Elu's heart raced, each beat echoing with a pounding fear as she urged her horse forward, the wind whipping through her hair as she left the guards struggling to keep up behind her. She clutched the reins tightly, her mind swirling with worry and a growing dread. Just moments before, her younger brother Amon, battered and weary, had fallen from the trees above, crashing onto her carriage. His face was bruised, his breathing shallow—clearly, he had faced something far beyond his abilities.
Mother is gone… and now Amon… what if I lose them all?
She couldn't bear the thought. Adam was still missing, trapped within a dangerous dungeon, and now Amon, her stubborn, determined brother, was a shadow of himself, barely holding on. Elu's resolve strengthened. She had no choice but to turn to their estranged father.
Jaguar Noctelion, once the proud and powerful head of the Noctelion family, had distanced himself from his children after the painful separation from their mother. His heart had grown cold, twisted by betrayal and loss. He saw his family as lost to him, viewing them more as symbols of his own pain rather than as loved ones. But now, with everything spiraling out of control, he was the only one who might be able to help.
As Elu approached the Noctelion estate, she felt a deep sense of uncertainty. Memories of her father's distant gaze, the walls he had built around his heart, flashed through her mind. But there was no time to dwell on the past. Amon's life hung by a thread, and Adam's fate was uncertain. She had no choice.
Elu rode through the gates of the Noctelion estate, her horse barely slowing as she dismounted and rushed inside, ignoring the surprised looks from the household staff. She sprinted down the long, marble corridors, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls. Her mind raced as she wondered if her father would even listen to her, let alone help.
Finally, she reached his study, the door looming ahead like the entrance to an unfamiliar realm. Taking a deep breath, she knocked, the sound loud and forceful against the silence.
"Come in," his voice called from inside, deep and as cold as she remembered.
Elu opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. Jaguar sat at his desk, surrounded by stacks of ancient books and scrolls, his expression unreadable. His piercing eyes glanced up at her, noting her urgency, but he didn't soften.
"Elu?" he said, his tone neutral. "What brings you here in such a rush?"
"Father," Elu began, struggling to steady her voice. "Amon… he's injured, barely alive. And Adam… he's missing. I've tried everything, but I need your help. Please, Father."
There was a flicker of something in Jaguar's eyes—perhaps concern, perhaps anger. But it was quickly masked by his usual steely composure.
"Why should I?" he asked, his voice icy. "Your mother took you all away, severed this family's bond. And now you come running back, asking for help?"
Elu's heart clenched at his words. She had expected resistance, but she hadn't imagined it would be so blunt, so unfeeling. She took a step closer, her gaze unwavering.
"Father, I understand why you're angry," she said, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest. "But Amon and Adam—they need you. I need you. If not for me, then for the family name, for the legacy of the Noctelions. Don't let your pride be the reason we fall apart."
Jaguar's jaw tightened, the conflict within him clear in his expression. He remained silent, wrestling with the walls he had built around his heart.
"Please," Elu whispered, her voice softer, her strength wavering. "Don't turn your back on us."
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jaguar rose from his seat. He walked past Elu, his gaze fixed on something distant, something only he could see.
"Very well," he said at last. "But remember, Elu—this is not forgiveness. This is duty."
Elu's heart lifted slightly, though she knew the road ahead would be difficult. Yet, for now, she had managed to reach her father, to remind him of the family they once had. As they left the study together, she felt a glimmer of hope, fragile but bright, like the first rays of dawn breaking through the darkness.