Unduh Aplikasi
7.31% Bride of the Demon Lord / Chapter 24: Goodbye for Now (2)

Bab 24: Goodbye for Now (2)

It took some time before her family calmed down. Iris waited for Junifer to fall asleep before she silently slipped out of her bed and their home to get into the woods. Since their father's death, Iris hadn't shed a single tear. But now, knowing that she might not be able to see her family ever again, she didn't think she could hold back any longer.

Whenever she was sad or wanted to be alone, Iris would tread her way to the woods, which she now knew like the back of her hand. She would sit by the river bank, watching the stars up in the sky. Iris would whisper her woes to the wind, as if she wanted them to take it away, so she could go home feeling much better.

It was no different tonight. Once she reached the border of the town and the woods, she noticed that the royal guards who were supposed to make sure no maidens would escape before the arrival of the emissaries were already dozing off in the middle of their duties.

Iris could only hear their light snores and the wind coming from the woods, as if it was calling her. Still, she found the part where some bushes covered the iron fences that were no doubt older than her. It was supposed to protect the townsfolk from any darklings, but Iris doubted that it had any effect on those beings.

She leapt and stayed still once her feet touched the ground. Her ears tried to pick up sounds that could warn her if someone was coming, fortunately, there was none. Still, she made sure that the blade on her right thigh was within reach, just in case someone would ambush her.

As soon as she entered the woods, the night breeze passed and the trees somewhat bent towards her direction in greeting. Iris had no doubt now that they were responding to her, that they acknowledge her. But to what extent, she wasn't sure.

Iris reached her usual spot at the river bank and stared at it blankly, holding a twig of snowdrop in one hand. The full moon bathed her with its light. Unlike how peaceful the waters were, her mind was raging with several thoughts. She wasn't worried about what could happen to her in Asnar, but worried about the welfare of their family once she left.

A twig snapped behind her and Iris immediately sprang back to her feet, her hand reaching for her blade. She heard a snarl first, which was followed by a low growl. Iris's heartbeat raced, wondering if the direwolves had come back to finish what they started.

Just what kind of luck did she have? Was she born under a cursed star?

Then the clouds that passed the moon left, revealing a familiar pair of cerulean eyes staring back at her.

"Oh, it's you." Iris sighed in relief and straightened up.

Step by step, the large white darkling wolf approached her until it sat on its hind legs, looking at the river as if ignoring her. Iris blinked twice and returned to her previous spot. If the darkling wanted her dead, it would have pounced on her and shredded her into pieces with its sharp claws and fangs. She glanced at her weird companion, marveling at how white its fur was.

She pressed her back on the tree trunk behind her and returned her gaze to the river.

"I didn't know that you would be here. Pardon me for ruining your night stroll, but do not worry. I won't be able to disturb you again, because I'll be leaving for Asnar later."

As if the darkling understood her words, it turned its head to look at her. It looked at her as if it was waiting for her to explain herself.

Iris smiled weakly. She couldn't believe that she was speaking like this to a darkling. Any sane human would have run away in fear by now, but she didn't. Being sent to Asnar or being killed by a darkling didn't differ much in her opinion anyway.

"My sister was chosen to become a tribute for the treaty. I volunteered to take her place instead."

The darkling scoffed and snapped its head back to the river. Iris found it amusing that even a darkling found her decision reckless.

"I know, it's reckless. But I had no other choice, did I? If Asnar is really a dangerous place to live in, then I would rather go there instead of my sister." Iris then removed her leather gloves and took a look at her hands.

"I also don't know how to deal with this magic…" She admitted. "I hope I can find someone who could help me control it in Asnar." She paused and looked at the darkling, who was now staring at her.

"Would I be able to meet you there too? I mean in Asnar? It would be nice seeing someone familiar in foreign place. Are you getting tired of hearing my ramblings? I hope not."

The darkling scoffed for the second time and Iris wondered if it was only tolerating her because she had saved its life before this. Still, she was glad that she was able to talk to someone before she left.

"I wonder what happens to the tributes once they reach Asnar. Some say that they are to become brides, but I doubt that I would be a decent one." She let out a laugh and shrugged. "Do they kill them, treat them like some kind of a sacrifice? I wonder why none of them came back after leaving Dravial. It doesn't make sense to me, considering how close the two places are to each other."

There was no doubt that the knowledge about Asnar and the darklings was quite limited in human territories. Iris wanted to see the world in a larger picture. Perhaps there was more to Asnar, aside from their vicious killings and violence towards humans.


Bab 25: Intertwined Fate (1)

"Sorry. I'm just a little nervous." Iris laughed again, but she sounded really nervous as she looked away. "I don't know what to expect after this. I've never left Calaren town before, except whenever I hunt in the woods. Asnar is something I know nothing of. I'm not sure what to expect once we arrive there." She admitted nervously.

Iris thought that she must've lost her mind to say these things to a darkling. Was she trying to get herself killed? She sighed and shook her head. It didn't matter. There's no reason for her to worry about a problem that wasn't there in the first place.

Iris fell silent, not knowing what to say anymore. She had already confided her worries to a darkling anyway. She should be worried, but Iris didn't think that this darkling would use it against her. The darkling didn't seem like he was concerned about her at all.

She sat there in silence with the darkling and sighed, She should be cherishing the remaining time she had with their family, but Iris didn't want to break down and show any sign of weakness in front of them. There was nothing else she could have done to avoid their separation this time. As much as she wanted to stay with them, breaking a royal decree was a ticket to their quick deaths.

'Just as I thought we'll be together, forever. I'm sorry, Father.' She covered both of her hands and wept for the first time in years.

The wolf darkling was startled by her sudden outburst, but didn't budge from where it was seated. Instead, it turned its head away from her direction, as if it was pretending that it couldn't hear her. Iris was grateful for it, because she would rather not let anyone see how low and broken she was right now. Even for just a moment, Iris wanted to lower guard and be true to herself.

"I'm sorry that you have to see this unpleasant sight." Iris apologized, but as she dug her fingernails into her palms, she knew that there's no other way around this problem.

The darkling only looked at her blankly and Iris felt like she was being silly. There was no way a darkling would care about her feelings, much less about her woes in life.

Iris admitted that she was afraid. She didn't know what awaited her and her friends once they reached Asnar, and she could only hope that the world of the magical beings and monsters would allow them to at least fend for themselves and not give them away as some sort of gift that the Kingdom of Dravial had sent to appease them.

She said no more and the darkling didn't make any indication that it was bothered by the scent of her tears either. It was said that darklings had heightened senses, far superior to a mortal human.

"I guess I should get going now. I should return home before they realize that I'm missing."

She sighed, rose to her feet, brushing off the dirt from her pants and smiled at the darkling. Iris doubted that she and this wolf would cross paths again in the future, but at least the debt between them was already settled. The darkling remained unmoving in its place and Iris gave it one last bow before leaving.

Once she was out of sight, it transformed into its other otherworldly form. The Undead Lord's eyes remain glued to the direction where Iris disappeared, thinking that their fates were no doubt intertwined together, no matter how he tried to convince himself that he wasn't concerned about this human.

When Iris slipped back into Calaren town, the guards were still oblivious about her little escapade in the woods. She scoffed inwardly and threaded back home. Shoving the front door of their cabin open, she silently slipped inside and shut it behind her, making sure to put the latch back in place. She then took off her coat and hung it on the hook by the door.

'I hope Jun won't blame herself for this.' Iris thought as she entered their shared bedroom and saw that her younger sister was still asleep.

'This is for the better.' She added, knowing that Junifer would surely be heartbroken if she was forced to send away to Asnar as a tribute to the thirteen demon lords.

As soon as her head hit her pillow, Iris fell into a dreamless sleep. It wasn't until she felt someone shaking her did Iris wake up. Cracking her eyes open, she saw that it was Ren.

"Sis, you only have an hour to prepare before the emissaries arrive." He reminded her with a pained expression on his face.

Iris sat up on her bed, drew her brother into an embrace and held him tightly, allowing Ren to shed the tears he had been holding back.

"You'll return to us, right? You will find a way?" He asked between his sobs.

"I will!" Iris promised. If she had to tap into and rely on her magic to make it possible, then she would. "It might take some time though."

"I don't care." Ren insisted. "I will wait no matter how long it takes."

Junifer arrived and stood at the doorway, looking at them with tears in her eyes. Iris could see the guilt and rage in her sister's eyes and knew that Junifer was blaming the royal court in her mind.

Her sister had held deep resentment towards them ever since a young maiden Junifer was close to when they were children was sent away as a tribute. Seeing that Iris was now one of the tributes this time had surely fueled that hatred Junifer was nursing in her heart.

"I'm sorry, Iris." She heard Junifer say.

Iris shook her head.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Jun. I have no doubt that you will be a beautiful bride on your wedding day. It's just a pity I wouldn't be able to witness it."

Hearing those words, Junifer broke down in tears again.


Load failed, please RETRY

Hadiah

Hadiah -- Hadiah diterima

    Status Power Mingguan

    Membuka kunci kumpulan bab

    Indeks

    Opsi Tampilan

    Latar Belakang

    Font

    Ukuran

    Komentar pada bab

    Tulis ulasan Status Membaca: C24
    Gagal mengirim. Silakan coba lagi
    • Kualitas penulisan
    • Stabilitas Pembaruan
    • Pengembangan Cerita
    • Desain Karakter
    • Latar Belakang Dunia

    Skor total 0.0

    Ulasan berhasil diposting! Baca ulasan lebih lanjut
    Pilih Power Stone
    Rank 200+ Peringkat Power
    Stone 6 Batu Daya
    Laporkan konten yang tidak pantas
    Tip kesalahan

    Laporkan penyalahgunaan

    Komentar paragraf

    Masuk

    tip Komentar Paragraf

    Fitur komentar paragraf sekarang ada di Web! Arahkan kursor ke atas paragraf apa pun dan klik ikon untuk menambahkan komentar Anda.

    Selain itu, Anda selalu dapat menonaktifkannya atau mengaktifkannya di Pengaturan.

    MENGERTI