Chapter 19: Chapter 18 Chase

She was back in her room.

Her eyes flew open, shock gripping her as she gasped for breath. Just then, Sansa and Kaelric jumped forward to hug her—but the sudden weight made her stumble and fall to the ground. The hug was so tight it felt like they were choking her.

“Oh guys, I can’t breathe!” Dunira gasped, panic rising.

“Sorry!” They quickly loosened their grip and helped her sit up.

Her gaze landed on the amethyst lying on the floor. She picked it up instinctively.

“Don’t touch that,” Kaelric said firmly. “We’re not going to use it again.”

“Better if we’d gone together... At least then you’d be with us. But you never answered,” Kaelric’s voice trailed off, heavy with unspoken pain.

Those words echoed relentlessly inside Dunira’s mind. His face flashed before her—the cruel, hard expression. Once they’re all gone—every single one—then a new world can rise.

The voice clashed inside her head, whispering, You are one of us. Only Noctherra.

Kaelric saw her stare blankly, caught deep in thought, pale and shaken.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently.

“What happened at the lake?” Sansa pressed softly.

Dunira blinked, coming back to herself. Her breaths were quick and shallow; anxiety draped over her like a heavy cloak.

“Guys… I need to see Sirevan. Right now.”

She tried to stand, but her knees buckled and she fell again. Sansa and Kaelric rushed to steady her.

“Dunira!” they both called out.

“You can’t just run off like this,” Sansa said firmly.

“I have to…” Dunira whispered.

“Okay, okay. Just breathe for a minute, then we’ll go. First, let me get you some water.” Sansa hurried to the kitchen.

Kaelric stayed by Dunira’s side, his voice soft. “What did you see?”

Her voice cracked as the question tore through her. She was trembling, lost, her mind refusing what she just heard — what does it mean am one of them? does that mean am noc...? No.. it's not possible! But then what was it?.

Dunira was looking at the ground, eyes heavy with confusion and pain. “What am I, Kaelric? Who am I?”

She was terrified & confused in her thoughts, A tear slipped from her right eye, but her face remained numb, as if she’d given up on feeling anything at all.

Kaelric wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Dunira didn’t resist. She sank into his embrace, silent and still.

As Sansa reentered with a glass of water, she blinked, saw the intimate scene, and quietly stepped back out, realizing they needed space. She knew Kaelric understand her better than anyone else, without a word she left.

He gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb and looked deep into her eyes.

“Your eyes… they remind me of a calm ocean. You have the most beautiful eyes in the world.”

Dunira looked up, surprised by his quiet admiration—especially now, when she felt so broken. When there was nothing to be admired about her in that moment

He continued softly, “Sometimes, I imagine that beneath that calm ocean, there’s a storm waiting to rise.”

His hand cupped her face tenderly. “I wish you wouldn’t try to be strong around me when you feel like crying. Like you do in front of everyone else.”

His words cracked something inside her. Tears spilled freely as she clung to him tightly and after while he slowly pulled back, he kissed her forehead gently, then leaned down to face her, their breaths mingling.

“Whatever it is, you’re not alone. You don’t have to face this alone.”

Their lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss.

It was their first kiss, though neither expected it to happen like this—in pain and uncertainty. Dunira had always imagined it would be full of butterflies and joy. Instead, she felt a hollow ache in her stomach as tears streamed down her face.

Kaelric saw her tears, brushed his lips across her cheek, then gently licked them away.

Their eyes locked. His hand cradled her jaw with quiet reassurance as he whispered, “I love you.”

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More tears fell, and she grabbed the collar of his uniform, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. Her hands tangled in his hair, pressing him to her with fierce passion.

Kaelric’s hands moved to her waist, pulling her even nearer, one hand sliding up to cradle her neck softly—a silent promise of protection and presence.

....

After a while, they walked down the stairs, eyes searching for Sansa.

Dunira looked down and asked softly, “Where is Sansa, Mr. Stairs?”

The stairs beneath their feet seemed to whisper back: She walked toward the kitchen, then the lobby, then back to the kitchen, and now—here she is, going toward the lobby.

Kaelric chuckled. “Wait… your stairs can talk now?”

Sansa’s voice floated from around the corner. “Yeah, it fascinated me too when I first came here.”

Dunira stepped forward. “What are you doing here?”

Sansa gave them a teasing look, one eyebrow raised. “Did you really want me to come?”

Kaelric fixed his collars. “Ummm I think we should take her to the hidden chamber.”

Umm okay “Alright… let’s go,” Sansa agreed.

But suddenly, the crystal orbs lining the hallway shimmered and emitted a soft beeping sound.

Dunira reached out and touched it. A voice echoed softly from within.

“I am Vespara. Dunira, are you there?”

Sansa and Kaelric stepped closer. All three watched the glowing orb intently.

“Yes, I’m here… Miss,” Dunira replied.

“I need to talk to you privately about some notes. I hope your parents are okay with this?”

“Miss, they’re not home. I was just about to head to the hidden chamber…” Dunira began.

“Don’t,” Vespara interrupted sharply, voice firm and alert. “Sirevan and I will contact you if it’s important. Until then, do not go anywhere.”

“But… what happened?” Dunira asked, anxiety thickening her voice.

“We’ve detected multiple Noctherians emerging from the lake—not just one or two, but many. Be very careful wherever you are.”

Before they could react, the doorbell rang loudly, cutting through the tense air.

All three turned toward the door. Sansa swallowed hard, tension clear on her face.

Vespara’s voice crackled through the orb. “Hey… are you there, Dunira?”

Dunira stepped cautiously toward the door.

A terrified voice called out, “Dunira… it’s me, Umana, your neighbor. Please come outside, I need your help! My husband is dying!”

“Vespara, Dunira, don’t do anything…” Vespara warned urgently.

Dunira pressed her hand against the door. “Umana, your husband ??—”

She stepped back as remembered her husband is already dead

“Dunira, move away from the door!” Kaelric ordered sharply.

Sansa and Kaelric planted themselves firmly, hands glowing faintly as they prepared to summon their elements.

Suddenly, the door was flung open violently, swinging directly toward Dunira. She dodged just in time, falling to the floor.

Dust and shadows billowed in like a living black cloud. Standing in the entrance was a woman, barely moving, head bowed low.

Slowly, she raised her head. Black tendrils writhed around her pale face, her eyes completely white and soulless—possessed by some dark force.

She stepped forward. Kaelric raised his fists to attack, but Dunira called out, “Umana!” and shook her gently.

The woman’s head snapped toward Dunira with a chilling jerk. Her eyes gleamed with cold menace as she lunged.

Dunira knew there was no reasoning with her. Only one choice remained.

“Get ready!” Kaelric shouted.

The fight erupted.

Sansa summoned crackling bolts of thunder, blinding flashes arcing through the air. Kaelric unleashed bursts of searing fire, his hands glowing crimson. They women fell.out of the home Dunira called upon the earth, summoning jagged stones and twisting roots, while swirling water formed a shield around them.

The possessed woman fought fiercely, her black tendrils lashing wildly, trying to break their defenses.

After a tense struggle, she finally collapsed to the floor, exhausted.

Dunira grabbed tape from her room and bound the woman’s hands and mouth, pressed cotton into her eyes, then tied her upper body and legs securely with rope before dragging her into the kitchen.

The broken door was a grim reminder—this place was no longer safe.

“We have to move,” Kaelric said urgently.

The three hurried toward Vielpond, moving swiftly under thick shadows.

Sansa urged Dunira, “Come to my home. It’s safer there. The people will do anything to protect me.”

Reluctantly, Dunira agreed.

As they reached Vielpond, three shadow men awaited them, lurking like predators.

One shadow man surged forward with inhuman speed, his tendrils of darkness snaking through Kaelric’s fire like it was nothing, wrapping around Sansa before she could react. His cold, smoke-like hands pressed against her face, and the darkness began to seep into her skin.

Sansa’s body convulsed violently, her eyes wide but unfocused. Dunira’s breath caught in her throat as she recognised the signs—Noira. The cursed ability that drained not just strength, but the very soul from its victim. Sansa’s pale skin seemed to grey by the second, and the sharp, confident aura around her dimmed like a candle in the wind.

“Let her go!” Dunira’s voice was raw, breaking through the roar of battle.

She moved without thinking—her hands sweeping outward, her breath syncing with the rhythm of the earth beneath her. From the left, the water churned violently, answering her call, rising into a wave that shimmered in the brief flashes of lightning. From the right, roots and stones ripped free from the ground, twisting and colliding together like a living wall.

The elements met at the centre with bone-cracking force—water exploding over the shadow man, roots snapping around his limbs, stones smashing into his form. His grip broke. Sansa dropped to the ground with a dull thud.

Kaelric’s fire surged forward immediately, burning a path to Dunira. “Go!” he shouted, his voice half-command, half-desperation.

Dunira knelt, lifting Sansa with surprising strength. She hoisted her onto a thick branch hanging low over the Vielpond’s edge, her friend’s head lolling against her shoulder, breath shallow but still there.

They didn’t wait to see if the shadow men recovered. Kaelric and Dunira charged forward, carrying Sansa into Vielpond’s depths. Behind them, the shadows surged in pursuit—only to find their path blocked by a wall of swirling water and twisting roots, sealing shut like the forest itself had decided it wouldn’t let them pass.

The shadow men tried to follow but were stopped

They were anticipated. And they were too late.

Finally, they stepped out from a glowing arch of crystal prisms, each refracting golden daylight into a thousand scattered rainbows across the vast, open fields.

Above them stretched a bright sky, crowned with tall towers of crystal. Floating light orbs drifted lazily through the air, illuminating radiant walkways paved with shimmering stardust.

Kaelric and Dunira stood frozen near the portal, their eyes wide at the breathtaking sight of Solyndor.

Beside them, Sansa was breathing heavily, her steps unsteady from the injury. Dunira had one arm wrapped firmly around Sansa’s shoulders, her other hand resting against her opposite arm for support. Feeling the tension in her friend’s body, Dunira gave a reassuring squeeze before Sansa finally exhaled—long and slow—as though releasing all the weight she’d been carrying.

Her gaze swept across the radiant horizon, and with a faint, tired smile, Sansa murmured,

“Welcome to Solyndor… home sweet home.”