In Search of You

Chapter 14

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Note: Sorry for the long wait. Been busy. :)

CHAPTER 14

“Prepare yourself for a history lesson,” Quil whispered to Astrid. She turned to look at him and her heart faltered when she saw his lopsided smile. There were moments when he just took her breath away. One look and her traitorous heart would skip a beat only to resume beating faster and faster.

Quil simply was gorgeous. He wasn’t those pretty-boy types. He also wasn’t those bad boy or alpha male types. His looks were rugged and fierce. His bearing was that of a King. He moved with sensuous grace and spoke with so much intelligence. These traits were very rare in guys on Earth and these were what she was actually looking for. Funny how wishes come true some times. She found these traits... but in someone not from her own world.

Elder Kavzan stood up and silence fell among the group. Tonight, the forest was eerily silent as well. It was as if Hleo and the vast forest held its breath.

“Long ago, when our Eion wasn’t even born, Ayre was torn apart by the political ambitions of people. Darius, one of the richest and most powerful families coveted the throne. And they would do anything to get it. Because of this, traveller pairs across Ayre were taken and forced to do Darius’ bidding. Those who resisted were killed.”

Elder Kavzan paused from his story and looked at everyone. They all held the same somber faces—except Quil. Quil winked at her and pretended to yawn when the elder wasn’t looking. He must’ve heard this story a thousand times.

“The traveller pairs that Darius acquired were forced to open portals to other dimensions,” Elder Kavzan continued.

“Pairs?” Astrid whispered to Quil. “Two powerful travellers with a strong bond can call forth the blood moon anytime. They can open portals whenever they like,” Quil answered. Astrid nodded.

“Across different known worlds and some unknown new dimensions, Darius asked his travellers to search for allies that will gain him what he wanted most—the throne. In exchange, he promised them slaves to do their bidding, warriors for their armies, trade opportunities and a portion of Ayre where they can establish colonies.”

The other elders tended the fire and sparks flew upwards into the darkness of the night. Smoke rose and new logs crackled.

“For ten years, Ayre was thrown into civil unrest. Darius’ rebels and his allies threw themselves against the royal family and loyal supporters. At first, the rebels’ efforts were easily quelled. But Darius gained himself more and more allies through the help of his travellers. In the long run, more and more travellers were killed and more turned their backs on the royal family to ally themselves with Darius. He promised them power, lands and freedom to roam all other dimensions.”

From the corner of her eye, Astrid saw Quil’s expression become shuttered. He was no longer smiling and a frown creased his brows.

“When were you born?” Astrid asked him. “During the middle of it all. I was born about six years after the war erupted,” he whispered.

He was so young... Astrid nodded and listened as the Elder continued his story.

“This was when the royal family started to lose. Their allies were either killed or they were now with Darius. There were also others who chose to flee for the sake of their family. By this time, Ayre wasn’t the way it was before. Gone was its beauty and in its place was destruction, death and despair.”