CHAPTER 202: THE TRUE ROSE

The chamber fell into a peaceful silence as Eren lay back against the silk sheets, his breathing gradually returning to normal. Sweet incense drifted through the air, mixing with the lingering scent of their passion. Lyralei and Sylvara remained where they had collapsed, their bodies still trembling with exhaustion and satisfaction, soft murmurs of contentment escaping their lips. The soft glow of the crystalline lights cast dancing shadows across the walls, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere that felt suspended in time.

Rose had been standing quietly in the corner throughout the entire encounter, her violet eyes observing everything with an unreadable expression. Her silver hair caught the light as she tilted her head, studying the scene before her with the detached interest of a scholar examining specimens. Now, as the two elven guards began to stir and collect themselves, something fundamental shifted in her demeanor. The warmth that had previously emanated from her seemed to evaporate like morning mist, replaced by something far colder and infinitely more dangerous. Her posture straightened, and her fingers flexed at her sides.

"That was quite the performance," Rose said, her voice carrying a sharp edge that hadn’t been there before. "But I’m afraid this little celebration has gone on long enough."

Eren sat up, sensing the change in atmosphere like a sudden drop in barometric pressure before a storm. His skin prickled with unease as he watched Rose’s transformation from helpful guide to something altogether more predatory. "Rose? What do you mean?"

Lyralei and Sylvara, still recovering and reaching for their discarded clothing, looked up at Rose with confusion painted across their flushed faces. Lyralei’s breathing was still heavy as she spoke. "We should return to Master Kiada soon. She’ll be expecting a detailed report on—"

"No," Rose interrupted, taking a deliberate step forward that seemed to echo despite the soft carpeting beneath her feet. Her voice had taken on the quality of winter wind through bare branches. "You won’t be reporting anything to anyone."

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet several degrees. Eren felt goosebumps rise along his arms as he watched Rose raise her right hand toward Lyralei. The air around her fingers began to shimmer with an otherworldly bluish light that pulsed like a heartbeat. Magic crackled between her fingertips with barely contained power.

"Rose, what are you doing?" Eren demanded, but before anyone could react further, water began to materialize around Lyralei’s throat.

The elven guard’s eyes widened in terror as the liquid formed into a tight collar around her neck. She clawed at her throat, gasping desperately, but the water was unnaturally solid, constricting with relentless pressure. Her companion Sylvara scrambled to help, but Rose simply gestured with her left hand.

A burst of invisible force struck Sylvara, slamming her against the stone wall with such violence that Eren heard the sickening crack of breaking bones. The guard crumpled to the floor, her neck twisted at an unnatural angle, her eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling.

Lyralei’s struggles grew weaker as the water tightened further. Within moments, she too had gone still, her body collapsing beside her sister’s.

Eren stared in absolute shock, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. "Rose... what have you done? How did you—" He stopped mid-sentence, realization dawning on him. "You used water magic. And that force... that was wind."

Rose turned to face him, her expression completely calm, as if she had just swatted away two bothersome insects rather than ending two lives. "Surprised, Veilwalker? I thought someone of your abilities would recognize multi-elemental manipulation when you saw it."

"But that’s impossible," Eren said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was told that only I possessed the ability to control multiple elements. The researchers, Kiada, everyone said—"

"Everyone lied," Rose said matter-of-factly, smoothing down her silver hair. "Or perhaps they simply didn’t know the truth. Your captors are remarkably ignorant about the wider world, despite their supposed knowledge."

Eren’s mind raced. Everything he had been told, everything he had believed about his unique nature, was crumbling before his eyes. "Then there are others like me?"

Rose’s lips curved into a cold smile. "Not exactly like you, no. But there are those who understand the true nature of elemental manipulation." She walked closer to him, stepping carelessly over Lyralei’s body. "We are the last remnants of the Nethys Kingdom, a civilization that your history books have conveniently forgotten."

"Nethys Kingdom?" Eren had never heard the name before.

"Of course you haven’t. The victors write the histories, after all." Rose’s voice carried centuries of bitterness. "Long ago, before the current kingdoms rose to power, Nethys was the greatest magical civilization this world had ever known. We mastered not just single elements, but the art of combining them, manipulating them in ways that these modern practitioners can barely comprehend."

She gestured around the chamber. "What you call impossible was commonplace in Nethys. Every citizen could manipulate at least two elements by adulthood. The truly gifted could command four, five, even six different forces of nature."

Eren felt his worldview shifting entirely. "What happened to your kingdom?"

"Fear," Rose said simply. "The other kingdoms grew terrified of our power. They formed an alliance, something that had never happened before in recorded history. Together, they destroyed our cities, slaughtered our people, and buried our knowledge." Her violet eyes glittered with ancient hatred. "But they didn’t get everyone."

"How many of you survived?"

"Few enough," Rose replied. "We scattered across the world, hiding, waiting, rebuilding our strength in secret. Some of us have spent centuries perfecting our abilities, preparing for the day when we could reclaim what was stolen from us."

Eren looked down at the two dead guards, then back at Rose. Her casual attitude toward killing disturbed him almost as much as her revelations about multi-elemental manipulation. "You could have just incapacitated them. They didn’t have to die."

Rose’s expression didn’t change. "Sentiment is a luxury we cannot afford, Veilwalker. Those guards served our enemies. Their loyalty was to Kiada and this fortress. They would have reported everything they saw here, compromising our plans."

"Our plans?" Eren stood up, suddenly aware of his vulnerability. "What plans?"

"The reason I sought you out, of course." Rose moved to the chamber’s window, gazing out at the fortress beyond. "Your unique abilities, combined with your current position, make you invaluable to our cause."

Eren felt a growing uneasiness. "What exactly do you want from me?"

"I’m not alone here, Veilwalker. Eight of my most skilled warriors infiltrated this fortress along with me. We’ve been planning this operation for decades." Rose turned back to face him. "Tomorrow, when you perform the TUNA ritual with Kiada, we will strike."

"You want to attack during the ritual?" Eren’s blood ran cold. "That’s insane. My family will be there. Innocent people could be hurt."

"Acceptable losses," Rose said with chilling indifference. "Kiada must die, and her research must be destroyed. She’s been using captured subjects like you to unlock secrets that could tip the balance of power in this world. We cannot allow that knowledge to spread."

"There has to be another way," Eren protested. "Something that doesn’t involve putting my family at risk."

Rose’s laugh was like ice cracking. "Risk? Everything worthwhile involves risk, Veilwalker. Your family is already at risk simply by being here. At least our way offers them a chance at true freedom."

"And if your plan fails?"

"Then we all die," Rose said matter-of-factly. "But we die fighting rather than cowering. The blood of Nethys doesn’t accept slavery, even comfortable slavery dressed up as hospitality."

Eren stared at her, seeing clearly for the first time the cold, calculating predator beneath her helpful facade. This wasn’t the mysterious benefactor who had aided him before. This was something far more dangerous.

"You’re not giving me a choice, are you?" he said quietly.

"There’s always a choice," Rose replied. "But some choices have consequences that extend far beyond personal comfort." She gestured toward the dead guards. "For instance, you could try to warn Kiada about our presence. But then you’d have to explain how you came to know about it, which would involve explaining this encounter."

The implied threat was clear. Eren looked down at Lyralei and Sylvara’s bodies, then made his decision. He couldn’t bring them back, but he could ensure their deaths didn’t expose him before he figured out how to protect his family.

Raising his hands, Eren called upon his earth manipulation. The stone floor beneath the guards began to soften and flow like liquid, swallowing their bodies until they disappeared completely. Then the stone solidified again, leaving no trace of what had happened.

Next, he summoned his water abilities, calling moisture from the air to wash away every trace of blood from the chamber. Within minutes, the room looked exactly as it had before the confrontation.

Rose watched his work with approval. "Impressive. Your control has improved significantly since your arrival."

"Don’t mistake practical necessity for cooperation," Eren said grimly. "I’m protecting myself and my family, nothing more."

"Of course," Rose said, though her smile suggested she thought otherwise. "Just remember, Veilwalker – tomorrow changes everything. The age of hiding is over. It’s time for the children of Nethys to reclaim their birthright."

As she spoke, Eren realized that his ordeal in this fortress was far from over. In fact, it was about to become infinitely more complicated.