51. Divine Awakening

51. Divine Awakening

~Esmarie Seraphine Vale~

My body felt like it was porcelain, crumbling with every sob that tore through me, tears dripping down my cheeks before landing on Ciro's bare chest. His arms around me were a lifeline, warmth seeping into my trembling frame, grounding me.

Nobody understood what it felt like to see them again. To see my father. After months of being held here at the Eastern Continent, it had dulled the memory of the torture I had gone through all my life.

But seeing him felt like the wounds on my body from his relentless beatings were being pried open all over again.
"Esmarie..."Ciro murmured under his breath, heart pounding against my ear steady and fierce, and for the first time since Fenrick's betrayal, I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me. I sobbed into his chest, my fingers dug into the flesh of his back, the terror of the forest chase still clawing at my mind. "I was so scared," I whispered, my voice cracking,"My....my father...."

"Shhhhh" Ciro's grip tightened, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "You're safe now," he murmured. "No one will hurt you again."

His words only made me sob harder, chest heaving with the intensity of it. I had hated him, deceived him, drugged him yet he came to save me.

His hands gripped my shoulder before pulling me back slightly, so he could look at my face.

His fingers— rough and calloused were gentle across my skin as he wiped my tears away before cupping my face. For a moment, I was stunned to a silent state of shock at the emotions swirling in his eyes, the gentle care in his touch.

He had been scared too.

My fingers trembled as they reached up before wrapping around his wrist, unable to tear my eyes from his.

He wanted to say something.

But just as he opened his mouth to speak, Fenrick's voice cut through, sharp and unyielding despite the glowing vines binding him to his knees.

My head immediately shot to his figure and the bitter taste of betrayal coated my tongue.

"You think this is over?" he spat, his battered face twisted with defiance. "The Guardians are coming, Ciro. In numbers you can't imagine. They'll tear through you all to get her."

My heart lurched, fear spiking anew as I glanced back at Ciro who looked like he was seconds away from storming back to where he knelt and ripping him apart with his bare hands.

But he didn't. Instead, he focused on me.

"Do you think you can stand?" He asked, hands moving from my face to my arms, as if trying to warm me up.

I nodded despite the burning pain in my legs where my brother's monster form had bitten into.

His brows furrowed as he pulled me gently to my feet, his hands steady on my shoulders despite the blood and ash smeared across his skin.

I gritted my teeth, reigning in the whimper that threatened to escape me.

It hurt.

So much.

His eyes, dark and blazing, scanned the clearing, already calculating. "Hemne," he snapped, "what do we know?"

Hemne stepped into view, her face streaked with dried blood from her eyes down to her chin as she stared at me. Concern shot through me instantly.

What had happened? Was she injured?

She looked perfectly fine. Not even a single scratch on her skin.

So where was the blood from?

"They've surrounded the forest. From every side—even above. You can't fly out, Ciro. They're too many."

I swayed, my knees weak, but Ciro's arm looped around my waist, holding me upright. His jaw clenched, but he didn't flinch. "Then we fight," he said, his voice a low growl that vibrated through me. "We carve a path out.

My mouth fell open as I finally glanced around the forest, eyes growing wide with surprise.

The entire clearing that had been alive with lush bushes and tall overhead trees was nothing but a barren waste land. Smoke curled from around in thick, heavy black wisps while trees lay scattered around in broken fragments, some charred to the core while others still burning with bright, red hot flame.

I hadn't noticed it before, probably still thrumming with the aftereffects of the adrenaline from the chase after I had passed out.

What had happened???

I had a feeling Ciro had something to do with it, the lightning-like marks on his skin were glowing brightly again just like that night he was burning hot under my touch.

Maybe in the process of saving me from the monsters while I was passed out, he had somehow set the entire forest ablaze.

As if in cue, he stepped in front of me, his broad frame dwarfing mine, a wall of muscle and determination. Thorne and Hemne pressed closer. Hemne's hands glowed faintly with magic. The air thickened, a low hum vibrating through the ground.

Instinctively, I shifted towards Ciro almost reaching out to touch him as the fear began to eat at me again.

The Guardians were coming.

We couldn't fight them off all at once.

A shrill cry vibrated through the entire clearing, echoing far into the night sky before I finally saw them.

In numbers that had me nauseated with terror instantly

We had barely survived four Guardians the first time and a single one was strong enough to slip past Ciro's defenses at the palace.

They were more than I could count, swarming into the clearing like a tide of shadows, their forms towering and otherworldly.

The smell of iron wafted through my nose, so strong I could taste it in my mouth.

They moved as one, steps synchronized like a sea of darkness, their armor glinting in the moonlight, still wearing that soulless empty void as a face, weapons drawn but held low.

The largest Guardian stood at the front, leading the army with a huge sword that was almost two times my height.

I braced for an attack, my hands trembling, but Ciro didn't move, his stance unyielding, a predator ready to strike. His claws extended, his body half-shifted into that half man—wolf form.

I waited for the clash, for the bloodshed—but it didn't come. Instead, to my shock, the lead Guardian, the very one that had spoken my name that day in the forest and told me I didn't belong here dropped to one knee, his head bowed. One by one, the others followed, a wave of submission rippling through the horde until every Guardian knelt, their weapons lowered, their heads tilting towards the ground. My breath hitched, confusion flooding me.

"W...what" I trailed off, unable to find the right words to say.

Who were they kneeling to....Ciro?

Hemne leaned closer, her voice a hushed whisper. "You're glowing again."

I glanced down, my heart skipping. My skin shimmered, a soft, ethereal light radiating from my chest, pulsing like a heartbeat. It wasn't just a trick of the moonlight—it was real, a warm, silvery glow. "What… what is this?" I stammered, my voice barely audible.

"It's you,Esmarie" Hemne whispered again. "They're submitting to you".