Shadows at the Ritual
*Amelia's POV*
Music drifted faintly from the eastern wing of the estate, the council gala in full bloom. Laughter , crystal glasses clinking , noble voices saying lies beneath political conditions.
My family would be there draped in silk and smiles.
The moon shone brighter than usual over Valethar , silver light shining across the cobblestones of the sunveil estate.
I moved quietly through the gardens, my platinum blonde hair catching the glow like strands of starlight.
Every step I took was deliberate, cautious, I wasn't supposed to be here in the first place , not tonight.
My Family had insisted I attend the council gala as the last legitimate heir of Sunveil, my presence would definitely be noticed.
But I had other plans tonight, there was a relic, hidden for generations, rumored to amplify fire and that could amplify my fire magic.
Fire was my inheritance and it was also my curse and if the legends were true , the relic could give me the freedom I had been denied.
If I could claim it before the rivals, the Thalric's do then I might finally gain freedom over the family that betrayed me.
Thalric Spies had been going around Sunveil lands for months smiling too easily, asking questions no guests should ask, they knew something was hidden here and I had to claim it first.
“Careful!” whispered Zaylen, my childhood friend and loyal protector emerging from the shadows, his dark brown eyes scanned through the grounds nervously.
“The guards change shifts soon , if they spot us…” He added while his hands rested near the dagger at his belt.
“I know” I said rolling my eyes, cutting him off
Though my pulse betrayed the tension in my voice
“Just keep quiet and stay behind me” I said and he obeyed like he always did
We reached the old sunveil Tomb , overgrown with vines and the air was thick with the scent of the earth.
The door creaked as I pushed it open revealing the chamber beyond. Candles flickered illuminating a stone pedestal and onto it rested the relic , a small ruby orb humming faintly with heat.
“There it is” Zaylen exclaimed
My fingers itched to touch it but then a shiver ran down my spine. Someone was here , not the guards but someone else.
A presence watching
I froze , Zaylen tensed behind me but I forced myself to stay calm.
From the corner of my eye, a figure emerged. Tall, broad shoulders, chestnut hair catching the candle light and his jade eyes piercing through the shadows.
He didn't move or speak yet the energy around him made everything still, including me.
“You're trespassing” I snapped
“So are you” He replied voice low but dangerous
My magic reacted instantly , flames sparked along my finger tips.
“Who are you?” I demanded keeping my voice calm though my heart raced
He didn't answer, he tilted his head slightly, curious and assessing me like one would study a dangerous flame.
“Someone who knows what you're about to do” He said finally
My eyes narrowed “Then you must know it also belongs to me” I replied
He let out a small chuckle “Nothing buried beneath Sunveil belongs to you anymore” He said firmly
The words struck deeper than expected
Before I could respond the chamber walls ignited flaring bright red, the orb shaking violently, heat surging so intently that sent Zaylen stumbling back
Memories flashed back to me immediately, my family's council judgement, their cold faces as they stripped me off my succession and my step mother's satisfied expression
I almost stumbled but the stranger moved faster than I expected, he caught my wrists before the flames went out of control, his grip firm and instead of exploding the fire stopped immediately.
“How…” I whispered
“Because” He said quietly leaning close enough to make me see the touch of gold in his jade eyes
“The relic doesn't stop fire, it binds bloodlines”
It felt like my heart stopped, betrayal sinking in
“And if you touch it” He continued “you'll trigger a ritual your family never intended for you to survive”
Zaylen recovered and stood up immediately, raising his sword “Let her go” he snapped
But he didn't look away from me “Tell your protector to back off unless you want him dead” he said
I swallowed
“What ritual?” I demanded
His gaze softened “The kind that decides whether you're a weapon or sacrifice” He replied
The orb shaped violently again and just as silently as he appeared, he vanished into the shadows, laying me gently and leaving only a faint trace of earthly magic behind.
I could hear my own pulse, my fingers now calming down from the flames sparking earlier, the flames died down but the warning lingered.
“Who… who was that?” Zaylen asked, his voice tight with unease
“I don't know” I admitted swallowing hard
“But whatever he was , he's dangerous and I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him” I added
Outside the wind rustled through the trees, then suddenly the gala bells rang signalling the start of the moon rite.
somewhere in the darkness I could feel eyes waiting and watching us and I had a feeling the game had only just begun.