Away from Glenmore and the entire territory of Arowyn, deep within the woods Evans stood. Staring at the entrance to the Forbidden Lands, Novara.
His shoulder-length blonde hair had increased in length, cascading down to his lower back and the shape of his ears now longer as well. His deep green eyes filled with malice stared ahead. His fists tightly clenched at his sides, and he stood there on the one spot for a long time.
Hesitation consumed him, but knowing why he was there, he let out a slow, steady breath and slowly unclenched his fists.
"His Majesty's orders," he uttered as a means of encouraging himself to proceed.
With that, he stepped forward towards the part of the wood where the vines of various trees had gathered, serving as a wall protecting what was behind it.
His steps halted once more when he saw that most of the vines had been cut and still growing anew. The thick and tough vines that he used to know were nowhere in sight, and this had his suspicion increasing significantly.
Stepping closer, he reached his hand and touched one that was still so thin it appears to have suffered the most from the unexpected assault that left them like this, and as expected, it attacked.
Just as he was about to take a step back, it stopped and retreated.
"So, I have not been forgotten here then," Evans muttered with a tired sigh before stepping forward, and the vines parted, allowing him inside.
"The defense is working as it should. Then, what could have cut them down so easily?" His steps halted once more as he came face to face with the state of the place had known since infancy.
Burnt and fallen houses greeted his eyes. Smoke could even still be seen oozing from a few trees and houses. The once beautiful place now lies in ruins and without a single life on sight. Not even an animal.
"What…?!"
His eyes widened in utter shock and astonishment.
Instinctively, he started running through the much too familiar path, searching for the one thing that could prove to him that all hope was not yet lost. As much as he hated this place, he never once wished for its extinction.
He finally came to stop in front of a withering tree. It was the largest in the vicinity and probably the largest anyone could find anywhere. But it was not as grand as it used to be.
A tree that was once greenest now looked partly withered. The beautiful clear water underneath it, known as the healing spring, appeared shallow and drying up.
"This is a first."
***
Back at the palace, Edith was back in her room after being kicked out of the king's, and still, her problem was not yet solved.
His reaction to her appearance baffled her. There was this olinyesitu 8nhis gaze that she felt was almost feral. But even then, she didn't think she needed to be wary of him. Rather, she was one concerned and worried about him.
"Leave. I'll come see you before sunrise."
Davion's words echoed in her head. She wasn't even given the chance to do that and instantly found herself standing outside and wasn't allowed inside again.
"What is really wrong with him? One moment, I think I am starting to understand him, and the next, it's as if I know nothing at all," Edith said in a whisper. Her brows pulled together in a scowl that portrayed her confusion.
"But…"
Those blazing red eyes that flashed before her eyes a second before he looked away and sent her out of the room appeared in her mind. His eyes had always been red, but those…
"Why do I feel like I've seen them before…?"
Her frown deepened at the thought. There was nonway she could have seen them when this was only her first time seeing them, but why do they look so familiar?
"Meredith Moonroe, what exactly are you thinking right now? That is not at all possible," She chided herself and even flicked her own forehead. "Just sleep. He said he'll take care of you by morning. Wait until then."
***
The warm glow of the candles illuminated the bathroom, flickering and dancing gently with with soft wind that breezed past the opnlen spaces of the window.
Although the atmosphere looked rather serene, the same could not he said about the man in here.
"No… this can't happen now…" voice low and breathing labored.
Davion stood before the vanity mirror, his hand placed on either side of the wall as he stared into his own reflection. Dark vein covered his whole body, from his neck downward.
But that was the least of his focus and problem. The pair of horns, slowly growing atop his head, had his eyes glued to them. While they were yet to fully develop, it was already hard and agonizing suppressing them.
The chaotic thoughts in his mind didn't help his concentration either as numerous images of Edith started surfacing in his mind. Both those that he knew existed, and once he had no recollection of. All of which left him confused and intrigued.
"Ha…" he gritted his teeth as the pain became unbearable. Blood trickled down his eyes. He could even hear the sound of his own teeth as they ground against each other. His fist clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white until it hurt and drew blood.
He opened his mouth and spat out the blood accumulated inside before dropping on the cold marbke floor, the sound of his knees making contact reverbrated through the space. "Get it together, Davion.
He opened his mouth and spat out the blood accumulated inside before dropping on the cold marbke floor, the sound of his knees making contact reverbrated through the space. "Get it together, Davion
He opened his mouth and spat out the blood accumulated inside before dropping on the cold marbke floor, the sound of his knees making contact reverbrated through the space. "Get it together, Davion