Abaddon

Chapter 19 : Emerald Eyes

The rain poured heavy, winds cutting through the camp with violent force. Flashes of lightning lit up the dark sky. A storm had overtaken Evergreen, drenching the earth until it turned to mud. The ground squelched beneath every step, puddles swallowing boots whole, while the wind howled like a living beast tearing through the tents. The smell of wet earth and smoke clung thick in the air, and each strike of lightning painted the camp in flashes of white and shadow.

Yet Elise was putting on her armor. She had insisted on carrying out her mission today, storm or not. The armor fit her perfectly, like it was made for her—every plate aligning smoothly, every strap tightened with care. Her movements were calm, deliberate, graceful even. Water streamed down her face as she adjusted the gauntlets, her eyes—steady and full of resolve—meeting mine.

I forced a faint smile, though my chest felt tight. I agreed with her decision, but letting her go alone was out of the question. No matter how composed she seemed, the thought of her walking into the storm toward that creature unsettled me in ways I couldn’t explain.

Then—

“Archie.”

Uriel’s voice came from behind, low and firm. I turned. She stepped out from the shadows, her cloak soaked through, her hair clinging to her face. Her expression carried both worry and restraint.

“Will you go with her?” she asked quietly.

I gave a small nod.

“She doesn’t want you there. You know that, right?”

I exhaled slowly, my breath fogging in the cold.

“I am your sword,” I said, meeting her gaze. “But I am her shield. Even if she doesn’t want me to be.”

Uriel stared at me for a long moment before giving a faint smile. She turned her back to me, her voice barely above the sound of the wind.

“This time,” she whispered, “you can’t be her shield… but you can be her shadow. Blend in the darkness and track her through the storm. Keep her safe.”

Her words lingered long after she vanished into the dark. I stood there for a while, arms folded, watching Elise fasten the final pieces of her armor. She turned to me, water dripping from her hair, and slowly walked closer.

“What do you think?”

She asked with a soft, carefree grin, striking a playful pose despite the storm.

For a moment, I felt my heart skip. I froze, caught off guard by how effortlessly she could still smile in a night like this. Then, I smiled back.

“I think you look amazing,” I muttered.

She chuckled, lightly striking my shoulder.

“You’re meant to say it’ll protect me or something,” she teased, shaking her head.

Her grin faded as her gaze lingered on me. The playful warmth in her eyes dimmed, replaced with quiet understanding.

“I know you don’t want me to go alone,” she said softly. “And I know you’ll probably follow me even if I say no.”

I raised a brow, ready to deny it—but stopped when I met her stare. Her emerald eyes glowed faintly, tracing the emotions swirling inside me.

“I can see your emotions,” she reminded gently.

I nodded.

She sighed, pouting slightly before her tone grew serious again.

“At least let me try,” she said. “You can watch me. If anything goes wrong, then step in. But do not interrupt me before that.”

Her eyes locked on mine with quiet authority. I hesitated, wanting to argue, but that gaze made me fold. I nodded softly.

She smiled faintly and stepped closer. Rising onto her toes, she pressed her lips gently against my cheek. The warmth lingered longer than it should have. My heart stopped; my breath caught. I turned toward her, stunned, my cheeks burning hot.

But she said nothing. She just turned away, her braid swaying as she walked toward the exit.

I watched her for a long while, my chest heavy with words I didn’t say.

“Come on!” she shouted suddenly through the storm, looking back with a grin. “I’ll leave you behind!”

That broke the spell. I snapped out of my thoughts and followed her into the rain, our figures swallowed by the roaring wind and lightning.

⸻

The forest was worse than the camp.

I crouched low in the trees, hidden beneath drenched leaves. The rain fell in sheets, hammering against the armor. Each drop stung against my skin, rolling down the metal and pooling around my knees. The forest floor was a mire of mud and roots, slippery and uneven. My breath came out in sharp bursts, fogging the inside of my helmet as I peered ahead.

Elise moved through the open field ahead of me, her steps light despite the storm. She stopped near the center where the trees had been torn apart—the ground cracked and uneven, as if something massive had landed there. Trunks lay uprooted, claw marks etched deep into the earth. The air itself hummed with static energy.

“Hello!” Elise shouted suddenly. Her voice, clear and sharp, cut through the thunder. “Are you here?”

Her words echoed through the clearing. No answer came—only the rumble of distant thunder. She turned slowly, her eyes glowing faintly as she scanned the shadows.

“I know you’re here,” she said softly. “I can see you. I can sense you. I’m here to talk.”

Then, from the darkness, it appeared.

The creature.

It emerged from behind the fallen trees, towering above her. Just as the scouts described—no, even more terrifying. Its body gleamed with metallic scales that reflected every flash of lightning. Each movement rippled like molten metal. From its face extended a long, whip-like appendage, alive.

Its eyes were vast and hollow, twin orbs of emerald green light that seemed to pierce through time itself. It stood on four massive legs, each step shaking the earth beneath it.

Then it howled.

The sound tore through the storm like a trumpet of doom—deafening. I flinched, clutching my head as pain surged through my ears. Blood trickled down my neck from the pressure. The air trembled. The rain froze mid-fall for an instant, like time itself hesitated to move.

I staggered back, groaning. “What is this beast?” I muttered under my breath.

My vision blurred. The trees swayed violently around me, and the world tilted sideways. My knees gave out. The last thing I saw before everything faded to black was Elise—small, fragile beneath the giant’s gaze—standing her ground.

Then darkness swallowed everything.