“You know. I really hate guys like you. The ones who think they can stomp on people just because they’re down.”
“Stay back!”
Aeliana’s vision blurred, the pain in her body dulling to a distant throb as her consciousness began to slip. The voices around her—the sharp growl of the wiry man, the cold, cutting tone of Luca—faded into a muffled hum.
Her chest heaved as she gasped for air, but even that felt too heavy, too distant. Her body refused to respond, the weight of her illness and exhaustion dragging her further into darkness.
‘Why is he here?’ she thought faintly, the question drifting in and out of her fading awareness.
But another thought whispered in its place, cold and resigned.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Her eyes fluttered shut, her trembling body going still as her mind slipped into a realm far removed from the cavern’s oppressive reality.
******
The darkness was warm now, not suffocating but soothing, as though she were wrapped in a comforting embrace. Slowly, faint light began to pierce through the void, revealing a memory long buried.
Aeliana blinked, and the scene unfolded around her like a painting coming to life. She was standing in a sunlit garden, vibrant with color and alive with the soft hum of bees. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Her body felt different—strong, unbroken. There was no pain in her chest, no burning sickness clawing at her insides. She stood tall, her posture confident, her limbs steady.
“My dear, come.”
The voice was soft, melodious, and achingly familiar. Aeliana turned, her heart tightening as she recognized the source.
Her mother.
Dressed in flowing silks that caught the sunlight, her mother stood beneath a blossoming tree, her arms open in invitation. Her smile was warm, her expression radiant with love—a face Aeliana had almost forgotten.
“Mother…” Aeliana’s voice trembled as the word escaped her lips.
“Come here, my little star,” her mother said, her tone playful yet tender. “I need my strongest knight to protect me today.”
Aeliana hesitated, her heart swelling with a mixture of joy and pain. This moment—it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Her mother was gone, lost to time and sickness.
And yet, her legs moved on their own, carrying her toward the woman who had once been her biggest support.
As Aeliana reached her mother, the older woman crouched down, pulling her into a warm embrace. The touch was soft, grounding, and Aeliana’s chest tightened as tears welled in her eyes. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire
“You’re so strong, my dear,” her mother whispered, stroking her hair. “So brave. Never let anyone take that away from you.”
The words struck something deep within Aeliana, a crack forming in the armor of bitterness and despair that had encased her heart for so long.
“Mother,” she murmured, her voice breaking. “I… I don’t feel strong. I don’t feel brave.”
Her mother pulled back slightly, cupping Aeliana’s face in her hands. Her touch was gentle, but her gaze was steady, filled with a quiet intensity.
“You are,” she said firmly, her smile unwavering. “Even when the world feels dark, even when you feel like you’ve lost everything—you are still my strongest knight. Never forget that.”
The scene began to shift, the light dimming as cracks formed in the idyllic memory. The garden blurred, the colors bleeding away into darkness. Her mother’s smile faded, her form dissolving like mist.
“Wait—” Aeliana reached out, her voice panicked. “Mother, don’t go!”
But the warmth was gone, replaced by the cold void of reality. Her chest burned again, the weight of her sickness pressing down on her like a shroud.
As her mind began to resurface, a single thought lingered in the depths of her heart:
‘Please, don’t leave.’
But…
It was a bit late.
******
Warmth brushed across Aeliana’s cheek, gentle and soothing, coaxing her back from the edges of unconsciousness. Her eyelids fluttered, heavy with exhaustion, and the dim glow of flickering light seeped into her world.
An orange hue filled her vision as she opened her eyes fully, the gentle crackle of fire reaching her ears. A small flame danced before her, casting shadows against the rough stone walls of the cavern. The warmth it provided was a stark contrast to the coldness she had felt before.
Her body ached, but she was alive.
“Hm? Oh, did you wake up?”
The voice was calm and smooth, a playful lilt threading through it. Aeliana’s gaze shifted to the source of the sound.
He was seated beside the fire, leaning casually against a rock with one leg stretched out, the other bent at the knee. His black hair framed a face that carried both amusement and danger in equal measure. A faint smirk curved his lips as his black eyes regarded her, sharp and knowing.
Recognition struck her like a blow, and her breath caught.
“You…” she whispered, her voice hoarse, the word barely audible.
“Me,” he confirmed, his smirk widening slightly as he inclined his head toward her. “You’ve got quite the knack for finding trouble, don’t you?”
Aeliana pushed herself up on trembling arms, her muscles protesting every movement. “Why are you here?” she asked, her tone sharper now, laced with confusion and suspicion.
His gaze flickered to the fire, then back to her. “Saw an opportunity,” he said simply, his tone casual, as though the explanation was enough. “Thought I’d take it.”
“Opportunity?” she echoed, her stomach twisting at the implications.
“To make a difference,” he said, leaning forward slightly. The playful tone was gone, replaced with something quieter, heavier. “You didn’t exactly seem like you were enjoying yourself back there.”
The memory of the wiry man’s sneer and the taller man’s mocking laughter flooded her mind, and Aeliana’s hands clenched into fists. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
“No,” he agreed, leaning back again, his smirk returning. “But you needed it.”
The words stung, their truth undeniable, and Aeliana’s nails dug into her palms. She hated it—hated how right he was, how weak she had been.
“I could’ve handled it,” she muttered, more to herself than to him.
“Really?”
“Really?” Luca’s voice was soft, almost a murmur, but it carried an edge that made Aeliana’s chest tighten.
He stood, his movements unhurried, and began to approach her. The firelight flickered against his silhouette, casting long shadows that danced across the jagged walls. His presence loomed larger with each step, and when he finally stopped in front of her, Aeliana had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.
“Could you really handle it?” he asked, his voice low but tinged with that infuriating, knowing tone.
The weight of him standing over her made her pulse quicken. Fear curled at the edges of her thoughts, but she smothered it with a defiant glare, her pride refusing to yield.
Her voice came out gruff, though it wavered slightly. “I could have handled it, you bastard. I didn’t need your help.”
A curse slipped from her lips, sharp and unbidden, but she didn’t regret it. The words felt like a barrier, something to shield her from the helplessness that still clawed at her.
“Hm?” Luca’s brows lifted slightly, his lips twitching into a smile—not mocking, but playful, as though her defiance amused him more than anything.
And then, without warning, he bent slightly, reaching for her hand. His fingers, warm and calloused, closed around hers before she could pull away.
“With these fragile hands?” he said softly, holding her hand up between them. The strength in his grip was undeniable, yet it wasn’t harsh. His thumb brushed against her knuckles, sending a jolt of indignation through her.
‘This guy… How dare he!’
Her mind roared with anger, shame, and something else she didn’t want to name. Her teeth clenched, and heat flushed through her face as she tried to wrench her hand from his grasp.
“Grrr…!” A feral growl escaped her, and she lunged forward, snapping her teeth at him like a cornered animal.
But he was faster. Luca leaned back, his black eyes glinting with something between amusement and caution as her teeth clicked shut on empty air.
“Feisty, aren’t you?” he said, his tone laced with humor. He didn’t release her hand, though, and his grip tightened just enough to keep her from pulling away.
Aeliana’s chest heaved with the force of her emotions, her breath ragged. She glared up at him, her amber eyes blazing.
‘I hate this.’
Her thoughts churned in a storm of anger and pain, her nails digging into her free palm.
“Let go,” she snapped, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound commanding.
Luca’s smile softened, and for a moment, his gaze flickered with something she couldn’t quite place—an understanding that felt too close, too personal.
He let go of her hand slowly, his movements deliberate. “As you wish,” he said, stepping back slightly. His smirk returned, though the edge had dulled. “But don’t bite me next time. It’s not very ladylike.”
And then he returned to the fire.
“There is nothing left ladylike about me.”
A quiet murmur escaped her lips….