Chapter 50: Chapter 50: On the Brink
The air crackled with tension as Ethan and the other elves faced off against the shifters. The two sides clashed violently, weapons clanging, bodies colliding, and snarls filling the forest. Shifters, taller and more muscular, wielded curved blades and axes that cut through the elves' ranks with brutal efficiency.
Ethan swung his glowing sword, arcs of pure energy slicing through the attackers, but it wasn't enough. For every shifter they brought down, two more seemed to take its place. The elves fought valiantly, arrows flying and swords flashing, but exhaustion soon took hold. Sweat dripped from their faces, their movements slowing, while the shifters seemed tireless, relentless in their assault.
Eliza fought alongside them, her own blade spinning as she defended against a shifter's strike. She moved fast, ducking and slashing, but it was clear that her strength was fading. A shifter's axe narrowly missed her, the wind from the swing rustling her hair as she stumbled back.
It wasn't fair.
One by one, the elves fell, beaten down and dragged away. Blood stained the forest floor, the groans of the defeated elves echoing through the chaos. Soon, only Ethan and Eliza remained, standing amidst the carnage, their weapons still raised though their arms trembled from fatigue.
The shifters circled them like predators, their yellow eyes gleaming with victory. The largest of them stepped forward, towering over the others with an air of command. He grinned, revealing jagged teeth, as Ethan placed himself protectively in front of Eliza, slowly backing up.
"What are you really?" the larger shifter asked, turning to Ethan, his voice deep and gravelly.
Ethan's grip on his sword tightened. "Why do you care?"
"Just curious, that's all," the shifter replied with a dark chuckle. "It'd be cool to know what creature you are before I take you out."
Ethan's eyes glinted dangerously, his muscles tense as he swung his sword of pure energy in a wide arc. The glowing blade hissed through the air, forcing the shifters to step back a few paces. "And you think I'd let you take us out?"
The larger shifter didn't flinch. "It doesn't look like you have much of a choice."
Eliza, from behind Ethan, glared at their enemies, her breathing ragged. "Why are you doing this?"
The shifter laughed, low and guttural. "One, because we hate elves. Two, because we need more land to expand our population. And three…" He flashed a cruel smile. "Because we can do whatever we want. Hope that answers your questions, princess."
Ethan stiffened as the shifter continued, his tone mocking. "Your parents were much tougher to kill. It must be embarrassing to call yourself their child when you're this weak."
The words struck Eliza like a whip. Her eyes burned with fury as she pushed against Ethan's back, trying to step forward. "Don't talk about my parents like that!" she shouted, her voice sharp with rage.
Ethan reached back with one hand and caught her arm effortlessly, holding her in place. "Stop," he murmured lowly, his voice calm but firm.
Eliza struggled against his grip, desperate to punch the smug look off the shifter's face. "Let me go!"
Ethan ignored her. His eyes remained locked on the shifter as he let out a slow breath. Then, without warning, he dropped his sword. The weapon hit the ground with a deep thud, and a small explosion erupted from the point of impact.
A thick fog burst outward, rolling through the battlefield like a stormcloud. The shifters stumbled back, shielding their eyes as the dense haze swallowed everything. The hum of energy reverberated in the air, disorienting them.
When the fog finally cleared, Ethan and Eliza were gone.
The large shifter let out an enraged roar, his face contorted in fury. He hurled his weapon to the ground with enough force to crack the earth beneath it. "Cowards!" he spat, his voice echoing through the silent forest.
---
Back at the castle, the quiet was broken by a soft groan.
Gregory's eyes fluttered open, squinting against the darkness that surrounded him. His head throbbed, a dull ache pulsing at the back of his skull. "Where… am I?" he croaked, his voice hoarse.
A slow, mocking voice answered from somewhere in the shadows. "Oh, you're awake. That's nice."
Gregory's head jerked toward the voice, his heart sinking. "That doesn't answer my question. Where am I?"
He tried to move, only to realize that his wrists and ankles were bound tightly to the chair he sat on. Panic flickered in his chest as he glanced down, confirming his predicament. Ropes coiled around him like serpents, digging into his skin.
"Where you'll be for a long time," the voice replied, calm and unbothered.
Gregory's jaw clenched, his mind racing as he strained against the restraints.
"Shit."
Chapter 51: Chapter 51: A Dangerous Bargain
Ethan and Eliza materialized in the castle's main hall, the faint hum of magic still lingering in the air. Eliza pulled away from him instantly, her face red with anger.
"What did you do that for?!" she yelled, her voice echoing sharply off the stone walls.
Ethan blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean? I got us out of there."
"I didn't ask you to save me!"
Ethan's brow furrowed, his calm tone contrasting her fury. "I don't understand. Should I apologize for getting you out of there now?"
"We got out, but what about our troops?" Eliza shot back, pacing in frustration. "Those monsters can't just say shit about my parents—the ones they killed—and leave scot-free."
Ethan sighed, shaking his head. "We were outnumbered, Eliza. Staying there would have been suicidal."
Eliza stopped pacing and spun to face him, her fists clenched. "It's better to stay and fight for my kingdom than hide in my castle like a coward! They'll still come to finish us off, you know that."
"Of course I know that," Ethan replied evenly, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "That's why I don't think us arguing is going to get us anywhere."
Her jaw tightened. "We had you—the holder of the Heartstone—and it didn't make a difference."
"Even the guardian of the Heartstone cannot take down a whole army of monsters," Ethan replied, his voice harder now.
"The last one could," she snapped. "I thought having you on our side would give us the edge we needed to win this war, but I guess I was wrong."
With that, she turned sharply on her heel and stormed down the corridor, her boots pounding against the marble floor.
Ethan stood still for a moment, running a hand through his hair with a long sigh. "I guess I should get used to living in the wasteland that Earth is now because I don't think she'll help me save earth anymore," he muttered bitterly to himself. "Where's Gregory, by the way? He should be helping us, but he's probably somewhere goofing off. I honestly don't know what's wrong with him."
Ethan shook his head and turned to walk away. Above him, hidden in the deep recesses of the vaulted ceiling, something shifted. A pair of glowing eyes blinked open, faint and red, watching his every move. The creature that had followed him from the shifters' camp lingered silently, its gaze unblinking, its presence unseen.
---
Gregory squirmed in the chair, his wrists chafing against the ropes that bound him. The dim light from a torch in the corner barely illuminated the room, casting jagged shadows on the stone walls.
"Hey, I don't know who you think you've got, but believe me—you've got the wrong guy!" he called out, his voice filled with both frustration and panic.
A cold voice replied from the darkness. "That's what they always say."
Gregory huffed. "No, seriously! I've never been to Eldoria before. This is just my third day here. I know I don't take long to offend people, but this is too soon, even for me!"
"Rest assured," the voice said calmly, "you're the right person. There's been no mistake."
Gregory slumped back in his chair, exhaling a shaky breath. "Where's Ethan when you need him?" he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
---
Ethan paced in his room, his boots thumping rhythmically against the floorboards. He couldn't stop replaying the battle in his mind: the shifters' taunts, the overwhelming odds, Eliza's furious words.
Eliza wasn't wrong. If they didn't act soon, the shifters would tear the kingdom apart. He knew what he had to do: win the war, and then—maybe—Eliza would forgive him and still help him restore his planet.
Resolute, he walked through the castle corridors until he stopped outside her door. For a moment, he stood there, hesitating. Should he knock? Should he leave her alone? Before he could make up his mind, his knuckles rapped softly against the door.
"Leave it outside," Eliza's voice called.
Ethan winced. "It's me, actually."
There was a pause. "In that case, stay outside."
Ethan sighed and turned halfway to leave, then froze, shaking his head. "Nope, not doing this." Without warning, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Eliza, who was seated on her bed with a book in her lap, looked up with narrowed eyes. "Are you insane? I'm the queen here, and if you want to see the next sunlight, you'll get out right now."
Ethan crossed his arms and smirked faintly. "None of your guards is powerful enough to subdue me. If you throw multiple guards at me, you'll lose many, and then you won't have enough to take on the shifters."
"What do you want?" she snapped.
"I just want to talk."
"We have nothing to talk about."
"Can I come in?"
"You're already inside."
"Oh, right." Ethan stepped further into the room and sat on the edge of her bed, looking around.
Eliza's room was strikingly regal yet personal. Tall, arched windows framed by heavy crimson drapes allowed the silver moonlight to filter in. A tapestry depicting Eldoria's history hung on one wall, its intricate threads shimmering faintly. Shelves filled with ancient tomes lined another side of the room. The massive bed she sat on was adorned with silk sheets and embroidered pillows, but the messy state of the blankets betrayed her restless nights. A small table held an ornate crystal globe, glowing faintly with swirling colors.
"So," Ethan started, breaking the silence, "are you ready to tell me what's really going on? I know you're not mad at me. You've seen visions about me already. You know I'm not strong enough to take on an army. So what's really the problem?"
Eliza looked away, her voice quieter now. "I'm just… stressed, that's all. The whole issue is affecting my mental health."
"I get it. I felt like that when I first became the guardian," Ethan said gently.
"Except this is worse—much worse. We could lose everything, Ethan. Even if we win, the cost at which we win might be terrible."
Ethan leaned forward, his voice steady. "Let's focus on winning first. We'll figure out the rest later."
"Right," Eliza said softly, though her eyes betrayed her doubts. "I'm sorry for yelling earlier. It's not your fault we lost so many troops."
Before Ethan could respond, a knock came at the door. Eliza tensed before calling out, "Enter."
A guard stepped inside, followed by a messenger holding a sealed letter. Bowing, the messenger handed it to Eliza and quickly left.
Eliza tore the letter open, her eyes scanning the contents before her face paled. "They have the guardian of the Heartstone," she read aloud, her voice tight. "They'll release him only if we mail a piece of the crystal that powers Eldoria. If we don't, they'll kill him… and mail his pieces to us."
Ethan frowned, standing slowly. "But I'm the guardian of the Heartstone. How can they have me when I'm here?"
Eliza's brow furrowed. "They must have someone they're convinced is the guardian. For them to have the confidence to send a threatening mail like this, they must have taken the individual from this castle but who could that be?"
Ethan's face fell, realization dawning. "Gregory."
"What?"
"He's been here as long as I have. He was with me when you all were bowing. They must have mistaken him for me. That explains why I haven't seen him in a while."
Eliza shook her head. "We can't risk the kingdom for one man. Let them keep him. We have a war to win."
Ethan's gaze hardened. "We can't just leave him there."
"How are you so sure he's even alive?"
"They can't kill him," Ethan replied, almost exasperated. "Gregory doesn't even know how to kill himself. I'm pretty sure he's alive."
Eliza sighed, crossing her arms. "So what do you propose we do?"
"I have an idea."
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