CHAPTER 240: THE ATTACK {1}

"Yeah, I didn’t," Rymora responded, her voice steady though her attempt to mask her expression in indifference failed miserably. Rising to her feet, she tried to compose herself, but the effort was far too transparent.

Aria, however, looked bright, her eyes almost glowing with a spark of excitement. "It’s good though. You always seemed a bit lonely," she said warmly. She gestured toward the doors of the temple, signaling that they were leaving, and began turning to walk away—only to halt in surprise at the sight before her.

A crowd had already gathered at the entrance. Word of her arrival had clearly spread, for more people continued to stream in, filling the space.

Without uttering a single word, Aria let her power flow. The temple guards had already surrounded her on all sides, but she ignored the circle they formed. Instead, a sudden stream of white aura burst from her body, flowing outward to encircle everyone close to her. With practiced control, she directed her energy over them, working to heal the group collectively.

She knew well that speed mattered. The faster she completed it, the better for everyone, even if it took a heavy toll on her body. Energy drained from her swiftly, yet the results were undeniable. Within moments, every person touched by the light who had carried some form of sickness was healed, whether the affliction was caused by disease or by the weakness of malnourishment.

Relief softened Aria’s shoulders when she realized that there were no shape-shifting monsters hidden among the crowd. Her powers would have forced such creatures to reveal themselves, and their absence confirmed that none dared approach her. ’They probably don’t want to put themselves in danger since my powers can force them to reveal themselves,’ she thought, allowing a small smile to form as she received the gratitude flowing toward her.

Some people pressed forward to thank her directly, voices trembling with sincerity. Others were so overwhelmed that they dropped to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground and crying out in fervent devotion, thanking the god of light for sending them such a messenger.

’If only you knew,’ she thought silently, smiling still as she tried to channel the same serene smile Serraphina so often wore. With calm dignity, she moved slowly toward her carriage before the crowd grew any larger and surged closer.

It did not take long before she stepped inside, Rymora following close behind. They sat opposite one another as the driver urged the horses forward, the carriage rolling steadily back toward the castle.

"You seem like your usual self," Rymora remarked at last, her words indirect but clear in meaning—she did not believe Aria had changed at all.

Aria shook her head, exhaling a deep sigh. "Check again tomorrow when we come back here," she replied, her gaze fixed on the passing world outside the window. Her eyes followed the shifting scenery, but she was not truly seeing it. Her thoughts were already elsewhere, drawn to the meeting she knew awaited her with Varret.

The temple had demanded nothing of her, but she doubted the hunter houses would show the same courtesy. They would require proof, insist on loyalty, force her hand until she proved herself to them. The thought stirred a frown across her face, bitterness seeping into her chest, for she could not forget that it was partly their failure that had cost her father and brother their lives.

’If they hadn’t done such a poor job protecting their people’s identities... how would Zyren have found my family so easily?’ she thought with another weary sigh. The bitterness lingered, even as she pressed her hopes upon the ritual she would undergo. She prayed that whatever ability the temple granted her would be worth it.

Different thoughts turned in her mind, tumbling without pause, when suddenly the carriage jolted sharply to the side. The violent lunge threw her against the opposite door, forcing a cry of pain from her lips as her body struck the hard wood. She slipped from her seat, struggling to hold herself upright.

Rymora was no better. She gasped in pain, her fingers digging desperately into the edge of her seat to anchor herself, but her grip gave way. She cried out as she lost her hold.

Aria caught her quickly, steadying her even as the carriage sped faster, the wheels pounding against the road with an unnatural rhythm. Something had gone terribly wrong. The vehicle barreled forward recklessly, faster than it should have, the horses whipped into a frenzy.

Aria’s eyes darted toward the window, her heart pounding as she glimpsed the path ahead. The direction was wrong, unmistakably so. Wherever they were being taken, it was not where they were meant to go, and dread shot through her veins.

Fear rose within her chest, swift and sharp. She scrambled to her feet, clutching the edge of the door, knowing with grim certainty that the last thing she could allow was to reach whatever destination their captor intended.

"We’re jumping out!" Aria shouted. Her voice cut through the roar of the wheels, steady but urgent.

Rymora’s face turned pale. She knew as well as Aria that leaping from the carriage at this speed meant injury, perhaps severe. But she also knew Aria’s gift. With healing at her side, the risk became survivable. So she nodded quickly, trusting her.

Aria wasted no time. Grabbing Rymora’s hand, she pulled hard, yanking the door wide open. With a single decisive motion, she jumped, dragging Rymora with her.

The impact with the ground was brutal. Dust scraped against their skin, filled their mouths and lungs, and pain shot through their bodies as they struck the earth. Rymora gasped sharply, while Aria gritted her teeth as they rolled across the road, tumbling before coming to a hard stop.

She clenched her jaw and forced herself up, relieved to find that nothing was broken despite the harsh landing. Her body throbbed with pain, but it was endurable. Rymora, though shaken, was still whole, and that relief outweighed her own discomfort.

She knew her body was stronger than most, her senses heightened beyond what they once were, but she was not invincible. Her skin and bones remained human, fragile when compared to the unyielding strength of vampires or werewolves.

Quickly, she steadied herself, pushing to her feet, brushing the dust from her body as Rymora rose beside her.

"Let’s go! We’re not safe here!" Aria said, urgency ringing clear in her voice as her eyes darted around. They were on a road, though she had no idea which one. With no time to linger, they started running in the opposite direction of the carriage, hoping desperately to find the main path again.

Most importantly, they had to find their bodyguards.

They ran in silence, the pounding of their footsteps the only sound. Fear was etched plainly across both of their faces. Aria felt capable of standing against humans, even against vampires if she had to—but the thought of something worse chilled her. What terrified her most was the possibility that their attacker was not human at all.

"Do you think it could be a vampire attack ?" Rymora asked breathlessly, her words uneven though she was not nearly as winded as a human might have been.

Aria only quickened her pace, her cloak snapping behind her. "I don’t know, and to be honest, I’d rather not find out!" she replied. Her voice was firm, urging speed, and Rymora matched her steps. If they could still talk, they could still run faster.

They had covered more ground when Aria slowed abruptly, her heart pounding harder than before. The air carried something faint, something sharp. Her senses were not as keen as others, but she could not miss it. The smell of blood lingered in the wind.

Rymora’s face paled as her nose twitched. "I—I think I smell blood," she said, her voice trembling.

Aria nodded, grim. Her ears caught the faint sound of fighting in the distance, and her chest tightened with dread as the echo of violence reached them.