Capítulo 11: Chapter Ten: Shadowy Company
Kael's dreams had become a twisted tapestry, woven from fragments of joy and sorrow. In one moment, he was dancing with Elara, their laughter and happiness filling the room like an intoxicating melody. In another the music and lights faded, replaced by a haunting vision of her falling from a window, a scream caught in her throat. He reached out, desperate to save her, but his fingers grasped at empty air, and she plummeted into darkness.
With a gasp, Kael jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest. The room he found himself in was unfamiliar, yet it held a strange sense of déjà vu. Confusion clouded his thoughts as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
Before he could fully gather his thoughts, the door creaked open, and Master Faelon's weathered face appeared, his gaze a mixture of relief and concern.
"You're awake. Good," Faelon's voice was a welcome anchor in the sea of confusion. He approached Kael's bedside, a modest meal in hand, and set it down beside him. Before either of them could speak further, a heavy, metallic cadence echoed through the hallway—the sound of armored footsteps. Kael's eyes widened as the Dominion Knight he had encountered before strode in, his silver-plated armor gleaming like moonlight against the darkness.
The knight's helmet was removed and placed upon a table, revealing the face of a determined warrior. He approached Kael's bed, his gauntleted hand resting lightly upon the hilt of his sword. "How are you feeling?" The knight's gaze bore into Kael with an intensity that seemed to demand more than a casual response.
Kael, caught off guard, managed to give a half-hearted shrug, his voice softening as he mumbled, "I feel fine." Yet his eyes betrayed the turmoil within him, a silent testament to the dreams that continued to haunt his mind.
The knight produced the amulet, the symbol of a love lost and a promise shattered. Kael's breath caught in his throat, his fingers reaching out instinctively, only to be denied by the knight's calculated withdrawal. Master Faelon leaned closer to him, his voice a gentle query amidst the tension. "I told him about the voice you mentioned. Do you still hear it?"
Kael's gaze shifted from Faelon to the knight, his eyes now clouded with uncertainty. Once again, he shrugged, his response a mere facade for the storm of emotions raging within him. "I'm fine," he repeated, his tone lacking conviction as he denied the haunting echoes that continued to whisper in his mind.
The knight reclaimed the amulet, tucking it away and producing a pouch filled with the promise of coin. The sound of its jingling dance reverberated through the room, a stark reminder of the world beyond dreams and darkness. The knight's gaze never wavered as he looked toward Faelon. "That should cover his absence. I must take him to the nearest chapel. The boy is not alone in this, and he refuses to admit it. Whatever it may be, I must have the clergy conduct a more thorough inquiry."
Fear gripped Kael's heart, his eyes flickering between Faelon and the knight. The unspoken plea in his gaze begged Faelon to intervene, to protect him from the unknown fate that seemed to loom over him. Faelon's hesitation was evident, a testament to the bond they shared, but ultimately, he nodded, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and resolve as he requested the knight to ensure Kael's safety.
The knight's response was somber but unwavering. Duty, it seemed, would take precedence over comfort. He turned his gaze to Kael, his expression softened by a hint of understanding. "Get dressed," he instructed, his words a blend of command and compassion. "We leave soon."
Kael's heart weighed heavy as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, the reality of the situation crashing over him like a tidal wave. The echoes of his dreams still lingered, their shadows intertwined with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. As he rose to his feet, the room seemed to close in around him, a reflection of the uncertainty that had become his reality.
Kael stepped out of the room, his heart heavy with a sense of foreboding. The familiarity of the inn's finer quarters only accentuated the feeling of being trapped within his own mind. As he descended the stairs, each step seemed to echo his descent into uncertainty. The street outside was harshly lit by the sun, its rays casting sharp shadows that danced on the cobblestones.
The knight awaited him by a formidable wagon, a symbol of the Dominion's authority. Kael hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting back to the inn where he had shared fleeting moments of solace. Master Faelon's presence lingered there, a silent guardian he couldn't forget. With a heavy sigh, Kael approached the knight, his footsteps echoing in his ears like a march towards fate.
The knight's hand extended, offering assistance as Kael climbed onto the wagon. As the knight joined him, the wagon's movement jolted them forward, the city streets giving way to unfamiliar paths. Kael's gaze turned to his silent companion, the knight's helmet hiding their intentions from view. The tension in the air was palpable, a thick cloud of unspoken words hanging between them.
Kael's voice broke through the silence, his words carrying the weight of his confusion. "Where are we going?" His voice was hushed, almost lost within the rumble of the wagon's wheels against the cobblestones.
The knight's posture remained unyielding, their arms crossed in a gesture of authority. "Our first stop will be the Chapel of Celdohr. Have you ever been?" Kael shook his head, his response a murmur of the life he had left behind. "I haven't explored the city much. Life kept me busy at the forge…"
The knight's gaze shifted towards him, an inscrutable look hidden within their helmet. "Hopefully the clerics at the chapel can help." Their voice held a tone of anticipation, yet Kael couldn't shake the sense that there was more to the knight's words than met the eye.
Kael's thoughts swirled in a tumultuous whirlpool. His inner conflict was a constant companion, the female voice urged him to remain cautious. The voice whispered of mistrust, sowing seeds of doubt about the knight's intentions. Kael's eyes darted around, searching for an unseen presence, only to be met by the knight's scrutiny.
"Something wrong?" The question hung heavy in the air, but Kael shook his head, not daring to share the truth that clawed at the edges of his consciousness. As the journey continued, Kael's gaze wandered beyond the wagon's confines, taking in the opulent splendor of a city he had never truly seen before. Marble buildings rose like monuments to power, fountains glistened with decadence, and grandeur seemed to seep from every pore of the city.
The knight's gesture disrupted Kael's thoughts, pointing towards a tower that loomed in the distance. "There it is. The Chapel of Celdohr. Get ready." The knight's words were laced with a finality that Kael couldn't ignore. As the wagon pulled up before the chapel's entrance, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that he was stepping into the abyss, each footfall taking him further away from the life he once knew.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder