Keyvarah’s nerves refused to calm after she had decided to return home. What little pleasure she had derived from eating Yisha’s Fried Inkeula and vegetable mix had vanished.
Her heart raced like that of a stallion as she struggled to sit still. Her hands clenched into fists beneath the table as a leg bounced. A cold sweat broke out across her body, and she shivered. She could not enjoy or partake in the group's merriment. It was as if she were a ghost, a specter that didn't belong.
However, a soothing warmth settled over her as June placed a hand over hers. It wrapped her like a comforting blanket. She unclenched her fist, and his naturally slipped into hers, clasping it.
It was a simple thing, really. But that was all Keyvarah needed. June's tenderness and affection for her were apparent as they flowed through her to pierce her heart and soul.
Despite still conversing with Merriam, he had the presence of mind to pay heed to her state, her feelings. His natural attunement to her was one among a myriad of reasons that drew her to him. It left her with a sense of fulfillment. The feeling of being desired was reason enough for her to continue living.
“And that is why you should pick up Light Essence when you ascend to the Mythic Realm,” June said, concluding his explanation to Merriam.
He turned and flashed her a reassuring smile, telling her all she needed to know without saying a single word.
“I see,” Merriam said with a contemplative look.
June’s eyes fell to her unfinished plate of food before meeting hers again. He leaned in close and whispered so that only she could hear. “Are you ready to go?”
Her heart skipped a beat, not just from his warm breath tickling her cheek, but also because of his question. She wasn’t ready. She knew this. But if she had June beside her, she'd be able to face the coming trial head-on.
She smiled, a weak one at best, and nodded. June stood in response and turned to the other ladies at the table. “I'm sorry, Merriam, Yisha, but we really should be going.”
She, Merriam, and Yisha all stood as June reached a hand out to Merriam. She took it, and they shook hands.
“I'll return tomorrow, and we'll go over what's to come with your sister,” June said.
“As you say, June.”
He repeated the same process with Yisha. “And thank you for the delicious meal.”
A light blush came onto Yisha’s face. “You’re welcome.”
Draxxus then hopped out of his seat and rushed over to June, bombarding him with a slew of questions as she bid farewell to the women.
Merriam pulled her into a tight hug and whispered a single question. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, holding onto Merriam even tighter.
They remained like that for a long moment before separating. Merriam turned to glance at June before giving her a sly smile. “So, you and June?”
She chuckled and pushed Merriam slightly. “Silence, you!”
Merriam joined in her mirth with a laugh of her own. “Ah. You're going to have to tell me all about it later.”
She nodded. “Later.”
They shared one more hug before she turned to Yisha.
Yisha gave her a kind smile, yet it didn't reach her eyes. She could understand why. With what must have happened the previous night, it ?surprised her that Yisha hadn't completely shunned her.
“Thank you for the lovely meal,” she said, giving the woman a slight bow.
Yisha bowed even lower. “You’re welcome, Lady Oltharin.”
And that was the end of their farewell as she turned to June. It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head, because the moment she did, he turned to look at her and smiled.
“Okay, little buddy. I’ll see you tomorrow,” June said to Draxxus.
Draxxus nodded furiously. “Goodbye, June!”
The boy then turned to her and ran up to hug her legs. “Goodbye, nice Vampire lady!”
“Draxxus!” Yisha reprimanded.
But his words only drew a laugh from her. “It’s okay, Yisha.”
She then gently patted the boy on the head. “Farewell to you, too, little one. And you can just call me Keyvarah.”
Draxxus pulled away from her and waved. “Okay!”
They then left out the front of the Guild House. June led them to a dark alleyway where no one was around before he pulled her in close. “Hold on tight.”
She arched an eyebrow in question, but did as he said. A layer of Essence enveloped her before a yelp escaped her as they both shot up into the sky. It had only taken a fraction of a moment before they hovered well above the city of Revelcroft.
The sight before her stole her breath away. The twins, Almora and Elnori, were low in the sky. But being this high up revealed them in all their glory as their rays shone upon them. Above, their mother, Hainestra, loomed like an ever-vigilant parent. The beauty of it all was something she had never seen before.
“So, which way to your home?” June asked, pulling her back to them.
She glanced at him, his face just a hair's breadth away from hers. The feel of his body pressed up against hers, his hand on her waist, made thinking difficult. Still, she fought through the haze of lust clouding her mind and pointed towards Hainestra’s wane.
“It’d be about five days' travel by carriage in that direction.”
June’s gaze followed her finger, and in the next moment, the world flipped in on itself before righting itself. She glanced about frantically. The only thing keeping her together was June’s touch.
What had just happened? She thought as her gaze fell to the forest below. Forest? What happened to Revelcroft?
Then it hit her. That feeling… it was similar to walking through a portal. Her eyes landed on June. He had somehow traveled through space without opening a portal.
“What did you just do?” she asked, oblivious to the wind blowing through her hair and the shifting trees below them.
“I teleported us,” June said, looking at her. “Are you not familiar with the concept?”
“Forgive me, I am not.”
June tilted his head to the side and shrugged. “No worries. It's like opening a portal. However, instead of just using Space and Kinetic Essences to open one, you encase yourself in it before using it to take you where you want to go, just like a portal.”
He then snapped his fingers. “Then, in an instant, you’d teleport to your desired location. It's quick, and it's effective.”
“I see,” she said.
Her eyes then wandered to their surroundings, widening. Below them stood a manor at the center of a city, a very familiar manor that grew closer as they descended. Her hands trembled as she gripped June’s coat.
The moment had come, and she was not ready. But that wouldn’t stop her. June was right. It was something she needed to do.
However, her legs nearly gave out when they landed on the steps of her home. June steadied her, and she gave him a grateful smile before taking a deep breath. With determination, she raised her hand and knocked twice. The dull thuds echoed through the courtyard, leaving behind nothing but silence once they passed.
She immediately spun on her heels, looking at June. “Well, looks like nobody is home. Perhaps we can return another time.”
Before she could even take a step, the bolt of a lock shifting behind her stopped her. Several more clicks later, the door creaked open, but only slightly, and a familiar feminine voice spoke.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Forgive me, but Lord and Lady Oltharin aren’t taking any visitors at the moment. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
She remained rooted in place, so June poked his head around her and spoke for them. “Sorry, but this is a little urgent. Would you be so kind as to retrieve Lord and Lady Oltharin? There’s someone here to see them.”
“Who?” the woman said, the door creaking more as she pulled it open.
Keyvarah’s panicked eyes landed on June, who gave her a reassuring nod. With a deep breath, she slowly turned to face the woman. “Hello… Bealtrik.”
Bealtrik’s face froze for a moment, as if struggling to comprehend what was right in front of her, before she reached a hand out and touched her arm. “Mistress Keyvarah?”
Without a moment's hesitation, Bealtrik rushed forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. “Mistress Keyvarah! You’re alive! You’ve come home!”
Bealtrik’s elation quickly turned to tears as she sobbed into her dress. A sullen smile formed across Keyvarah’s face as tears also spilled from her eyes. “I’m home…”
Denithur sat at his desk, reviewing a letter he had just received. It was a letter from his spymaster with grave news. The contents within described how a small Mercenary Guild out in Revelcroft had successfully vanquished the Vampire scourge from Castle Dumar.
If the castle and the surrounding lands fell back into Ravengel’s hands, then that would put him and those still loyal to the crown at a massive disadvantage. He couldn’t allow that to happen. He knew that. But none of it mattered to him. Not when Keyvarah’s whereabouts were still unknown.
Keyvarah wasn’t dead. He knew it to be a fact. Not when the rune bound to her soul remained alight on the artifact around his neck.
He grabbed the locket and clicked it open. Four bright runs remained alight, each tied to his wife and three children. He can’t give up on her. Not when there was still hope.
He closed the locket and gripped it tightly. With the Divine Mother’s blessing, please protect my Keyvarah and lead me to her. I swear to give you all that I have in this one favor.
However, as always, his prayer went unanswered, and silence permeated the room. He roared, grabbing a bottle of ink off his desk and tossing it against the wall on his right. It shattered on impact, leaving a black splotch on the wall with dark rivulets of black tears as he huffed in rage.
He had to do everything himself, as per usual. However, he had nearly exhausted his fortune just searching for the tiniest droplet of information on Keyvarah. Even with all that, he still came up empty. It was as if someone was actively keeping her whereabouts from him, and there could be only one culprit. Ravengel.
The doors to his study suddenly flew open, and his wife stood there, disheveled and out of breath.
“What is it, Aliandra?” he asked, his stomach falling at her state of disarray.
“It's… Keyvarah… she’s returned!”
His entire world froze for a moment before he dashed up to Aliandra and gripped her arms. “Where?”
Having caught her breath, Aliandra shrugged him off and pulled him out of his study. “Down in the foyer with Bealtrik.”
They rushed through the halls before appearing at the top of the stairs, staring down into the foyer. Crimson hair as thick as blood caught Denithur’s eye before he leaped off the balcony and landed before her.
“Keyvarah!” he said before freezing in place.
Her eyes, as crimson as her hair, turned to meet his. They were no longer the green he remembered. They were now those of a dreaded Vampire.
“Hello, Father,” Keyvarah said with a weak smile.
Aliandra landed beside him and didn’t even hesitate. “Keyvarah!”
She rushed forth and grasped their daughter in a tight embrace. Tears freely flowed as his daughter returned her mother’s hug. That was what broke him from his stupor, and he too rushed forward, wrapping them both in a big hug.
“My little Varah…” he said as his will broke and his tears streaked down his face, just like the ink had on the wall.
The Divine Mother had finally answered his prayers.
June accepted a cup from Bealtrik and swirled it around a bit, delighting in the fresh, earthy aroma it emitted.
They had relocated from the foyer to a sitting room. It reminded June of the waiting rooms in places like the doctor's office. Of course, this room was much more lavishly decorated than the bland waiting rooms back on Earth.
He sat alone on one sofa, while Keyvarah sat between her parents on another, opposite him. He took a sip of the drink, enjoying the taste. It reminded him of an herbal Japanese green tea.
Keyvarah’s parents had striking figures. Despite his frazzled state, her father’s red mane remained pristine. Her mother was the image of a dignified lady despite her earlier emotional outburst upon reuniting with her daughter.
Finishing the drink, he placed it on the coffee table and waited patiently as Keyvarah explained what had happened to her. She had left out any unnecessary details about what Hivengel had done to her, but her parents got the gist of it.
Keyvarah’s father trembled with rage next to her once she finished retelling her tale. “I’ll have that man’s head on a pike!”
“A little late for that,” he said, “but there is still his brother whom you can go after. Although I’d suggest waiting until Princess Estrella is prepared to take him on.”
“And who are you!” Keyvarah’s father shouted at the top of his lungs, turning his rage on him.
“Calm yourself, husband. He has to be the fellow our daughter mentioned who saved her,” Keyvarah’s mother said before turning to him. “Aren’t you, young man?”
He laughed and played along with her assumption. “Yes, my lady.”
“Stop that, mother! June is much older than he looks.” Keyvarah said to her mother before turning to her father. “And stop glaring at June like that, Father! He does not deserve your ire.”
Her father grumbled a weak protest but did as Keyvarah asked.
Seeing as he hadn’t had the proper time to introduce himself. He rose and bowed to Keyvarah’s parents. “Forgive my late introduction, but I’m June Mikkelson. It’s an honor to meet both of you.”
“Please sit. There’s no need for such formalities when you’ve returned our daughter to us,” Keyvarah’s mother said, waving her hand at him.
He complied and sat back down on the couch.
“Now, I’m Aliandra Oltharin, and this here is my husband, Denithur Oltharin. On behalf of House Oltharin, I thank you for saving my daughter and returning her to us.”
Denithur’s demeanor instantly shifted, becoming more stoic as he sat up straighter and stared him in the eye. “Forgive my rudeness. My wife is correct. Thank you. If there is anything, anything you want, name it, and I’ll give it to you as a reward for this kindness you have done for my family.”
“That won’t be necessary, sir,” June said, raising his hand.
“Nonsense!” Denithur said, falling to his knees with his hands on the coffee table and bowing. “I can not let this gift you have given me go unrewarded! Especially not when the Divine Mother answered my prayers!”
He rolled his eyes, understanding what Denithur was getting at. “Then, just be a dependable ruler to your people, a dutiful vassal to your Princess, and a devoted father and husband to your family.”
Denithur looked up at him in confusion.
“In other words, continue as you are, and we’re square.”
“Square?” Denithur said, even more confused.
“Sorry. It means we’re all good.”
“But—”
“Nope! I’ve given you my request. That is all.”
Denithur sighed with defeat as he climbed back to his seat on the sofa. “As you wish, June.”
“You two must be tired and hungry. Please join us for supper, and I’ll have Bealtrik prepare a chamber for you,” Aliandra said.
“Thank you for the offer, but we just ate right before coming here,” he said as he rose to his feet. “As for the room, there’s no need. I can’t stay for the night. There are people whom I’m responsible for, and I can’t afford to remain away for too long.”
Aliandra’s face fell at his rejection, but Denithur stood as well. “I understand. Come, I’ll show you the way out.”
He followed Denithur to the front door, with Keyvarah and Aliandra close behind. Denithur pulled the door open before shaking June’s hand. “From the deepest depths of my heart, I thank you once more for returning our daughter to us.”
“It was not a problem,” he said before stepping outside.
To the shock of both her parents, Keyvarah followed him outside.
“Keyvarah? Where are you going?” Denithur asked.
Keyvarah turned and gave her parents a sad yet happy smile. “I intend to remain with June, mother, father.”
Denithur’s face reddened with anger while Aliandra stared intently at her before looking at him.
“What do you mean, remain with him? You’ve just returned home! There’s no way in the hells I’m letting you leave my sight ever again! Do you hear me!”
“But father—”
“Enough!”
Denithur reached out to grab her arm, but she shifted away, hissing at him as she bared her fangs in anger. Her actions only enraged the man further. He made to step out the door, but Aliandra’s hand across his chest prevented him.
“What are you doing!” Denithur shouted at Aliandra, but a single glare from her was enough for him to back off.
“Keyvarah, dear. Is this what you want?” Aliandra asked, stepping out to stand before Keyvarah.
“Yes, Mother. I want to remain with June, be by his side.”
Aliandra stared long and hard into Keyvarah’s eyes before finding whatever it was she was looking for and smiled. She then turned her attention to June. “And what about you, June? What do you want?”
He smiled a gentle smile. “What I want is for Keyvarah to recover from her time with Hivengel. Whether it's with me doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is her mental state and her recovery. That’s all I really care about.”
“I see,” Aliandra said before turning to Keyvarah. “Then you may go.”
The widest smile ever spread across Keyvarah’s face. “Really?”
“But—” Denithur tried to protest, but a single raised finger from Aliandra silenced him.
“However, you must visit every fortnight, you hear me?”
Keyvarah nodded. “Of course, Mother. I will.”
Aliandra then turned to face him once more. “And you. Swear that you’ll protect my daughter with your life.”
He bowed low. “I swear on my name and honor that I’ll protect Keyvarah with my life.”
“Good,” Aliandra said before planting a kiss on Keyvarah’s cheek. “Remember, every fortnight.”
“Yes, Mother,” Keyvarah said before giving her a tight hug.
When they separated, Aliandra smacked Denithur across the back. “Stop being a stubborn fool and bid our daughter farewell.”
Denithur grumbled a light protest but did as his wife asked. They exchanged a private farewell as he actively ignored their conversation before Denithur came up to loom over him. Eyes narrowed, Denithur placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed slightly. However, it barely left an impression on him, being in the Divine Realm and all.
Denithur leaned down so that only he could hear his words. Of course, they both knew that Keyvarah and Aliandra would still hear them with their heightened senses. “If anything is to happen to my daughter, your neck would be the first I come for.”
“Noted,” he said with a nod.
Denithur released him and gave Keyvarah one last hug before she moved to stand beside him. He pulled her close, drawing an intense glare from Denithur before he wrapped them in Space and Kinetic Essence and teleported them back into their room at the inn.
