31 - The Voice of the Veil
31 - The Voice of the Veil
31 - The Voice of the Veil
Meridian Water
The shadows stretched across the forest as I walked in silence. We’d been summoned urgently due to an attack dangerously close to the palace.
Since our last night together, the prince and I had grown closer, and he seemed so different from the man I first met. Within the castle, he was reserved and serious, every bit the diplomat. In his father’s presence, he became tense, shrouded in darkness. But when we were alone, everything changed—stolen kisses, caresses, intimacy. His face softened, his posture relaxed.
But the onslaught of attacks had worsened, forcing us into constant missions, clearing the destruction left behind, and strategizing to anticipate the wolves’ next move.
The prince walked beside me, but something about the night felt... off. My senses were picking up a scent that felt strangely familiar, tugging at the edges of my memory. It was earthy, like the forest after rain, mingled with the coolness of the night wind.
“Do you smell that?” I asked, my hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at my waist.
The prince met my gaze, his brows furrowing in confusion.
“Smell what?” he asked.
I shook my head, trying to shake the growing unease settling in my chest. But before I could answer, a swift, silent movement crossed our path. My instincts kicked in, and I drew my dagger, positioning myself in front of the prince.
Everything happened in a blur. A vicious battle erupted between our soldiers and the creatures. Chaos reigned, and before long, it was just the prince and me standing. I had one purpose—to protect him, even at the cost of my life.
Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged—a wolf, its silver coat gleaming under the moonlight.
It was enormous, its fur shining like polished steel. Its gaze pierced through me, stirring something deep within—blurred memories, incomplete and distant. Other wolves appeared, forming a circle around us. It was an ambush. The air hummed faintly with weakened magic, and I knew immediately that no rune would save us this time.
“Cast it!” I commanded the prince, shifting into a defensive stance. If nothing else, I could hold them off long enough for him to escape.
“I’m not leaving you behind.” His voice was firm, though there was a hint of apprehension.
The wolves advanced, but not to kill. Their movements were deliberate, coordinated, as though their goal was to separate me from the prince. I moved with precision, each strike calculated, carving through their ranks. But they were unrelenting, and then a howl echoed through the forest, stopping us in our tracks.
That’s when he appeared.
A man stepped out from between the trees, his piercing blue eyes identical to those of the silver wolf. He was tall, imposing, and his presence seemed to shrink the world around us. His gaze locked onto mine, intense and filled with something I couldn’t place.
“Meridian,” he said, his deep voice reverberating through the air. “We’re here for you.”
“Who are you?” I demanded, my tone sharp and unwavering.
“We are your family. We’ve come to take you home.” His voice held a tenderness that disarmed me.
“My home is Umbra, and my duty is to protect the prince.” My mind was a storm of confusion, but I held firm.
A sad smile tugged at his lips.
“They took you from us, erased your memory. But your heart knows the truth. You feel it, don’t you?”
My hand faltered slightly, but I refused to lower my guard. Before I could respond, the wolves attacked again. They weren’t trying to kill us—they were wearing us down. The prince was exhausted, his magic weakened by the blockers in the air.
I swore to save him, and I would.
Desperate for a solution, my mind grasped at a forbidden spell I’d once heard about: The Voice of the Veil. A dark magic, it came with a heavy cost but could transport someone to safety, anywhere within reach of the caster’s intent. Dangerous, draining, and often fatal, it was my only option.
Taking a deep breath, I began to chant the arcane words, my voice echoing with an unnatural resonance.
"Luxare ab umbris, transvectio animæ. Per vocem meam, salva eum!"
My voice thundered through the forest, and a blue light enveloped me before surrounding the prince. His eyes widened in alarm as his body was lifted from the ground.
“Meridian, stop this!” he shouted, his voice filled with both anger and fear.
I ignored him, pouring every ounce of strength into the spell. The light intensified, and in an instant, he vanished—safely transported back to Umbra’s castle.
I had fulfilled my duty. He was safe.
The moment the spell ended, my body collapsed. I felt a bone-deep cold seep through me as my strength ebbed away. Someone caught me before I hit the ground.
“She used the Voice of the Veil…” the man murmured, his voice laced with disbelief.
Everything around me became a blur. The world spun, and the edges of my consciousness frayed, threatening to pull me into the abyss.
“You’ll be okay, Mel. I promise,” he said, his voice the last thing I heard before darkness claimed me entirely.