NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Illusion
The flop-flop sound of an approaching bird echoed through the air. Nero looked up from the roof he had been on and saw a white bird.
Until now, he had been contemplating why the aggressive lady didn't go along with the man when he was leaving.The bird didn't particularly catch his attention – it could have been any random one. But the fact that it flew to a balance on Lady Nadia's palm got the best of him instead. He creased his brows. Her interest in him grew as she retrieved a small roll of paper from the bird. He later realised it was a message after the bird returned to its haven.He crept to avoid the crunch of the dry stuff making part of the roof. He had lingered from there. He himself found this funny. He knew he couldn't see the content from that far. Yet, he still tried.He bent down and awaited Lady Nadia's reaction with a calm demeanour. She had unfolded the paper. Nero could have sworn he noticed a very visible shift in her immediately. He noticed a grin on her face, glancing up with a somewhat relieved exhalation. And like that, in the next second, she walked to the dark-based basin put on fire. She threw the paper into the flames.As if nothing happened, she resumed chopping cabbages on a long, wide rock.'Why is she being secretive?' Nero wondered. But he composed himself with urgency. He sat straight, staring into the cloudy sky.Yet, he couldn't get his mind off it.'She must have her own personal issues, after all. Nothing is wrong with what she's doing… anyway. I can't know all her actions.'At that moment, he heard the creak of the door. He was sitting at the near edge of the roof, so he could see the door move. He lingered downwards and saw the white-lotus-gowned lady move out of the house. Now that he saw her, he didn't even know how to react. When buried by planks last night, he had sworn he would make her pay. But the next few hours were like the present. A part of him was telling him it was unnecessary to drag things on so far that he didn't feel any pain anymore.He gazed at her for a long time as she strode forward, looking around with care. He shook his head. 'Tsk… I should let go for real. Look how fragile she looks. Last night was luck for her. Violence isn't my thing, not to talk of oppressing the weak. Tsk-tsk, I don't do that.'He crossed his arms around his legs, which he pinned together firmly at the front.Lady Nadia held up the basin's lid. She sprinkled a mouthful of salt into the simmering soup. Then, she looked at Aura, who stood a few metres to her right. After closing the lid, she wiped sweat from her face, caused by staring for a long moment through the vapour.She wiped her hand with a handkerchief while approaching Aura. "As tight as clouds cling to the sky, so do acquaintances. I'm afraid you're oblivious to the current situation. Reason your cloud is leaving the sky behind…"Aura creased her brows. She turned to her."Cryptic statements..." she mumbled, rolling her eyes. Then, with a faint smirk, she nodded. "...no, I'm not a fan of such. Would you mind not wasting too much time? Your priority is on fire."She signalled towards her.The lady maintained a firm smile. She stared into Aura's eyes. She spoke, a hint of frankness dripping from the end of her words."Do you mind hearing a bit of a poor soul's past?" she asked Aura.In her eyes, it was visible that she deemed this lady unbelievable. Without warning, she turned and paced herself over the snowy surface. Forward."You won't find him on your own if you leave now." The woman's voice rang out, cutting like a sword through the chilly air. It was as if a force potent enough to freeze Aura's movement underlay that voice of hers.Aura creased her brows with her head lowered. Her back stiffened. She turned with caution, locking eyes with the woman. Lady Nadia stood resolute. Nero, unseen in the chat, lay on a thread. He pondered Lady Nadia's sudden reaction.'What's going on? She seems to know something,' Nero thought.Aura asked to clarify things. "Who are you talking about? If I leave now…""… It's the soul that left us a few minutes ago, my lady. The one you cured last night," Lady Nadia said, still maintaining a smile. Aura stared at her for a few seconds, tilting her head.Who really was she?***In another part of Frosthaven....Leafless trees stood tall behind and to the sides of Ferox. Insects buzzed in the distance. The short green-to-black plants swayed in the steady wind. Silvan Ferox halted at a spot. His left hand supported Zmey's wholeness draped over his shoulder. He paused immediately he reached that spot. Not having tensed shoulders or any alerted reaction whatsoever, he sheathed his sword.He stared at the front. His frontals were like the rest of the wood. But he could feel an energy pulsating around that spot. It made his body shiver. Orange flame crept from his fingertips. It wrapped around the sabre's handle until it engulfed the entire sword.The man smelled something burning.In a flash, he raised the sword in a twisty arc. He made a slash at the air with it – as soon as he did, the air shifted. A faint golden barrier shimmered to life without warning. It crackled with electricity. Some areas reflected the usual lightness. It stretched horizontally in both directions to its greatest length. This barrier seemed limitless.'It's a momentary abyss next…'Silvan proceeded without warning. It was almost impossible to see. His vision darkened before he stepped into the light. To a completely new setting. The wind howled in sync with the gentle and precise steps he took. His boot made a slippery sound on the icy surface beneath him.It was vast and flat, covered in shimmering ice. Cracks and intricate frost patterns were visible. A perfect depiction of an ethereal field. The sky cast a soft gradient of blue and grey. At the mid-point, a flat, rugged, and not very tall ledge sat. Its rocky surface had grooves and patches of snow. In the distance were faint, spaced-apart silhouettes of mountain ranges.Reaching close to the mid-point ledge, the man dropped Zmey onto the icy surface.This was an illusionary, desolate landscape. The power harnessed from the Soulforge Mage Body of a dark magic practitioner created it. Fourth in line to the strongest Mage body was the Soulforge type. Such a magic-fabricated world threatens the normal natural occurrences. It shifts the ecosystem of plants and animals. For instance, trees outside it are leafless and green plants have turned dark.Silvan knelt beside Zmey. He used the sharp end of his sabre to draw a thin line on Zmey's arm. Blood trickled in a thin stream to the ground.Simultaneous to him rising to his feet, the female Necrot, Nymera, appeared. Her shadowy cloak's lining danced behind her as she strode towards the two souls ahead. She moved with purpose, like a seductive mistress approaching a captivated young master.Silvan bowed his head, clasping his sword to his chest. "Captain Silvan Ferox at your service, Lady Nymera!"***Direct Note: 😣 Please vote with power stones and i would like to hear from you guys in the comment section. By the way, the novel has gotten contracted now. So, pls vote with golden tickets too. Thx . Merry christmas in advance🧑🎄! (Today is 16th of December)