that realization only heightened my fear of Domination.
If his effect on me were due to Domination, how would it affect others I used it on? Those I dominated—did they feel the same suffocating helplessness within their consciousness? The thought sent a chill through me, and I felt a pang of regret for using this ability so carelessly.
The wounds I'd sustained in Finias, compounded by the energy I'd expended to repair Sanctifolium and cast Sanctuarium, had left me drained. Not long after boarding the aircraft, an overwhelming exhaustion set in.
Though I fought against it, unwilling to let myself fall asleep in such a strange environment, my body had reached its limit. Gradually, my mind slipped into darkness.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a bed, soft and unfamiliar. The room around me felt both strange and familiar, more luxurious than any place I had ever known. The colors were rich and calm, the furniture ornate, each intricate decoration adding to an overall impression of elegance—a palace of sorts.
I rubbed my brow and sat up slowly, only to hear a soft knock on the door. It opened to reveal an elderly maid stepping in with practiced ease, her every movement fluid, as though she had performed this routine countless times. She approached with a gentle smile, her voice warm with concern. "Miss Edwards, you're awake. I'll inform Dr Kim to come in for a check-up."
"Miss Edwards?" I echoed, a flicker of shock and confusion surging through me.
Could it be… this mysterious man was the head of the Edwards family? Was he Lugh Edwards himself?
If this were true, the mystery of my origins was beginning to take shape.
Deborah's parents… were they truly Lugh Edwards of Sky Cities and Maeve—a witch from Tirnanog? No, her name was Mavis.
And I'd never heard of Lugh Edwards having any children.
From what I knew, the Edwards family, due to the absence of heirs, was often rumored to be at risk of fading away, losing its power due to lack of bloodline succession.
If Deborah truly was Lugh's daughter, then I—Deborah—was the sole heir of the Edwards family?
The weight of the revelation left me tense.
If I could skillfully leverage this identity, I might secure a future for the remaining three underground cities, perhaps even safeguard Tirfothuinn.
The significance of this opportunity wasn't lost on me.
As I mulled over this, the door opened again, and a middle-aged doctor with a gentle face entered the room.
Dr Kim sat beside me, conducted a thorough check, and after asking me a few questions, smiled at the maid and me, saying, "She's in stable condition; just a few more days of rest should suffice."
The maid nodded in appreciation, while Dr Kim gave my shoulder a reassuring pat before leaving quietly.
I met the maid's eyes, catching a glimmer of excitement she struggled to conceal.
A whisper of a thought lingered in her mind, a mixture of complex emotions: [I failed to care for Miss Mavis back then; now I must ensure Miss Dara is well looked after.]
Her words stirred something in me, and I fixed my gaze on her, trying to use Domination, hoping to glean more details, especially about the history between Lugh and Mavis.
Sensing my intent, the maid smiled gently, her expression calm yet carrying a warmth akin to that of an elder. She said softly, "Miss Edwards, we are both Demons. You won't be able to use Domination on me."
Her tone was peaceful, laced with a familiar kindness, and I felt a bit embarrassed for trying to probe her.
I forced a polite smile, giving her a slight nod, and respectfully requested some time alone to gather my thoughts.
After the door closed, the room returned to its quiet state. Leaning back against the headboard, my mind was a tangled web of thoughts.
Everything had become clear: my power of Telepathy came from Maeve, tied to her witch bloodline. Domination, on the other hand, was from Lugh—a trait of the Demon lineage. My parents—a witch from Caersidi and a Demon from Ablach—were the source of my complex powers.
The memories of my resurrection played out rapidly in my mind—each moment, each awakening of a new ability, even the faintest sensations every time I used my powers. Every image flashed through my thoughts in sequence.
I tried to piece it all together, searching for a common thread, something that could reveal the true nature of my abilities.
Just as I was lost in thought, a soft knock broke the silence, the gentle tapping against the door startlingly clear in the otherwise silent room.