James's consciousness returned slowly, like wading through a thick fog. The first thing he noticed was the dull ache coursing through his body, a reminder that he wasn't dead—yet. He tried to move, but his arms refused to cooperate. Panic surged through him, his mind racing as he became acutely aware of the cold metal cuffs around his wrists. They bit into his skin, unyielding, and pulsed faintly with an energy he didn't recognize.
His eyes snapped open, and he was greeted by the sight of towering trees silhouetted against a twilight sky. The air smelled of earth and damp leaves, tinged with a faint metallic scent that made his stomach churn. His body felt heavy, as though a weight pressed against his chest, and his limbs were stiff from being in one position for too long.
"What the hell?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. He struggled against the restraints, the cuffs clinking softly as he tested their strength. They didn't budge. A new wave of panic coursed through him as he realized he wasn't just bound; he was tethered to a tree. The bark pressed uncomfortably against his back, and the rough texture scraped at his skin through his torn shirt.
James's memories came rushing back in fragments—the chimera, the poison, the desperate fight for survival. He remembered the searing pain of the venom coursing through his veins, the hopelessness as his strength ebbed away. And then… her. The silver-haired elf with those piercing emerald eyes. She had saved him, hadn't she? Or was that some fever dream conjured by his dying mind?
His gaze darted around the clearing, searching for any sign of her. The forest was quiet, unnervingly so, and the oppressive silence made his skin crawl. He strained his ears, trying to pick up even the faintest sound of movement, but there was nothing. The stillness only heightened his unease.
"Okay, James, think," he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "You've been in worse situations. Probably." He wasn't entirely sure if that was true, but it felt like the kind of thing he should tell himself.
He tried to summon his scythe, the comforting weight of the weapon a distant memory he desperately wanted to feel again. But nothing happened. No surge of energy, no dark tendrils of power. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. The cuffs weren't just restraining his movements; they were suppressing his magic.
"Great," he muttered bitterly. "Whoever did this really knows how to make a guy feel powerless."
As if on cue, a soft rustle reached his ears. James froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound was faint but deliberate, too controlled to be the random movement of a forest creature. His eyes scanned the shadows, and then he saw her.
The elf stepped into the clearing, her movements fluid and graceful. Her silver hair shimmered in the fading light, and her emerald eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made his breath catch. She carried herself with an air of quiet confidence, her twin blades sheathed at her sides, their hilts glinting faintly. For a moment, James felt a flicker of relief—she had saved him, after all. But that relief was short-lived.
She approached him slowly, her gaze never wavering. There was something unsettling about the way she looked at him, as though she were studying him, assessing him. Her expression was calm, almost serene, but her eyes held a glint of something he couldn't quite place. It wasn't malice, but it wasn't kindness either.
"You're awake," she said softly, her voice smooth and melodic. It should have been comforting, but instead, it sent a shiver down his spine.
James swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Yeah, awake and tied to a tree. Mind explaining that?"
The corner of her mouth twitched, almost like she was amused by his question. "It's for your own safety," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "The poison weakened you, and your magic needs time to recover. The cuffs ensure you don't overexert yourself."
James narrowed his eyes. "Right. Because nothing says 'safe' like being restrained and helpless in the middle of a forest."
She tilted her head, her silver hair falling over one shoulder. "You're not helpless," she said. "I'm here."
Somehow, that didn't make him feel any better. James's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. The elf had saved him from the chimera, that much was clear. But now he was tied up, his magic suppressed, and she wasn't exactly radiating friendly vibes. What was her game?
"Look," he said, trying to keep his tone even. "I appreciate you saving my life. Really, I do. But if you think I'm going to sit here and trust you blindly, you've got another thing coming."
Her eyes flickered with something—annoyance, maybe? It was hard to tell. She crouched down in front of him, her face now level with his. "You don't have much of a choice," she said, her voice calm but firm. "The forest is dangerous, even without the chimera. You're in no condition to defend yourself, and your magic is unstable. The cuffs are a precaution."
James clenched his jaw. "A precaution for what? You think I'm going to attack you?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she studied him, her gaze piercing. "There's something different about you," she said finally. "Your aura is… unique. It's powerful, but it's also chaotic. Unpredictable. I had to be sure you wouldn't lose control."
Her words sent a chill down his spine. She had seen his aura? What did that even mean? James had always known he was different, but he had chalked it up to his Riftborn status and the system-driven world he now inhabited. Was there more to it than that?
"Look, I'm just trying to survive here," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I don't know what you think you saw, but I'm not some ticking time bomb. Just let me go, and I'll be out of your hair."
She shook her head. "It's not that simple. You're connected to something… greater. Something dangerous. Until I understand what that is, I can't let you leave."
James's heart sank. This wasn't just about the chimera or the poison. She saw him as a threat, or maybe a puzzle she needed to solve. Either way, he was stuck. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, but the cuffs and her unsettling presence made it hard to focus.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice low. "But if you're planning to keep me here, at least have the decency to tell me your name."
The elf's lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Call me Aria," she said. "And you are?"
James hesitated. "James," he said after a moment.
Aria nodded, as if committing his name to memory. "Rest, James. You'll need your strength for what's to come."
Her cryptic words did little to ease his nerves. As she stood and turned away, James couldn't help but wonder what he had gotten himself into. The forest had been dangerous enough, but now he was trapped in the company of an enigmatic elf who seemed to know more about him than he did.
Minutes stretched into hours as James sat in silence, his thoughts racing. The cuffs dug into his wrists as he shifted, trying to find a position that didn't leave his back aching against the tree. He tested the bonds again, more out of frustration than hope, but they held firm. Whoever Aria was, she clearly knew what she was doing.
Every so often, he caught a glimpse of her moving through the clearing, her motions deliberate and efficient. She seemed to be gathering supplies—plants, roots, and water from a nearby stream. Her focus was unnerving, like she was preparing for something bigger than just nursing a wounded stranger back to health. James's frustration grew with each passing moment. He hated feeling powerless, and right now, that was all he was.
"Hey, Aria," he called out, breaking the silence. "If you're going to keep me tied up, the least you can do is tell me what you're planning."
She paused mid-step, glancing over her shoulder. "You ask a lot of questions for someone in your position," she said, her tone neutral.
"Yeah, well, being tied to a tree doesn't exactly inspire confidence," James shot back. "I'm not a fan of surprises."
Aria sighed and turned to face him fully. "I'm trying to help you," she said.
"So what? You're just going to keep me here until you figure out what to do with me?" James snorted
Aria's gaze softened, but only slightly. "I'm going to understand you," she said. "And to make sure you don't become a threat—to yourself or anyone else."
James's jaw tightened. He didn't like being treated like a problem to be solved, but he also didn't have much of a choice. For now, he would have to play along and hope he could find a way out of this mess.
"Fine," he said reluctantly. "But if you're going to keep me alive, at least let me stretch my legs once in a while. This tree is killing my back."
Aria's lips twitched in what might have been amusement. "I'll consider it," she said. Then, without another word, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving James alone with his thoughts once again.
As the hours dragged on, James couldn't shake the feeling that he was at the center of something much bigger than he realized. Aria's cryptic comments about his aura only added to the mystery. One thing was certain: if he wanted to survive, he would need to find a way to regain control—of his magic, of his freedom, and of his destiny.