The morning air changed to chilly as Emilia stepped out of the cabin, her muscles throbbing from the gruelling training sessions Luca had put her through. The woodland was alive with the rustling of leaves and the distant chattering of birds, yet the serenity felt like a thin veil over something deeper. She wrapped her jacket about herself and returned her gaze to the cabin, where Luca was using the fire to polish a blade.
She had hardly begun to stretch when a harsh snap resonated through the trees. Emilia frosted over, her senses sharpened from days of practice. Luca's head rose instantly, his sharp silver eyes narrowing. He stood, his movements flowing and purposeful, and motioned for her to lie lower back.
However, Emilia's curiosity overcame her caution. She took a timid step forward and looked into the shadows. A dad emerged from the woodland, his face partially covered by the mottled light. Emilia's breath caught as she recognized him.
"Aiden," Luca mumbled, his voice tinged with both fury and disbelief.
The likeness between the two men has grown, while Aiden's features have gotten sharper and his cold blue eyes less warm. His sneer became razor sharp, and his posture oozed self-confidence that bordered on hubris. He came to a halt a few paces away, his arms freely at his sides, yet there was nothing comfortable about him.
"Miss me, brother?" Aiden drawled, his voice mockingly echoing Luca's own.
Luca advanced, positioning himself between Aiden and Emilia. "What are you doing here?" he questioned, his voice low and threatening.
Aiden's smile grew. "Don't be so confrontational. Can't a brother pay a visit without raising suspicions?" His eyes flickered to Emilia, staying just long enough to make her apprehensive. "except, I wanted to fulfil the notorious Vessel."
Emilia's stomach churned. Aiden's look had a predatory quality to it, which caused her to automatically take a step back.
"Leave her out of this," Luca snarled, his hands clenched.
"Oh, however, she's the middle of all of this, isn't she?" Aiden's tone softened, but his words were as sharp as a dagger. "You have been keeping secrets and strategies, brother. It's no surprise the% is beginning to question your judgment."
"What are you speaking about?" Emilia intervened, her voice firm despite the worry tightening in her chest.
Aiden's eyes twinkled with mischief. "He has not instructed you, has he? The percentage is not quite satisfied with Luca's small venture. Protecting the Vessel, educating her, or violating the old laws? "It's all very rebellious."
Luca's jaws constricted. "You don't talk for the."
"No, but I do listen." And what I hear isn't pleasant," Aiden shot lower back. "They assume you've lost your way, that you're blinded with the aid of… personal attachments." His sneer became nasty. "maybe they're right."
Emilia's thoughts raced. The brothers' apprehension has become apparent, and the air is laden with unsaid history and betrayal. She moved forward despite Luca's warning glare. "In case you're right here to sow doubt, you're losing it slow," she added, her voice consistent. "Luca has been shielding me. Schooling me. What have you ever done?
Aiden's smile faded for a fraction of a second before recovering. "Be wary, Vessel. You're entering a game you don't recognize."
"Then enlighten me," Emilia shot back.
Aiden took a moment to consider her, his gaze calculating. Then he laughed, a wonderful sound that made her relax. "Oh, you are feisty. I can understand why the Order is so interested in you."
"The Order?" Luca's voice became sharper, and his stance stiffened.
"Okay, brother. "The order." Aiden's tone became critical. "They are looking. Waiting. and they're not happy with the way you've been handling things." He took a step closer, his gaze fixed on Luca now. "You couldn't protect her for all time. "And while you fail, I'll be there to help clean up the mess."
Luca moved so quickly that Emilia only noticed it coming. He quickly pushed Aiden against a tree, slamming his forearm into his brother's throat. "Stay away from her," Luca hissed, his voice lethal.
Aiden did not back down. If anything, his sneer grew. "There it is," he muttered. "That's anger. That is a doubt. You couldn't keep it buried, Luca. "It will destroy you."
With a snarl, Luca released him, moving back as if the act of restraint had cost him dearly. Aiden coughed and rubbed his throat, but his cocky look persisted. "This isn't over," he insisted, his voice rasping. "The Order is coming. And when they do, you'll wish you had listened to me.
Without saying anything further, Aiden grew and vanished into the woods, his footsteps receding into the distance. Emilia exhaled a breath she had not realized she was holding, her fingers quivering at her sides.
The cabin fell silent as they returned, the tension between them oppressive. Emilia eventually broke the stillness. "What did he indicate about the percentage? And the Order?"
Luca does not have an answer right now. He sat near the hearth, his gaze remote. "The p.c. doesn't accept as true with what I'm doing," the man stated. "They believe that educating you is dangerous. That it will bring the Void nearer."
"And the Order?" Emilia pushed.
Luca's jaws constricted. "The Order of the Veil believes in the prophecy above everything else. They believe you must be used to shut the Veil, no matter how valuable." He looked at her, his countenance painful. "They don't care if it kills you."
Emilia's breath became caught. "And Aiden?" "What does he need?"
Luca's gaze tightened. "strength. He has a continual craving for energy. And aligning with the Order is his method of obtaining it."
The weight of his words hung over Emilia like a heavy blanket. Threats continued to come from all sides, and the person she relied on the most became burdened by problems she had yet to comprehend. However, one thing changed: they did not have the funds to falter.
Emilia leaned back against the wall, attempting to control the entire situation. It was no longer just about her survival on the trip; the entire balance of worlds appeared to depend on decisions she hardly grasped. The hearth crackled, infusing the silence between them with unsettling strength.
The following morning, Luca awoke Emilia before the first light. "We're going to the cliffs," he said plainly.
"Why?" she asked, pushing the sleep from her eyes. The tiredness from the previous day lingered, yet something in his tone compelled her to get up.
"Because Aiden's visit was not random," Luca explained. "He's testing out our defences to see how prepared we are. I want to know if they're watching from there."
Emilia felt the weight of their adventure as they travelled through the woods. She cast a sideways glance at Luca, who appeared more reserved than normal. His sharp eyes were continually scanning the surroundings.