Chapter 24
Ella's POV
Darkness swallowed me like a tide. I drifted in the void, feeling neither the weight of my body nor the passage of time. There was no sound, no light—only endless silence.
Then, a glimmer of light appeared in the distance.
I walked toward it—or rather, I thought I was walking. In this place, the concept of "walking" didn't seem to exist. I simply thought about approaching the light, and then I drew closer.
The glow gradually expanded, like the sky at dawn, tearing the darkness apart bit by bit.
I blinked and found myself standing in an open clearing. Beneath my feet was soft grass, above my head a crystalline sky, and all around me rolling hills stretched into the distance.
I looked down at myself, wearing a simple white dress, barefoot on the grass.
Then I heard that familiar breathing.
I turned around and saw it.
That massive crimson wolf, just as I'd seen in every dream, crouched not far away. Its build was staggeringly huge, its flame-like fur shimmering with golden-red light in the sunlight.
Amber eyes gazed at me, my reflection captured in their pupils.
And there were those chains binding it.
Heavy chains extended from the void, coiled around its limbs and neck, inscribed with complex runes. They trembled faintly like living things, holding the great wolf firmly in place.
But even bound, those chains still allowed it a certain range of movement.
It could stand, could walk—it simply couldn't stray too far from this area.
"We meet again," I said softly.
The crimson wolf tilted its head, its amber eyes blinking as if responding to me.
I walked toward it step by step.
The chains rattled softly as the crimson wolf slowly rose to its feet, lowering its head to bring its massive skull close to my face. Warm breath washed over me.
I reached out and touched its nose.
"I'm disturbing you again," I said with a bitter smile, then leaned against its warm body.
This wolf appeared in my dreams every time I was at my most agonized, most desperate. It never spoke, only stayed quietly beside me, watching me with those amber eyes, as if saying: It's alright. I'm here.
I stroked its fur, those flame-like tufts sliding through my fingers.
"If only I could stay here forever," I murmured.
The crimson wolf nuzzled me with its head, as if comforting me.
Just then, a voice shattered the tranquility.
"...I'm sorry... Ella... I'm sorry..."
It was a man's voice, blurred and distant, as if coming from far away.
I frowned, trying to identify who it was.
Was it Kane?
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
The voice repeated over and over, carrying a desperate plea.
I wanted to respond, to tell him to stop apologizing, but I couldn't make a sound.
Then I felt warmth.
Someone was holding me.
It was a man's embrace, broad and solid. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, feel his rapid breathing. His arms wrapped tightly around me, as if afraid I would vanish.
Was it Kane?
But soon, that warmth disappeared.
I was set down, touching cold, hard stone, the chill seeping through thin fabric into my skin.
Then, chanting began.
It was a language I couldn't understand, with strange, obscure syllables.
Suddenly, everything around me changed!
Black mist surged in from all directions, rapidly polluting this crystalline sky.
Sunlight was blocked, the warm grass turned cold, even the air became thick and oppressive.
The crimson wolf leaped to its feet, its amber eyes turning sharp. It let out a low growl, chains clanging with its movements, producing harsh grating sounds.
I saw its fur bristle, its entire body tensing into a defensive posture.
It sensed danger.
The black mist grew thicker, gradually coalescing into solid form. I saw a feminine figure emerge from the fog. She had no clear features, only a vague outline, but the aura emanating from her chilled me to the bone.
It was pure malice.
The female entity raised her hand, black mist gathering in her palm and transforming into barbed thorn chains. Those barbs glinted with dark light, each one radiating deadly menace.
She waved her hand, and the thorn chains lunged at the crimson wolf like living serpents.
The crimson wolf roared in counterattack, opening its massive jaws to release a stream of crimson flame. Flame and chains collided, erupting in blinding light. I instinctively closed my eyes but could still feel that scorching blast.
But there were too many thorn chains.
One, two, ten, dozens... they surged from all directions like a black tide, engulfing the crimson wolf's form. The wolf struggled desperately, flames erupting again and again, trying to burn through those chains, but it was useless.
Those thorn chains pierced its body.
I heard the crimson wolf release an agonized whimper. That sound tore at my heart, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
"No!" I screamed and rushed forward, trying to tear the chains apart.
But the moment my hand touched a chain, sharp barbs pierced my palm. Searing pain struck, blood dripping down my fingers. I gritted my teeth and kept pulling, only to find the chains wouldn't budge—they only wound tighter.
The crimson wolf was pressed to the ground, its massive body prostrate on the grass, releasing weak whimpers.
Those thorn chains covered it like a spider's web, pinning it firmly in place.
I knelt beside it, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." I choked out. "I couldn't save you again..."
The crimson wolf struggled to lift its head, looking at me with those amber eyes. Its gaze remained gentle, as if comforting me, telling me this wasn't my fault.
The black mist began to recede, the female entity's form gradually fading.
But those thorn chains remained, firmly suppressing the crimson wolf, rendering it immobile.
I collapsed to the ground, staring at the newly bound crimson wolf.
Those original silver chains were still there, and now these black thorn chains had been added, layer upon layer coiled around its body.
It lay on the ground, even lifting its head becoming difficult.
My heart felt like something was squeezing it tight.
Then I felt an embrace again.
This time the embrace was cold.
The person holding me had a body cold as ice, yet something scorching dripped onto my face.
One drop, two drops, three drops... tears.
Burning tears.
I wanted to open my eyes to see who it was, but my eyelids were too heavy—too heavy to lift.
The person laid me on a soft bed.
After a long while, I heard someone softly calling my name.
"Ella? Ella?"
That voice was familiar and gentle.
I used all my strength to open my eyes, my vision blurred. After a while, I could finally make out the person before me.
It was Ruby.
"Ruby..." My voice was so hoarse it was barely audible.
"You're awake!" Ruby's eyes were red, as if she'd been crying. "Thank goodness, you're finally awake!"
I blinked, trying to clear my thoughts.
"What happened?"
"His Lordship brought you back." Ruby gripped my hand, her tone filled with worry. "He said you were too exhausted and fainted."
I froze.
Kane brought me back?
I struggled to remember what had happened before.
Fish soup... Kane talking about fate... and then?
I tapped my head, trying to make the memories clearer, but my mind was a chaotic mess.
"Could it be..." I murmured. "Could it have all been just a dream?"
That female entity in the black mist, those thorn chains, the crimson wolf's agonized cries... all just a dream?
But why did my palm still ache faintly?
I opened my hand, only to find no marks at all.
Just a dream.
A dream that felt far too real.