The Stellate Vortex

Evelyn entered her house and saw her husband sitting in front of the fire. He was a tall man with a muscular build, seated on a sturdy wooden chair. Heavy woolen clothes covered his frame, and his long hair fell over his shoulders.

"You're late," he said, his deep voice commanding.

Evelyn stuttered, "I was collecting the flowers."

"Certainly took you long enough." His tone was sharp as he stood up, closing the distance between them in a few steps. She felt herself being cornered against the wall, unable to meet his gaze.

His fingers traced through her hair as he spoke again, his voice low and dangerous. "You are now a Duskbane. You can't keep wasting time on those damned flowers."

"I—"

"Silence," he snapped, cutting her off. "I don't wish to hear your excuses. You are a noble. Behave like one."

He turned away from her and returned to his chair, sinking into it with a satisfied air. Reaching for a bottle of wine, he popped it open and poured himself a glass.

Evelyn stood motionless, her eyes fixed on him as hatred simmered beneath the surface. Noble? she thought bitterly. That's nonsense. You're nothing more than a criminal.

He looked at her gaze, his tone dismissive. "Go to bed... it's late."

Evelyn nodded silently and walked away. She entered the bedroom, her stomach twisting at the sight of the bed. She hated sleeping next to him—hated everything about him. Aldric, her cruel and abusive husband, was a noble by birth who had defied the king. His banishment led to the creation of this remote village, home to fewer than a thousand people. Despite its size, he ruled it with an iron fist, feared for both his magic and his ruthless leadership.

She lay down, closing her eyes, and her mind drifted to the first time she met him.

He had been sitting there, younger and skinnier, his sharp yellow eyes fixed on the floor. Evelyn, then a girl with flowing black hair and bright blue eyes, sat opposite him in silence. They were in a small room, forced to meet because of their engagement—a political arrangement designed to raise both their statuses.

For a long time, he said nothing, and Evelyn felt more awkward with every passing moment. Then, finally, without looking at her, he asked, "Do you like flowers?"

She blinked in surprise before answering softly, "Yes..."

"Is that so?" He stood up and extended his hand to her. Confused but curious, she accepted it. Aldric guided her outside to a garden. It was stunning—a riot of colors and life, unlike anything she had expected from him. Perhaps the only good memory she ever had of him.

The present came rushing back as Evelyn woke abruptly. Morning light seeped through the thin curtains. She turned her head to see Aldric lying beside her, still asleep, his breathing slow and steady.

She got out of bed and changed into her clothes for outside wearing a beautiful dress of red and white mix and walking out she grabbed some bread and meat keeping them in a basket she walked out, the village people were slowly getting up too, so she hurried to the corner point of the village where kieth was

She paused for a moment, catching her reflection in a nearby window. The woman staring back at her was almost unrecognizable. Once jet-black hair was now a stark white, and her vibrant blue eyes had turned an unnatural shade of yellow.

She opened the door with a key, careful not to make any noise that might attract attention. When she stepped inside, she saw Kieth sitting in front of the fireplace, his expression weary and distant.

Placing the basket down, she gently tapped his shoulder. He turned his head slightly, his tired eyes meeting hers.

"Didn't sleep?" she asked quietly.

"I did... I tried," he replied, his voice flat but honest.

"Is that so?" she said, taking a seat nearby. "Did you eat the food I brought you yesterday?"

"Yeah."

She smiled warmly. "Well, I brought more—enough to last two days, at least. But don't worry, I'll keep dropping by."

"Much appreciated," Kieth said, a faint smile crossing his lips.

Evelyn glanced at the small girl, still sound asleep by the fire. She leaned closer to Kieth and whispered, "Follow me."

Kieth hesitated, glancing back at the girl. "What about her?"

"She'll be alright..."

Kieth got up, following her as the two walked through the snow, their footprints imprinting deeply in the white blanket.

After a while, they reached a flower site, where lilac bushes bloomed, though this time, they were pink.

Evelyn bent down, carefully collecting the flowers as she spoke.

"Kieth, I will not take her in."

Kieth stopped, staring at her. "What...?"

"As I said, she isn't my child," Evelyn said coldly, looking him directly in the eyes. "I will not take her in as my daughter."

"But—"

"Neither will my husband allow it," she cut him off. "So no, I will not take care of her. You should take care of her."

"I can't... I'm not her father," Kieth replied, his voice faltering. "I want to go home myself. How can I help someone find a home when I'm lost myself?"

Evelyn straightened and looked at him, her expression unyielding.

"You were abandoned just like her. At least don't let her suffer like you."

Kieth froze, the words stinging. "Abandoned?" he whispered. "No... no, I wasn't abandoned by my parents."

He clenched his fists. "I was abandoned by the very people I tried protecting, not my parents. They were kind—the best—the ones I loved the most. They loved a piece of shit like me, even after all I made them go through."

His voice rose, shaking with anger.

"SO DON'T FUCKING ASSUME THAT I WAS ABANDONED! I WAS BETRAYED! BETRAYED, YOU HEAR? I FOUGHT FOR THE PEOPLE I CONSIDERED FRIENDS, AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? THEY LEFT ME TO DIE!"

"Kieth, I understand—"

"NO, YOU FUCKING DON'T!" he screamed, his breathing heavy. "DON'T THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME! YOU NEVER HAD EACH OF YOUR BONES FUCKING TWISTED, UNABLE TO EVEN DIE EVEN AFTER BEING IN PAIN! I WAS THERE, EVELYN! I WAS THERE SUFFERING IN THAT FUCKING HELLHOLE! I COULDN'T MOVE, I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR MONTHS—YEARS—I DON'T KNOW! I WAS TRAPPED THERE, A PRISONER TO MY OWN BODY!"

He stopped, panting as his voice broke. Evelyn stood silently, staring at him as though she had expected the outburst.

"I... can't..." he muttered, collapsing to his knees. "I couldn't do anything to help myself. Then how can I help her?"

Tears streamed down his face as he stared at his bandaged hands. His entire body was frail, wounded, and skinny—a ghost of a man. But despite his fragile appearance, he looked up, refusing pity. All he wanted was a place to call home.

"But Kieth, that's where you met the girl, isn't it?" Evelyn's voice was soft.

He didn't respond immediately, but eventually, he nodded, tears still falling.

"And you've come so far... I'm sure your parents would be proud," she said, setting the basket aside and hugging him.

"Are you scared that she'll be hurt too?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"Then... be strong. Become stronger than anything that tries to harm her. Even if you aren't her father, you're better than most. You brought her all the way here, to this cold place, keeping her safe."

Her words made him tremble. "Her real father is out there somewhere, looking for her..."

Evelyn shook her head. "How can you be sure? What if he's dead? What if, when you take her to him, he doesn't care about her and abandons her again?"

Kieth didn't answer. He couldn't. Deep down, he knew she might be right.

"So," Evelyn continued, "become her father. Don't let her see the harsh reality of this world. Keep her safe. Make her so happy that she always thinks the world is beautiful."

"That's cruel," he murmured.

"It is," she admitted. "But she'll know that as long as you're with her, she's safe. Because that's what parents do. Until we grow up, they shield us from the harsh reality of the world, don't they?"

Kieth nodded silently.

"Can I even do it?" he asked quietly. "I can't even protect myself."

"Kieth," Evelyn said firmly, "those wounds and scratch marks on your body show that you did fight—for yourself and for her. You could've left, but those scars show you stayed and fought for her."

Her words brought a flood of emotions. He remembered the fear—the panic—when the tiger nearly devoured her. All the times he was scared for her and himself.

He realized it then. He did love her. Even though she wasn't his daughter, her calling him papa gave him a strange, comforting sense of purpose.

"How do I..." Kieth hesitated.

"Name her first," Evelyn suggested gently.

"But her mother wanted to name her... with her father... her real father."

Evelyn gave him a knowing look. "But they aren't here, are they? And I'm sure her mother would've wanted her to be named by someone who loves her like a father."

She grabbed the basket full of flowers and started walking back. As she turned, she said,

"Think about it, and when you know what you want, then come back and talk to her."

Evelyn walked away.

Kieth sat in silence, unsure of what to do. He wasn't confident that he could keep protecting her, but Evelyn's words stayed with him. He remembered how innocent the girl was—how she couldn't understand his wounds and pain. She was innocent and oblivious, but that didn't bother him. In fact, he was glad. It meant she had been safe with her mother for so long, before she passed away and left her alone.

Kieth got up and followed the footsteps back to the house. When he opened the door, he saw the girl crying, sitting next to Evelyn. But as soon as she saw him, she jumped up and ran to him, hugging his leg and crying.

"Papa, don't leave me!"

Kieth bent down, a smile slowly forming as he hugged her back.

"I won't..."

He looked at Evelyn and smiled. She returned his smile, though the little girl's sobs continued.

"That lady said you will leave me," she whimpered.

Kieth chuckled faintly, wiping the girl's tears away. "I won't. I promise."

"Promise?" She looked up at him, confused.

Kieth smiled and gently wiped more tears from her face.

"It means I won't leave you."

He looked at her tear-streaked face and said softly,

"Serel."

The girl blinked.

"Serel?" she repeated, sounding unsure.

Kieth nodded, his expression gentle.

"From now on, I'll call you Serel. When I say 'Serel,' that's you. And when someone asks your name, tell them with pride."

Her face lit up as she smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Okay!"

Kieth felt her small, soft form against his body. He smiled, finally accepting his role. He had made a decision.

Evelyn came to them, picked up the basket full of food, and smiled. "Well then, are you two hungry?"

Kieth responded, "Yes."

"And is Serel hungry?"

"Hungry?" Serel didn't know the meaning of the word 'hungry'.

Kieth smiled and said, "It means you want to eat the bread. When you want to eat something, you say you are hungry."

She hadn't eaten in the chamber she was trapped in with Kieth. More like, they didn't need food, since they couldn't die.

But now, Kieth wanted to make her taste everything delicious.

She smiled. "Okay, I'm hungry."

Evelyn cut open the bread, and Serel ate it.

"Papa, am I Serel?"

Kieth looked at her and said, "Yes, yes, you are. That's your name."

"Like yours is Papa?"

Kieth chuckled but didn't responded,

Kieth looked at her, then at Evelyn. Though she was harsh with her words at times, she was beautiful, and deep down, she was kind.

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