Grey advanced through the paths of the hanging forest, his footsteps softly resonating on the carved wooden bridges, his mind burdened with questions that still had no answers. The sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, painting the ground with golden patches that seemed to dance to the rhythm of the wind. It was then that he saw her.
There was Eleanor, kneeling beside a majestic rosebush that grew in the middle of the clearing. Her figure radiated an aura of calm and strength, but her movements were delicate as she brushed her fingertips over the crimson petals. She brought the flowers closer to her face, breathing deeply, and her eyes sparkled with a mix of nostalgia and tranquility. For a moment, Grey hesitated to interrupt.
Eleanor quickly noticed his presence. Without looking up, she spoke:
—What are you doing here? —her voice was like a dagger piercing the air—. How did you escape? We were sure you would never leave that box. Did someone help you?
Grey took a few steps forward, unconcerned, although his mind was alert.
—That's too many questions for a reunion, don't you think? —he replied with a hint of irony. Stopping a few meters from her, he continued—. It seems the magical circles holding me broke. Why…?
Eleanor interrupted him, standing up in a fluid and elegant motion.
—I see. —She sighed with an air of resignation while crossing her arms—. I knew Robert would forget to reinforce those circles… I had to do it myself. —She scrutinized him from head to toe, her eyes dripping with coldness—. You've weakened.
Grey let out a dry laugh, shaking his head slightly.
—Well, being locked away for two thousand years isn't exactly the best way to stay fit. But tell me, Eleanor, why was I imprisoned? Did someone offer them a deal?
Eleanor turned on her heels, turning her back to him as she gazed at the towering trees around them like colossi.
—Even if I explained it to you, you wouldn't understand. —Then turning back towards him again, she pointed at his neck with her fingers, her eyes now like sharp ice—. Answer me. What are you doing here? And don't try anything or I'll kill you.
Grey raised his hands in a gesture of calm.
—Easy now. I didn't come to fight. I'm just looking for answers. —He lowered his gaze for a moment before finding her eyes again—. I came here waiting for you, but not this soon. And… what is this place?
Eleanor slowly lowered her hand, though her expression remained tense.
—My home, away from the filth of Raynold and Robert. After the war, most of us elves took refuge and claimed this continent as our own. Any problem with that?
—None at all. Just curiosity. I didn't expect you to choose such a mana-rich forest as refuge. With the mana you possess, do you really need anything else?
Eleanor let out a faint laugh devoid of humor.
—My people were weak. It was a devastating war; don't you remember? I had to protect them and seize the opportunity for their cores to evolve. —She crossed her arms again, her tone now firmer—. But enough with the small talk, Grey. What kind of answers are you looking for? Be clear; I have no patience for riddles.
Grey took a deep breath.
—I just want to know why I was imprisoned. That's all.—His tone shifted; calm gave way to contained threat—. I deserve an explanation.
Eleanor stared at him intently, unfazed by the intensity in Grey's eyes.
—I already told you: you wouldn't understand it. You're a half-breed—a combination of human and dragon. An aberration, yes, but also a perfect creature. Your power and intelligence far exceed ours. And frankly, it surprises me that you still don't know the answer.
The silence that followed was heavy as if the forest itself had decided to hold its breath. Grey looked away, his thoughts entangled like roots underground. "Why? What did I do to deserve this?" He remembered his time as a leader, as a loyal companion, as a protector. He had sacrificed so much; he had cared for them devotedly—and yet…
Eleanor broke the silence first.
—It doesn't matter now. I'll have to deal with you myself now. Don't bother defending yourself; I'll be quick and precise. I won't stop just because you were once my ally.
—What are you talking about…?
Before he could finish his sentence, Eleanor raised a hand and magical vines erupted from her fingers. Grey instinctively reacted by drawing his sword and blocking the attack with a clean movement; however, Eleanor didn't give him time to recover. With devastating speed, she closed the distance and delivered a direct kick to his abdomen accompanied by a gust of wind that sent him crashing into a nearby tree.
Grey fell to the ground gasping for air, sharp pain piercing through his torso.
—You're much stronger than before… —he said breathlessly, struggling to breathe—. Besides, that style… magic combined with hand-to-hand combat—I don't recognize it at all! Who taught you that?
Eleanor approached him calmly like a hunter closing in on its prey.
—Do you really think I played at being queen all this time? —she said with disdain—. I trained; we all did! We refined our techniques; we strengthened our mana cores; we prepared for this day! We knew that if you ever escaped we would have to face you.
Grey coughed and blood trickled from the corner of his lips—the kick had done more damage than he wanted to admit.
—Damn it… why? —he asked in a whisper filled with rage and pain— Who is behind this?
Eleanor didn't respond; instead she extended her hand and from the tips of her fingers emerged a sharp blade gleaming and lethal.
—Don't speak anymore; it's time to end this.—She leaned towards him pointing the blade directly at his eyes— And don't worry; I will find whoever helped you… and destroy them.
Eleanor raised her arm with precision; her metallic blade glimmering with deadly threat. The moment she was about to pierce Grey's head, an intense light suddenly burst forth around him bathing the clearing in blinding white radiance. Eleanor stopped perplexed; her eyes narrowed as she tried to comprehend what was happening.
—What is this!? —she shouted stepping back in evident bewilderment.
Acting on instinct she tried to break through the luminous barrier by thrusting her hand against it; however as soon as her fingers brushed against that radiance an unbearable pain shot through her body—a muffled scream escaped her lips as she quickly withdrew her hand watching incredulously as her skin reddened from a burn that shouldn't have been possible.
Meanwhile Grey knelt within the light weakened and confused—the glow enveloped him as if claiming him penetrating deep into his being. His body battered by attacks and weariness seemed to react unexpectedly; his immortality barely holding on relinquished control to that unknown energy.
—What… is happening? —murmured Grey feeling how the light seemed to consume him from within.
Eleanor unable to accept what she saw conjured magic with desperate fury; runes and circles floated around her as she cast spell after spell trying to undo that phenomenon—but each attempt dissipated upon touching the light as if it absorbed her power with insulting ease.
—This can't be! This isn't possible! —she screamed in frustration filled with rage.
Before her eyes Grey's body began to slowly fade away; first his limbs dissolving into tiny luminous particles then his torso and finally his face—Grey had disappeared.