Arthur & Aurora

Chapter.3

Aurora’s footsteps brushed across moss that glowed faintly beneath her. Around her, the forest unfurled under the moon’s bright glow.

Towering trees rose like palace spires, their trunks shimmering green like wet glass, their leaves glinting with hues of green and silver. Soft light drifted from tiny flowers tucked between roots and branches.

Welcome, Aurora.

Aurora turned, searching for the source of the voice. The closer the leaves rustled, the clearer the voice became. Her heartbeat quickened, yet an inexplicable calm settled over her.

Pastel-colored birds swooped low, their wings fluttering like painted silk. A golden-furred deer with luminous antlers dashed through the undergrowth, as though guarding the forest’s harmony. Behind the bushes, tiny fairies with multicolored wings peeked at her, giggling before bursting into trails of sparkling dust.

Living rattan bridges stretched from tree to tree, weaving pathways in midair. Aurora’s attention shifted to Xander, walking behind her.

“It’s beautiful.” Her hazel eyes shimmered with wonder, a soft smile lifting her delicate face. The night sky was painted in ribbons of green, red, yellow, blue, black, white, and purple—an aurora so vivid it stole her breath. Even the scent of the forest felt clean, calming, almost heavenly.

No pollution. No oil fumes. No Marcus’s cat dropping surprises. For the first time, Aurora felt like she had stepped into paradise. With just a sip of water from the Breaths River, she was able to see the true face of the immortal dimension. She wondered if she could sneak some of that water back home.

“This is the immortal dimension—more precisely, the Norelia dimension. Every creature here possesses its own special abilities. And each immortal race rules its own territory.” Xander watched her closely as she walked toward a garden of glowing white roses.

Aurora smiled and nodded. Her slender fingers brushed a petal, and a soft golden glow trembled from its edge. Happiness—real, warm happiness—spread across her chest. Something deep within her, something long buried, stirred like a memory of home.

“Knowing that you possess the powers of an immortal being… I’m reconsidering what I said earlier about sending you back.”

It amazed Xander more than he cared to admit—Aurora, a human, wielding Dryat abilities: controlling plants, making them bloom, even manifesting magic. He had countless questions for her.

Aurora gave a gentle smile as her fingers lingered on the illuminated petals. “Thank you, Xander. Isn’t fate strange? I don’t know where these abilities come from, yet suddenly, this place feels familiar… as if I truly belong here.”

Xander stepped closer, stopping at her side. “Perhaps your soul originated here.”

Aurora nodded slowly. She tried to shake off the lingering memory of the giant’s death. Then another fragment flashed through her mind—a soft voice, maybe her mother’s. A tree with gently bent branches. Laughter of two small children running through a garden of white roses.

Could she have inherited these abilities from her mother? Impossible. Her mother was just a simple farmer. Her father too—always traveling to the city, coming home once a month.

Xander pointed at the aurora-lit sky. “Each color represents an immortal kingdom. And one of them… will be your next destination: Aethred.” He turned to her. “Tell me why you want to go there. Haven’t you felt at home here? What do you truly know about Aethred?”

His barrage of questions made Aurora frown. “You talk too much. But fine—I’ll answer. I want to go to Aethred because… I heard the Aethred people are friends with the Dryat. Right?” She nearly slipped, almost revealing Chessy as her source. “And Aethred is home to angels, isn’t it? How could angels be friends with the Dryat?”

Xander lifted an eyebrow sharply. “What are you talking about? Aethred is indeed the angelic kingdom—but to say they’re friends with the Dryat…” His voice dropped. “Where did you hear that?”

Aurora’s pulse jumped. “I… You don’t need to know,” she muttered. Classic Chessy—feeding her half-cooked information again.

Xander’s attention sharpened. From three hundred meters away, he heard footsteps. They were immortal.

Behind a tree, two red-eyed men stared hungrily at Aurora. The scent of her sweet blood made them halt mid-journey. But they remained cautious—Xander, commander of Aethred, was beside her.

“Should we take her now?” the curly-haired one whispered.

They were vampires—long nails, thin veins bulging under pale skin.

“Don’t you see Xander is with her?” the bald one hissed.

“If they escape now, we lose our chance. It’s dark. This is perfect.”

“…Fine.”

The footsteps drew nearer. Xander raised his hand; a blinding white sword materialized instantly.

Then he froze. Aurora’s blood—its scent was impossibly sweet, sweeter than any Dryat he’d encountered. Her wounded feet had crossed into Norelia, and that alone could attract dangerous beings.

Wind swept his silver hair as adrenaline surged through him.

One.

Two.

Three.

CRAAASSHH!

Xander struck first, slicing the bald man’s arm. The man countered, claws streaking toward Xander’s neck. Xander dodged, twisted, and drove his sword straight through the man’s heart. The vampire collapsed with a dull thud.

Suddenly, a brutal kick slammed into Xander’s back. He fell forward. Before he could rise, sharp claws plunged into him, venom burning through his veins. His strength faded. Aurora’s protective aura blinked out.

“You’re weaker than I expected,” the curly-haired vampire sneered. He hadn’t imagined an Aethred commander falling so easily. His gaze slid toward Aurora, hungry and possessive.

“You’re coming with me.”

“Never!” Aurora snapped.

The vampire lunged—aiming directly for her heart. Aurora squeezed her eyes shut as a strange whistling sensation washed over her.

Her body dissolved—into spiraling petals that danced through the air.

The vampire froze, stunned.

He swiped, slashed, lunged—but none of his attacks touched her.

The petals flashed with golden light, slicing him piece by piece. He collapsed with agonized groans, his body shredded by the luminous blades of her transformation.

Aurora reformed, breath shaking. Her green eyes glowed, then dimmed.

Seeing his moment, Xander forced his fading strength into his sword, channeling electricity through the blade. He struck the ground.

Lightning burst upward, wrapping the vampire in a violent current. The creature screamed, skin blistering as the current fried him alive.

Aurora trembled.

The sword vanished. Xander ignored the unconscious vampire and reached out to steady her. “You just used the basic power of the Dryat.”

But her transformation—into flower petals—was extremely rare. Dryats usually turned into leaves. Aurora was something else entirely.

Tears welled in her eyes. “I—I don’t understand. I only wanted to escape. Then everything turned bright… and I saw him… and then—nothing.”

“I understand. Don’t worry. Are you hurt?”

Aurora shook her head. “No. But you—you’re hurt because of me.”

Xander glanced down. His clothes were torn by the fight.

“Let me heal you,” Aurora said softly. The long wound across his back made her wince.

“It’s nothing. I’ll recover quickly. Angels heal fast.” He started walking, Aurora following closely at his side. Her attention made the tips of his ears burn faintly.

Aurora paused. “So you are part of the angelic race? Then—can you show me the way to Aethred?” She needed to understand the Norelia dimension, especially the angelic kingdom. And sure enough, right before her eyes, Xander’s wounds closed without a trace.

They stopped at a towering green gate. Xander turned toward her.

“I can’t take you to Aethred. I only want to bring you… home. To where you belong.”

Aethred was far too dangerous for someone like her.

Aurora’s heart sank. She had hoped he would guide her there.

“Where are we?” she asked as they passed through the gate.

Plants seemed to reach toward her, brushing her gently in welcome. Buildings slowly emerged—structures strangely similar to those in Evandor.

Without looking back, Xander clasped Aurora’s hand, holding it firmly.

“This is the home of the Dryat. Prepare yourself, Aurora.”

He didn’t realize that with every step, Aurora’s heart beat faster.