CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Twenty-five

AUTHOR

The howling of the wind caused Aadya's eyes to open. She was covered in a cold sweat, shaking, and her heart pounding. Her blurry gaze instantly went around the room, she felt wary and paranoid as though the horror might have followed her back to reality, upon looking around the room, her gaze fell on the sole fella she had tried to rescue.

A few steps away he stood "My apology" The words came forth as she stared confusedly at him. "I had only allowed myself in since you had called to me" His mild face stood foreign though she didn't utter a word back and turned to gaze at the empty bed and then to the open window "I had to open the window since you needed the air" He clarified, his accent evident in the manner in which he had portrayed his words, even though his expression was mild it yet stood puzzling. Aadya swallowed calmly trying to recollect herself.

It is mystifying that it wasn't the first night she had awakened to see a vacant bed, yet not to invade she had retained herself from raising a question. "Are you alright?" His voice came off again snapping Aadya off her thoughts.

"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry to have troubled you" she says swallowing the lump in her throat. Alisdair stood there gazing back at her, his eyes indicating his doubts about her words, though he never made any attempt to dispute nor moved from his spot.

Yet again he asked. “Are you in pain?" His eyes were mildly raised as they somehow pleaded to hear her.

Aadya rose from the bed, her cream nightgown flowing magnificently down her slim body. "I assure you Alisdair, I'm all right. You should retire to your room" She told him dismissively moving to shut down the window.

Alisdair nodded "As you wish" He muttered and start to walk to the door. By the time she turned by the window, he was thus far at the door, a solo silent stare at her before he shut the door. Aadya let out a sigh as she dropped to the bed, it had only been yet a day since they had met and now she was being awoken by a nightmare.

Next to her door, Alisdair stood for a while before leaning against the wall, in spite of the fact that she had assured him of being alright Alisdair could yet feel she was much unnerved to return to sleep. The energy he had felt from her was so massive, it was only a nightmare though somehow it felt so real, the pull he did feel was much, one that came with a bizarre dark aura, and yet the maiden had said otherwise.

He leaned his head backwards, crossing his arms over my chest, verily he would be dwelling there for the remainder of the night.

Thus far midday when Alisdair assembled his path into the old sorcerer's compartment. "We would be departing by dawn" The young legend let know to him standing a few steps from the entrance.

"You should rest more days" Ambrose proposed putting off his glasses before closing up the reader he was undergoing.

Alisdair took a step forward, positing in a warlike form "I appreciate your worries, however, I would be renouncing the offer. My people are waiting back home" His manner delivered much respect in his utterances despite his countenance, yet with a dominant trace of finality.

"Verily you're one of the boundaries but do know the coven is open to you. Perhaps before your return, Aadya would get to master all her powers"

"I'm afraid she would be coming along" He informed.

"I suppose I am not surprised by your action, although it would be better to keep her in the coven until she masters her powers” The old warlock stretched to convince him.

"I understand your point though I had made up my mind, I do be much more relaxed with her by my side" The sorcerer stood for a while like he was reflecting on Alisdair's words, and then he turned and moved to the end of the room, and out of sight leaving no word. It was a bit longer before he returned with a wrapped object and handed it over to Alisdair. He signalled for the younger to unwrap the object and so he proceeded, revealing a black hardwood scabbard. When his hand comes to the hilt, a question comes to his heart, and the path he has chosen stands before him.

He drew off the sword, fingers wrapped completely around the grip, its blade was unique. Blades were mostly silvery though this was a hybrid of red and black. "The sword carved ancient runes into the amber of early days. It's known as the Gavril Sword. Now, it is yours to wield" Ambrose conveyed "Know that the expression of the sword is the accent of the heart that holds it"

Sword comes with a duty, one that needed to be understood and so Alisdair made his thoughts became known "Why offer me the sword?" His gaze returned to the old sorcerer. Ambrose left no response as he began to retreat to his initial duty by the desk.

Upon reaching the desk “Many challenges will unravel and not all can be conquered without a spear" He spoke settling on a stool.

The wolf blood took a final stare at the hybrid he held "Although I might be good at handling a sword, I wasn't trained to be a swordsman," he let out plainly setting back the sword.

"Within you lies a warrior, think not low of the power you hold. It is-" Alisdair abruptly groaned as a sudden pain thrust through his upper arm to his shoulder. It felt like a hot sharp knife covered in salt was slicing through his skin and into his muscles, and the sudden and rapid movement of his hand ripped open his sleeve which was so soon being blotched by his blood revealing the deep cut slightly below his shoulder. Ambrose had only stood to take a proper look, howbeit, instantly the wolf blood vanished like a wave before the old sorcerer could take a step further.

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Cian was in his usual space rehearsing a hex he had been straining so hard to solely focus on yet his paranoia was a landing with many open doors, each a stormy vortex of grim possibility. He stood just at the centre of the room, his right hand held vertically before him and the fingers making the Prithvi mudra symbol. The daggers laying in every corner of the room steadily set up, revolving around him in the mid-air. Momentarily every one of them was engulfed in a blue flame, it was taking off well for a while except that his mind became scattered and unfocused that it hijacked his ability to control and so in his pandemic, the wild spell theories exploded causing the weapons to blast in every corner of the room.

One moment there was just Cian, then there was Aadya and then the moment that felt so stretched yet quick... Blood. A dagger had severely slashed through the flesh of her upper arm before dropping to the floor causing a burning pain to spread through her, the hotness of the blade had induced more pain than the actual blade. It was unlikely that Aadya had opened the door just at the beat Cian’s spell flared.

Cian's brain stuttered for a moment as his eyes took in Aadya's shoulder, for a fleeting moment every part of him goes on pause bringing the quietness within... Rapidly he hurried toward her, his eyes flashing with guilt, heart devoured by sorrow "My apology, I never saw you..." He blurts adding pressure to the damage. "I'm deeply sorry... Here sit" He hastily dragged a seat closer allowing her to settle.

"You don't need to apologize. It was a plain mistake" Aadya assured him though its pain could be seen and heard through her voice.

"Wait here, I would fetch Phiona," He said hurriedly and was on the verge of departing from the room when Alisdair unexpectedly turned up before him, there was this aura Alisdair sensed, it was self-same as the previous night at the duration he had remained in the corridor outside Aadya's chamber, the scent he had perceived came to be that of Cian. He had stuck around for about a while at a safe distance before he departed. The thought of why Cian was near Aadya's chamber at that time of the night was a burden Alisdair wasn't prepared to give in to. Without even a glance at the male, he shoved past him to Aadya causing Cian to withdraw from his initial pursuit and watched as Alisdair moved to the injured maiden.

Alisdair's eyes burned with much readiness as they glimpse the injury and his eyes slightly darkened. Her palm pressed against the injury while drops of her blood rolled down the back of her palm. The wolf-blood male was uncertain if to hold her, his hands moved but ceased midway. "You are injured" His baritone low voice laced with concern. "Allow me to see" He requested calmly, eyes scanning through her face until she gave a nod. Alisdair's hand gently removed her palm and then lightly rip off the sleeve near the cut and then her eyes suddenly trained on his stained arm.

"It seems you're bleeding" She singled out, her contorted face becoming narrowly confused, more like she was straining to figure out the reason he had blood on him.

"Need not worry," He says. His expression slightly varied as he observed the injury, a sense of pride. "You're healing" He let out softly. She appeared much confused as she watched the cut seal and clear like it was never there.

"H-how?" She whispered before unexpectedly she lost consciousness though Alisdair held her from slipping off the seat. A flame of anger licked through Alisdair, his countenance blank yet threatening as he gazed at Cian, a silent fury. It wasn't her chaos or perhaps fear that had rendered her unconscious, Alisdair had sensed something he was uncertain about.

"The blade was poisoned" Cian let out.