Chapter 12: 🔥Chapter 11, The Forgotten Noctherian City

🔥Chapter 11, The forgotten Noctherian City

Igniseth — Kaelric’s Home

A grand room that almost felt like a hall, warm and softly lit by a glowing fire chamber.

Dunira lay unconscious on the bed, pale and cold.

Kaelric had wrapped her in thick blankets. He sat by her side, holding her hand, placing a wet cloth gently on her forehead. He exhaled from mouth slowly, creating warm currents of air around her hand with his breath.

“She’s getting colder,” he muttered, anxious.

In a sudden move, Kaelric summoned a soft blue flame to his hand and let it hover near her face, letting the warmth soak into her skin. He then removed his shirt, heating his own body with ignited flame energy — and wrapped himself gently around her from behind, letting his body heat stabilize her temperature.

“Sorry… I had to do this,” he whispered.

He looked down at her — a few strands of hair had fallen across her face, clinging to her damp skin. Slowly, he leaned in, brushing them aside with the back of his fingers.

His touch lingered.

His fingers grazed the curve of her bare neck — delicate, soft skin, far too close.

He paused there.

Breathing her in.

For a heartbeat, he didn't move.

His lips hovered—just inches above her skin—like he was going to kiss her neck.

But something flickered in his eyes.

A war.

Then, all at once, he pulled back — breath sharp, guilt flashing across his face.

His hands dropped to his sides like he'd burned himself.

“What am I doing? I should be taking her to the Healing Sanctuary.”

He started to rise.

But then—

A soft hand caught his wrist.

He froze.

Dunira.

She was half-conscious, her eyes blurry and dazed like she was floating between sleep and awareness. But she could still see him.

“Kaelric… where are you going?” she murmured.

His heart leapt.

“You’re awake… Thank the skies. How are you feeling?”

Without warning, Dunira pulled him down by the neck — wrapping her arms around him in a weak, but desperate hug. His head rested on her chest, though he carefully held his weight off her.

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“Dunira…?” he whispered, stunned.

“Don’t go,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He let out a long breath, then slowly wrapped his arms around her in return. Not too tight, just enough to let her know he was there.

—

A while later, Kaelric made her a simple herbal soup, helping her sit up and feeding her small sips as she remained in bed. With every sip, her senses returned a little more.

She blinked around, slowly registering her surroundings, and sat up—confused.

“How… how am I here?” she asked.

Kaelric was still shirtless.

She blinked again, wide-eyed. “W-Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?! What… what am I doing here?!”

Kaelric looked down in alarm. “Oh—uh—wait a sec—”

He rushed to grab a shirt, pulling it on hastily, then returned.

“Relax. You’re at my place,” he said gently. “Do you remember anything? The fight? Those men with red eyes? Your powers… You collapsed.”

She groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. “I do… It’s all rushing back. But why did you bring me here? What about your father?”

“He’s not home,” Kaelric said. “And I couldn’t take you to your house like that — your parents would’ve freaked out. If anything went wrong, I was ready to take you to the Healing Sanctuary.”

He paused, then added, “Did you know you had Earth powers too?”

“No,” she said, slowly. “It felt like… something inside me just burst open. I couldn’t control it — it was like a gate opened within me. I could barely control my water powers before… and now this? I didn't knew I’ve inherited both my father’s and mother’s elemental powers…”

Kaelric looked at her with quiet awe. “This wasn’t a random incident, Dunira. There’s a bigger reason behind it. Two-clan wielders… they’re not supposed to exist. But you—you're different.”

She looked down, unsettled.

“I should go home. My mom’s going to be worried.”

“Sansa’s already covered for you,” he said with a small smile. “You’re staying here tonight.”

Dunira hesitated, narrowing her eyes. “Why? You think I’m your girlfriend now?”

Kaelric raised his hands, flustered. “No! No intention like that! I was just— Actually, I could say the same thing…”

“Say what?” Dunira frowned.

“Someone hugged me… pretty tightly. Shirtless me. Just a little while ago,” he teased.

Dunira blinked. Then her face flushed.

She cleared her throat. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I need to go.”

She turned to walk, flustered. Kaelric followed her, smiling.

—

Meanwhile in Crestbore Division,

A magical communicator flickered to life in Sirevan’s hand.

“Sir, we need you here. Urgently.”

Sirevan stood up, alarmed.

He arrived at the jungle edge near Lunareth. Officers from the Crestbore Division stood around something horrific.

One shadow men — impaled by thick tree branches. The surrounding leaves were scorched. Char marks from thunder and fire stained the earth.

Sirevan stood over the body, his jaw tight, eyes scanning every burnt leaf and broken twig.

Valarie, the senior officer beside him, broke the silence.

"Exactly what we feared," she said quietly, her gaze unwavering. Then, after a pause, she turned to him.

"Don’t you think... it’s time we told her?"

Sirevan didn’t answer right away — just clenched his fists behind his back, as if bracing for the storm that truth might unleash.

—

Back at Kaelric’s Home

Kaelric muttered under his breath, “Let me show you around… maybe your future home, too.”

“What was that?” Dunira asked suspiciously.

“Nothing! Just—come see the hall.”

She followed. His home was lavish — elegant stone walls, gleaming floors, and velvet-lined furniture with ember-gold trims. It was clearly a noble family home.

On the wall, a framed photo caught her eye — a young Kaelric, no older than 10, standing between his mother and father.

She walked up to it. “Is this your mother? She was beautiful.”

Kaelric smiled faintly. “She was. He took a pause and said, If she were still around, maybe things would’ve been different. Maybe my father wouldn’t be so... angry all the time.”

“He’s not as bad as he seems,” Dunira said softly. “I know it’s strange, but… every time I see him, I feel like he does care about you. In his own weird way.”

Kaelric looked at her, surprised. “Huh. That’s new. After she died… no one really looked at me with anything close to care, he paused...and blinked Except you.”

Their eyes locked.

She looked away quickly.

“Me? Care? I don’t even speak nicely to you,” she scoffed. “You’re dreaming.”

“You’re pretending,” he said, stepping closer. “And it’s not working anymore.”

He gently touched her shoulder, his voice softer now. “Is it my father? Is that why you’ve been avoiding me for a year?”

“Don’t do that,” he whispered. “It hurts. I can handle him.”

Dunira didn’t know what to say.

Her gaze shifted to a nearby room. “What’s that?”

Kaelric turned. “That’s… our library.”

“You have a library in your house?” she asked, stunned.

He shrugged. “Yeah....

They stepped inside. Among shelves of ancient books, one thing stood out — a locked chest in the corner.

“A locker? In a library?”

Kaelric frowned. “My dad’s weird. Probably sealed it with Igniseth magic. Those locks are nearly impossible to break.”

“What’s inside?” Dunira asked, curious.

“No idea. Want to try opening it?” Kaelric grinned.

“Uh, no thanks. Might be… private.” She raised a brow.

At that exact moment —

A rat scurried across the top of the locker.

The chest jolted. The lock glowed angrily red — and with a dramatic clunk, it slowly creaked open like it had been insulted.

They both stared.

Dunira blinked. “Wow. So much for ancient Igniseth magic.”

Kaelric scratched the back of his neck. “Yep. Totally unbreakable. Fear the mighty rat.”

.”

Inside was a thick book — its cover black with red symbols. Dust blanketed it like a forgotten tomb.

They lifted it together, coughing as the dust rose into the air.

The first page read:

The Forgotten Noctherian City

They turned another page — and froze.

A sketch covered the entire sheet.

A man stood tall in it — dressed in long, old-fashioned robes, like those worn centuries ago.

His hair was tied back, his face partly turned away, his outstretched hands weaving shadows like smoke. But what caught their breath —

were his eyes.

Burning red eyes

A title below:

The Shadow Power

Dunira leaned in, her voice barely audible.

“They were…”

Both looked at each other

Kaelric's voice cut in, hushed.

“…Noctherians. Together.”

Will be continued 🩸

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