The morning in the Capital was really calm. The air smelled like stone and fresh bread. This should have made Elara feel safe.. As she cleaned a small cut on a soldiers arm in the infirmary her hand started to shake. It even felt really cold.
[System Notification: Essence Depleted.]
[Current Status: Frail Human.]
[Time remaining until 'True Silence': 180 Days.]
A blue screen popped up in her vision. It was like it was making fun of her. She had given up her powers to save Mina. Now she was like a clock running out of time.
"Is it done, Healer?" the soldier asked, looking at his arm.
Elara pulled her hand away. The cut was gone. The skin around it was a little purple. This was because of the Abyssal Grace that she couldn't fully control. "It's done. Just be careful with it."
The soldier left. Then a tall man in a black suit came out from behind a medicine cabinet. Lucian didn't say anything. He just tapped his cane on a jar of leeches. It broke.
"You owe me money, Elara " Lucian said. His voice was smooth and scary.
"The contract is over " Elara said. She stood up. Grabbed a scalpel. "I don't owe you anything."
Lucian laughed. It was a sound that made the shadows in the room move towards her. "You stopped the service contract, Elara.. The Lease on Life is different. You are alive because of me.. Now you have to pay more than before.
He came closer. His eyes looked really scary. "The Silver Hand is gone.. The old Alphas have found out about your sisters special light. They're coming for the 'Twin Eclipse.' If you want to stay alive you have to find me the Primal Core."
[New Main Quest: The Primal Hunt.]
[Objective: Locate the Heart of the First Alpha's Father.]
[Reward: Permanent Human Stability + Class Evolution.]
[Failure: Total Soul Dissolution.]
"I am nt working for you anymore " Elara said.
"You aren't my worker " Lucian said. He came close to her. "You're the bait. How long do you think you can hide the heartbeat in your body? The one that is not yours?"
Elara froze. She put her hand on her stomach. She hadn't told Mina about this. She hadn't told anyone.
"The 'First Alpha' didn't just want a heart " Lucian whispered. "He wanted a child.. It seems you are carrying his child."
[Warning: Unknown Lifeform Detected!]
[Status: Level 0 Monarch Embryo.]
Elaras vision was blurry. The world felt like it was spinning. She wasn't a healer who was going to die. She was carrying a child that could change the world.
"Mina!" Elara screamed.. The door to the infirmary closed and turned black.
"Mina can't hear you " Lucian said. He opened his umbrella and the ceiling started to leak water. ". The Alpha King of the South can hear you. He is already, at the city gates. He doesn't want your soul, Elara. He wants his child."
[Combat Alert: The Southern Horde has arrived!]
[Difficulty: Nightmare.]