Page 35 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

KAIDA

I chuckle to myself as I leave the training room, leaving Aeris behind, confused and flustered.

Her expression when I backed away was worth every second.

I adjust my pants, running a hand through my hair, and make my way down the dimly lit halls of the castle.

The stone walls echo faintly with my footsteps, but my mind is elsewhere—on my meeting with my father the day we rescued Aeris.

I stand in the doorway of my father’s study, summoned the moment I returned to the castle.

The room is built for command, every detail a testament to his authority and power.

Weapons hang on the walls—each blade polished to a mirror shine, their edges sharp enough to remind anyone who steps inside of their lethality.

A sprawling map of Eluvonia stretches across the back wall, riddled with red pins marking contested territories.

It’s a grim battlefield in miniature, and every pin represents lives lost, alliances forged, and betrayals waiting to unfold.

The scent of aged leather and parchment clings to the air, mingling with the faint bitterness of the tea my father swears by, though I’ve never seen him actually enjoy it.

The desk in the center is a monolith of dark oak, carved with Dragons that coil around its edges, their scales intricately etched and glinting faintly in the firelight.

It’s more than just a piece of furniture; it’s a throne for a warlord.

Behind it sits my father, his broad shoulders hunched as he pores over reports, the glow from the nearby earth casting sharp shadows across his face.

I step inside and close the door softly behind me, the faint click punctuating the heavy silence.

“You took your time,” he says without looking up, his gravelly voice carrying the weight of battles fought and lost.

“I was making sure Aeris was settled,” I reply evenly, standing at ease, though my muscles remain taut, always braced for the unpredictable shifts in his mood.

His eyes lift from the papers at last, and they’re as piercing as ever—amber orbs that seem to bore straight through me, searching for weakness. “She’s alive, I assume.”

I nod, my jaw tightening. “Yes.”

Before I can elaborate, he tosses a folded report onto the desk with a sharp flick of his wrist. The paper lands like a challenge.

“I’ve heard about what happened.” He leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he regards me.

“Your Fae. She destroyed an entire hut with her powers while unconscious. Interesting, isn’t it? ”

“‘Interesting” is not the word I’d use. Alarming, perhaps. Terrifying, definitely. But I keep my expression neutral, my voice measured. “It’s… unexpected.”

My father’s lips twitch—half amusement, half scorn. “Have you figured out how she does it?”

I sigh, shifting my weight slightly. “No. I don’t think she even knows. If I had to guess, I’d say it might be a gift from the Ymirals. You know how they like to meddle, always playing sides.”

At that, his fist slams onto the desk, rattling the ink pot and scattering a few stray papers. The sound reverberates through the room, and I instinctively brace myself, though I don’t flinch.

“Play sides?” he growls, his voice low and dangerous.”Do they really believe the Fae deserve their help? They’re the ones who betrayed us! They deserve nothing more than to burn.”

I draw in a slow breath, exhaling through my nose as I fight to keep my tone even.

“With all due respect, Father, the Fae see it differently. According to their history, they ‘mercy-killed’ our king after he tried to destroy Eluvonia. And they claim he attacked them first—used the crystals to cut them off from their magic entirely.”

His scoff is sharp and bitter, like a blade dragged across stone. “Truth or lie—We are bound to the stories we choose to believe,” he mutters to himself.

He clears his throat, “Back to your Fae,” he says, his tone brisk. “I know I pushed her onto you. If you have no desire to keep her by your side, I’ll hand her over to the Arcanis Order.”

The Arcanis Order. The mere thought of them sends a wave of unease through me. They’re brilliant, yes, but their brilliance is twisted, consumed by a cold, clinical hunger for knowledge. They would tear Aeris apart—mind, body, and soul—if it meant uncovering the source of her magic.

“She’s safer with me,” I say quickly, my voice firm.

He watches me closely, his amber eyes narrowing. “You’ve come to like her, haven’t you?”

“I’ve come to tolerate her,” I lie smoothly, crossing my arms. “She’s… useful.”

He snorts, his lip curling in a faint smirk.

“Useful, hmm? Then prove it. Get closer to her. Let her bring down her walls, trust you, confide in you. Maybe then you’ll figure out how she has magic.

If you can’t…” He lets the sentence hang in the air, the unspoken threat heavier than any weapon in the room.

“I understand,” I say, my jaw tightening.

“Good.” He leans forward, his gaze hard. “Do not fail me, Kaida.”

I nod, a sharp gesture of respect and dismissal. As I turn to leave, his voice stops me once more.

“And, Kaida,” he says, his tone softer but no less commanding. “If she is gifted by the Ymirals… tread carefully. Gifts like that often come with strings.”

I glance back at him, his words settling uncomfortably in my chest. I look down at my wrapped arms. Well-a-fucking-ware. But I say nothing, simply nodding before stepping out into the corridor.

A group of guards marches past, their footsteps echoing in the dim corridor, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turn left, the familiar path to my room stretching ahead, but the ache in my chest grows heavier with each step.

Aeris is mine.

The thought settles in my mind like a weight, heavy and undeniable.

I need to protect her, no matter what it takes.

From The Arcanis Order, from my father, from anyone who dares to touch what’s mine.

The bond may be a chain, but it’s also a promise.

She’s mine to guard, and no one will take her away from me—not without a fight.