Chapter 138 ''Too Dead...''

Chapter 138 ''Too Dead...''
The castle courtyard was a chaotic mess that morning.
Soldiers crisscrossed the stone corridors carrying weapons, supplies, and torches while horses were prepared for the long journey to the northern mountains.
Even with all the commotion…
the atmosphere felt heavy.
As if everyone knew that this journey wasn't just about finding a key.
I watched Conrad from the top of the main staircase, holding Lysander in my arms.
He was surrounded by soldiers and messengers, giving orders nonstop.
Serious.
Controlled.
The perfect alpha king.
“No one crosses shadow areas alone,” he ordered coldly. “Any alteration to the barriers must be reported immediately to the main alphas.”
The soldiers nodded quickly.
“I want double patrols during our absence,” Conrad continued. “And if anything seems wrong…” His golden eyes scanned every man present. “…don’t wait to act.”
Even from a distance, I could perceive the hidden weariness in his posture. Conrad was trying to control everything again.
The kingdom.
The soldiers.
The journey.
The shadows.
As if he could prevent chaos simply by organizing every detail around him.
“He didn’t sleep.”
Kael’s voice came from beside me.
I glanced at him quickly.
“Neither did you,” I replied.
Kael let out a small, tired laugh before looking back at Conrad.
“He’s scared.”
My gaze immediately returned to my companion.
And my chest tightened.
Because I knew.
I knew exactly what his fear was.
Lysander stirred slightly in my arms at that moment, still sleepy.
I gently stroked his small dark hair as I watched Conrad finish his orders.
When he finally walked towards us, his eyes immediately met our son.
Always first.
Always checking to make sure we were still okay.
“Are you ready?” he asked softly.
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because the truth was simple:
no.
I wasn’t ready to discover what awaited us in that temple.
But I also knew we couldn’t keep running from the answers.
So I just nodded.
And shortly after, we left the castle.
—
The journey began silently.
The horses moved slowly along the old road while the soldiers remained vigilant around the wagons.
At first, I tried to distract myself by watching Lysander.
But something began to bother me as we moved away from the pack.
The forest was… wrong.
Too silent.
The birds disappeared first.
Then the sounds of the animals.
Even the wind seemed strange in that region.
Heavy.
As if we were crossing a place forgotten by the world.
And Lysander…
Lysander was too calm.
That's what really scared me.
My son was silently observing the forest without showing any fear.
No crying.
No restlessness.
On the contrary.
He seemed comfortable.
As if he recognized something invisible among those ancient trees.
I noticed Conrad looking at him several times along the way.
Tense.
Worried.
He had noticed it too.
Then the whispers began.
At first I thought it was the wind.
A distant sound cutting through the trees.
But soon I noticed the soldiers exchanging nervous glances.
Some tightened their grip on their weapons.
Others began to constantly look at the surrounding forest.
The voices continued.
Low.
Murmured.
But impossible to ignore.
I couldn't understand a single word.
Not a single sentence.
It was just a strange chorus of ancient voices echoing among the dark trees.
Conrad immediately slowed his horse.
“Approach the wagons,” he ordered.
The soldiers obeyed quickly.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as the whispers grew louder.
Closer.
As if they were all around us.
Then Lysander slowly opened his eyes in my arms.
And smiled.
A small smile.
Calm.
While the voices grew louder around the group.
Lysander's smile made my heart clench.
Because there was no fear in it.
None.
While everyone around us began to get restless, my son just watched the forest as if he heard something familiar.
The whispers gradually increased as we advanced along the old road.
The horses began to stir.
Some soldiers exchanged nervous glances constantly.
And even Kael seemed uncomfortable now.
“This isn’t normal,” he murmured as he approached my wagon.
Conrad heard immediately.
“Can you understand what they’re saying?”
Kael shook his head.
“No.” His eyes scanned the dark trees around us. “It feels… incomplete.”
Incomplete.
That perfectly described the feeling.
Like hearing hundreds of voices trying to form words without succeeding.
I felt Lysander grasp my finger at that instant.
Small.
Warm.
Alive.
I squeezed his tiny hand automatically while trying to ignore the growing discomfort in my chest.
Then one of the shadows moved between the trees.
Too fast.
Several soldiers immediately drew their weapons.
Conrad stopped his horse at the same moment.
“Formation!”, his voice echoed firmly down the road.
The entire group quickly reorganized around the wagons.
The silence grew even worse after that.
Because the whispers didn't disappear.
On the contrary.
They seemed closer now.
More attentive.
As if they knew exactly where we were.
I watched Conrad slowly dismount from his horse, his golden eyes analyzing every corner of the surrounding forest.
The tension in his body was evident.
Ready to explode at the slightest sign of danger.
“Conrad…” I called softly.
He immediately looked at me.
And for a moment…
I saw fear again.
Not fear of the shadows.
Nor of the chasm.
But fear of not being able to protect us both.
Then it happened.
A voice pierced the whispers.
Clearer.
Closer.
Feminine.
“Go back…”
My whole body froze.
The soldiers stood motionless.
Even the horses seemed to quiet down for a second.
“You no longer belong here.”
Kael paled immediately.
“She…” he began, clearly shaken. “She spoke in the ancient tongue.”
Conrad narrowed his eyes.
“Who spoke?”
But no one answered.
Because at that instant the shadows began to emerge from among the trees.
Not advancing.
Not attacking.
Just observing.
Dark figures scattered throughout the forest.
Too human to be mere shadows.
Too dead to be people.
I felt Lysander stir in my arms again.
I looked at him immediately.
My son was staring directly at one of the figures among the trees.
And then…
he reached out his small hand toward her.
As if he wanted to reach her.
The air grew heavy instantly.
The shadows trembled.
The whispers ceased at once.
Absolute silence.
And the figure before Lysander…
knelt slowly before him.