Chapter 100 – Consequences (2)

Standing at the top of one of the castle’s towers, Midhir watched the calm lake below. They had returned to the academy about a week ago, only to find most of their upperclassmen summoned for duty. The castle was quiet and empty, giving one plenty of time and opportunity to dwell on unpleasant thoughts.

He let out a deep sigh and brushed his messy hair back. He had been meaning to cut it short but kept putting it off. The length of his hair didn’t seem particularly important in the grand scheme of things.

His gaze turned east. Somewhere beyond the mountains, and forests was Calador. The kingdom had been thrust into conflict – civil war was tearing it apart, and the death toll kept rising. Refugees had already begun to seek asylum in Eldoria, since this was the only country they could escape to. Unless they tried their chances with the golden desert.

“Shouldn’t you be preparing for your exams?” The gentle voice of instructor Theodore startled him.

“I needed some air,” he awkwardly chuckled. “The library is a bit dusty, you know.” He averted his gaze as the instructor approached with a chuckle.

“It sure is.” He leaned on the embrasures. “I read the reports you wrote, by the way.” His voice grew colder. “Your class went through quite a lot, and from the looks of it, you saved Bareon from repeating history.”

Midhir shook his head. “I don’t know about that…” he softly spoke. “The enforcers took care of the cultists, and they protected the city. I think some stayed behind to help fight off the new growth.” It was the Castor brothers who stayed behind, though a mere student wasn’t supposed to know those details.

“Ah right,” Instructor Theodore nodded. “The enforcers protected the city.” He smirked. “I’m glad her Majesty the Empress was convinced to send them there, considering the state of the Olisar province.”

Midhir narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on in Olisar?” He had heard a few things – what Cait told him, and a single letter he received from principal Moira. It wasn’t enough though – it didn’t give him the full picture of what was really happening there.

“I’m not entirely in the know myself.” Instructor Theodore shrugged. “I do have a wild guess though – perhaps history isn’t just trying to repeat itself in Bareon. Perhaps Olisar is also going through events it already went through all those decades ago.” There wasn’t a hint of worry in his voice.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Midhir scowled. “That would be…” he paused. “I don’t think there are enough Enforcers to stop that.”

Instructor Theodore laughed. “No, no there aren’t.” His lips curled up with a smile. “But don’t count us out yet – Eldoria doesn’t just have the enforcers.” He stepped away from the embrasures, then stretched his arms. “Well, I’ve got a class to teach – don’t neglect your studies!”

Wither

The word echoed in his mind, startling him. His eyes shot wide open, only to reveal an endless darkness, and the beautiful and terrifying eye that seemingly peered into his soul.

“Not again…” he whispered through gritted teeth. He had enough of this. He struggled to break free, but the tendrils held him in place, wrapped around his limbs and his torso. He couldn’t move even if he wanted to. “What do you want from me?” He shouted at the top of his lungs, only to hear deafening silence in return.

“Answer me!”

The eye moved ever so slightly. Or rather, perhaps it was Midhir that was moved closer to it. It grew closer, until it was all that he could see. His heart raced, beating as if it was trying to escape his chest. His throat was dry, and breathing took effort.

The eye watched him, unblinking.

Just looking at it hurt his eyes – his mind. It always felt like he wasn’t seeing it all. Like he couldn’t comprehend it.

“What do you want from me?” He shouted again, unable to hide the desperation in his voice.

A sharp pain struck his eyes, and his vision shifted.

A woman walked down a marble hallway. She wore nothing but a white, partially opaque nightgown. Her bare feet made no sound as she stepped through a door, into a large, round chamber. Her black hair cascaded behind her back, reaching all the way down to her knees.

She walked to the centre of the chamber and raised her hand in front of her face. For a split second, he saw a glimmer of blue in her eyes. Her lips parted with a half-smile before she bit into her own wrist.

Red drops of blood spilled on the floor, and a blue light illuminated the room.

His eyes shot wide open again as the sharp, searing pain subsided. He once again was looking at the colourful eye.

Breathing heavily, he gulped. His mind raced – what was that? It looked so vivid, so clear. It wasn’t like any other visions the Old One had shown him so far.

“She tore the veil apart, didn’t she?” He asked, though he felt like he already knew the answer.

Wither

Once again, the word echoed in his mind, pausing his thoughts forcefully.

“What is withering?” He shouted. “I don’t understand, you need to tell me clearly!” He only paused to take a deep breath before shouting again. “Please, none of this makes any sense!”

WITHER

His eyes shot wide open again, this time to the ceiling of his small, uncomfortable room.