Capítulo 13: Fractured Threads
The outpost was quiet, but the air inside felt heavy, thick with tension. Alenya sat on the edge of a rough wooden bench, her legs drawn up to her chest, eyes fixed on the crumbling stone walls around her. She had been trying to rest, to let her mind settle after the events of the past few hours, but the vision of the woman wouldn't leave her alone. It lingered in the corners of her thoughts like a shadow she couldn't escape.
Who was she? And why had only Alenya seen her?
Kael had insisted it was exhaustion, that her mind was playing tricks on her. But Alenya knew better. She had felt the pull of magic in that moment, felt the connection between her and the woman, as if their fates were intertwined in a way she couldn't fully understand. And now, with Drenyar's plans looming over them, it felt like a warning.
She glanced toward Kael, who was standing near the entrance, his arms crossed, his gaze distant. He was on edge, his body tense with the kind of quiet vigilance that only came from years of battle. He hadn't spoken much since they arrived at the outpost, and Alenya could feel the weight of his silence pressing down on them both.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"I want to talk," Alenya expressed, her voice cutting through the stillness.
Kael turned, his eyes meeting hers, but his expression remained unreadable. "What do you want to talk about?"
Alenya's chest tightened. There was so much she wanted to say; about the woman, about her magic, about the fear that had been gnawing at her since they had fled Drenyar's camp. But she didn't know where to start.
"The woman," she said finally. "I know you didn't see her, but she was real. I felt her, Kael. She wasn't just a trick of the light."
Kael's jaw tightened, his gaze hardening. "I'm not saying you didn't see something. But we've been on the run for days. Exhaustion can-"
"I'm not imagining this," Alenya interrupted, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "She was real. And I think she's tied to my magic. To whatever Drenyar is after."
Kael didn't respond right away, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. Alenya could see the wheels turning in his mind, the way he weighed her words carefully, as if trying to piece together a puzzle that refused to fit.
"Okay," he said after a long pause, his voice measured. "Let's assume she's real. What do you think she wants?"
Alenya swallowed hard. That was the question she had been asking herself ever since the she had appeared. What did the woman want? Why had she appeared now, in the middle of their journey, when everything seemed to be spiralling out of control?
"I don't know," Alenya admitted, her voice quieter now. "But I think it's connected to the Verdant bloodline. To the magic I carry. Drenyar is trying to unlock something ancient, something powerful, and I think this woman is part of it."
Kael's eyes darkened, his expression growing more serious. "You think she's part of Drenyar's plan?"
"I don't know if she's working with him," Alenya said, shaking her head. "But she's tied to the same magic. I felt it."
Kael took a step closer, his gaze locked on hers. "You've always kept your magic hidden. Buried it. Maybe now, it's starting to wake up. Maybe it's showing you things."
Alenya's pulse quickened. Kael wasn't wrong. She had spent years hiding her magic, suppressing it, using it only in life-threatening situations. But ever since they had fled the king's hunters, ever since Drenyar had entered the picture, her magic felt different. Stronger. More alive.
"You think my magic is doing this? That it's showing me visions?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Kael nodded slowly. "It's possible. Your power is connected to something much older than you realize. Maybe it's trying to guide you."
Alenya swallowed hard, her mind racing. The idea that her magic could be trying to show her something, to guide her toward answers, was both exhilarating and terrifying. But if that was true, then what was the vision of the woman supposed to tell her? Was it a warning? A message? Or something more sinister?
She looked up at Kael, searching his eyes for answers, but his expression remained guarded.
"I don't know what this means, Kael," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I can feel that something is coming. Something dark."
Kael's gaze softened, and for the first time since they had entered the outpost, he looked less like a soldier and more like someone who had some empathy for what she was feeling. He stepped closer, his voice low but steady.
"Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
Alenya's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure if it was the weight of his words or the way he looked at her, but in that moment, she felt a surge of strength. For so long, she had been running, hiding, afraid of what her magic could do. But now, with Kael beside her, she didn't feel quite so alone.
She nodded, her pulse quickening. "Okay."
Kael gave her a brief, almost imperceptible smile before turning his attention back to the door.
"We need to keep moving. Drenyar's men will be closing in."
Alenya stood, her body still aching from the journey, but her mind sharper now, more focused. She knew they couldn't stay at the outpost for long. The vision of the woman had only deepened the mystery, but it had also shown her that there was more to this than just survival. There were answers out there; answers she needed to find before Drenyar did.
Kael moved to the door, peering out into the darkening forest. "It's getting late. We can make some progress before nightfall, but we need to be careful."
Alenya joined him, her eyes scanning the tree line, but the forest seemed quiet, almost unnaturally so. The heavy silence that had lingered since their encounter with Drenyar's altar still pressed down on them, and Alenya couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"What do we do if the vision happens again?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
Kael didn't look at her, his eyes fixed on the shadows beyond the outpost. "We don't ignore it. If your magic is showing you something, we need to pay attention."
Alenya nodded, though a knot of fear tightened in her chest. She had spent so long fearing her magic, trying to control it, that the idea of letting it guide her felt dangerous. But Kael was right, they couldn't afford to ignore anything now. Not when Drenyar was so close.
They stepped outside, the cold evening air biting at their skin as they made their way back into the forest. The light was fading quickly, the shadows growing longer, and every rustle of leaves set Alenya's nerves on edge.
Kael led the way, his steps quick and deliberate, and Alenya followed close behind, her eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. But the forest remained still and silent.
Until it wasn't.
A sharp, distant sound echoed through the trees. A snap of a twig, the rustle of movement. Alenya's heart leapt into her throat, and she froze, her body tense.
Kael stopped too, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. His eyes narrowed, scanning the tree line, his body coiled like a spring ready to strike.
"Did you hear that?" Alenya whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kael nodded, his jaw tight. "We're not alone."
Alenya's magic stirred, her senses sharpening as she reached out with the power that pulsed beneath her skin. She could feel it now…the faint hum of dark energy, distant but growing closer. It wasn't like the presence of the Shadowspawn or the oppressive weight of Drenyar's magic. This was something different. Something more subtle, more elusive. Kael motioned for her to follow as they moved silently through the trees, the forest around them growing dark with each step
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path.
Alenya's breath caught in her throat as she saw the tall, cloaked figure standing before them, a hood pulled low over their face. The air around them felt thick, charged with the same strange energy she had sensed earlier. Her magic reacted instantly, stirring to life beneath her skin, as if recognising the figure's presence.
Kael drew his sword, his eyes narrowing as he stepped in front of Alenya. "Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer right away. Instead, they slowly lifted their head, and Alenya's heart nearly stopped.
It was the woman from the vision.
Her pale skin seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, her dark eyes locking onto Alenya's with the same intensity as before. But this time, there was no doubt in Alenya's mind, she wasn't imagining this. The woman was real.
Kael's grip tightened on his sword, his body tensing for a fight. "Step aside."
But the woman didn't move. Her gaze remained fixed on Alenya, and when she finally spoke, her voice was soft, almost melodic.
"You've come far, Elle Knight," the woman said, her tone filled with a strange, knowing sadness. "But your journey is only beginning."
Alenya's pulse quickened, her magic buzzing with energy, but she couldn't move. She couldn't even speak. She knew her real name. But how? She has abandoned it long ago. It hadn't been mentioned in years. Especially not before her father's surname…it bore the weight of her entire existence as part of the Verdant bloodline.
Kael stepped forward, his sword raised. "If you know her name, then you know she's under my protection. Leave us."
The woman's gaze flickered to Kael, and for a brief moment, there was amusement in her expression. But she quickly returned her attention to Alenya.
"I'm not your enemy," the woman said softly. "I'm here to show you the truth."
Alenya's breath hitched, her heart racing. "What truth?"
The woman stepped closer, her movements graceful, ethereal. "The truth of your magic. Of what you are. And of what you must become."
Alenya's mind spun, her thoughts racing. The woman's words sent a chill through her, but there was something about the way she spoke, something that felt…real. And terrifying.
"Why are you here?" Alenya asked, her voice barely audible.
The woman smiled, though it was a sad, almost wistful smile. "Because the time has come for you to embrace your power. The world is changing, and so must you."
Alenya's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't understand what the woman was saying, but every word felt like a warning, like the prelude to something far greater.
Kael took another step forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light. "Get away from her."
The woman's eyes flickered to Kael again, but this time there was no amusement in her expression; only a deep, unshakable sadness.
"You cannot protect her from what's coming. No one can."
And with that, the woman turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the echo of her words and the weight of the truth she had spoken.
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