Aloen's face remained expressionless. Alphonso, on the other hand was visibly shaken by this sudden turn of events. His sorrow spilled through his actions as he paced back and forth, deep in thought.
"You didn't dispose of him...did you, Lady Mia?" Alphonso asked, his voice laced with a mix of worry and accusation.
Aloen's eyes narrowed and sharpened exactly like the first time we met, looking at me as if I had murdered his brother — twice.
"No, I would never…He protected me, so why would I?" I protested, my voice firm despite the weight of the situation.
"Protected you? From whom?" Alphonso pressed, his tone still heavy with suspicion.
Before I could answer, Aloen responded hastily, cutting in before I could speak.
"From Ellis, who else?" he replied confidently. "Asher must have shielded you from within, blocking the attack. Since he wasn't in his complete form, the blast must have destroyed his core…Perhaps his soul is in slumber, regenerating...or dead."
"It makes sense now!" Alphonso exclaimed, as if a veil had been lifted. "Goodness, Asher! Sacrificing himself as if he were a nobody, for someone else… surely, that is a noble act. Don't you think, Aloen?"
Aloen's complexion darkened at the mention of his brother's selflessness. The words seemed to cut deep, but his expression remained controlled and unreadable.
"Yes, indeed. My brother has always been perfect." His voice, though steady, carried a weight of resentment. "If you'll excuse me, I need to breathe some fresh air."
"Okay. If I discover anything new about him, I'll let you know," Alphonso said softly, the concern still evident in his eyes. "He must have been worried sick about his twin brother. Even now, I am sure that he is still holding onto a thread of hope, thinking Asher is alive."
Aloen stepped out of the room in silence. There was no grief on his face, no sorrow for his brother's potential death. Instead, a bitter edge lingered in his every movement, as if the mention of his brother's nobility had twisted something deep inside him.
"Tell me, Lady Mia, is there something you wish to know? I will answer only one of your queries, so choose carefully," he said.
"Weren't you an executioner? How come you're dressed like Lucius now?" I asked.
"Wasting your only question on a mere servant — you really are something else, Lady Mia," he replied with a smirk, "Well, I am Lord Aloen's most trusted knight and childhood friend. He entrusted me with your safety even before you arrived at the mansion. That's why I was the one who guarded you despite being an executioner. Otherwise it would have been Ellis. God, this woman is really crazy! As for my robes, I was once Lucius's disciple. He saw a lot of potential in me, recognizing my talents from a very young age. So, to sum it up I am a senior knight, a mage, and his lordship's best friend!"
"Lucius didn't seem to like you, though," I remarked.
"I will answer only one question, remember? You are not tricking me with these cunning statements!" he retorted.
"Technically, you answered two of my questions. So you've already fallen into my trap, sir Alphonso," I teased, laughing softly.
"Anyway, if Lord Asher is still alive within you, please take good care of him. Whatever happened between you two is in the past now, okay?"
"Wait, I had never met Asher before, until that day when he disappeared on that bridge, dragged away by some dark energy. You must believe me," I insisted.
"You must rest for now, Lady Mia. I'll take you to your new bedchambers."
Has he just ignored me, or am I imagining things?
"Sir Alphonso?"I called out.
He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes, and in a blur of motion, faster than lightning, he drew an array beneath me, muttering some strange incantations. The next moment I found myself in my chambers.
Once again, I had been fooled by appearances. Alphonso's kindness led me to believe that I could trust him, that I could share what had happened. I thought that I had finally found someone to open up to, in this hostile place.
On the bright side, my wound had healed, and I was feeling better. How long had it been since I last saw the outside world? It felt like an eternity. Aloen had brought me here to meet someone who could answer my questions. Was he referring to Alphonso? Or perhaps Lucius? But Lucius... would never offer answers without a high price.
I looked outside the window. The view was mesmerizing. I certainly was in the inner part of the mansion.
"I am definitely not staying locked up here! Technically, no one said I wasn't allowed to leave, so I may do as I please. The worse that could happen was meeting Ravena or Lucius along the way, but I will think things through to prevent that." I thought.
*****
I walked down the long corridor, swift as a gust of wind, until I reached the beautiful entry hall. The parts touched by sunlight were golden, while the shaded spotsshimmered with a purple hue — an interesting feature also found in the flowers of the garden.
Finally, I was out! But just as I began to feel relief, I heard voices approaching. Hastily, I ducked behind a bale of hay.
"Sir Ellis is going to be released today!" said one knight, "I heard that the mage himself interfered to free her."
"What? His Excellency himself? I thought that he despised us."
"He despises us – other knights, I mean – but not Sir Ellis. She has always been outstanding, and she caught his eye."
Suddenly, their conversation ceased, as if Lucius himself had appeared before them. I lifted my head to get a better look, and saw them staring at Aloen from afar. He definitely looked wrecked and unapproachable.
The knights continued their way and saluted Aloen as they passed. Aloen bowed his head lightly, but only out of courtesy. He didn't want anyone to spoil his solitude.
I sat back, waiting for him to pass by. After what felt like ten minutes – or at least that's what I thought – I peeked out from behind the hay. To my surprise, Aloen was sitting in front of it, his back to me.
"Are you spying on me now, Mia?" he asked.
"No, not at all, Aloen. I just wanted to get out for a bit. After all, I've been locked up since we arrived here."
Aloen stood and extended his hand to me.
"Come, I'll take you on a tour to visit the city. I'll tell you more about everything on the way."
Aloen's offering his hand to me like this felt comforting. Since I came here, I had faced nothing but misfortune and hatred. I just hoped I wouldn't be betrayed.
What am I thinking? I am the one who chose to come here! Whatever happens next, I'll have to face the consequences!
"Thank you, I appreciate it." I whispered, grateful.
The outside world buzzed with life, from its vibrant flora to the hypnotic sounds of nature. The mansion was encircled by a dense forest, that seemed to exist solely to ward off burglars and ill-intentioned souls.
When Aloen intended to cut his wrist again, I stopped him.
"Don't do it! You are still recovering."
He stared at me, startled but amused.
"I am fine with walking. In fact, I will see more than if we just teleported. Don't you think?"
"Pfft, hahaha! My apologies, I was just caught off guard by your sweet words, Mia" he laughed. "Fine, then let's take a shortcut to the city… A human one."
As we walked, Aloen put a bandage back over his eyes. I looked at him, my eyes full of questions, but I held back, afraid to bother him.
Noticing my hesitation, he said, "My eyes emit a lot of energy that could destroy any weak being. Covering them is best to avoid any problems. Do not worry, I can perfectly see my way. After all, every creature emits its own energy – even if it is faint, I can still feel it."
"Can't you suppress it somehow?"
Aloen remained silence for a moment before replying: "Unlike my brother, I haven't fully mastered how to do it yet."
Good work Mia, Now you've reminded him not only of his deceased brother but also of their rivalry.
"I may not be knowledgeable in this field but I am sure that this means that you are stronger! And hiding your own eyes for the sake of others is a very noble thing to do! Many would not sacrifice their eyesight for others, believe me. That's quite heroic of you."
My words made him smile – a small, shy smile, but still, it was sincere.
"Thank you, Mia." he said gently.
After walking for some time, we reached the city. It had a medieval charm, yet at the same time, it featured futuristic elements. The buildings seemed like traditional constructions, but the citizens were… different.
"Welcome to the Lucirion Kingdom, this is the capital Luxara." he said proudly. "Up for some local sweets?" he asked, noticing a sweet stand nearby.
"I'd love to!"I replied.
"Okay, I'll go get us some. You can wait here; I will be back promptly."
As he disappeared into the crowd, the sense of estrangement only deepened. People were staring at me as though I were a rare animal set loose in the city.
"Is that... a human?"
"I haven't seen one wandering alone in ages…"
"Where is its owner? Did he just abandon it?"
I moved away from the shop, trying to distance myself from their predatory gazes and annoying comments. They were talking about me as if I were a slave, unworthy of living for myself.
Just then, a sharp scream pierced the air.
"Agh!"