405- The Unbroken Barrier
POV Viktor Averwyn:
“Go back home with Florian and the others.”
I held Seraphine’s hair as some of the groups in the forest began to disperse, returning to their territories.
Some of our wolves would stay in Cyndrael and Tharengard to take care of the villages and their inhabitants temporarily, until a decision was made about what to do with them. We would not harm innocents.
“I want to stay with you, Viktor.”
“We still have unfinished business. Especially in Noctheria; we can’t wait any longer. I’ll meet you at the castle in a few hours.”
“They’re going with them. Why can’t I go?”
She looked in the direction of Aldren and Edric with Lunara and Elowen, surrounded by their most trusted wolves. Just as Emil, Cezar, Lonut, and Petru were ready to accompany me.
“We don’t know what to expect. And Elowen is half-witch; she’s necessary.”
“I’m necessary too. If you send me away, I’ll be worried; it will be worse. I’ll stay quiet and won’t get in the way at all.”
“Stubborn.” I hugged her, wanting her with me as well. I weighed the risks and finally nodded.
“All right. Come.”
I picked her up carefully in my arms, holding her against my chest. I wouldn’t run too fast because of the pregnancy. I hoped to lessen the jostling with my own body.
Seeing that we were ready, Edric and Aldren also picked up their predestined mates, even though they were she-wolves and could run. Our wolves followed us.
I had asked Florian to retrieve Adelina’s body from the forest and take it to the village. To have the females take care of her, prepare her for the funeral ceremonies later. Just thinking about it, about seeing my dead daughter up close, nearly brought me to my knees with pain.
It was a crushing reality, one that not even tearing Lucian apart had relieved. Nothing would bring her back. And with that, I would have to live forever.
I wanted to finish the last part of the war, understand why the Ancients had done all of this, close that chapter and start over. Return to the village, say goodbye to Adelina, be with my people and Seraphine.
The past would always be a throbbing wound, bringing joys, pains, and longing. But the future could be one of peace. And for that, our enemies had to pay for what they had done.
Noctheria rose in neutral territory, an imposing fortress of gray stone cut against a sky of the same color.
Despite the cold breeze blowing, announcing rain for later, the surrounding trees were strangely still, not a single leaf moving. The air was heavy and dense, a macabre and silent atmosphere that foretold bad omens.
We stopped in front of the enormous double gate of dark iron. The sentries who always stood there had vanished. It was as if there was no longer any life in the place.
I set Seraphine on the ground, and she looked at everything, impressed and quiet.
“We don’t know if it’s true yet, but before the battle, Lucian mentioned something about the Ancients,” Edric said, an arm around his wife. “He said the eyeless one was as weak as the others and that we could no longer count on them. That we would make the laws after we won.”
“That’s what I feel. Korlina told me I had a mission and would know at the right time, to do what she was not capable of.” Elowen approached the gate slowly, focused. “For two days I have been dreaming, and today I received a kind of warning. That the prophecy was coming true.”
Aldren looked at me seriously, Edric as well. We had spent our lives hearing that it was nothing but legends, but many things fit. I told them:
“For a long time, I’ve had memories of our mother, which grew stronger over time. At first, I even told the Ancients, back when I still believed in them. They gave me teas, put me to sleep with some magic, and I thought I was at peace. Until the memories returned.”
“You didn’t speak to them about it again,” my youngest brother concluded.
“No. Then my suspicions only increased, and I also began to remember our father and you. Of Astraluna, the snow-filled valley where we lived. One thing they said: that many people, wolves and humans, were coming to our village. Life was calm, full of peace and prosperity. And everyone spoke of the perfect wolves, a white male and a black female, both pure, descended from the first ones. And that they had caused the prophecy to begin coming true by giving birth to the three Supreme or Superior Alphas.”
“Us,” Aldren murmured. “It sounds like madness, but many things fit. Others are still gaps. All I know is that with each moment, my mind becomes clearer, new memories arrive.”
“Mine too,” Edric added.
“They will answer.” I pointed at the castle and also approached the gate. I stopped beside Elowen, who extended her hand and trembled. “I’ll try to break it down.”
“You won’t be able to. There’s magic surrounding it. It’s still powerful, even though they seem weak inside. What I feel is that they prepared everything in case the rest went wrong. If they can stay in there, they will survive longer; I don’t know how long.”
“Cowardly bastards,” I whispered, furious. Already ready to transform and break down that gate or scale the castle stones, despite what she said. “I don’t have the patience to wait! We’re finishing this today.”
“Calm down, Viktor.” Aldren held my shoulder, trusting his wife. “Let her try.”
I nodded and waited. All of us waiting.
Elowen tried to touch her hands to the gate, but couldn’t. It was as if a strong current of energy surrounded it, covering everything with an invisible protection.
I pulled Seraphine to me, putting my arm around her waist. She hugged me back, curious and nervous. Lunara did the same, going to her sister’s side. She and Aldren flanked her, offering silent support.
Elowen trembled and murmured:
“I don’t know if I can… it’s still very strong.”
“You can do it, my love,” her husband encouraged.
Drawing air into her lungs, she concentrated, hands raised, eyes closed.
Her body trembled, and right before our eyes, that invisible energy began to tinge yellow. A sphere formed in the middle of the gate, growing slowly, gaining orange hues. Her voice rose, resounding to the four winds:
“Lumină și foc, distrugeți această barieră! Lumină și foc, distrugeți această barieră!”
The yellow and orange energy intensified, the colors mixing wildly. We looked at it in awe, for it was like fire spreading. Consuming the magic that was there.
“Ah…” she groaned, and her body shook violently.
Aldren stepped forward, nervous, as if to touch her. Lunara held him back, shaking her head, though she also looked worried about her sister. Seraphine held me tighter.
Cezar, Lonut, Emil, and Petru, along with the trusted wolves of Aldren and Edric, were quiet, barely seeming to breathe.