Vrastos

Valencia panted as she stared at Eldrich, frightened that he would expose her out of fear. However, he locked eyes with her with concern more than ever.

“Young Duke, can you step out for a second?” Eldrich asked.

Kael gulped as he felt the tension in Eldrich’s tone. He looked down at Valencia before walking out the door.

Eldrich waited for the silent footstep and flicked a magical barrier around Valencia and him. He hurried to her side and held her by the arms.

“Are you okay?”

Valencia sniffled as she hesitantly looked at her hands. The scars that remained. Eldrich released his grip when he realized how afraid she was. She gasped and fell to her knees.

“Did… it work?” she wondered. “Was it just false hope? Am I not allowed to escape it?”

Eldrich trembled as he bent a knee before her and patted her shoulder.

“If anything, Miss Luvoise, I’m doing my best… I just saw something flicker in front of me before a flash of black light. I don’t know if Young Duke saw it, though,” Eldrich explained.

Valencia sobbed silently as she held his sleeve tightly.

“Please… just tell me that it’s gone! The voice won’t leave me alone! I want it gone now…”

Eldrich stared at her, his chest tightening.

“Miss Luvoise, I don’t know what you’re talking about…” he said. “What voice?”

Valencia covered her eyes and raised her knees. She rested her head on her knees.

“I don’t want it… I hate it,” she mumbled.

Eldrich stood, looking down at her. What has been living inside of you for you to act like this? Did Eureon have something similar to this inside of him, too?

“She who possessed the Void… he who possessed the Light…” a distorted voice echoed around them. Eldrich flinched, hearing it for the first time. Then the voice cackled like it was dancing in a circle. Valencia widened her eyes, panting as she looked up at the shadow. “Now you are bound, you cannot take it back. I won’t allow you, Valencia.”

Valencia clenched her fists.

“Why?” she muttered. Tears streamed down her face like a waterfall.

“For this foolish wizard, to think I see him again, I’m glad that the last vessel befriended him… His foolishness now made sure I get sufficient supply from the Light.”

Eldrich gritted his teeth as he swung his hand around, whipping his arcane behind him.

Nothing.

“Oops, didn’t touch me, wizard.”

Eldrich darted his gaze, facing Valencia. He punched another arcane in front.

Nothing.

The shadow laughed as the wind blew strongly against Eldrich’s face, pacifying the arcane ball on his hand, so that he had to close his eyes. The shadow’s hand grabbed Eldrich’s neck, pulling him back. He groaned.

“Does a mere human think he could touch me?”

“STOP!” Valencia shouted.

The shadow paused and stared at her.

“Why should I listen to my vessel?”

Valencia pulled a dagger… to her wrist!

Eldrich gasped.

“No!” he yelled.

“Because you don’t want your vessel to lose enough blood to die, right?” Valencia threatened. The shadow silently watched her. She pressed the dagger against her skin. “I will have no more aura if I die!”

The shadow groaned, dashing through Eldrich’s shoulder. Its cold hand gripped her wrist, which held the dagger.

“You don’t want to die, vessel…” it whispered. Valencia gulped. “You… want to kill everyone who threw your father as a sacrifice.”

Valencia whimpered as she bit her lower lip. She turned her head slightly to glare at it.

“I would rather die…” she threatened.

The shadow tightened its grip on her wrist. Then it raised her hand to her neck, pressing the dagger to her neck. The shadow chuckled.

“Then make it a faster death—”

“Vrastos…” a man’s voice called sternly.

The shadow flinched and froze, its gaze swelling in darkness. Soon, it disappeared, and the surrounding terrain of darkness returned to normal.

Kael pushed his way in forcefully as the door wouldn’t open and saw Valencia holding a dagger to her neck. He clenched his jaw as he frowned, hurrying to her and throwing the dagger.

“Are you insane? Do you hate being bound with me that much?” Kael questioned without a second thought. The question churned his stomach, and his chest felt unsettled.

Valencia’s gaze slowly locked onto him as her lips trembled. She stretched her lips thin and pulled him into a hug. Kael’s eyes widened as he didn’t understand how to comfort her.

Eldrich watched them and sighed in relief. I don’t know why that thing stopped, but I’m glad that Valencia is okay. Is this… what she has been battling with all these years alone? He clenched his fists, staring at the ground.

Valencia sobbed silently on Kael’s chest, clutching his collar tightly. Whose voice was that? Who’s Vratos? She shut her eyes, panting. Her heart raced rapidly in a heat.

Kael felt his chest burning as confusion stirred his mind. He pulled her away and saw her flushed face.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She held her chest tightly as she clawed her throat. I can’t… speak! Help!

A hole inside her chest grew as she shook her head. Kael panicked, looking around for what to do. Eldrich hurried to their side.

“Breathe!” Eldrich worried.

Valencia couldn’t think of anything—

GRAB.

She pulled Kael in and locked lips with him. He flinched with his eyes widened, yet he stood, his breath flowing toward her. Valencia’s breath soon steadied, the burning easing, as she pulled away—

Kael grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for more. He tilted his head and closed his eyes. If you need more, I'll give it to you.

A thin surge of Kael’s aura siphoned into Valencia’s.

Eldrich stared at them, confused, looking up at the ceiling for guidance. He cleared his throat.

“It appears the bond has… stabilized.” He turned sharply, cloak swishing. “I will be outside. Do not destroy my tower.”

Valencia finally opened her eyes as she glanced at Kael through her blurred vision from tears. Kael pulled away in a heat, restraining himself as he locked eyes with her. She blushed and avoided his gaze. He chuckled, resting his head against hers.

“What’s wrong? You didn’t like the kiss?”

She bit her lower lip and frowned.

“I… didn’t—”

“Don’t tell me that it was a mistake…” he interrupted her. Valencia’s heart raced rapidly as her cheeks reddened. He leaned closer to her ear, attempting to bite her ear, his breath warm. “Because… I’m going to request more from now on.”

She gulped and backed her head away. As she tried to hurry out of the room, Kael yanked her.

“Lord—”

“Is this what Guides do? Do they also need stabilization?”

Valencia’s breath caught. As her gaze steered to him, dust fell in the air like stars around them. Did he find out that I might not be a Guide?

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