Delythena's POV
My head hurts.
I slowly opened my eyes, squinting as the bright light from the ceiling stung my vision. I looked around the room, but it was unfamiliar to me.
Where am I?
The room was enormous, even bigger than my bedroom in our mansion. I slowly sat up, scanning the entire space it didn't look like our mansion at all.
"You're finally awake, Lady Delythena."
A voice spoke from behind me. As I turned around, I instinctively pointed an arrow at them only to be shocked when I realized I had created it out of ice.
The maid's eyes widened in shock. I didn't know why, but I felt like my personality had changed.
I stepped closer to her, keeping the ice arrow pointed in her direction.
"Who are you?" I asked coldly.
She swallowed hard, sweat forming on her forehead.
"I-I am Tia, your personal maid, assigned by the Supreme Ruler" she answered nervously.
Zadkiel?
I lowered the arrow, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"You are in the Obsidian Citadel Kingdom" she replied, which only deepened my confusion.
Then, as if a floodgate had opened, memories rushed back betrayal, the people I trusted turning against me. My chest tightened at the realization.
"My lady..."
A voice echoed in my mind, and I instantly recognized it. Zadkiel.
"How long have I been asleep?" I asked seriously.
"Three days, Lady Delythena" she answered.
Three days?
"Where is Zadkiel?" I demanded.
"The Supreme Ruler had to attend to something briefly" she said.
I studied her carefully. I could no longer trust so easily.
"Get me something to write on" I ordered.
She quickly obeyed, handing me paper and a pen. Without wasting time, I wrote a letter addressed to Savena I needed to speak with her.
"Send this" I commanded once I was done.
"As you wish, Lady Delythena" she replied before hurrying off.
While waiting for Savena's arrival, I decided to explore the palace. The first time I had been here was during the ball, and I hadn't gotten a proper look at the entire place.
As I walked through the grand halls, I noticed the way the maids, guards, and workers all turned to look at me. Their gazes lingered, filled with curiosity or perhaps something else. I ignored them. Right now, I couldn't afford to trust anyone.
Not long after, Savena arrived. We are now in the garden, where there is also a dining area.
"I heard what happened to you. Are you okay?" she asked with concern.
"I'm doing fine" I replied.
"I was really worried when I found out" she said, which made me smile at least I had a friend I could trust.
"By the way, thanks for the warning about the deceivers. I thought it was just the people from Frostbane, but I didn't know even those I was with were also untrustworthy" I said.
"You really just have to be wise and carefully assess who is truly meant for you and who isn't" she said, and I nodded in agreement.
"I've been meaning to ask you this, how did you know about the deceivers?" I asked because I'm curious.
She cleared her throat first before answering my question. "Aside from that place is known for a lot of deceivers, I also had a guts about those groups you were with" she explained and I just nodded, maybe I was just really a fool to not be able to notice it.
"By the way, how did you get water-based powers? I thought your element was fire when your abilities awakened," she suddenly asked.
"How did you find out about the water?" I asked, puzzled.
"Your disaster spread all over the Obsidian Citadel" she said, making me recall the moment I summoned water.
"The truth is, I wasn't the one who used fire before. That was only because of Zadkiel's help" I admitted. She was shocked she was the first person I had ever told about it.
"So, you really don't have fire powers?" she asked. I nodded and didn't tell her about my other powers.
"So, you've been seeing the Supreme Ruler for a long time?" she asked teasingly.
"No, he's just persistent" I said. She gave me a teasing look.
"Your relationship is on another level, you're already living in his palace." she teased.
"No, I still need to talk to him so I can go home." I said.
We had a great time chatting until Savena decided to go home.
After a few hours, I just sat here in the garden, lost in thought, enjoying the fresh air. I don't want to go inside yet because there are too many eyes in there.
I sat quietly in the garden, reflecting on everything, while admiring the beauty of the flowers surrounding me.
It was getting dark, and Zadkiel still hadn't arrived, so I decided to head back to my room. I noticed how the people in this palace weren't too quiet nor too loud just enough to bring life to the place. Unlike in our mansion, where everyone seemed so serious.
Then suddenly, a realization struck me.
I just rolled my eyes again at how full of himself he was. I sat down across from him. "I was looking for you, but not because I missed you. There's just something I want to talk about," I said.
He smiled. "Why would I bother using the main entrance when I know you won't be there to greet me? I'd rather come straight to where you are" he said.
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, because he could have just taken me back to our mansion when he saved me.
"Because you're my future wife" he said with a grin.
"Take it seriously" I scolded him in annoyance.
He furrowed his brows. "I'm not joking" he said, and he really didn't seem like he was.
"When I say I want to marry you, I mean it," he said seriously. "And I never joke about things like that" he added, which left me silent.
"Why?" I asked, once I was able to speak.
"Because I like you, and I really want you to be mine," he said. "Marry me, and I'll take care of you. No matter what happens, I'll never leave you, and I'll always be by your side, I'll do everything for you, my lady" he said seriously, leaving me speechless. "Even if it costs my life" he added, his voice full of determination.
I looked at him, my heart racing, unsure of how to respond. His words hung in the air like a promise he was ready to keep, no matter the cost.
"You don't have to say things like that" I whispered, my voice trembling. "You don't have to sacrifice everything for me."
But he only stepped closer, his gaze unwavering, as if nothing else mattered.
"I've made up my mind" he said firmly. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
The weight of his words hit me, and for a moment, I was overwhelmed. How could someone feel that way about me?
His hand gently cupped my cheek, and I froze. The intensity in his eyes was almost too much to bear.
"Will you trust me?" he asked softly, his voice laced with sincerity.
I didn't know what to say, but deep down, I knew I had already trusted him more than anyone else.
The air between us grew thick with tension as his hand lingered on my cheek. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief.
"I don't know if I can..." I murmured, still uncertain, though I felt a pull toward him, something I couldn't ignore.
He smiled, though it was a sad, almost resigned smile. "I'm not asking for you to have all the answers now. Just... give me a chance. To show you I'm serious."
His words felt like a promise, but at the same time, I couldn't shake the nagging fear. What if this was just a fleeting moment for him? What if I was being swept away by emotions I couldn't control?
"I..." I began, but I couldn't finish. My throat felt tight, my words stuck.
"Take your time" he said gently, stepping back slightly, but his eyes never left mine. "I'm not going anywhere."
There was something in his gaze that reassured me, yet it only made me question everything more. Could I trust him? Could I let myself trust anyone again after everything that had happened?
As the silence stretched, I realized one thing: I wasn't sure about tomorrow, but today, in that moment, I wanted to believe him.
"Stay here for now. Your mansion collapsed" he said, surprising me with his words.
I blinked, trying to process what he had just said. "What? What happened to the mansion?" I asked, my mind racing.
"Because that place was just an illusion it doesn't really exist" he said, his voice calm but firm. "The first time I went there, I already felt something was off... something strange."
My eyes widened. "Illusion? What do you mean? We lived there, I grew up there..."
He shook his head. "I know. But didn't you notice? There were no other people. No connection to the outside. It was always just your family."
Slowly, my memories began to feel uncertain. The hallways that seemed to repeat, the days that felt frozen, and time that barely moved.
"What kind of illusion is that?" I asked softly.
"It was either protection... or a prison. Depends on who made it," he replied, and in his eyes, I saw the weight of a truth I wasn't ready to face.
"But why me?" I whispered.
"That's what we need to find out."
"For now, get some rest and regain your strength. Just stay here" he said before walking away.
To be honest, everything that happened still hasn't fully sunk into my mind. I still have so many questions running through my head but at the same time, I'm slowly beginning to accept that in this world, the only person I can truly rely on is myself.
I don't know if I can trust Zadkiel... but I'll watch him. I'll see.
A few days have passed since I started living in Zadkiel's palace. So far, I haven't really encountered any problems, but honestly, it's starting to get a bit boring. Our classes are already over in this world, it's like we've already graduated so there's nothing much left to do except wait for whatever mission they'll assign to us next.
Sometimes, I get to hang out and spend time with Savena. We stroll around and bond a bit, but not for long since she also has her own responsibilities in her territory.
One afternoon, I found myself wandering alone through one of the palace's many halls. The silence was deafening, save for the soft echo of my footsteps against the marble floor. I had memorized every corner of this place by now from the grand library to the vast courtyard with its strange glowing flowers that only bloomed at night.
I paused by one of the tall windows, staring out at the sky that looked nothing like the one I grew up under. It was always tinged with hues I couldn't name, constantly shifting as if the world itself refused to be still.
I sighed. Is this what my life's going to be from now on? Waiting?
Then I heard a soft knock on the door behind me.
I turned. "Come in."
It was one of the guards. "Lady delythena" he said respectfully, bowing slightly, "Lord Zadkiel requests your presence in the war room. There's something he needs to discuss with you."
My heart skipped a beat. Finally... something. Without wasting another second, I nodded and followed him, a mix of curiosity and dread brewing in my chest.
What could Zadkiel possibly want now?
The walk to the war room felt longer than usual, maybe because of the growing anticipation in my chest. The corridors were quiet, save for the occasional flicker of the enchanted torches lining the walls. When we finally reached the massive double doors, the guard gave a slight bow before pushing them open.
Inside, Zadkiel stood at the head of a long obsidian table, staring at a large map that hovered mid-air, glowing faintly with runes I didn't recognize. His expression was unreadable, but his presence as always commanded the entire room.
"You called for me?" I asked, stepping in.
He looked up, eyes meeting mine, and for a brief moment, something unreadable flickered in them. "Yeah" he said simply. "We received word... there's movement beyond the Rift."
My brows furrowed. "The Rift?"
"It's a tear between worlds unstable, and dangerous. But lately... something's been stirring on the other side. Something old."
A chill ran down my spine. "What does that have to do with me?"
"You possess the power of water and that place is slowly drying out. The land is cracking, and the trees are dying" he said, his tone urgent yet calm. "We need your help to restore water there."
I nodded, taking in the weight of his words.
"Alright" I answered simply. "I'll do it."
A faint look of relief crossed his face, though he quickly masked it with his usual composed expression.
"Good" he said. "We leave at dawn."
The next morning, I was woken up early by an attendant. Everything was already prepared for our departure. I didn't know exactly what I would be facing there, but my mind was made up I needed to help.
When I stepped out of my room, I immediately saw Zadkiel in the courtyard. He was wearing his armor, and beside him stood a large griffon, which seemed to be our ride to the location.
"Are you ready?" he asked, giving me a quick glance from head to toe.
I nodded. "Yeah. What's the name of the place we're going to?"
"In the Parched Plains" he replied.
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease at the name. Parched Plains it already sounded like a desolate place.
"Is it as bad as it sounds?" I asked, trying to mask the anxiety creeping into my voice.
Zadkiel gave a slight nod, his expression serious. "Worse, actually. The land's been drying up for years, and now it's spreading. If we don't stop it, the whole region could collapse."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of responsibility. "Then let's go."
He gave a small, reassuring smile. "Stay close to me. The journey there is dangerous, but we'll make it through."
I nodded, and we climbed onto the griffon. The wind whipped through my hair as we soared into the sky, heading toward the unknown.
As we flew through the sky, the landscape below us started to change. The once lush forests gave way to barren fields, the ground cracked and dry, as if the very earth was gasping for water. The further we went, the more desolate it looked.
"How long has this been happening?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the wind.
Zadkiel's eyes never left the horizon. "Years. But it's only in the past few months that it's started to accelerate. The source of the imbalance is beyond the Rift, in the heart of the Parched Plains. That's where we need to go."
I glanced down at the land below. It looked like a wasteland. "And we can fix it? Just like that?" I asked, trying to sound confident, though the doubt gnawed at me.
He gave a quiet laugh, but it wasn't comforting. "We have no choice. It's either restore the balance... or watch it all fall apart."
As we neared the Parched Plains, the temperature seemed to rise, and the once-green vegetation grew thinner. The air became thick with dust. Zadkiel urged the griffon lower, and we landed in a clearing surrounded by withered trees and cracked earth.
"This is it" he said, dismounting. "The source of the disturbance is somewhere nearby. Stay alert."
I dismounted from the griffon, feeling the heat radiating from the cracked earth beneath my boots. The air was dry, almost suffocating, and I could feel the land's desperation, its need for water. I instinctively reached out, letting the power of water flow through me, but it felt weak here almost like the land itself was resisting.
Zadkiel looked around, scanning the area. "The disturbance is coming from that direction" he said, pointing toward a cluster of withered trees in the distance.
We started walking toward it, the ground crunching beneath our feet. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional gust of wind. As we got closer, the temperature seemed to rise even more, and the air became thicker with a strange, almost electrical charge.
Then, I saw it. A dark crack in the ground, pulsing with an unnatural energy. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and the closer we got, the more I felt the pull of it.
"This is it" I murmured, my voice tight.
Zadkiel nodded grimly. "The Rift... This is where the imbalance is coming from. We have to close it before it spreads any further."
I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, but I steeled myself. I had no choice but to try.
"Let's do this," I said, taking a deep breath and stepping forward, ready to face whatever awaited.
As I stepped closer to the massive crack, the ground suddenly shook violently, and I staggered, trying to regain my balance.
"What's happening?" I asked in shock, my voice barely rising above the rumble.
"They say there are creatures that guard this place," Zadkiel replied, his voice tense with concern.
Before I could respond, the earth beneath me cracked open, and in an instant, I found myself falling into the abyss of the Rift.
"My lady!" Zadkiel's voice echoed, but it was already too late. The ground closed up behind me, swallowing him and the world above. I plummeted into the darkness, my heart racing.
Why does death always seem to follow me? I thought, the fear creeping in as I fell further into the unknown.
I couldn't fight it. My body grew heavy with exhaustion, and without realizing it, my eyes fluttered shut. The last thing I felt was the cold embrace of unconsciousness, and everything went black.