High above the clouds, where the air was thin, and the winds blew through the highest peaks, where all secrets were kept and maintained, around the ancient stones and caves, so cloaked figures stood in a circle.
They appeared as if they were ready to perform so ritual. Their faces weren’t visible, but their eyes... glowed under their hoods like amber lights at night as they looked at the globe-like objects between them.
They didn’t have shadows, and why would they? They were the shadows themselves, the darkness, as people would call them, the ancient wanderers that people didn’t dare to truffle with.
The language they spoke and the aura they possessed seed older, older than any species on the Earth, the winds, the sky, and even the moon.
However, only they knew where their powers ca from.
The direct moonlight falling on the globe through the crack above them guided them.
Sothing in the globe moved again, covered in a thick fog. It was a violet aura screaming of forbidden magic that was once again used to get what they wanted.
"The wheel has begun once more. She walks among them without knowing her purpose or the power-wielding around her," one whispered, her voice soft, carrying a hint of wisdom that surpassed the ancient gods.
"She must be guided," Another voice added before the person lifted its head ever so slightly.
"Her path is no longer hers. It belongs to the fate carved even before she drew her last breath. The mages have been waiting," The voice added.
The first person who spoke tilted their head and looked at the others.
"But has fate arrived? The catalyst that would lead to all has it made its presence known?" It asked.
Another person stepped forward.
His voice was heavy, the scythe he held akin to a grim reaper as it looked at the globe.
"Fate has already made its entrance in her life,"
They didn’t say her na. Nas had anings, powers, and bound souls. They weren’t allowed to speak of them easily until they were related and connected.
"She will resist," Another voice said.
"If resistance could defy fate, it won’t be called fate. The pain will make her see, make her accept the fate, the fate that she was bound to have," another voice chipped in, a hint of sorrow in her voice.
"The lover of the King, the killer of the kingdoms, the preacher of peace but admirer of blood and war, she will know what fate’s obsession feels like," The voice said.
Everyone turned their gazes towards the globe once again, looking at the scene unfolding before them with their lips pressed into thin lines.
~~~~~
At the sa ti, everything seed silent in the Crescent Hospital where Alia was admitted, too quiet for her liking.
Alia stirred under the warm covers, her breathing heavy and full of discomfort as she felt a weird sensation traveling in her body. It was like a sense of creepiness, like the feeling of being watched.
She couldn’t sleep even though she knew it was necessary for healing.
Two trained guards stood outside the ward, guarding their future queen, ready to assassinate anyone who would dare even to enter the corridor, let alone the ward.
She knew she was protected and alone in her room, but even that realization didn’t stop the creepy feeling and the shiver that ran down her spine.
There was sothing around her, probably in the room, and she gulped.
Unable to take it anymore, she threw the sheets away, ready to see through the window if soone was watching her so she could inform the guards.
She had only sat in her bed when she felt it.
A figure sat beside her bed, in the corner, like a harmless shadow. The scent reaching her nostrils was familiar, and the realization made her gulp.
She should’ve scread and called for help but didn’t scream. He didn’t sll like danger. She wasn’t afraid; her body didn’t allow her to.
The shadow moved. The man leaned forward, still hidden in the shadows, and the dimly lit room did not do justice to his features.
Her heart skipped when the man stood from the corner and walked to her bed.
He sat on the chair lightly before placing his hand on hers.
One would say his hand was cold and chilling, but that strangely cald the uneasiness in her heart. She licked her chapped lips, unable to see him properly.
Alia’s hands trembled slightly when he rubbed his thumb on her knuckles, but she still couldn’t pull away.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" She finally mustered the question.
She could see his lips moving in the darkness. He seed smiling.
"I told you," he said, his voice deep, grave, cold, but strangely warming her heart.
"I will always protect you," He whispered.
Sothing moved inside Alia. Her heart started drumming against her chest, and she gulped.
"You are the one who saved ," That was the only thing she could say now.
A scoff-like thing escaped the man’s mouth, and she didn’t know if she had offended him.
He didn’t say anything to her. However, he shifted his fingers under her hand, almost holding it.
"You shouldn’t be here," Alia didn’t know why she blurted out those words. He was the one who saved her, not attacked her.
So it shouldn’t be a problem if he visited her. But the way he visited her...
Alia looked at the open window and the curtains that blew against the wind.
"I had to see you and ensure you are safe and well treated. They won’t hurt you, not until I breathe," The man’s words caught her attention.
His words sounded like an oath he made to her, and she felt her heart flutter a little.
Alia wondered if she ever encountered this kind of man in her last life. She hadn’t. Then what was this all about? What exactly did she do in this life to gain the attention of soone like him?
Though she wasn’t a pro in this matter, sothing about the way this man carried himself without any fear scread power. Even the guards outside couldn’t sll him.
"You should leave," she said after so ti, and the man humd.
He stood from the chair before giving her one last long look.
He was about to turn when Alia held his hand, making him stop.
"Who are you?" Alia asked.
The man looked at their hands, making her leave his hand imdiately.
He looked up into her eyes.
"I am your fate, Princess. And I’ve finally arrived," The man said, his mysterious words confusing Alia.
She had multiple questions about him but didn’t say anything this ti and just licked her lips in uncertainty.
She walked to the window after so ti, closing it when she didn’t notice anyone this ti.
Alia turned around and sat on the bed, her mind full of questions.
Sothing clicked in her mind. This wasn’t how she would make it out alive in this lifeti.
If she kept making enemies in this life, she would only get into more trouble, and this would prevent her from doing what she ca for: protecting the King from trouble.
She will have to make more powerful friends to gain favor.
Alia licked her lips before she turned on the lights and sat on the bed, thinking about all the people she should target.
However, she couldn’t think of a single na.
In her last life, she spent her entire university life hiding and keeping away from everyone. Thus, she could hardly recall anyone who wielded power that would help King Cyrus in the King’s trials or even in the court.
While she was busy thinking about all this, the triplet Alphas in the Ashborn pack paced the room nervously as they heard about the University’s protocol check-up on the incident.
Since King Cyrus arrived on the sa day for the ceremony, the royals were also involved as it was a matter of security, which complicated things even further.
"We shouldn’t have told Alia that we indeed wanted to do sothing to her," Derrick said.
"She already hates with a passion. Now she will say our nas, and we are done," Aaron paced.
On the other hand, Ryan stood there with an annoyed expression.
He had stopped his brothers from playing this kind of ga, but they didn’t stop, and now their entire pack might suffer because of this so-called harmless joke.
"It’s not even our fault. We were only joking. We just sketched a similar plan," Derrick groaned.
"That doesn’t hide that we indeed wanted sothing close to happen," Ryan said.
Derrick glared at his brother and was about to ask him whose side he was on when their beta walked in.
"The report ca through. It looks like Student Alia didn’t take your nas or ntion the Ashborn pack,"
The beta said.
"Not even any ntion?" Aaron asked.
"No. She said she was alone when they attacked," Their beta said.
His words shocked the triplets, and they looked at each other, even more unsure.
Why would she say that when they practically outed themselves on their plans?
What was she aiming at?
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