"Daniel! Daniel!" I called his name, but there was no response. Just now I felt a strange wave of unease pass over me. I was calling him to question these doubts.
It had already been a full week since I woke up, but for some reason, my strength was only returning slowly. I summed it up to the binding curse I had cast on Isabella being too much for my body to handle. However, just now, the feeling I felt made me think that something else must've been the cause.
Furthermore, Daniel still hadn't responded to any of my yells.
I stood up from bed, stumbling. I quickly balanced myself. It was like I'd forgotten how to walk. Once I made it to the bedroom door, I opened it.
"Daniel? Are you-" Another wave of unease washed over me. I shivered, holding the wall for support. "Daniel?"
"Evil Witch." Someone cursed. I was standing before Daniel, who was held by Sir Shane.
Sir Shane wielded his blade, placing it at Daniel's neck. How he was able to subdue the magic user alone was confusing, but I had no time to question it. Without a second thought, I raised my hand, and a gust of wind blew dagger into the wall. Another gust of air pushed Shane away from Daniel.
"Daniel! You-" A headache interrupted my words. I groaned, feeling an involuntary shiver run down my spine.
"Elodie!" Daniel shouted worriedly.
Shane came forward before Daniel could, raising a fist and preparing to launch it into my head. I averted his hit. Amidst my disorientation, I managed to summon a small orb of magic. I pushed my palm against his gut.
Shane hunched over from the impack, stumbling away with a jerk. His eyes glimmered with hate. I could barely understand it. "You..."
"How did he find us?" I ignored and turned to the boy beside me.
Daniel looked away regrettably. "I'm so sorry—the magic barrier suddenly—I don't know what happened!"
Shane was still angrily staring at me. "Such a coward you are, hiding away here when..."
With a look of distaste, I fluttered my fingers in his direction, brushing my hand over his face. "Go to sleep."
Shane's eyes fluttered before he fell to the ground.
Daniel faced me, stunned. "Your magic is still so strong! How did-"
"Definitely, not the time, Daniel." I cut him off, looking around to the door of the mansion. "If the magical barrier is broken, we need to leave. Teleport us somewhere."
Daniel's face darkened; he frowned. "I... I can't."
I huffed impatiently. Not only did I have to break my meditation practice to come save him, but now he couldn't perform a simple teleportation spell. "Why is that?"
"It- isn't working."
"Daniel, we don't have time to-"
"Look."
I watched as his hands waved in the air. He was a basic magic level-checking spell. When his palms lifted, however, there was a small flicker of blue flame that died seconds later.
I looked up at him, alarmed. "Try again."
His hands twisted rapidly, but when his palms lifted, there wasn't even a flicker of magic to be seen. I stepped closer to him; my expression couldn't help but turn grim. "Stay still."
With my own hands, I checked his magic level, placing them on his shoulders. I felt nothing but an emptiness.
"Daniel," I looked up at him, realizing the severity of this issue. "What happened?"
He pursed his lips, also alarmed. "I'm—I'm not sure. There was this unnerving sensation that I felt and suddenly-"
"—like a jolted shiver?"
He nodded. "Exactly!"
My face grew serious. "Daniel, when was that?"
"About an hour ago?"
I raised my hand, focusing, and changed out of the sleep gown I was in. While I managed to do so without intense strain, I could feel the same shiver run down my spine. It faded quickly soon after.
"We need to leave." I spoke after, picking up Sir Shane's sword. It would be dangerous for me to leave him here with it after such a sudden attack. What could've possibly gotten into him?
"What? But-"
"My magic is fading." I finally sighed. "The barrier around Adam's house was deactivated. I can't waste my power trying to teleport. We need to go."
Daniel's eyes widened in shock, which he quickly covered up, trying not to show his fear. "Y-Yes, Elodie."
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
"I don't understand. How could you keep this from me?" I questioned the man I could barely see. We were standing in the basement of my house; the secluded darkness prevented me from making out his exact expression.
To my obvious dismay, Barret only pushed up his glasses calmly. "You've been under the effect of the crystal shard for so long. It's only natural-"
"How can you remain so calm?" I grew agitated. "My-my own memories... how could-"
"Right now, sir, we don't have time to dilly dally. If my predictions are correct, the royal guards will be on there way here."
"W-What?" I shook my head. "I am still a general. How could they think go against me?"
"That's not it, sir. The crystal shard has been damaged; Princess Isabella must be taking her last attempt to kill Elodie."
"Kill?" My heart filled with nervousness. Were things really this serious now? "They won't find Elodie here."
"If they find you, they will easily find her." He said it with a straight face.
"Barret, you aren't making any--"
"Lady Elodie was closest to you, sir. Before the war." He told me. I scoffed, but internally, I found myself believing him. "It is the truth, sir. And the fact that you don't remember her... it's..." Barret cleared his throat. "Regardless. I shall escort you to safety. "
As he was speaking, I heard loud voices from upstairs.
"Adam! Adam?!" A familiar voice called out. It was her. It was Elodie.
Barret's eyes narrowed at me the moment I opened my mouth. "Do not answer."
I stared at him, furrowing my brows. "You can't be serious."
"If she knows you are here, you will be putting her in danger."
"Adam!" Elodie called once more. Her voice echoed through the walls of my house. I could hear her anxiousness. Did she think I was under attack? Is that why she came back?
"I have to answer, Barret."
His eyes grew serious. "Be rational, sir."
My expression reflected his own. "Rational? You think that saying will help your case, Barret? All this time, you have been hiding the truth from me? What is to say I can trust you?"
"I only did it to protect you." Barret bowed. "Sir-"
"Elodie has saved my life, time and time again. If things really are as you say,
"Adam!?" Elodie's voice grew desperate. Something inside my chest was stirred.
"You should know very well what my answer will be." I clenched my hands. "The sword, Barret."
Despite the seriousness in my voice, my butler didn't move.
"Adam!!" Elodie called for me again, perhaps her final attempt—her voice sounded labored with devastation.
"Barret." I repeated, staring at the cased sword. "That was an order."
Finally, he lifted his hands and performed some kind of technique. I never even knew he could use magic. Perhaps another one of his secrets. "I hope you are making the right choice, sir."
The glass casing around the sword disappeared. I reached for the sword immediately, urgency guiding my movement.
But, the moment I planted my fingers around the handle, the rush of vivid memories caused me to feel faint. The faintest turned to sleepiness, and I felt my body hit the floor seconds later. Darkness took over.
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
"E-Elodie. I don't believe he is here."
"He has to be."
"Elodie."
"Quiet!" I scowled, but it came out fearful. "Adam!!" I shouted his name again. "Daniel, check upstairs this second. We must find him."
"What if the troops already-"
"No!" I clenched my hands, running up the stairs. "Can't you be useful this once, Daniel? No, I'll find him myself. Adam! Adam!"
I ran from room to room, searching everywhere, including the parts of his house I'd never seen before. He must be here. He had to be. A familiar feeling began flooding my chest. And with every empty room, the flood would rise higher in my throat.
As I walked down stairs, another jolted shiver ran down my spine. It propelled my determination, so I gritted my teeth and gripped hold of the railing, walking faster.
'My magic...' I started to think. It felt just like those years I spent locked away. Cold. I had to find Adam before the rest of it faded.
"Adam!"
I walked faster. Daniel was at the bottom, staring at me. His gaze made me angry, so full of pity. "Daniel. That barrier was the strongest of my current magic." I spoke coldly. "How did it come down so easily?"
"Elodie- I-"
"Daniel." I blinked many times as to prevent my eyes from growing misty. "Where is Adam?"
He shook his head. "The barrier fell over an hour ago. I can't-"
"Then find him!!" The tables and vases suddenly fell over.
"Elodie, your eyes." Daniel took a step back. But I didn't care. Fear wouldn't help anyone in this situation.
"I don't care." I swallowed. "Isabella did this. She is the one who..." I shut my eyes, ignoring their sting. If it weren't for her, none of this would've happened. The war, the Queen and King's death, my death. Adam's. Adam's death.
My memory flashed back to that day on the battle field. Adam was stabbed. Adam died in my arms. Was history going to repeat itself? How could I stop this?
When I felt another shiver, it brought me to my knees. Even Daniel didn't come to my side, perhaps fearful that I would lash out again.
But I didn't have it in me to. Years of anger and vengeance had suddenly dissipated. All I could feel was an unspeakable amount of sadness. "Adam." I called out, hoping he would appear in front of me.
"Elodie."
I lifted my hand; a green glow was replaced with a sword. "Where is-"
I opened my eyes. Adam was staring back at me. A soft smile bloomed on his lips, reassuring. "Here. I'm right here."