ALLURING : Between Two Realms

Chapter 3 : The Warning

As I quickened my pace, I nearly stumbled into a group of royal guards.

Most were clad in silver armor engraved with ancient runes, their spears gleaming beneath the eternal twilight.

Each of them greeted me.

Each of them looked puzzled.

I merely nodded in return.

No smile.

No conversation.

No unnecessary pleasantries.

I needed to get home.

The distance suddenly felt far too long.

Far too exposed.

Far too dangerous.

From afar, my family's estate finally came into view.

Relief washed over me.

The mansion stood proudly beyond the castle gardens, surrounded by silver roses and towering moon lilies.

Three adjoining buildings formed the estate.

The largest served as the family residence.

The second housed our administrative affairs and family business.

The smallest was reserved for guests, guards, and servants.

Yes, we had both guards and servants.

Not many.

Just enough.

Noble families preferred privacy over extravagance.

As I passed through the rose-covered archway, a familiar scent greeted me.

Chamomile.

Rose petals.

Lavender.

Home.

My mother and younger sister sat beneath a flowering arbor beside the Youth Fountain.

The fountain was famous throughout the realm for its healing properties.

Travelers crossed entire provinces just to drink from its waters.

Mother sat gracefully as always, pouring steaming chamomile and rose tea into delicate porcelain cups.

Aurelia sat beside her, nibbling one of Mother's beloved rose delicacies.

"Mother."

It was all I managed to say.

Mother glanced up.

Her eyes lingered on me for a second longer than usual.

"Where have you been, Arjuna?"

I shrugged.

Before I could answer, she added casually,

"Ravynn has been looking for you."

My stomach tightened.

Of course he had.

Mother took a sip of her tea.

"He didn't look pleased."

Aurelia snorted.

"He looked furious."

Wonderful.

Mother ignored her.

Being the Head Healer of the realm, she carried herself with a calmness few could rival.

Her healing aura was said to be the strongest in the kingdom.

People often traveled for months seeking her guidance.

Aurelia had inherited much of that gift.

And several others from Father.

Sometimes I wondered if there was anything my sister couldn't sense.

"I met with the Elders," I said flatly.

"At the Hall of Echoes."

Neither of them looked surprised.

That should have worried me.

"You'd better not have angered them, son."

Father's voice suddenly came from behind me.

I nearly jumped.

I hadn't even noticed him approach.

"No."

Perhaps too quickly.

"Of course not."

Father simply stared at me.

Then nodded once.

The look in his eyes suggested he wasn't entirely convinced.

Turning toward Mother, he gestured toward Aurelia.

"Come with me. I need help sorting several reports."

Aurelia raised an eyebrow.

"Now?"

"Now."

She sighed dramatically before standing.

As soon as Mother and Father disappeared toward the eastern building, Aurelia sat back down again.

Apparently "now" wasn't immediate enough for her.

I groaned.

She smirked.

"You are extraordinarily terrible at lying, you know."

I opened my mouth to defend myself.

A mistake.

Because she immediately continued.

"You do realize I can sense your energy?"

Another sip of tea.

"The slightest shift."

Another sip.

"The faintest disturbance."

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Stop it, Aurelia."

She grinned.

"You are giving me a headache."

That only made her smile wider.

Then her expression softened.

The amusement faded.

Concern replaced it.

"You shouldn't cross into her realm so often, brother."

My silence answered her.

Aurelia sighed.

Her golden hair shimmered beneath the silver twilight while her green eyes studied me carefully.

She looked delicate.

Elegant.

Almost fragile.

Appearances were deceiving.

Aurelia could probably dismantle half the realm's magical barriers before breakfast.

"You are creating an imbalance."

Her voice remained gentle.

"The veil exists for a reason."

I looked away.

"The more often you cross, the weaker it becomes."

She paused.

"And that isn't good for either realm."

"How do you know?"

The corner of her mouth twitched.

Because she knew exactly what I was asking.

"You brought part of her essence back with you."

My chest tightened.

Aurelia's expression turned serious.

"It lingers around you."

"What?"

"I can feel it."

She set her teacup down.

"Her energy."

Silence settled between us.

"It will harm her too, Arjuna."

That made me look up.

Immediately.

"The Elders possess abilities beyond what most people understand."

Aurelia's gaze never left mine.

"And they will do whatever they believe is necessary to protect this realm."

The warning hung heavily in the air.

"Not just to you."

Another pause.

"But to her as well."

I clenched my jaw.

"She's special."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

"She's not meant to be there."

Aurelia's eyebrows rose.

"She's what?"

I hesitated.

Unable to explain.

Unable to describe the feeling.

The pull.

The familiarity.

The impossible certainty.

"She's human, Arjuna."

Aurelia's voice softened.

"Yes, she's special."

"Yes, her abilities exceed those of most humans."

"But she belongs there."

The words landed harder than I wanted them to.

"Listen to me, brother. Stop crossing for now!"

"I'm going inside," Aurelia said before disappearing into the mansion.

It was almost dinner time.

Yet I remained seated beside the Youth Fountain long after she had gone.

The silver twilight stretched endlessly above me, casting soft reflections across the water.

For a while, everything was quiet.

Too quiet.

And, as always, my thoughts drifted back to her.

To the garden.

To the mulberry tree.

To the moment she finally noticed me.

A faint smile threatened to appear.

How could a human possess an aura so alluring?

So powerful.

So familiar.

Even now, I could still feel traces of her energy lingering within me.

Like a melody I could not forget.

Like a memory that did not belong to this lifetime.

I exhaled slowly.

Perhaps Aurelia was right.

Perhaps I should stay away.

Perhaps I should let the veil heal.

But one question refused to leave me.

If she was truly human...

Then why did her presence feel like something my soul had known long before either of us were born?