Chapter 5

The gates of the Morcant stronghold opened before dawn.

Veyra rode at the front, her dark cloak moving with the cold wind as her horse carried her toward the northern road.

Behind her followed thirteen soldiers, chosen from the Morcant ranks. They rode in silence, their faces hidden beneath dark hoods, each carrying the insignia of the Order.

Beside Veyra rode a man dressed in a scholar's long coat.

Merik, Lord Caedryn's appointed scholar.

Unlike the soldiers, Merik carried no weapon.

He carried books. And a personal obsession with the forbidden knowledge kept within the Morcant stronghold.

He had spent years studying legends of Vaelith—the mysterious power that Morcant had hidden from the kingdoms.

“You're unusually quiet,” Veyra said.

Merik glanced at her. “I'm thinking.”

“Hmm”

“About  Vaelith.”

Veyra's eyes remained on the road. “Some knowledge is hidden for a reason.”

Merik smiled faintly. “That's what people say when they don't want scholars asking questions.”

Veyra finally looked at him. “Be careful, scholar.” Her voice was cold. “Some questions have answers that kill.”

Merik's smile faded.

Ahead, the road stretched toward Valden Province.

Veyra's eyes remained on the road. “You've read the records.”

“Fragments,” Merik replied. “Not enough.”

Veyra was silent for a moment.

Then she spoke. “Vaelith came from Merovan.”

Merik turned toward her.

“Merovan created it?”

“No.”

Her voice was firm.

“It was already within him.”

She tightened her grip on the reins.

“Merovan discovered that power. He used it to destroy everything before him—armies, cities, kingdoms. Nothing could withstand it.”

Merik listened carefully.

“But the power became hungry.”

Veyra's expression darkened. “It stopped obeying him.”

She looked toward the distant mountains.

“Vaelith began consuming its own master. It ate through his strength, his body, everything that made him human.”

“And Merovan?”

“He became its first sacrifice.”

Merik was silent.

Veyra continued.

“Since then, Vaelith has remained hungry. It waits for another body capable of carrying it.”

“A host,” Merik murmured.

“Yes.”

“And that is what we're searching for?”

Veyra finally looked at him.

“A host strong enough to survive what destroyed Merovan.”

Merik glanced toward the thirteen soldiers riding behind them. “And if we don't find one?”

Veyra's eyes returned to the road.

“Then Vaelith will remain beneath Morcant.”

She paused.

“Waiting for the next sacrifice.”

The riders continued toward Valden Province, while far beneath the fortress, the ancient power remained awake in the darkness.

By late afternoon, the riders reached the main gates of Vallere Province.

The massive iron gates stood before them, guarded by armed soldiers. Several men stepped forward, raising their weapons as Veyra and the thirteen riders approached.

“Halt!”

The horses slowed.

Merik glanced toward Veyra.

She remained calm.

Then she lifted her eyes toward the guards.

A faint shimmer passed through her irises.

Veyra's mind power quietly spread through the air, slipping into the guards' thoughts before they could react.

For a brief moment, their expressions became blank.

She didn't control them completely.

She simply planted a single thought.

They belong here.

The guards lowered their weapons.

One of them stepped aside.

“Let them pass.”

The gates opened with a heavy groan.

Merik watched Veyra carefully as they rode through.

“You could have simply shown them an order.”

Veyra didn't look at him. “That would leave questions.”

“And your power doesn't?”

“They won't remember having questions.”

Merik raised an eyebrow.

“That is unsettling.”

Veyra gave him a cold glance.

“Then don't make me use it on you.”

Merik smiled faintly. “I'll keep that in mind.”

Behind them, the thirteen soldiers passed silently through the gates.

Once they entered the province, Veyra released her hold.

The guards blinked, briefly confused by the strange emptiness in their thoughts.

The gates closed behind the riders.

Their search had begun.

“This is the only way into Eldermere,” Veyra said.

She guided her horse through the crowded streets, with the thirteen soldiers following behind and Merik riding beside her.

The province was busy despite the fading daylight. Merchants called from their stalls, carts rolled through the narrow streets, and people moved between the crowded market roads.

But Veyra wasn't interested in the market.

Her eyes moved from one person to another.

A young man carrying a sack. Too young.

An elderly woman selling herbs. Too old.

A soldier standing near the fountain. Not suitable.

A group of travelers crossing the road. None of them.

She continued riding, studying every face they passed.

Veyra's eyes shifted toward a young woman walking beside her mother. “Too young.”

Then to an old merchant leaning against his cart. “Too old.”

She continued searching. 

Veyra's gaze moved through the crowd until a young woman caught her attention.

The woman was about to enter a carriage, guided carefully by another person.

Veyra studied her for a moment. Young. Blind. But physically frail.

Her posture was weak, and even standing seemed to require effort.

Veyra's eyes narrowed. “Too weak.”

She looked away. Then something else caught her attention.

A young man stood beside the blind woman, one hand resting against the carriage door as he helped her inside.

Veyra studied him. Young. Healthy. Strong enough. No visible injuries. No signs of weakness.

Her eyes lingered on him.

Merik noticed her sudden silence.

“What is it?”

Veyra didn't answer immediately.

She watched the young man laugh quietly at something the blind woman said.

Then he reached out and steadied her as she stepped toward the carriage.

Veyra's expression remained unreadable. “The man.”

Merik followed her gaze.

“That one?”

“Yes.”

“He looks ordinary.”

“That's what we need.”

Veyra's eyes remained fixed on him.

Merik frowned. “You don't know whether he's compatible.”

Veyra finally turned her horse slightly toward the carriage.

“But there is no harm in trying.”

Behind them, the thirteen soldiers waited silently for their orders.

Veyra watched the young man climb into the carriage.

“Follow them.”

The soldiers immediately moved.

The carriage began to pull away.

And Veyra followed.

The carriage left the crowded streets  and followed a narrow road toward the deep forest.

Veyra and the thirteen riders followed at a distance.

The farther the carriage traveled, the quieter the road became.

Soon, only the creaking wheels and the steady rhythm of hooves could be heard beneath the towering trees.

Veyra watched the carriage disappear deeper into the forest.

“Wait.”

The soldiers slowed their horses.

They remained hidden among the trees, allowing the carriage to gain distance.

Merik glanced toward her.

The carriage continued along the winding road.

Farther.

Farther.

Veyra raised her hand.

The thirteen soldiers stopped.

Her eyes remained fixed on the distant carriage.

“Now.”

The soldiers moved.

One by one, they emerged from the trees, spreading across the road and cutting off every possible escape.

The carriage driver pulled the reins sharply. The horses panicked.

The carriage came to a sudden stop. Inside, the blind young woman startled.

Beside her, the young man immediately reached for the carriage door.

Outside, Veyra dismounted. Her boots touched the forest floor.

She looked toward the carriage.

“Take them.”

Before the soldiers could advance, the carriage door suddenly opened, Milo stepped out first.

He had already sensed that something was wrong.

The horses were restless, the forest had gone unnaturally quiet, and the sudden blockade had made the danger obvious.

He stepped onto the road and looked around.

Thirteen armed soldiers stood among the trees.

Then his eyes settled on the dark insignia marked across their armor.

His expression changed. “Morcant…”

The word escaped him quietly.

“You know who we are.”

Milo's jaw tightened. “I know enough.”

Behind him, Selene remained inside the carriage.

Milo immediately moved so that his body stood between her and the soldiers.

Veyra noticed the movement.

“So she's the one you're protecting.”

Milo said nothing.

One of the Morcant soldiers stepped forward.

Milo's eyes hardened.

“Stay where you are.”

The soldier continued walking.

Milo raised his voice.

“I said stay back.”

Veyra lifted one hand.

The soldiers stopped.

For a moment, only the wind moved through the trees.

Veyra studied Milo carefully.

Milo glanced toward the carriage.

Then back at them.

“What do you want?”

Veyra's expression remained cold.

“You.”

Milo stared at Veyra. “You want me?”

He raised an eyebrow, then gave her a faint, almost amused smile. “That sounds rather possessive.”

For a moment, no one moved.

The thirteen soldiers remained completely silent.

Merik slowly turned his head toward Veyra, clearly caught off guard by the remark.

Veyra, however, didn't smile.

Her expression remained cold.

From inside the carriage, Selene quietly called his name.

“Milo…”

He glanced back at her. “Stay inside.”

Then he looked at Veyra again.

“So, if this isn't some strange invitation, perhaps you could explain why those armed soldiers are blocking our road.”

Veyra's eyes narrowed. “You talk too much.”

Milo smiled.

Veyra's expression hardened. “Take him.”

The soldiers immediately moved.

Milo's faint smile disappeared. His hand went to the sword at his side. With a sharp metallic sound, he drew it from its sheath.

The blade caught the pale light filtering through the trees.

It was the sword his uncle had given him years ago—a weapon Milo had carried ever since, even when he had little reason to believe he would ever need it.

He stepped forward.

The tip of the blade pointed toward the approaching soldiers.

“I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline.”

One of the soldiers charged.

Milo raised his sword. Steel struck steel.

CLANG!

The force pushed him several steps backward, but he held his ground.

Behind him, Selene remained inside the carriage.

“Milo!”

“Stay there!”

Another soldier moved toward him.

Milo turned and blocked the attack, then quickly pushed the soldier back.

Veyra watched without moving.

Veyra watched Milo hold his ground against the soldiers.

Her patience finally broke. “Enough.”

She raised one hand.

The air around her seemed to tighten.

Her eyes fixed on Milo.

Then she unleashed her mind power.

The force rushed toward him, invisible but overwhelming, pushing into his thoughts like a blade searching for the weakest part of his mind.

Milo staggered.

Veyra expected him to collapse.

Instead—

A sharp pain suddenly pierced her own head. Veyra gasped.

She grabbed her temple. “What…?”

The pain intensified.

It felt as though something had seized her mind from the inside and violently twisted it.

Her vision blurred.

She stumbled backward.

“Mistress!” One of the soldiers rushed toward her.

“Stay back!” Veyra forced herself upright, breathing heavily.

She stared at Milo.

He was still standing.

He looked confused, but otherwise unharmed.

Veyra's eyes widened.

“That shouldn't be possible.”

She had used her mind power countless times.

No ordinary person had ever resisted it.

But this wasn't resistance.

Her own power had returned to her.

She pressed her fingers against her temple as another wave of pain struck.

“How…”

Milo lowered his sword slightly. “Are you all right?”

Veyra stared at him. Disbelief

She didn't answer.

A woman's voice suddenly echoed inside her mind. Veyra froze.

“I saw you.”

Her breath caught.

The voice was unfamiliar, yet somehow terrifyingly close—as if the woman were standing directly beside her.

“Go back.”

Veyra's eyes widened. “And don't bother anyone again.”

The pain in her head vanished.

But Veyra remained completely stiff, staring at Milo.

She didn't understand what had happened.

No one had ever entered her mind like that.

Not even the strongest mind wielder she had encountered.

Her lips parted slightly.

Then, without realizing what she was saying, she spoke.

“Go ahead.”

The soldiers looked at her.

Veyra's voice remained strangely empty. “Proceed to Eldermere.”

Merik frowned. “Veyra?”

She didn't answer.

“Continue to Eldermere,” she repeated.

The soldiers exchanged confused glances before obeying.

One by one, they turned their horses toward the road.

Merik remained beside Veyra for a moment.

“You're abandoning the search?”

Veyra stared ahead.

Her body moved mechanically as she turned her horse.

“Yes.”

“But the man—”

“Leave him.”

Merik studied her suspiciously.

Inside her mind, the woman's voice still lingered.

I saw you.