《My darkness that led me to you》 Prologue : "This is not the end" ¡°So this is the end, isn¡¯t it?¡± I murmured to myself as I gazed at the dark ceiling, panting with a knife lodged in my abdomen. ¡°Damn it!¡± I screamed through my pain, my voice echoing off the cold stone walls of the dark cave.The sharp sting of the knife pierced through me, sending waves of agony through my body. Each breath I took felt like fire in my lungs. "A knife? Is this how I¡¯m going to die? Stabbed by a poisoned knife? This is really pathetic!¡± The thought raced through my mind, mingling with the desperation and anger that consumed me. Despite my best efforts, I was still helpless, lying defenseless on the cold stone ground. Like an idiot. ¡°Hey,¡± a whisper echoed in my ears, cutting through the haze of my pain and confusion. ¡°I warned you didn¡¯t I?¡± the whisperer added their voice dripping with malice. ¡°Lying here so helplessly, drowning in your blood, just looking so pathetic. Tsk tsk tsk... After being so arrogant with me, look at you right now,¡± He burst into laughter. His annoying laugh echoed all over the empty cave. ¡°What? Why are you so quiet? Did the cat eat your tongue? Or are you ashamed that you¡¯re stuck in here on the brink of death?¡± He said again in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Would you shut up?! SHUT UP¡± I screamed as I felt the blood boiling inside me. ¡°Humm shut up.. But why would I shut up? This is actually really fun. Seeing you like this, dying in front of me. You just really deserve this you know . I told you before you¡¯re pure evil. All the things that you¡¯ve done and the blood you shed, this is simply the consequences of your actions,¡± He said as he approached me and kneeled to look at my face. ¡°Oh what a shame, for a beauty like you to rot in this humid, disgusting cave,¡± He added, brushing my face with his finger. ¡°Get your disgusting finger off of my face! Don¡¯t you dare touch me again, you filthy monster!¡± I said to him as I glared right into his eyes. He paused, looked at me for a while, and out of nowhere; he let out a hysterical laugh as he suddenly disappeared, then reappeared floating in the air directly above me. His body facing mine, His face drew closer and closer until his nose touched my nose. He looked right into my eyes, with a fiery burning gaze sending shivers down my spine. ¡°Me? A monster?¡± He said with a calm, eerie voice. ¡°How dare you call me a monster? You, out of all people? The woman who killed thousands of people? You, who always stood on every battlefield you went to, drenched in blood, with bodies piling all around you?¡± He snorted. ¡°Did you forget your infamous nickname? ¡®The soul reaper¡¯ he burst in laughter . ¡°You¡¯re the one who was born with a rotten heart and soul, so don¡¯t you dare call me a monster! Stop denying your dark side you poor girl, stop rejecting the real you, YOU ARE the only monster in here Ellara and there¡¯s no denying that.¡± His words echoed in my ears; my head started throbbing and an excruciating pain surged through my body. "I''m a monster, I can''t deny it," I whispered to myself, the truth cutting through me like a knife. The urges that drive me, the thrill I feel when I shed blood, the sense of relief¡ªit''s all there, festering inside me. But even though I know this, why do his words hurt so much? Despite all the horrible things I''ve done, why do I feel like I''m the victim instead? Why do I feel wronged? Is it because he called me evil? Or do I perhaps consider myself a good person? Am I really perceived as evil by others, despite everything I''ve been through? The questions swirl in my mind, tormenting me with their unanswered weight. ¡°Woah missy, take it easy. You¡¯re losing a lot of blood already. You can¡¯t afford to lose even more.¡± He said sarcastically. ¡°Plus, are you pointing out that you¡¯re some kind of a victim?¡± He started laughing "Ellara, Ellara, Ellara..." His voice dripped with derision as he repeated my name. "My dear Ellara, I can''t believe you''re feeling sorry for yourself. Do you truly think you''re a victim here? You''re no victim in this scenario," he scoffed, disappearing and reappearing beside the wall to my right. With a sigh, he lamented, "This is getting tedious, watching you wilt and succumb to death, utterly dull," rolling his eyes in exasperation and he leaned his body against the wall. "Shut up! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" My voice cracked with desperation as I screamed, the words echoing off the walls of the cave. "If this is boring you so much, then why won''t you leave me alone? Why do you insist on tormenting me, even though I know you''re not even real?!" I yelled, gasping for breath. I tried to steady myself as I felt my heart pounding in my chest. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Not real? Are you still denying reality?" His laughter cut through the air. ¡°You¡¯re still going about that? You can''t escape from me, Ellara. I''m as real as the pain you''re feeling right now." His words dripped with malice, each syllable a reminder of my weakness. "Don¡¯t you get it yet? Don¡¯t you get who am I? After all this time?! Wow, I never thought that you¡¯re this foolish, well maybe you are indeed foolish, I mean look at you right now, So weak and feeble ¡± He burst in laughter, Looking at me like I was some kind of a pathetic injured animal, making fun of me with his fixated gaze. ¡°Get the hell out of my face! I¡¯m sick and tired of you and of your arrogant, annoying behavior! I don¡¯t.. aghhhh,¡± I gasped, holding my abdomen as the pain kept on rising. Feeling the knife penetrate deeper and pierce through me. "Darn it! I can''t pull this damn knife out! It''ll just make me bleed even more, and I can''t move anyway. My legs... I can''t feel them, I can''t move them. Is it the poison? What kind of poison is this? I''m losing my senses, and my vision... it''s getting blurry," I muttered through clenched teeth, frustration and anger coursing through me. "Ah..." He sighed mockingly. "The great Ellara Ashbourne, brought low by a mere knife wound. How the mighty have fallen," he snickered, his tone filled with disdain. "I''m infuriated!" My anger surged, a throbbing ache pulsating in my head. Ignoring his infuriating comment, I thought to myself, "If only I could kill him!" The mere idea was aggravating, adding fuel to the fire of my frustration. A poisonous knife stabbing me? The great Ellara Ashbourne? This is quite embarrassing for someone of my caliber. "Ahh .. maybe I should just give up and accept it," I murmured to myself, the weariness seeping into my bones. Each breath felt heavier, the desire to surrender growing stronger with each passing moment. "I''m so tired," I admitted, the thought of simply fading away becoming more and more appealing by the second. "Just let go... disappear into nothingness," I thought, longing for the sweet relief of death. ¡°So you¡¯re finally giving up?¡± He approached me and kneeled closely, whispering in my ears, feeling his hot breath tickling them. ¡°Are you going to leave him alive? After all that he¡¯s done to you? You¡¯re going to let him roam freely, enjoying his life after betraying you like that?¡± He added as he stroked my hair. ¡°Poor Ellara, trusting a mere man after living all your life trying to not trust anyone... And the moment you did.. He betrayed you and crushed you like you¡¯re nothing. I hate to say that I told you so, but I did warn you. I told you that you can¡¯t trust anyone but yourself, that he was playing you.¡° He said in an unexpected sweet voice. "Indeed... I am a fool." I whispered into the darkness of the cave, my voice trembling with emotion. "A fool for trusting a man, for loving him." Each word felt like a dagger, reopening old wounds that refused to heal. "I tried to believe in love, but look at me now," I continued, bitterness lacing my words. "Stabbed, bleeding, with this guy whispering like the devil in my ears. The uncertainty of his existence gnawed at me, a constant source of torment. Is he real or just a figment of my imagination?" I pondered aloud, the lines between reality and illusion blurring in my fractured mind. "He''s a mystery," I admitted, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Appearing out of nowhere, haunting me like a shadow." The memories of betrayal flooded back, raw and unyielding. "But he was right about one thing! He was right about not trusting you! The man who ruined me. YOU completely ruined me," I said, my voice trembling with rage. "I regret not ending you when I had the chance." The bitterness of betrayal lingered, a bitter reminder of my own naivety. "Why did I believe you, even when you destroyed everything I cared about?" The questions hung in the air, unanswered and haunting. "How desperate was I for your love?How embarrassing..." I scoffed bitterly, the irony not lost on me. "Didn''t I mock people who succumbed to this foolish notion of ''love''?" The words tasted like ash on my tongue, a cruel reminder of my own hypocrisy. "Yeah, that''s it," he whispered, his voice a sinister echo in the darkness. "Feel the pain. Let the anger consume you." His words were like poison, fueling the flames of my rage. "He left you behind, he betrayed your trust," he hissed, each syllable dripping with venom. "He''s the one who deserves to die, not you." His touch was like ice against my skin as he stroked my hair, his fingers a chilling reminder of the darkness that threatened to engulf me. "Drown deeper in your darkness," he urged, his voice a haunting refrain in my ears. "Just let it out." ¡°Yeah.. This isn''t the end. I won¡¯t let it end this way. I won¡¯t die here alone and let him live a happy life. I¡¯ll make him suffer! I¡¯ll make him pay! I¡¯ll make him grovel at my feet and beg for my mercy! I¡¯M COMING FOR YOU!¡± I said as a scream, filled with the rage that coursed through me, erupted from deep within. ¡°That¡¯s my girl¡± ¡®He said as he kneeled to print a kiss on my forehead. Episode 1: From the very beginning. My name is Ellara Ashbourne, and this is my story. Before I proceed to tell my tale, I must clarify something upfront¨CI am not the virtuous heroine who will impart a positive influence on those around me. Quite the contrary, I am the villainess. You might assume that unfortunate life events paved my path to villainy, but I must disappoint you; I was simply born this way. My existence serves a singular purpose ¨C to inflict harm on others and obliterate any obstacles in my path. I¡¯m simply born to act as a human weapon. I¡¯m a member of the Ashbourne family, renowned for our long and prestigious lineage. I hail from a family that played a crucial role in founding our kingdom, ¡°Aetherhelm¡±. You may be thinking, ¡°What luck to be born an ¡®Ashbourne¡¯!¡± However, allow me to burst that bubble; it is more of a curse than a blessing. As the third child of the family, I am the most despised and loathed. Considered a monster, I¡¯ve grown indifferent to their disdain. After all, who could blame them? I am, indeed, a monster. My father, Duke Lucius Ashbourne, a power-hungry person, was obsessed with acquiring an heir that possessed ¡°shadow magic¡±. A very rare and potent form of magic capable of controlling minds, manipulating souls, cursing people, and more. The problem lies in the fact that this magic has become extinct in our kingdom and the surrounding realms. Its origins remain shrouded in mystery. They only recorded it in the ancient royal archives of the royal library. Each noble family in our kingdom specializes in one of the elemental magic. The Ashbourne family excels in pyromancy, the manipulation of fire magic. We can wield, produce, and manipulate extremely powerful fire energy using our mana. This allowed the Ashbourne family to produce generations of skillful knights, commanders, and sword masters which made us one of the most elite families in four kingdoms but despite that, Duke Ashbourne, my so-called ¡°father¡± wanted more power. He simply wanted more. He neglected his role as the royal army commander, resigning to focus solely on obtaining ¡°shadow magic.¡± He became so possessed by the idea of having the ¡°shadow magic¡± and it made him nearly lose his mind. He kidnapped children from orphanages, seeking those with the potential for unique magic or possessing a considerable amount of mana. These unfortunate children became subjects of his experiments, conducted by skilled mages he brought from different kingdoms. Despite his relentless efforts, he failed to identify a candidate with shadow magic, turning him into a beast. As a result, he started drinking and lashing his anger in his drunken state at his wife, Duchess Maria Ashbourne, ¡°my stepmother¡±. He abused her whenever one of his experiments failed. He even neglected his two sons; Ellias, ¡°my oldest half-brother¡± who was 7 years old back then, and his second son Thorn, who was 3 years old. But suddenly, one day, Duke Ashbourne decided to leave Aetherhelm and travel to other kingdoms in pursuit of his elusive goal, leaving his family behind. After being absent for a whole year, he returned to the Ashbourne estate with a peculiar woman. She was a total beauty. Her unique features set her apart in the Aetherhelm kingdom¨Cextremely pale with fair skin, pointy ears, long pitch-black curly hair resembling the night sky, and most intriguingly, vivid red eyes, reminiscent of rubies or crimson blood. From this point onward, my dark and hellish journey began. 23 years back in time ¡­ ¡°Duchess Ashbourne!¡± The maid called, swinging the bedroom door open. ¡°What?! Why are you yelling and barging into my bedroom without knocking? Do you want to be fired, you insolent woman?!¡± "My apologies, Your Grace, for my rude behavior, but Duke Ashbourne is finally back,¡± she said in a panicked voice. ¡°What?! Lucius is back?! Where is he?¡± the duchess exclaimed with astonishment. ¡°He¡¯s at the front entrance, overseeing the servants unloading luggage and wooden boxes from the carriage.¡± ¡°Hurry! Hurry! Help me dress up then! What are you waiting for?!¡± the duchess ordered, swiftly discarding her nightgown. After donning her finest attire and jewelry, she rushed downstairs to meet Duke Ashbourne in the main living room. As she entered the room, she froze, taken aback by the scene before her¡ªLucius sitting on the sofa, holding the hand of a peculiar-looking woman while engaged in conversation. ¡°Lucius!..¡± she blurted out in shock. ¡°Oh, Maria, hello, my dear. It¡¯s been a long time,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°Yeah... Hello, dear. I¡¯ve missed you. You¡¯ve been gone for so long, but who¡¯s this woman beside you?¡± she asked hesitantly. ¡°Oh, yes, my dear. She¡¯s my new mistress. I present to you, Kalista,¡± he said, gesturing to the woman. ¡°What? Your mistress? What are you talking about, Lucius? Have you finally lost your mind?¡± ¡°Watch what you¡¯re saying, Maria! You¡¯re talking to Duke Ashbourne, the head of the Ashbourne family and the former commander of the royal army. How dare you insult me!¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°And you¡¯re talking to me, Maria Wittlebach, the eldest daughter of the previous chancellor of this kingdom. How dare you take a mistress while you¡¯re married to me?¡± She yelled furiously. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are! This woman here is carrying my child, the heir that I¡¯ve dreamed of having for years! The child that¡¯s going to carry the blood of a shadow mage! He¡¯s the future of the Ashbourne! The one that¡¯s going to make us the strongest house of all kingdoms!¡± ¡°What? A shadow mage? How?¡± she said in shock, holding her head. ¡°Your grace!¡± The maid screamed as she rushed to catch the duchess, who seemed about to faint from shock. ¡°Enough of this nonsense, Lara. Take the duchess to her chamber; she¡¯s clearly in great need of rest. Leave me alone with Kalista,¡± he said to the head maid, shooing her away with an annoyed look. ¡°As you command, your grace,¡± replied Lara with a confused and uncomfortable face, bowing her head to the duke. ¡°Let¡¯s go, your grace,¡± said Lara to Duchess Maria, supporting her to walk out of the living room. ¡°Now that everyone is gone, it¡¯s time to take you to your bed for you and my child to rest, my dear. Isn¡¯t that right, Kalista?¡± He said, bending to grab Kalista¡¯s chin with a mischievous grin on his face. Kalista nodded at him with a blank face, reaching out for his hand to stand up and go to her room, as he had instructed. After settling Kalista in her bedroom, Duke Lucius gathered all the servants. ¡°Listen up, everyone. Kalista is my mistress who¡¯s carrying my future child and heir. You¡¯ll face great consequences if anyone dares to even think to bother her or cause her any kind of discomfort. Understood?¡± Lucius said, glaring at the servants. ¡°Yes, your grace,¡± the servants replied together. ¡°Good. Now, Alice and Katherine, from this moment, both of you are her personal maids. Take care of her needs, be extremely careful, and monitor her pregnancy. If there¡¯s anything of importance, report to me immediately. Am I being clear?¡± ¡°Yes, your grace!¡± replied Alice and Katherine. ¡°One more thing. No one shall interact with Kalista or ask her any sort of questions. She¡¯s mute, plus she¡¯s very exhausted from the pregnancy. She doesn¡¯t have any time for your nonsensical questions, so If I catch or hear anyone being noisy around her, they will be fired immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, your grace,¡± the servants replied, nodding with scared faces. ¡°All right, that¡¯s it. If there¡¯s anything important, report it to me. I¡¯m going out, as I have some important matters to attend to,¡± he said, heading upstairs. ¡°Mikael, come here and help me dress.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± replied Mikael as he approached the duke. The servants started murmuring the moment the duke left the room. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± said Alice, with a confused look on her face. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think the duke has finally gone crazy,¡± replied the chef. ¡°Shush! Are you trying to get us fired?¡± Katherine shouted angrily. ¡°But didn¡¯t you all notice something, though? Did you see his mistress and the way she looks? Did you see the color of her eyes? They¡¯re super scary¡ªso red, like rubies. Plus, the way she looks at people... Her eyes seem so empty, and she has a blank, soulless face. Like she¡¯s some kind of puppet. Ugh,¡± Alice shrugged, troubled. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. The way she walks and acts doesn¡¯t seem normal. She¡¯s like a soulless doll, and she has no expressions on her face. I mean, even when the duke was arguing with the duchess and when he presented them to each other, she had no reaction whatsoever, which was really weird!¡± another servant said. ¡°That¡¯s so true! I noticed that too! She creeps me out, she has a weird aura around her...¡± added the chef. ¡°Enough with the chitchat, all of you! Do you want us to be caught and fired? Is that what you all want? It¡¯s none of our business! We¡¯re here to work and serve the Ashbournes. Let¡¯s not get noisy and get in trouble. Come on, chop chop! Everyone goes back to their work!¡± Katherine said, shooing the servants. ¡°Come on, Alice, let¡¯s go check the missus as the duke commanded us. Let¡¯s see if she needs anything,¡± added Katherine while grabbing Alice¡¯s hands and dragging her towards the stairs. Knock, knock... ¡°Excuse us, my lady,¡± said Katherine as she opened the door and entered Kalista¡¯s room. ¡°The duke ordered us to tend to your needs. Are you comfortable enough? Do you need anything from us?¡± Kalista shook her head to say no to Katherine as she lay in bed. ¡°Okay, my lady. Anyway, there¡¯s a bell attached beside your bed. If you pull the string, it will notify the staff that you need our help. Now, we¡¯re going to bring you your lunch. We¡¯ll be back. Excuse us,¡± said Katherine while bowing to Kalista and heading back to the door with Alice to exit the room. ¡°There¡¯s something weird about that woman, Katherine, I¡¯m telling you,¡± said Alice. ¡°Indeed, but what can we do? It¡¯s none of our business. We can¡¯t dig our noses into these kinds of things. None of us can risk being fired, Alice. Both of us need this job; our families need the money. So, let¡¯s stick it up, bow our heads, and get this over with.¡± ¡°Yeah... You¡¯re right. We can¡¯t afford to get in trouble, but... I can¡¯t help it. I get this weird feeling about the new missus, like she needs help or like she¡¯s here against her will or something...¡± replied Alice with a sad and confused face. ¡°Brought against her will? I don¡¯t think so. She seems too calm to be brought here against her will,¡± said Katherine. ¡°I don¡¯t know; maybe... Maybe I¡¯m imagining things. Whatever, let¡¯s just get to business and do our work like you said.¡± ¡°Exactly¡± replied Katherine as she rushed with Alice towards the kitchen. Episode 2: Vesper Obsidian. In the duke¡¯s room... ¡°Mikael, bring me my father¡¯s pocket watch from the drawer of the watches,¡± said the duke. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± replied Mikael as he headed toward the drawer to fetch the watch. ¡°By the way, Mikael, you¡¯re coming with me.¡± ¡°Of course, your grace. May I ask where we are going, my lord?¡± asked Mikael while attaching the pocket watch to the duke¡¯s suit. ¡°You¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll explain the matter when we get in the carriage.¡± ¡°Understood, my lord,¡± replied Mikael while putting the coat on Lucius. ¡°You may go ahead of me and tell the coachman to prepare the carriage; I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡± ¡°Right away, my lord. Excuse me,¡± replied Mikael while bowing to Lucius. As soon as Mikael left the room, the Duke approached the large painting of goddess Valeria (the goddess of magic and creation) hanging on top of his bed. He got on the bed and carefully lifted it, unveiling a concealed secret safe hidden behind the divine painting. Using magic, he touched the lock, and the safe opened automatically. As he turned the heavy safe door, a revelation awaited¡ªan assortment of mana stones gleaming in hues of ancient power, lying alongside a pile of gold bars and small bags, each brimming with golden coins. Lucius reached his hand to grab one of the bags, then he took a black, uniquely looking mana stone and put it in his pocket. He locked the safe door and put back the painting before heading down to the carriage. ¡°Take this, Mikael,¡± said Lucius while handing the money bag to Mikael. ¡°Keep it in your pocket; we¡¯re going to need this,¡± he added while getting in the carriage. Mikael took the money bag, put it inside his right pocket, and followed the duke into the carriage. In the meantime, in the duchess¡¯s room... ¡°Your grace, how are you doing? Is your head feeling better? Do you still have a headache?¡± said Lara while standing by the duchess¡¯s bed. ¡°Ah, Lara, I feel like dying! How could he do this to me?! How dare he humiliate me in front of all my people like that?! Bringing a mistress into my house, a woman that we don¡¯t even know who she is... Aghhh.¡± She held her head again with a frustrated and pained expression on her face. ¡°I can¡¯t let this slide, Lara! I can¡¯t let this happen to me. I endured all his crazy whims, his mood swings, and his violent attitude towards me all these years! I endured the loneliness and the way he neglected me and his kids, all for what? For him to cheat on me and steal my kid¡¯s heritage from them?!!!! We have to get rid of this woman and the baby that she¡¯s carrying at any cost. My kids are the only rightful heirs of the Ashbourne family!¡± She screamed in anger. ¡°Lara, try to find out who the duke appointed as personal servants for this woman and find out which one of them could become on our side and act as a spy for us. We need to find out EVERYTHING about her. Who is she? Where did she come from? Where and how did she meet Lucius... I want to know everything, EVERYTHING. If it takes hiring someone to dig around her, is it clear?¡± ¡°Yes, your grace, right away. Don¡¯t you worry, my lady; I¡¯ll do my best to eliminate this woman from your life. My loyalty lies with you, your grace; you¡¯re the only master that I serve and will always serve in this house.¡± ¡°Wait before you leave. Where are Elias and Thorn? Did they hear about their father¡¯s return?¡± ¡°No, your grace, I don¡¯t think so. Lord Elias is taking his piano lessons right now with his tutor, and lord Thorn is playing with his nanny as usual in his room.¡± ¡°Oh, thank god... Great then, you may leave now.¡± ¡°As you wish, your grace,¡± replied the head maid. Lara left the duchess¡¯s room with a determined face. ¡®I have to get rid of this mistress that Lord Lucius brought, no matter what, and as soon as possible. I must protect my lady, Lord Elias, and Lord Thorn,¡¯ she thought to herself. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.Back to the carriage carrying duke Lucius and Mikael... ¡°Mikael, you know how greatly I put my trust in you. You¡¯re my butler; you were by my side since I was 6 years old. You¡¯re the only person who knows me most, and this is the reason why I¡¯m bringing you with me right now. Listen carefully. What I¡¯m about to tell you is extremely important and must be kept a secret; we¡¯re now on our way to go meet Sir Vesper Obsidian,¡± Lucius said with a serious face while looking intently at Mikael. ¡°Vesper Obsidian!? THE Vesper Obsidian? The dark mage?!!¡± Mikael blurted with great shock in his voice. ¡°Yes,¡± replied Duke Lucius with an unfazed face. ¡°But why, my lord?! How do you even know where he is? No one knows anything about him since King Aurelius exiled him from our kingdom 18 years ago! He simply vanished into thin air.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t tell you how, but fortunately, I¡¯m one of the few people who know his current whereabouts. As for why I¡¯m seeking him, it¡¯s simply because I¡¯m in dire need of his help.¡± ¡°You need his help? Excuse my rude behavior, my lord; I know it¡¯s none of my business to ask you this, but I can¡¯t help but wonder why would you exactly need a dark mage¡¯s help?¡± ¡°Kalista...¡± Lucius said as he paused for a second. ¡°I need him to help me control Kalista.¡± ¡°Control her?¡± Mikael replied with an astonished face. ¡°Yes, Mikael. I need, no, I HAVE to mind control Kalista. I need to continue brainwashing her until she has my baby. I¡¯m currently controlling her mind using a special trancing spell on her right now using this stone,¡± he said as he pulled out a silver necklace with a uniquely shaped ruby stone attached to it from underneath his shirt. ¡°This stone here isn¡¯t a regular ruby; it¡¯s a ruby created from the flames of the ancient dragon ¡®Infernothrax.¡¯¡± ¡°You mean THE pyrogeist shard? Is this a pyrogeist shard?!¡± Mikael gasped. ¡°Exactly,¡± replied Lucius with a grin on his face. ¡°But where did you get it, my lord? It¡¯s an extinct stone?¡± asked Mikael curiously. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a secret heirloom that¡¯s been passed down for generations through the heads of the Ashbournes. So when I took over the title of Duke Ashbourne, this stone was given to me automatically.¡± ¡°But, my lord, I¡¯m curious about something. Why do you need to control Lady Kalista? Is she...¡± The carriage suddenly stopped. ¡°Your grace, we arrived at our destination,¡± the coachman said, interrupting the conversation. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of the carriage for now, and we¡¯ll continue our conversation on our way back home,¡± said Lucius as he got up to descend from the carriage. ¡°Certainly, my lord,¡± replied Mikael while following him out of the carriage. As they got out of the carriage, Mikael was surprised by what he saw¡ªan old cabinet in the middle of the woods, a thick mist surrounding them from everywhere as they stood in front of the house that they could barely see. ''Wait a second,'' said Mikael to himself. ¡°My lord! Isn¡¯t this the forbidden forest of the mist!¡± yelled Mikael in shock. ¡°Indeed it is, Mikael Ha ha ha,¡± replied the duke while bursting into laughter. ¡°Are you afraid? Why are you so shocked?¡± added Lucius. ¡°But, my Lord, this is an extremely dangerous forest! I didn¡¯t know we were coming in here; I didn¡¯t even pay much attention to our destination since I was focused on our conversation. My lord, this is too dangerous! This forest is filled with shadow walkers and shapeshifters!!¡± replied Mikael with a horrified face. ¡°Mikael, calm down; there¡¯s no need to be afraid with me around. This is kind of insulting; did you forget that I used to be the commander of the royal army and one of the most powerful members of the Ashbourne family?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord, but still...¡± ¡°Enough, stop this nonsense at once; I didn¡¯t bring you here to be such a nuisance!¡± Lucius shouted in anger ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lord...¡± ¡°Whatever, we don¡¯t have time for this; let¡¯s head to the house to meet Sir Vesper,¡± replied the duke as he headed toward the main entrance with Mikael following him from behind. Lucius started to knock on the door in a strange way: ¡°Knock..Knock Knock..Knock,¡± a knock, two knocks, then a single knock. They stood in front of the door for a minute, then suddenly, a man opened the door. ¡°Well, hello Duke Lucius; it¡¯s been so long since we met,¡± a dark-skinned, handsome man with silver hair and silver eyes said to the duke with an amused face. ¡°Indeed, Vesper, it¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve seen each other, my friend,¡± replied Lucius with a smile on his face. ''WHAT!!! This is Vesper?! How does he look so young when he¡¯s supposed to be in his sixties?!!!!¡¯ said Mikael to himself as he was overwhelmed with great shock. ''What the hell is happening here?'' Episode 3: "Youre finally here" ¡°Please, come inside,¡± Vesper gestured, holding the door open for Lucius and Mikael. Lucius and Mikael settled on the sofa in the living room. ¡°What would you like to drink? Tea, or perhaps some coffee? By the way, I have the chocolate truffle cookies that you like, Lucius,¡± Vesper said with a smile on his face. ¡°Fantastic! I¡¯d love some, along with a cup of coffee,¡± Lucius replied. ¡°And I would like some tea, please,¡± added Mikael. ¡°Right away,¡± said Vesper as he gracefully made his way to the kitchen ¡®So this is Vesper Obsidian¡¯s house,¡¯ Mikael thought to himself as he inspected every aspect of the living room. The house exuded a peculiar aura and magic energy embedded in its walls, detectable even to Mikael. A crackling fireplace, fueled by enchanted logs, warmed the room with ethereal flames. The chairs and the sofa, covered with red velvet, so soft and comfortable that they seemed to mold themselves to the comfort of each visitor. A polished oak table stood at the center of the room. The air surrounding them hummed with residual magic, creating an ambiance where the mundane and the mystical seamlessly intertwined. ¡®What a weird, suffocating aura. I can feel the magic and sense immense mana in the air...¡¯ Lost in his thoughts, Mikael¡¯s reflections got interrupted as Vesper returned with a tray bearing cookies and beverages. ¡°Here you go, gentlemen,¡± Vesper said, placing the treats on the table. ¡°So let¡¯s get to the point, Lucius. I know you came here because you need something,¡± Vesper addressed the duke as he sat on the chair beside him. ¡°Well, I need your help, Vesper. The pyrogeist shard in my possession is losing power after decades of use in my family, and frankly, you¡¯re the only one skilled enough to recharge and enhance it¡± ¡°You do realize that it won¡¯t be cheap. I¡¯m not interested in mere gold; I seek something more valuable.¡± Vesper said with a sly grin on his face, resting his head on his left arm, leaning on the chair¡¯s armrest, and crossing his legs. ¡°Sure, I do. That¡¯s why I brought this with me,¡± Lucius said, reaching his hand to his right pocket and pulling out the black mana stone. ¡°Ooh, A Nyxbane. Impressive, Duke Lucius Ashbourne, I expect no less from a man of your caliber.¡± Vesper burst into laughter. ¡°Very well, then. Give me the pyrogeist shard,¡± Vesper added, reaching his hand toward the duke. Lucius took off the necklace with the shard attached to it and gave it to him. Vesper took the shard, and with ancient words echoing through the air, he chanted the incantation. Each syllable carried a weight of ancient power, and as he traced mystical symbols in the air, the surrounding atmosphere shifted. The energy of the spell hummed, tangible, and potent. Holding the shard with both hands, the stone started to float and shine brightly. A chilling breeze spread through the room, and the air became heavy. "Arghh! I can¡¯t breathe properly... I feel like I¡¯m about to suffocate," said Mikael to himself, panting and gasping for air, watching this rare sight unfold in front of him. Vesper suddenly finished chanting; the heavy air became lighter, the light emitted from the shard faded away, and suddenly it fell back into Vesper¡¯s hands. ¡°Here,¡± said Vesper, handing the shard to Lucius. ¡°It will serve you well for three more years. After that, its powers can¡¯t be revived, since it has been charged by a different mana source other than that of the Infernothrax,¡± he added. ¡°Three years are more than enough,¡± replied Lucius as he took the pyrogeist shard. ¡°Here¡¯s the Nyxbane, as I promised you. Mikael, give him the bag of gold that I gave you,¡± he added. ¡°Right away, my lord,¡± replied Mikael, pulling the bag of gold out of his pocket and handing it to Vesper. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s always a pleasure to do business with you, Duke Lucius,¡± said Vesper, smiling as he took the bag of gold from Mikael. ¡°Likewise, Vesper. Excuse us now; we need to depart before night falls upon us. You know how dangerous this forest could be.¡± ¡°Sure, still, I know it¡¯s not a hard task for someone like you, Duke Lucius.¡± ¡°Well, yeah, that¡¯s true,¡± He replied with a cocky tone. After bidding their farewells, he and Mikael made their way to the awaiting carriage, setting a course back to the Ashbourne estate. An entire month passed since Kalista came to the Ashbourne estate. The duke spent nearly all his nights in Kalista¡¯s chamber, which drove Duchess Maria crazy. Feeling wronged and betrayed, she lashed out at everybody in the estate, the servants, and even her kids. ¡°Lara, did Ellias complete his piano lessons?¡± asked Duchess Maria. ¡°Yes, your grace. He¡¯s now taking a bath and preparing to come down for dinner,¡± replied Lara. ¡°Excellent. What about Thorn? Has the nanny attended to him?¡± Inquired the duchess as she skillfully cut a steak. ¡°Yes, your grace. Lord Thorn has had his meal, and he¡¯s already asleep in his bed¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± replied the duchess as she continued to cut the steak. Suddenly the dining room¡¯s ambiance took a chilly turn as Ellias, the duchess¡¯s son, entered, holding his nanny¡¯s hand. ¡°Hello, Mommy!¡± Ellias addressed the duchess with an excited face. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before to call me mother, not mommy?¡± Duchess Maria replied with an icy glare. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mother..¡± ¡°Hurry and take your seat.¡± ¡°Yes, mother,¡± Ellias replied with a downcast expression. He complied, taking his seat as instructed. An unsettling sensation spread all over the dining room and creeped all over the servants as they stood, anxiously awaiting the duchess¡¯ orders. Ellias started to fidget in his seat, struggling to use the fork. ¡°Oh lord, didn¡¯t the etiquette tutor teach him how to use utensils already?¡± Maria asked the nanny. ¡°Y-yeah, your grace, she did...¡± the nanny replied in panic. ¡°Agh, whatever. Take him back to his room and feed him there. I can¡¯t eat while watching him struggle to use a mere fork. What a disappointment,¡± replied the duchess as she shooed the nanny away with her right hand. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Right away, Your Grace,¡± the nanny rushed to get Ellias and took him to his room. After feeding him and changing his clothes, Ellias headed to his bed. ¡°Nina, does Mommy hate me?¡± Ellias asked his nanny, clutching the blanket tightly, his eyes brimming with tears. ¡°No, my lord, she doesn¡¯t! She loves you dearly. It¡¯s just that she¡¯s a little concerned about you; she wants you to grow into a fine gentleman,¡± answered Nina while she tucked Ellias into his bed. Nina started stroking his hair to calm him down, looking at him with a sad gaze, feeling sorry that Ellias wasn¡¯t getting the love he needed from his mother. She put his favorite teddy bear right beside him. ¡°Goodnight, my lord, sweet dreams,¡± she kissed him on his cheeks and took the lamp with her as she left Ellias¡¯ chamber. Nina headed to her room, lost in her thoughts, feeling so sad for Lord Ellias. She suddenly started to feel an eerie air filling the corridor. She stopped and held her lamp higher to see clearer. A chilling feeling crawled all over her skin. She looked behind her, but there was nothing; the corridor seemed empty. She shrugged and kept on walking, the sound of her steps echoing in the big empty corridor until she got closer to Kalista¡¯s room. The air grew thicker, and it became harder to breathe. ¡°What¡¯s happening? What is this feeling?¡± Nina muttered in fear, holding tightly onto the lamp. Suddenly, a bright red light beamed from underneath the door of Kalista¡¯s chamber. Nina covered her eyes from the blinding light, stepping back from the door until she hit the wall behind her, almost dropping the lamp in her hand. She gasped. ¡°Good gracious! I made too much noise!¡± she whispered to herself, covering her mouth in fear. Suddenly, the lights started to fade slowly, and an awkward silence spread all over the place. Then, out of nowhere, she heard steps getting closer to the door. In a panic, Nina blew on the lamp to dim the lights and ran to hide around a right turn in the corridor. Breaking into a cold sweat, she held her mouth with both hands to stifle any sound. As she heard the door¡¯s doorknob squeak and the door creak open, her breath quickened. Her curiosity kicked in. ¡°There¡¯s no harm in taking a little sneak peek, right? It¡¯s pitch dark in here; there¡¯s no way whoever got out of the room could see me from there.¡± She told herself as she leaned into the corner to take a look. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Mikael and Duke Lucius? What are they both doing at Lady Kalista¡¯s chamber?!¡± she muttered to herself. As she watched Mikael and the duke whispering to each other, she took two steps back to leave quietly. ¡°What¡¯s going on in here? What was Mikael doing with the duke in Lady Kalista¡¯s room at this hour? This is so weird, and that weird red light... I need to know what¡¯s going on,¡± she thought to herself as she headed to her room. ¡°Good morning, your graces,¡± the servants greeted Duchess Maria and Duke Lucius as they entered the dining room. ¡°How¡¯s Ellias? Has he manifested his powers?¡± Lucius said as he pulled a chair to sit down. ¡°No, not yet,¡± Maria replied, avoiding eye contact with the duke. ¡°Not yet? He¡¯s going to turn ten years old in a few months, and he still didn¡¯t manifest his powers?! I manifested mine when I was six years old! SIX!¡± He yelled, punching the dining table with his left fist. Maria looked down with nothing to say, unable to look the duke in the eyes. ¡°Your grace!!¡± a maid burst into the room. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with Lady Kalista! I think she¡¯s going into labor, but she¡¯s bleeding heavily!¡± she added, gasping for breath. ¡°She¡¯s going into labor?!! But the physician said there are still two weeks left!¡± Lucius said in panic, sprinting out of his seat. ¡°Lady Kalista, hang in there!¡± Katherine screamed in fear. ¡°Alice! Run and bring me more towels, hurry!¡± ¡°Good gracious!! What is this!!¡± another maid yelled as she fell onto the ground, looking in utmost terror at Kalista¡¯s baby bump. A chill spread all over Katherine¡¯s body as she saw the maid¡¯s horrified look on her face. She turned her head to see Kalista¡¯s baby bump; she gasped. Black veins started to appear all over Kalista¡¯s bump; the baby within her began to move rapidly, leaving visible footprints kicking through her skin. ¡°Oh, goddess Aegisia, shield us in this desperate hour, wrap us in your protective power, guardian of safety! Protect us!¡± Katherine started praying as she held her necklace of goddess Aegisia that hung from her neck, trembling in fear, unable to move. Duke Lucius burst into the chamber, accompanied by the physician. They froze at the sight of the scene in front of them. A silken mist of black shadows filled the room, forming intricate patterns in the air. The physician froze in fear, unable to move to help Kalista. ¡°What are you doing?!! Why are you still standing here like an idiot?!! Go do your job! Deliver the baby!¡± Lucius screamed at the physician, grabbing his arm and squeezing it hard. ¡°B-but my lord, I-I can¡¯t!¡± the physician stuttered in fear. ¡°Do you want to die?! If you don¡¯t deliver the baby safely, I assure you, you¡¯ll get out of here only as a corpse!¡± Lucius said, grabbing the physician¡¯s collar and pulling him close to his face. The physician gulped, looking into the determined, frightening eyes of the duke. ¡°U-understood, my lord. I¡¯ll do whatever I can,¡± the physician replied in panic, and rushed to Kalista¡¯s side. He inspected her heart rate with his hand, and a panicked look took over his face. ¡°You there!¡± He pointed directly at the panicked maid; demanding her attention. ¡°Bring me clean linens, scissors, more hot water, more clean towels, and some celestial emberroot to help induce the labor! Hurry before we lose the mother and the baby!¡± He screamed at her. ¡°And you two there, come help me deliver the baby!¡± The physician said to Alice and Katherine. The maid hurried out of the room. Duke Lucius looked at the scene unfolding in front of him in total panic and fear. The fear of losing his only hope. He started to pace the room as anxiety took over him, sneaking a peek once in a while at what was happening with the delivery. The maid came back with another servant with the equipment that the physician demanded. The physician kept wiping the excessive blood that kept oozing from Kalista. He grabbed the celestial Emberroot and started enchanting a spell. Kalista screamed at the top of her lungs. Alice and Katherine tried to hold her down. The physician kept enchanting while Kalista kept on screaming with pain until he saw the legs coming out. ¡°Oh, no!¡± He said panicking. ¡°It¡¯s a breech birth! Oh! Goodness gracious!¡± he said as he paused for a second. ¡°Hold her tight! I¡¯m going to cast a protection spell on the baby and continue on using the Emberroot to induce the baby!¡± the physician said to Alice and Katherine. ¡°What about Lady Kalista? Is she going to be okay?!¡± Alice said in a trembling voice. The physician paused, hesitant to reply. He looked back at the duke. ¡°Prioritize the baby!! I don¡¯t care what happens to the mother! Deliver the baby safely at all costs!¡± Lucius yelled in a voice filled with anger and anxiety. Alice and Katherine looked at the duke in utter shock at his response. The physician went back to enchanting the spells as he got confirmation from the duke. The baby started to come out of Kalista as the physician kept on enchanting the spell, slowly revealing the face of the baby. The physician cut the umbilical cord as he held the baby. He stood up with a terrified expression on his face as he held the baby in his hands. ¡°I-I-It¡¯s a girl..¡± the physician stuttered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you standing there like an idiot!! Give her to me!¡± the duke said angrily, approaching the physician to take the baby. As he reached to take her from his arms, he froze in his place. The baby had a right pitch-black eye, and a left red eye shimmering with a shadowy hue. She had short, sharp claws instead of regular fingernails and a peculiar birthmark on her umbilical area that gave off an eerie glow. The birthmark resembled an intricate, twisted knot. Lucius cradled the baby in his arms with the utmost care, as if he were holding a precious and fragile treasure. ¡°You¡¯re finally here.. My precious Ellara, yes, Ellara. That¡¯s your name, a name befitting the next most powerful heir in the history of the Ashbourne family,¡± Lucius¡¯s voice trembled with an obsessive fervor as he whispered the name ¡°Ellara.¡± The words slithered from his lips with an eerie intensity, the gleam in his eyes betraying a madness that clung to every syllable. It was not the utterance of a proud father but the manifestation of an unsettling fixation, as if he believed the very name held a power that transcended the ordinary. The air itself seemed to shiver in response to the weight of his words, leaving an indelible mark on the room. ¡°My lord, I think we lost Lady Kalista,¡± Katherine said with a sad, anxious face as she looked at the duke. Episode 4 : The lust for blood 16 years into the future... ¡°Harder! Concentrate on the energy of the mana channeling inside you! Feel the flame of your power in your core and try to spread it all over your body!¡± Lucius screamed at Ellara as he kept hitting the magical whip made of his flames onto the floor in anger. The whip cracked through the air with a sharp hiss. The impact reverberated through the room, leaving a lingering echo that seemed to hang in the air like a sinister whisper. Ellara stood in the barren and cold underground chamber, filled with dust and spider webs, drenched in sweat and covered with blood and burn marks. Both her ankles were chained to the floor. Panting from exhaustion and the pain from her burns, she closed her eyes and tried to concentrate as her father told her. ¡°Breath¡± she told herself. ¡°Breath... Feel the energy inside of you, use the anger and pain to fuel it...Make it burn! I want to feel it burn inside of me. I meed the anger and hate to take over me and make it all go away... Just let it all out... Let the shadows take over.¡± She opened her eyes and looked at the duke. A heated energy started to intensify. The beads of sweat on her skin started to evaporate into the air. The oppressive heat seemed to seep from her pores, enveloping her in a shimmering haze. The surrounding air began to ripple and distort even more, mirage-like, as the sweat evaporated into the wisps of scalding steam that danced and swirled around her, creating a suffocating aura of blistering heat. Suddenly, black shadows started to engulf her body, mixing with the steam of heat around her, encroaching upon her eyes slowly. A chilling transformation took hold. Like tendrils of inky blackness, the shadows slithered into her gaze, consuming every trace of color until her eyes became abyssal pools of pure darkness. No glimmer of light left behind. With a steady hand, Ellara extended her arm, fingers curling into a commanding gesture. Fire and shadows danced in macabre harmony, engulfing her outstretched palm as she directed the unleashed power toward Lucius. ¡°Kill,¡± Ellara commanded the shadows. As they gushed towards Lucius. He swung his hand to create a fire barrier and deflect the attack. ¡°HAHAHA! Yeah, this is it! This is what I¡¯m talking about!¡± He laughed hysterically as he run his finger through his long black hair. Ellara stood still with the shadows still engulfing her. She raised her hand to attack Lucius again. ¡°Now calm the fuck down you little demon¡± He said with an evil smirk on his face as he interrupted her upcoming attack. He raised his hand, his fingers outstretched, tracing an elegant figure-eight in the air with a fluid motion. Glaring at Ellara with amusement in his eyes as he summoned the energies that bound the shackles around her two ankles. With a subtle twist of his wrist, commanding the metal restraints to respond. A powerful electricity started to surge through her body. She fell down on her knees, screaming from the intense pain. Unable to move, she lifted her head to look at the ceiling as she kept screaming. ¡°Yes,¡± a whisper echoed in her right ear. ¡°Suffer,¡± it whispered again. Ellara started to scream even louder as the electricity intensified. Lucius waved with his hand to command the power surging through the shackles to stop. ¡°This is what happens when you even think to harm your own father, you ungrateful piece of shit! You should only do what I command you to do and stay put. Don¡¯t you ever think that you can surpass me just because you possess that kind of power? I¡¯m the one in control here and I¡¯ll always be! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!¡± Lucius shouted, his voice filled with anger and hostility, echoing through the empty cellar with an unsettling intensity. ¡°Ugh... I-I¡¯m so sorry, Fa-father,¡± Ellara managed to utter between gritted teeth, each word a struggle against the searing pain coursing through her body. ¡°Fine, whatever, I¡¯m so sick of your rebelling. I don¡¯t understand why won¡¯t you just listen to me? Hum? I¡¯m your father Ellara¡± He said as he walked towards her. He kneeled down and started to stroke her hair and running his fingers through it. ¡°I love you Ellara, you¡¯re my beloved child, my pride... I just want you to be better, Elly, you have to understand that you¡¯re different from everyone around you! You have potential, so much potential Elly, you could be the most powerful person on this earth and you can rule this land. You could even be a goddess! Just listen to your daddy, hum? Okay? Just listen to me and everything will be fine. ¡± He said with a soothing voice as he grabbed a lock of her hair and sniffed it. ¡°Elly, everything will be okay. I¡¯m doing this for your own good. Daddy will never harm you¡± He pulled her head closer to his chest and hugged her softly. ¡°I know, father...¡± Ellara whispered with a weak voice. ¡°I know you do¡­¡± ¡°Good girl¡± Lucius patted her head and got up. ¡°Mikael!¡± He yelled. ¡°Take care of Ellara, treat her wounds and give her new clothes before she gets out of here¡± He snapped his fingers to release the shackles around Ellara¡¯s ankles. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Replied Mikael as he appeared, holding a white towel in his hands. ¡°All right, I¡¯m going to have a shower and go out, I have some business to tend to. So finish up with Ellara and come to my room, I need your assistance.¡± ¡°Yes my Lord, I¡¯ll finish with my lady and come right back to you¡± Lucius headed to the stairs and left the empty, cold cellar. Mikael stood looking at Ellara who was sitting on the floor, covered in bruises, burns and sweat. The room was cold and humid. The smell of smoke and burned flesh was all over the place. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Ellara¡¯s face was etched with agony as she sat upon the ground, her body wracked with pain from the wounds inflicted upon her. Yet, beneath the physical torment, there was a haunting emptiness in her eyes, a vacant stare that seemed to pierce through the veil of her suffering. It was a soulless gaze, devoid of emotion, as if she were slowly losing herself to the depths of despair. Mikael kneeled down and put his hand on her right shoulder. ¡°My lady, are you alright?¡± He said while he wiped her face, covered with dirt and blood, with the towel. ¡°I¡¯m fine Mikael, don¡¯t worry, I just need some ointment for my burns,¡± ¡°Right away, my lady. I¡¯ll bring the and ointment and a new dress for you real quick¡± Mikael said as he got up and headed to the stairs in a hurry. Ellara sat down on the floor, exhausted. She started to breathe heavily as she closed her eyes and lifted her head up. Her long black hair cascaded down her back. A loud ringing started in her ears. ¡°Ah, I feel like killing someone,¡± Ellara whispered in exhaustion. ¡°I just want to rip someone apart, remove their intestines and just revel in the scent of blood¡± she gritted her teeth so hard and let out a loud scream tinged with both anger and frustration, the sound sharp and piercing, yet laden with so much emotions. Ellara started pounding the floor with her right fist over and over, releasing her anger until her hand couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. Her fist grew rigid, blood coating the floor as she struggled to contain her emotions. ¡°My lady! Please stop hurting yourself!¡± Screamed Mikael as he hurried to stop Ellara. ¡°My lady, you should stop doing this! You should stop resorting to harming yourself whenever you¡¯re overwhelmed with emotions,¡± said Mikael as he wiped the blood off Ellara¡¯s hand before applying the ointment on it. ¡°I can¡¯t Mikael, I feel this relentless urge that¡¯s eating me from the inside! I can¡¯t help it, it¡¯s like a screw jammed into my mind and I can¡¯t get it out!¡± Mikael looked at her silently as he continued to tend to her wounds, unable to answer her or even console her. ¡°My lady, here¡¯s a clean new dress. Please change into it before getting out of here. I¡¯m going to give you your space and go to tend to the duke since he needs me. Is there anything else I can help you with before I leave my lady?¡± ¡°No thank you Mikael, it¡¯s fine, you can go,¡± she replied. ¡°Alright my lady, excuse me then.¡± He offered a solemn bow to Ellara before making his way to the stairs, intending to exit the cellar. Pausing for a moment, he cast one last glance at Ellara, his heart heavy with unspoken words. Despite his desire to offer comfort, the weight of the situation left him speechless. With a clenched fist, he turned away, leaving Ellara behind as she sat in pain on the ground. After calming herself down for a while, she finally stood up and changed into the new dress that Mikael gave her and threw the old one in a corner. She stood for a second in the middle of the cold cellar; clenching her fists, trying to control her breathing and her emotions. ¡°You need to kill something to calm yourself down. Breathing won¡¯t do you any good,¡± something whispered in her right ear. Ellara eye¡¯s widened in astonishment the second that she heard the whisper, causing her to jerk in surprise. Despite the absence of anyone beside her in the cellar, the sensation sent shivers down her spine, leaving her perplexed and unnerved. She started to look around her, checking again if there¡¯s anyone beside her in the cellar, but the quietness was all over the place. No one was there beside her. ¡°Am I finally losing my mind?¡± She said to herself in disbelief. She shook her head and breathed deeply again, and headed to the stairs to get out of the cellar. Stepping out of the dark humid cellar, Ellara was met with the blinding brightness of the sun. She quickly raised her left arm to shield her eyes from its harsh rays. It was spring. The weather was warm and flowers were everywhere. You can smell the intoxicating fresh smell of lilies all over the place. Which made Ellara feel nauseous. She hated flowers, but her stepmother loved them, especially lilies. The estate¡¯s back garden contained a variety of lilies that surrounded the main fountain. Ellara covered her nose in disgust as she hurried to the little wooden door that leads to the forest that surrounded the Ashbourne¡¯s estate. ¡°I have to hunt something right away or I¡¯m going to lose my mind!¡± said Ellara as she started to run through the forest. ¡°I think I can find a deer on the west side of the forest! I¡¯ll just use thermospatial magic to detect if there¡¯s any in there¡± She stopped, closed her eyes, ¡°Ignis sensum¡± she uttered, lifting her right hand toward the sky before tracing a circular motion in the air, invoking the magic to detect any kind of body heat or motion nearby. ¡°Okay! There¡¯s indeed three deer in the west! Excellent!¡± she said with a smirk on her face, her excitement evident as she dashed towards the western edge of the forest. She dashed through the forest, weaving between trees and ducking under low branches. The bushes rustled as she passed, her footsteps quick and light on the forest floor. She halted as soon as she spotted her target, her eyes locking onto it with determination. The male deer stood tall and proud, its antlers branching out like a crown atop its head. Its fur was a rich chestnut color, dappled with shades of gold in the sunlight filtering through the trees. With muscles rippling beneath its sleek coat, it exuded an aura of strength and grace. ¡°An excellent prey, this is exactly what I need¡± Ellara¡¯s voice carried a chilling edge. Her words betrayed a deep-seated craving for the hunt, her desire for blood and the thrill of the chase simmering just beneath the surface. Her eyes gleamed with dark intensity as she extended her hand towards the deer, her voice resonating with eerie authority. She murmured, her words laced with a chilling command. ¡°KILL¡±. The shadows responded to her summons, swirling around the unsuspecting deer with a sinister embrace, obeying her every command with ruthless efficiency. As the black shadow started to close in on the deer, Ellara¡¯s focus faltered as a rustling sound emerged from the nearby bushes. She stopped casting the shadow magic, turning her attention towards the disturbance to see who or what was there.