Chapter Thirty-One
A shimmer of light danced in the air, and in a blink, a mage materialized in front of Lilith and Miles. Both jumped to their feet, startled. This mage was different—his demeanour was calm, but his forced smile betrayed something uneasy beneath the surface.
"Welcome to Willow Haven," the mage said, his voice smooth yet oddly detached. His piercing blue eyes swept over the group before lingering on Crimson. "I see you've encountered that madman wandering around. Now, why the sudden visit?"
Before anyone could answer, the mage extended his hand to Crimson. Reluctantly, Crimson shook it, his expression cautious. "We're looking for Gale Astralith," he said directly.
"Oh, Gale," the mage replied, rubbing the back of his head absentmindedly. "I know him. I'll fetch him for you."
"Wait," Lilith interjected, stepping forward. "Why isn't the city as busy as it usually is?"
The mage froze for a heartbeat, his forced smile tightening into something unnervingly hollow. He glanced at Lilith, his expression unreadable. "Most of our mages have gone on an expedition," he said curtly. Without another word, he vanished, leaving only a faint shimmer where he'd stood.
Crimson sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I hope Gale isn't still mad at me," he muttered.
"Oh, he will be," Lilith shot back, crossing her arms. "And believe me, I'm not defending you."
Before Crimson could reply, a familiar voice spoke from behind him. "Hello, my friends."
Lilith gasped and turned, her eyes widening in disbelief. A tall figure with vibrant red hair obscuring his left eye and a striking black right eye stood behind Crimson. His confident yet calm presence filled the room.
"Gale!" Lilith exclaimed, rushing past Crimson to throw her arms around the mage.
Gale warmly returned the hug, his voice steady as he said, "It's good to see you too."
Crimson turned to face Gale, his usual cocky demeanour faltering. Scratching the back of his head, he avoided the mage's sharp gaze. "Gale, listen, I'm sorry about what happened—"
Before he could finish, Gale stepped forward and pulled Crimson into a firm embrace.
Crimson blinked in surprise, caught off guard.
Gale then turned to Miles, offering him a brief but meaningful hug. Miles stood frozen for a moment, then awkwardly patted Gale on the back.
Lilith tilted her head, eyeing Gale with curiosity. "Looks like someone's changed."
Gale released Miles and smiled at Lilith. "Maybe I have," he said simply.
Crimson raised an eyebrow, still reeling from the unexpected warmth. "Wait, so... you're not mad about what happened in Alpha Dawn?"
"Mad?" Gale repeated, his smile softening. "No. In fact, how about we head to my place? We can catch up there, and I'm sure you all need your rest after your long journey."
Crimson exchanged a stunned glance with Lilith, then grinned smugly. Leaning close to her, he whispered, "See? I told you he's forgiven me."
Lilith rolled her eyes but kept her gaze on Gale as he walked ahead with Crimson. There was something in his stride, his mannerisms—something off. Her instincts told her not to let her guard down.
"Wow," Miles said, watching Gale with wide eyes. "I wish Crimson was more like him. He's... nice."
"Yeah," Lilith replied absently, her suspicion sharpening as she watched Gale.
But her thoughts churned. Something about Gale had shifted—too much, perhaps. And Lilith couldn't shake the feeling that not everything was as it seemed.
Moments later, Gale led them to his home—a grand floating building adorned with glowing sigils and magical runes that pulsed faintly in the air. He opened the door, ushering them into a finely designed room filled with potions, intricate scrolls, and shelves lined with magic wands. The faint scent of herbs and parchment lingered in the air, giving the space an unmistakable mage's ambience.
Miles stepped further into the room, his eyes wide with wonder. "This is incredible," he exclaimed, running his fingers lightly over the edge of a polished table laden with spell components.
Gale smiled warmly. "Feel free to make yourselves comfortable," he said, gesturing to the plush chairs near the hearth. "I'll fetch us something to eat." With that, he disappeared through an arched doorway leading deeper into the house.
As soon as he was gone, Lilith's expression darkened. She crossed her arms and leaned toward Crimson. "Don't you think something feels... off about Gale?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Crimson scoffed, leaning casually against a tall wooden drawer. "Oh, come on. Admit it—you just wanted him to still be mad at me. Can't handle me being forgiven, huh?"
Lilith rolled her eyes. "That's not it, you idiot. Ugh, forget it. I'll go talk to him myself." She turned sharply on her heel and strode after Gale, disappearing into the same arched doorway.
Crimson shrugged and let out a lazy sigh. "What's her problem?" he muttered, settling more comfortably against the drawer.
Miles, seated on the edge of a low table, shot him a sceptical look. "You're asking me? I just met the guy."
Crimson was about to respond when a firm knock sounded at the door. Both men turned toward it, the sound oddly sharp in the otherwise serene room.
"Looks like he's got visitors," Miles said, setting his sword down against the wall. He walked toward the door and slid it open.
Before he could say a word, a hooded mage lunged at him with startling speed, clamping a hand tightly over his mouth and forcing him to the ground. Miles struggled, his muffled grunts filling the room as the stranger slipped something small and wriggling into his mouth.
"Miles!" Crimson shouted, springing forward. But before he could take another step, thick, shadowy hands erupted from the drawer he'd been leaning against. They grabbed him by the shoulders and yanked him backwards, pinning him firmly against the wood. Crimson thrashed, trying to scream for help, but another hooded figure stepped from the shadows, holding a writhing worm-like creature.
The figure grabbed Crimson's jaw, forcing it open, and shoved the creature inside. Crimson's eyes widened in horror as the thing slithered down his throat, leaving an unnatural, cold sensation in its wake. His struggles grew weaker, his limbs feeling heavier with each passing second.
Across the room, Miles lay sprawled on the floor, his body twitching violently as if an unseen force were pulling at his very essence. A cold, unnatural sensation spread through him, radiating from deep within. His breath hitched, and then, all at once, his convulsions stopped.
The silence that followed was deafening, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. For a moment, it seemed as though nothing more would happen—just an ominous pause in the eerie stillness.
Then, Miles rose.
His movements were slow and mechanical, as though guided by invisible strings. His head hung low, his arms limp at his sides. When he finally lifted his face, his eyes were tightly shut, yet he stood unnaturally steady. Something was wrong—horribly wrong.
It was as if he were no longer himself. His breaths were unnervingly calm, contrasting the chaos just moments before.
This was no ordinary possession. His very aura had changed, radiating an oppressive energy that warped the air around him. It mirrored the lifeless demeanour of the strange mage they'd encountered earlier.
Miles's mind was no longer anchored to the room. His consciousness had been pulled to another dimension altogether. The same occurrence affected Crimson; they were no longer in control of their bodies.