Chapter 66: chapter 66

After sending Lucy safely back to her home, Ivar flew through the skies toward the Amelia’s house. He landed silently in the backyard, where the grass still carried the scent of spring. His dark wings folded gently behind him as his eyes rested on the flower bed near the fence—once planted by Amelia with her bare hands. Now, the flowers had bloomed, bright and full of life. A soft breeze passed through, making them sway gently like they were dancing just for her.Ivar stepped forward and knelt beside them. He reached out, brushing his fingers across the soft petals.Just as he stood to leave, he froze.A presence.Turning slowly, he was startled to see a small boy standing behind him—Amelia’s little brother. Adam. The child stood barefoot on the grass, his eyes wide, staring not at Ivar’s face—but at the large, black wings behind him.Ivar cursed under his breath and shook his head, frustrated that he hadn’t noticed the boy. He took a slow step toward him, his voice calm but firm.“You should run,” he said. “Are you not afraid of me?”Adam didn’t move. He simply shook his head and said, “No.”Ivar tilted his head, intrigued. He knelt down so that their eyes were level. “Why not?”Adam looked at him with innocent confidence. “Because I know you’re a good person.”Ivar let out a dry chuckle. “I’m not good. And I’m certainly not a person,” he said. “I’m a monster, kid.”Adam blinked, unshaken. “My sister doesn’t think so.”Ivar’s expression shifted. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “She… told you about me?”Adam nodded eagerly. “Yes. She told me stories about you.”“What kind of stories?” Ivar asked, his voice softer now.Adam’s eyes lit up. “She said you’re kind and nice. That you have big black wings and you can fly really high—higher than the clouds! She said you fight bad people. And… and that you’re handsome.”For the first time in days, Ivar laughed. A deep, warm laugh that shook some of the darkness off his shoulders. “Sounds like your sister told you a lot about me.”Adam grinned.Ivar looked into the boy’s eyes with quiet seriousness. “Do you know where she is now?”Adam’s smile faded a little. He shook his head. “No… she went out with Mama and Papa, but she didn’t come back. I asked them where she is, but they didn’t tell me anything. Do you know where my sister is?”Ivar gently placed a hand on the boy’s head, brushing his fingers through his hair. His voice dropped to a promise. “I know. And I’ll bring her back to you.”“Really?” Adam whispered, his eyes full of hope.Before Ivar could reply, a loud, terrified scream pierced the quiet air.It was Alexis—Amelia’s mother. She had come out the back door, and the moment her eyes fell on the winged figure near her son, she screamed again, louder this time, the sound sharp with fear.Ivar turned his head swiftly. For a split second, his eyes locked with hers—panic and disbelief written across her face.Without another word, Ivar opened his wings and launched into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.“Adam!” Alexis cried, running toward her son. She dropped to her knees and pulled him into a tight embrace, her heart racing. “Who were you talking to? What was that thing?”Adam tried to answer, but she wasn’t listening—her body was shaking. And then, overwhelmed by fear and confusion, Alexis fainted in the grass, her arms still loosely wrapped around her son.Hearing the commotion, Eric came rushing out of the house. His eyes scanned the yard—his wife collapsed, his son silent. Without a word, he picked Alexis up, motioned Adam inside, and carried them both back into the house.Ivar stepped through the portal and returned to his own—a realm ancient and vast, ruled by the quiet laws of magic and honor. But today, those laws felt like chains. As the cool mountain breeze filled his lungs, a fury burned beneath his calm exterior. He had heard the news. Caspian had taken Amelia.Not invited. Not escorted. Taken.Ivar’s boots echoed sharply across the stone floor of his castle as he walked with purpose, his cloak swirling behind him. His jaw was tight. His fists, clenched. That girl didn’t belong in Caspian’s twisted world, and he knew in his soul—she hadn’t gone willingly.As he turned a corner, a young Elven warrior appeared in the hallway, clad in polished armor that gleamed under the light. Upon seeing Ivar, the boy immediately stopped and bowed low with reverence.Ivar didn’t pause. His voice was sharp. “Find Alvin. Tell him to meet me in my chamber. Now.”“Yes, my lord,” the warrior said, quickly rising and hurrying off.Ivar kept walking, trying to contain the storm inside him. Every part of him wanted to burst through the gates of the human kingdom and tear it down brick by brick if it meant getting Amelia back. But he couldn't act on emotion alone. Not yet.A few minutes later, a soft knock came at his chamber door.“Come in,” Ivar called, his tone still taut with restrained emotion.The door opened, and Alvin stepped inside.He was older than Ivar by decades, his long silver hair tied back, his face lined not just by age but by wisdom and experience. He carried a calmness about him that always managed to soothe storms.“You were looking for me?” he asked gently.“Yes,” Ivar nodded, motioning for him to sit. “We need to talk.”Alvin studied Ivar’s face as he approached, noticing the fire in his eyes—the kind of fire that came from pain.“It looks like something’s already happened,” Alvin said as he sat down across from him. “What is it?”“You remember the girl I brought here… Amelia?”“Of course,” Alvin nodded with a faint smile. “That beautiful girl with the untamed soul.”“She’s taken,” Ivar said. "By King Caspian.”Alvin’s eyes widened. “Taken? Are you certain?”"She wouldn’t have left—not without a reason, and definitely not with him," Ivar said, his voice low and sharp. "He took her. And I’m certain it wasn’t by her choice."Alvin leaned back, exhaling slowly. “That’s terrible… But why would he do such a thing? Does he seek the Blood Stone? Like his father once did?”“I don’t know,” Ivar muttered. “But I intend to find out. I’m going to rescue her.”Alvin was silent for a moment. Then, in a voice quieter than before, he said, “Do you realize what that means? Crossing into the human world, interfering in their affairs… we are forbidden to do so. Haven’s law is clear.”“I know,” Ivar said simply, his gaze unwavering.“Then why?” Alvin pressed. “Why risk everything?”“Because I can’t let her suffer,” Ivar answered. “Because I care about her more than I can explain.Alvin looked at him carefully, as if seeing a different version of the boy he once guided. “I can see it in your eyes—you’ve already dug your grave,” he said softly.Ivar didn’t speak.Alvin stood, pacing slightly. “You know what this could lead to, Ivar? If you defy Caspian, if you take her back from him—it could spark a war. A war between two realms."“I know,” Ivar said. “That’s why no one else can know. I’m telling you because… if I don’t return, someone has to lead in my place.”Alvin stopped pacing and turned sharply. “What are you even saying? You think we’ll just stand by while you go into danger alone? We have always stood with you. We’ll follow you, fight beside you, die for you if we must.”“I don’t want that!” Ivar snapped. His voice cracked slightly. “I don’t want blood spilled because of me. This is my decision. My burden.”Alvin stared at him, then stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.“Just as you love your people, they love you, Ivar. You’re not just a guardian to them—you are their heart. Don’t forget that.”Ivar looked away, the weight of his decision pressing down like a mountain.“I have to do this, Alvin,” he said quietly.“I know,” Alvin replied, his voice laced with sadness. “And I’ll keep your secret. But know this—whether you ask for our help or not… you’ll never walk alone.”