(Chapter 16)
"Don't you know what's happening in the North?" Kaelion Arvasyn asked.
Clarisse Faeloria shook her head slowly, signaling her lack of knowledge. Kaelion then told her, "There's been a monster attack up there, it's been going on for two days."
"You seem worried," Kaelion tried to smile, but Clarisse remained silent without responding.
The news caused Clarisse's demeanor to change drastically. Her calm face was now filled with worry.
"I hope he's okay," Clarisse muttered softly, almost inaudible.
"Lorcan Frostborne is a great Duke. I'm sure he can handle it. I envy him a bit. We're the same age, and he's already accomplished so much," Kaelion said, trying to comfort her.
"Maybe it's the environment he's in," Clarisse replied, her voice calmer but still filled with unease.
Clarisse could only hope for good news. Her graduation day was approaching, and so was her wedding day. Even though she disliked the impending marriage, she couldn't push aside her worry for Lorcan. If only she had never met him, perhaps these feelings wouldn't exist.
Clarisse's steps halted when a soft voice called to her.
"Are you thinking about something?" the voice asked, belonging to Caelira Duskthorn.
"Yes, I'm thinking about the news I just heard," Clarisse replied quietly.
"Is it about what's happening in the North?" Caelira asked, looking concerned.
"You know too?" Clarisse looked at Caelira, slightly surprised.
"Yes, I overheard my father talking to someone."
Two days later, Clarisse received news from her father. The information was exactly what she had heard, but the additional news revealed that Lorcan had already dealt with most of the problems in the North. However, the battle wasn't over because they still needed to ensure that the monsters' lairs, known as Orcs, were completely destroyed.
"Orcs... They're much bigger than adult humans," Clarisse muttered, imagining the horrors in the North.
Clarisse wrote a letter asking for more news about Lorcan. After folding the paper and placing it in an envelope, she paused, realizing that her heart couldn't deny her feelings for Lorcan.
"After all, Lorcan is my future husband. If I pretend not to care, that would be embarrassing," Clarisse thought, even though she knew her feelings ran deeper than just obligation.
Meanwhile, in the North, Lorcan, who had initially been reluctant to get directly involved, was now leading the charge against the Orcs. Of the 200 Orcs that attacked, many had already fallen, but unexpected reinforcements arrived—the Orc King and five Orc Champions.
"You're strong, human. You're different from the others," one of the largest Orc Champions said, advancing toward Lorcan.
"A monster that can speak? You're clearly not an ordinary Orc," Lorcan responded with a thin smile.
Without further words, the Orc attacked. The battle was fierce, with each swing of their weapons causing the ground to crack.
Lorcan's speed with his sword was extraordinary, too fast to be seen with the naked eye. In less than five minutes, the Orc fell at his feet.
Lorcan's eyes turned blood red.
"That... is not a normal human eye," the Orc King muttered, ordering the other four Orc Champions to attack simultaneously.
Yet, Lorcan remained standing firm. The four Orc Champions lay scattered around him.
Despite his body being covered in minor wounds and his armor in tatters, Lorcan still stood strong. The Orc King trembled, realizing he had chosen the wrong opponent.
TO BE CONTINUED