Embers to Flames (Fates Entwined #1)

Chapter Thirty

Rocks and dirt crunch beneath my feet as we trek along the rugged path south. The golden rays of the setting sun paint the western mountains in a breathtaking array of warm hues and dark shadows. Our path is lined with towering trees that sway gently in the breeze. Eulee bounds along at our side, her energy matching our own.

The roadway changes from dirt to cobblestone as we reach the outskirts of Beetlebark—a small Human town—tucked away between the Whispering Woods. Eulee’s fur stands on end as she lets out a loud, piercing bark and sprints forward. Theo’s eyes widen with curiosity as he quickens his pace to keep up with her.

“She claims to hear Lenna’s voice,” he shares, beckoning for me to listen more closely. My heart races with excitement at the thought of seeing my friends again.

Eulee’s tail wags enthusiastically as Lenna and Ava lav-ish her with hugs and affection. I can see the joy on all their faces as I get closer to the group.

Lenna catches sight of me and exclaims, “Rosanhi!” Her voice is filled with joy as she rushes towards me with open arms. Ava follows close behind, her bright blue eyes gleam-ing with love.

I wrap my arms around them both tightly, feeling tears prick at my eyes. We stand there for a moment, savoring the euphoria of our reunion. Theo and Alyndra hang back a few steps, observing us with warm smiles. Theo’s eyes glis-ten with emotion as he senses the depth of our bond.

“It’s been too long,” I whisper, gazing into Lenna’s smil-ing face. She nods in agreement, tears threatening to spill over. As we pull apart from our embrace, Lenna’s gaze shifts and her eyes widen in shock.

“ Rosanhi,” she breathes out, a mixture of disbelief and awe weaving through her voice, “you… you’re…” She stutters, unable to finish her sentence, her hand reaching towards my face as if to confirm what she is seeing is real.

The transformation had indeed been dramatic. My ordinarily Human features had subtly shifted; my ears now tapered to elegant points and my skin had taken on an almost luminescent quality under the sun’s rays. Lenna and Ava both circle me, their eyes scanning every detail as if trying to imprint this new version of me into their memory. Lenna finally begins to speak, “You look…”

“Glowing,” Ava finishes for her in a whisper, her voice barely a murmur. The sound of her voice, still hoarse from disuse but rich with emotion, makes my heart clench in an almost painful surge of love and relief.

Ava is finally speaking again… her eyes glisten with unshed tears, a faint smile tugging at her lips. I reach out and touch her face, feeling the warmth emanating from her skin and seeping into my cold fingers. “Ava,” I choke out, the syllable saturated with quiet emotion.

She nods at me, her tears finally spilling over and streaming down her cheeks in clear rivulets. The sight fractures something within me, and I find myself pulling both of them into another fierce embrace. We cling to each other tightly; anchoring ourselves to shared love and warmth amid the turbulent sea of our lives.

Lenna draws back, not letting go of my hands. “You must tell us everything,” she insists, pulling me gently toward an old wooden bench near the town’s small fountain. We sit there, the sound of trickling water blending with our voices as I recount the strange series of events that led to my transformation.

Lenna and Ava hang onto every word as I explain the details. Their expressions shift between concern and fascination. For a long moment after my tale ends, they say nothing, lost in their thoughts and gauging the implications of what I’ve just shared. Lenna’s eyes are glassy when she finally speaks up, her words wavering between fear and beguilement.

“So, you’re not just Rosanhi anymore…. You’re a… a Princess?”

I can only nod wordlessly, the weight of my new identity pressing down on me. The title of Princess carries with it a legacy and responsibilities that I never asked for, yet it seems to be an integral part of who I am now. And the threat we may soon face is greater than we could have ever imagined.

Lenna grabs a hold of my hand and squeezes it with trepidation. “I can help.”

“Lenna, no… I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

“I have secrets as well,” she says, holding onto my hand and leading me to the back of a cabin. Theo and Alyndra follow, intrigued. “Lord Erhorn hinted that you may require assistance soon... in his usual cryptic manner. He gave me a book to read, and it turns out our ancestors were expert hunters and archers,” Lenna adds, “I’ve spent countless hours perfecting my skills, to the point where I can hit a target blindfolded.”

She pulls a bow from behind a bale of hay. Made of a dark rich wood that has been polished to a deep, lustrous finish; its limbs are curved gracefully, with a slight asymmetry that gives it a unique character. The wood is reinforced with thin flexible metal strips along the edges, providing strength without sacrificing flexibility .

The arrows are equally impressive. They have sleek, clean shafts made from a light, strong wood, allowing for speed and accuracy. The fletching on the end looks to be a combination of traditional goose feathers, known for their strength and stability during flight. At the tip of the arrows is a broadhead, crafted from some sort of shiny metal with intricate designs etched into its surface.

“I’ve learned to read the wind, to understand the flight of an arrow,” Lenna says, drawing back the string with practiced ease. “And I’ve discovered that my arrows can do more than just strike down prey. They can reveal hidden truths, uncovering paths and secrets that are invisible to others.”

Alyndra listens intently, her eyes wide with wonder. “That’s incredible,” she whispers.

Lenna nods, releasing the arrow into the evening sky. It soars through the air, leaving a trail of shimmering light behind it. We all watch in awe as it disappears into the darkness. “It’s like I said; I can help.”

Theo takes one of the arrows from its home in the quiver, his face bewildered as he examines it closely. “Rose don’t touch it. It’s Xylo.” He carefully places the arrow back into the quiver and turns to Lenna, “Wherever did you find these?” The fear settles on his face.

Lenna’s response is laced with a hint of defensiveness, her eyes narrowing slightly as she meets Theo’s gaze. “I found them in a ruined cabin just beyond the hills of Kaladis.”

“Theo?” I say curiously. “What is Xylo? ”

Alyndra glances at Theo and then back to me, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. “Xyloetherium is a rare and powerful metal,” she starts, her voice clear and confident. “It’s poison to Elves. The metal’s unique properties interfere with our magical energies, causing a dissonance that can lead to confusion, weakness, and even death. Xylo works like a key that unlocks a door to a realm of chaos within the elven mind and body.”

“Many years ago,” Theo interrupts, “during the Great War, it was believed that all Xylo had been destroyed. It was believed that the humans mined all of it for their defenses. I guess it would make sense that some would have been left behind if a human had found seclusion in those hills during the fight.”

Alyndra steps closer towards the group, her silk robes swishing around her ankles as she approaches. “In any case, she might just be able to help after all.” Lenna gleams with excitement.

Ava quickly helps Lenna pack a bag of provisions and they say their silent goodbyes. We continue our journey towards the southern border, navigating the rugged terrain with new-found hope. The night grows darker, and the air is filled with an expectant silence, broken by the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustle of leaves in the wind .

I can’t help but think about all the sacrifices made to get here to this place where our destinies seem to have intertwined. We all have lost something precious to us—loved ones, home, a sense of normalcy—but there is a camaraderie among us, a bond forged in the fires of adversity.

The Temple of Felix looms in the distance, its ancient stone walls standing tall and proud despite the passage of time. Its domes glisten under the moonlight, casting long dark shadows across the battle-scarred land. The temple has served as the final resting place for countless generations of humans. The vast structure, built to honor the dead of the entire human race, stands as a solemn testament to the lives and legacies of those who have passed.

As we draw closer, I stop in my tracks, unable to move. A wave of anger rushes through me at the thought of Meemaw, who will never rest here because of Ruvyn’s cruelty. My vision blurs with tears as memories of her flood my mind. I fall to my knees, fists clenched and let out a scream of rage and grief. Something I had been holding onto far too long. The sound echoes through the night, a raw and primal cry that seems to shake the very ground beneath me.

I grab handfuls of rocks and hurl them at the temple, each one a futile attempt to release the pain and anger that has been building inside me. The rocks clatter against the ancient stone walls, but the temple stands unmoved—further tormenting me. My chest heaves with sobs as I pound the ground with my fists, the weight of my loss crashing down on me .

From the corner of my tear-blurred vision, I see Lenna start toward me, her hand reaching out in an instinctive gesture of comfort. But Theo intercepts her, his arm barring her path. His eyes, full of understanding pain, meet mine briefly before he turns to Lenna.

“She needs this,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible over the sound of my grief-stricken cries that still echo in the night air.

I am vaguely aware of their conversation, of their presence just beyond my sphere of agony. The world outside my pain feels distant and detached as if I am viewing it through a veil.

My body continues to tremble under the onslaught of pent-up emotions even as my screams taper off into shaky breaths. A strange sensation begins to ripple through me—a familiar uproar that sends alarm bells ringing in my mind—my arcane detonation power is taking over.

I feel it spread through me like a wildfire, consuming everything in its path—my pain, my grief, and my anger. My fists unclench from the dirt-stained ground as a powerful energy pulses beneath my skin, threatening to burst forth.

Just when I think I am about to lose control entirely, Theo steps in front of me. He doesn’t say anything; he doesn’t have to. His steady gaze cuts through the fury clouding my mind and grounding me, reminding me that I am not alone. My breathing evens out, and slowly, I regain control over the energy coursing through my veins .

“Theo...” My voice a harsh whisper as I look up at him. He offers me a weak smile that does nothing to hide the concern etching lines into his face.

“Save it,” he says gently, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Save it for Ruvyn.” His words resonate with a deep truth. This rage, this pain... it all belongs to Ruvyn. He is the one who has taken so much from me, from us all. And he will pay for it—I vow to make certain of that.

Through the haze of my grief, a burning resolve takes hold. I rise to my feet, wiping away the tears. Ruvyn and his minions have no idea what they’re up against. He may think of us as weak and useless, but we will stand together as one and be a powerful foe he never saw coming. He will rue the day he dared to mess with any of us because we are driven by the memories of those we’ve lost and the desire for justice.