Chapter 330: The First Meeting
Iskara looked at the man before him. His eyes grew calm, and he spoke with absolute conviction. "If I were to ever blame him, then I would have not only failed as a father and a husband to my late wife... but also as a person."
Iskara’s pointed crimson eyes met Solan’s. "Only a depraved being would blame a child for something that was never their fault. Only a depraved being would insult the memory of the love of his life by blaming the very symbol of that love. I may be many things, King Solan, but I am not depraved. I love my son with all my heart and cherish him with everything I have, even while he blames and punishes himself for what happened to his mother."
Iskara turned to leave before adding, "If there is anyone to blame, it is I, for not being there sooner to save them both. So no, I have never blamed Ivan, and I never will. Prepare yourself to depart. I must reach my son, my nephew, and my daughter as soon as possible. I intend to be there as a father, to protect them with everything I am."
With that, Iskara departed, leaving a stunned Solan in his wake. Solan could not fathom Iskara’s answer, nor could he wrap his mind around the fact that the Vampire King had just referred to Evelyn as his own daughter.
Gideon and Regulus, who had overheard the exchange while preparing their horses, looked at the dumbstruck King. They could only sigh internally, seeing Solan reduced to such a state after being confronted with the blunt reality of his choices.
Regulus’s jaw clenched at the thought of his son, Damien, and the condition he might be in. Worry clouded his mind so deeply that he struggled to keep from lashing out. But he had to believe. Damien was strong; he was his pride and joy.
Regulus only wished to reach him quickly to offer help, even if that hope seemed bleak in the face of corruption.
Soon, their considerably larger envoy departed, determined to reach their destination with utmost urgency, each silently hoping that nothing more disastrous would occur before their arrival.
Iskara had organised the rescue operation into teams of two.
The first was Ivan’s group, consisting of Cece, Edward, Oliver, Alex, Caleb, Dante, and Seira. They had been dispatched ahead of the others so that Ivan could use his teleportation ability to reach Evelyn and Damien as swiftly as possible.
The smaller team served two essential purposes. The first was to maintain a low profile, while the second was to avoid overwhelming Ivan, who had never before teleported such a large number of people at once.
The second team, far greater in number, advanced relentlessly by ground, travelling on horseback. This contingent consisted of Iskara, Regulus, Solan, Gideon, Amond (Iskara’s shield), Roan (Solan’s shield), Duke Edgar Whitelance (Oliver’s father), Marquess Victor Weaver (Edward’s father), numerous royal guards, the Ignis Blades, Prince Aden, and Professor Leo.
They were a formidable backup force moving through the shadows. Every second was a race against time, and with the stakes so high, they could not afford even a single moment of hesitation.
As they accelerated, the sun began to rise again. They could only pray that everyone was still alright on the other side.
.....
[Music recommendation: London Grammar - Wild Eyed]
.
Inside the tower where Evelyn remained unconscious, the sun rose to its peak before beginning its descent. She had remained unmoving since she passed out, though her eyes stirred restlessly beneath her lids.
It was as if she were seeing something others could not. She was lost in another world, oblivious to the reality surrounding her.
Trapped in a dream, she saw it all.
An ethereal woman with golden hair fought a war against grotesque dark forces from the moment she descended onto the planet. As she fought with everything she possessed, her body brimmed with intense divine power. She mercilessly wiped the dark forces from the face of the planet.
Slowly, she placed her foot upon the ground once more. The ground trembled slightly at her touch before settling into a complete, heavy silence.
The woman closed her golden eyes briefly, releasing a quiet breath as if relishing the peace that followed after the echoes of pain-filled screeches and screams.
At last, she could allow herself a moment’s rest, or so she thought, for she had fought relentlessly since her arrival. Standing upon land strewn with the remains of fallen dark beings was far from pleasant.
She found herself wondering if this was all the realm had to offer.
Since the moment her mother, the Goddess of Light, had given birth to her soul and sent her forth to cleanse the world, Solaira had known nothing but bloodshed and darkness.
She was a celestial being, untouched by the experiences that defined mortal existence. Love, joy, hatred, sorrow, none of these emotions had ever stirred within her.
Her mind remained bound to a singular, primal purpose bestowed upon her by her mother. It was a purpose she would fulfil without hesitation, for she had been created for that reason alone.
After days of ceaseless battle, she stood silently, absorbing the stillness.
Heavy clouds gathered overhead, casting the world in a muted grey gloom, yet Solaira paid them no heed. The wind drifted through the desolate expanse, stirring her long, golden locks, which swayed softly against her skin.
Her golden armour shimmered as it caught the fading light, while the white dress beneath it fluttered gently, lending her an almost serene presence amidst the devastation.
The moment, however, was fleeting. From the rubble, a creature not yet fully dead suddenly lurched forward, attempting to strike her, believing she stood unguarded.
Before it could lay so much as a finger upon Solaira, flames erupted violently around her, engulfing the creature and reducing it to ash.
Solaira opened her golden eyes without the slightest hint of alarm and turned calmly to her side. She had long sensed the presence of an immense divine power nearby, yet had chosen to disregard it.
That was when her gaze met two molten orange eyes, blazing like living fire.
The wind blew stronger, as if suddenly celebrating the meeting of two celestial beings for the very first time. Neither of them spoke, and their stoic expressions remained unchanged. Instead, their eyes slowly took in each other’s armoured forms before settling back upon their angelic faces.
Without another word, Solaira grasped her long golden sword and turned to leave when a deep, resonant voice halted her.
"Is that how you thank the one who spared you from spilling your blood, Daughter of Light?"
Solaira paused and glanced at the man over her shoulder. "I do not recall requesting your assistance, Son of Fire."
A ghost of a smile curled his lips ever so slightly as he took a step toward her, then another, until he stood directly in front of her. Her eyes followed his every move, but other than that, she did not react.
Staring at the man through cold eyes, her gaze drifted to his lips when he spoke again. "You did not ask for my help, but I thought it would be rude not to assist an unguarded maiden in the middle of a battlefield. It would be especially unpleasant to see a maiden’s divine blood spilled upon these tainted grounds."
"Unguarded?" Solaira narrowed her eyes at him. "I am never unguarded, Son of Fire. It would be a mistake to think so."
They continued to stare at one another in silence until a single droplet of water touched Solaira’s pale cheek, followed by another. Within moments, rain began to pour heavily, drenching them where they stood.
She was about to turn and leave when the man introduced himself. "My name is Malakai. What is your name, Daughter of Light?"
"Solaira," she replied. Her ethereal voice sounded pleasant to his ears, and it made him want to hear more.
He saw that she was about to depart once again, and before he could stop himself, he spoke. "And where would you be going now, Solaira?"
Solaira paused on hearing her name spoken by someone else, and her heart jumped slightly at the sound of her name being rolled up by his lips. Released a soft sigh, she replied, "I do not know. Anywhere. Somewhere I could find a moment of respite from all of this, perhaps?"
Though she said no more, Malakai understood her meaning. Just like her, he had been engaged in constant battle since the moment he had set foot upon these tainted lands.
Understanding that she had no specific destination, he did something he had never done before. He extended his hand toward her. "Come with me, then. I will take you to a place where you can rest for a while."
Solaira’s eyes widened slightly. She looked down at the hand offered to her. Without taking it, she asked, "And where would that be?"
"Somewhere I found during the long days I have spent battling relentlessly here," he replied. "You would be surprised to see that there are still parts of this world not yet drowned in evil and blood."
