I couldn't help but notice how different things had been since that fateful night in Zandel Forest. Mikhail and Belmont had been joining me every morning and making an effort to include me in their conversations, sharing tidbits about the auction plan without giving too much away.
"Samara," Mikhail said, his gray eyes meeting mine as he passed me a plate of fresh fruit. "You should know that we're leaving for Aeloria tomorrow."
I blinked, surprised by the sudden announcement.
"Why are you leaving separately?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of being apart from them.
Mikhail glanced at Belmont before responding, "We need to verify that everything is in place for the auction. There's no room for errors."
I nodded, understanding their reasons but still feeling a gnawing unease at the thought of our separation.
"Will we meet in Aeloria?"
Belmont sighed, running a hand through his curly red hair.
"We probably won't see each other until after the auction when we've taken Houndly in custody. But rest assured, you'll be in good hands until then."
With that, they hastily finished their meals and left to prepare for their departure, leaving to finish breakfast by myself, though my hunger had disappeared.
What comes after the plan?
I knew what I wanted—justice for Jean and the people of Aeloria and Houndly removed from power—but where would that leave me?
As a scientist, I was driven to find answers. I contemplated telling people my true identity as a traveler from another dimension, but would they even believe me, considering how unbelievable it all sounded? I was adrift in a sea of uncertainty, no closer to understanding how I'd landed in this world or how to get home.
The thought of leaving the castle, leaving Mikhail, made my chest ache.
My mind buzzed with questions as I walked alone down the castle's corridors, heading towards the library, hoping to find some distraction from the answers that eluded me. Over the past week, the space had become my sanctuary. Since Mikhail's orders had left me conspicuously alone, a stranger among whispers and sideways glances, at first, I buried myself in books about the duchy's customs and etiquette, desperate to understand if I had somehow offended someone or missed an unspoken rule.
But now, my focus had shifted to the origins of this land. I'd become familiar with the library's history section, quickly finding my way to the shelves that held the tales of Lumicrestia. Pulling out another volume, I opened it to yet another account of the kingdom's storied past.
"King Amod the First united the warring factions against the darkness..." I muttered, my brow furrowing. "Elysarra, the goddess of light, battled the dark god Elirius..."
The same story, over and over. I slammed the book shut, a plume of dust erupting and making me cough.
"Elirius… why did you bring darkness upon the world?" I whispered as if speaking the god's name aloud would somehow summon his presence.
The more versions I read about him, the less sense it all made.
"Samara," a deep voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to find Mikhail standing beside me, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Looks like you're quite interested in the formation of Lumicrestia." He pointed to the book in my hands.
"Oh, you know," I quipped, trying to calm my racing heart. "Just some light reading about world-ending darkness and ancient monsters. The usual."
Mikhail chuckled, moving closer. "And what have you learned?"
I crossed my arms, unable to keep the frustration from my voice.
"That Elirius decided to plunge the world into darkness because... he felt like it? Because he's the 'dark god,' and that's what dark gods do?"
"You sound skeptical," Mikhail observed, his silver-gray eyes studying me intently.
"It just doesn't add up," I blurted out. "In my... homeland, gods usually have their reasons. Even the destructive ones. But here? It's like everyone's afraid even to ask why he did it."
"Most accounts on the history of Lumicrestia were written by priests and devotees of the goddess Elysarra," Mikhail explained, his eyes meeting mine with a rare vulnerability. "They were biased, to say the least. Any book that was written solely on Elirius was burned or destroyed, and the authors mysteriously went missing."
"History rewritten by the victor," I mused, recalling similar instances from my own world.
"Indeed. But if you truly wish to understand Elirius, follow me, then," Mikhail said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I might have something that could interest you."
My curiosity piqued, and I trailed behind him as we ventured deeper into the library. The rows of bookshelves seemed to stretch on forever, an enchanted maze filled with ancient tomes and forgotten knowledge.
"Is this magic as well?" I asked, amazed at the sheer size of the library.
"Indeed," Mikhail replied, his voice laced with pride. "Our library is one of a kind, enchanted to be bigger on the inside than it appears from the outside."
"Like a Tardis," I chuckled, remembering the sci-fi show from my world.
"Ah, I imagine so," he said, smiling warmly. Our shared laughter seemed to bridge the distance between us, melting away the lingering frost of our previous quarrel.
Eventually, we stopped before a seemingly ordinary wall. Mikhail raised his hands, which glowed with a soft blue aura. The wall wavered like a mirage before vanishing entirely, revealing a hidden chamber lined with shelves of ancient, weathered books.
"Here," Mikhail said, pulling a dusty volume off the shelf. "This should be a good start for your education on Elirius."
I took the book from him, my fingers brushing against his as I did so. The title read, 'The Shadow's Purpose.' Glancing around the room, I noticed other titles discussing gods and the Aster lineage.
"Didn't you say books on Elirius were burned?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at Mikhail.
"Most were," he admitted, giving me a sly smile. "But the Aster Duchy has certain privileges, allowing us to keep forbidden books."
I remembered what I'd read about the duchy's critical role during the God's War. Every history book echoed the same sentiment—the duchy's intervention led to Elirius's defeat, earning them unique rights and privileges unlike any other territory within Lumicrestia. But none of the books explained why.
Driven by a need to understand, I approached Mikhail with my questions.
"Why does the duchy enjoy privileges that other territories don't?"
Mikhail's expression darkened, a solemn veil falling over his features as he pondered his response.
"Our ancestors wielded a power formidable enough to defeat Elirius, a power that, though diminished, still echoes through our land and bloodline," he finally said, his voice low.
"If your ancestors had that power, why not remain an independent nation?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"It was a strategic choice. They foresaw that the king would inevitably bring war to our borders if we remained independent. To avoid further bloodshed, they agreed to join—under the condition that we retain almost complete autonomy. We still pay taxes and handle the bureaucratic obligations, but we govern ourselves."
I nodded slowly, understanding the logic behind their decision even if it still seemed a bit puzzling.
As we stood in the dimly lit chamber, Mikhail's gaze softened, and he stepped closer to me – too close. He reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
"You have such beautiful hair," he murmured, his face drawing nearer to mine.
Panic flared within me, and I took a step back, turning away from him. "So, you're leaving tomorrow?" I blurted, desperate to change the subject.
"Ah, yes," he replied, seeming to catch onto my unease. "Belmont and I, along with several trusted knights, will depart at first light. You'll leave the day after tomorrow."
"By myself?" I asked hesitantly, not relishing the thought of traveling alone in this unfamiliar world.
"No," Mikhail assured me, a gentle smile returning to his face. "You'll be joined by some of your friends from Verdantvale – Jean and Tomlin."
A wave of relief washed over me, followed by a pang of worry for my friends' safety. Mikhail must have sensed my concern because he added, "We'll keep them safe as well, Samara."
His words only half reassured me. Though I knew Mikhail had many resources at his disposal, there were countless variables beyond his control. And in a world filled with magic and gods, trouble would undoubtedly find us, even amid the best-laid plans.
The soft glow of sunlight flickered across Mikhail's face as he hesitated. His silver-gray eyes searched mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. It was clear he wanted to say something important, but instead, he sighed and looked away.
"Samara," he began, his voice low and measured, "I have to finish getting ready for tonight's event. I hope you find some answers in that book." He gestured towards the ancient tome clutched in my hands.
"Thank you, Mikhail," I replied, trying to convey my gratitude through the nervous tremor in my voice. As he turned to leave, he hesitated once more as if debating whether to share something more. But ultimately, he left, his footsteps echoing through the secret chamber hidden within the library.
I glanced around the dimly lit room, feeling a sense of longing well up inside me. I couldn't quite put my finger on what I had expected him to say, but there was a part of me that yearned for more from him. With a sigh, I decided to focus on the task at hand and opened the book to unveil the story of Elirius.
As I read, the words seemed to dance on the page, illuminating the history of the First Gods, deities that existed before humankind, shaping the world from their divine realms.
There were eleven of them, each possessing unique abilities and ruling over different regions of the world. Most of the gods were paired off or grouped together, but not Elirius. He alone ruled his domain.
In the beginning, the world thrived under the doctrine the First Gods agreed upon—a doctrine that dictated how they could use their powers, how they created life, and how they ensured that everything lived in harmony.
But then Elirius defied them.
"Elirius sculpted the first man from soil, water, and his divine power, for Elirius was the God of Light."
"Impossible," I muttered under my breath, my mind racing with questions.
My fingers tightened around the book as this revelation hit me like a bolt of lightning. In every history book I had read, Elirius was labeled as the Dark God, while Elysarra was revered as the Goddess of Light.
Propelled by curiousity, I went in search for more information on Elirius and his divine brethren, my fingers brushed against a curiously warm and vibrant book on the shelf. It felt almost alive as if it had been waiting for me to find it.
Chronicles of the Celestial Pantheon.
As I immersed myself further in the lore of the First Gods, I noticed intriguing patterns. Each deity ruled over a specific region of the world, and their divine influence was reflected in the cultures, landscapes, and people who called these lands home.
What struck me most were the stories of the gods of Xochitlan, which now lay buried beneath modern Xolteca. The tales felt strangely familiar as if they had been whispered to me in bedtime stories long ago by my father.
"Okay, remember to come back to this later," I muttered to myself, making a mental bookmark as I continued to skim through the book.
To my surprise, Elysarra was conspicuously absent from the list of the eleven First Gods.
What could her origins be?
"Samara!" I heard Kat's distant voice calling out to me. My stomach grumbled at the call, reminding me that I had not eaten since breakfast and glancing out the window, I saw the fiery hues of sunset painting the sky, signaling the end of another day.
"Where did the time go?" I sighed heavily, feeling a pang of guilt for having lost track of time.
Mikhail was probably long gone by now, and I had missed my chance to see him off. My heart ached at the thought of not being able to say a proper goodbye.