Page 59 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

“Airella, it’s me,” his voice cracked with unshed tears, his hold on her tightening as if afraid she might disappear. “What has he done to you?” he murmured, his fingers gently tracing one of her horns, a sign of recognition and longing intertwined in his touch.

Jonathan? The thought flickered in Airella’s mind like a distant memory, a name tied to an elusive past. Yet, despite the familiarity, she remained detached, unable to stir any emotion within herself. She strained to feel something, anything, but the void within her remained unyielding, leaving her adrift in a sea of emptiness.

“Airella? Aren’t you going to say anything?” He grabbed her by the shoulders, his hands trembling slightly as he peered into her now icy-colored eyes, searching for a glimmer of response.

Airella found herself at a loss, unsure of how to react in this moment of turmoil. Should she embrace him, attempt to feign tears of her own, or simply remain frozen in place like a lifeless doll, a stark reflection of the emptiness that had taken hold of her being?

“You can’t speak, can you?” His expression shifted to one of devastation upon realizing her inability to respond.

She gently shook her head in agreement, causing a wave of emotion to wash over him. The weight of recent events seemed to crush him as he struggled to contain his emotions.

“I don’t know what to do anymore. Sirius vanished without a trace. Father is out for blood, and now… you. You’re no longer human.” During his emotional outburst, he fell to his knees, the ground absorbing the impact of his fists in a display of pain and frustration. After taking a moment to calm his frustration, he rose to his feet, a determined glint in his eyes. He took a slow, deep breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way out of this. We’ll restore your true self and locate Sirius. Father will face the consequences of his actions and we’ll get these people off of this island. Together.”

With a newfound resolve, he turned to depart, but paused before taking another step. “And one more thing,” he presented Airella with a sizeable wooden box he had discovered on one of the ships. “I stumbled upon this aboard the vessel. I think this will hold some significance to you.” A faint smile graced his features before he exited.

Airella gazed intently at the small crate, her curiosity piqued. Placing it carefully before her, she lifted the lid with a sense of anticipation. The contents sparkled in the dim light, captivating her attention.

Her fingers brushed against the familiar golden chest plate that had accompanied her on past adventures. Atop it lied Dawnbreaker. Memories flooded back—the clashes with Sirius, the encounters with Father—each etched into the metal’s surface. With a wistful smile, she removed the armor from thecrate and put it on, glad to be out of the clothes she had been stuck in for the last three weeks.

Settling onto the tent floor, Airella’s mind wandered through a tapestry of recollections. Images of Sirius, Arii, King William, Jonathan, and others intertwined, painting a vivid portrait of her journey. Amidst the hushed surroundings, distant commotion gradually stirred, hinting at impending events.

Airella sat up straight, her heart pounding in her chest, as she listened intently to the panicked screams and yells of the people outside. The urgency in their voices sent a shiver down her spine, and she knew she had to act despite the risks.

As she grabbed Dawnbreaker and stepped outside of the safety of the tent, the dimming light of dusk revealed a scene of chaos and despair. The once tranquil campsite was now a frenzy of motion, with people running in all directions, their faces contorted with fear and confusion.

The acrid scent of smoke filled the air, stinging her nostrils and obscuring her view. As she turned her gaze towards the shoreline, her heart sank at the sight of the five docked ships engulfed in raging flames. The crackling of the fire mingled with the cries of the terrified onlookers, creating a cacophony that reverberated in her ears.

While many around her were paralyzed with shock, Airella stayed composed, processing the unfolding disaster with an unreadable expression. Ash floated like black snowflakes around her, a grim reminder of the destruction that surrounded them. Amid the chaos, a fleeting thought crossed her mind—the word “snow” seemed to resonate with her inexplicably, evoking memories long forgotten.

Lost in her thoughts, Airella suddenly heard a sound that pierced through the chaos, a voice calling her name. At first, it was a mere whisper in the tumult, but it grew louder and more insistent with each repetition. She felt a strange compulsion to follow the sound, to unravel the mystery of who was calling out to her amidst the turmoil.

“Airella!”

The voice was unmistakable now, resonating with familiarity and urgency. She turned towards the flaming ships, her eyes scanning each vessel in search of a clue. The question lingered in her mind—which burning ship held the voice that beckoned her?

Airella sprinted her way towards the docked ships, her black hood falling from her head in the rush. It’s not like anyone would notice her. They were all too panicked to care about a lone figure darting through the chaos. She tried her best to follow the mysterious voice that had guided her here, its whispers urgent and compelling. As she trudged through the shallow water, a gust of salty sea breeze tousled her silver hair.

Without hesitation, she climbed aboard the second ship in the row, the wood creaking slightly under her weight. Airella’s heart raced, but strangely, a calm determination filled her. She knew she should have been terrified by the sight that greeted her—the deck was ablaze, flames dancing hungrily across the timbers, engulfing everything in their path. Yet, an eerie sense of detachment settled over her, as if she were an observer in her own body. It seemed as if she could do anything, as if the flames held no threat to her.

She ran through the raging fire, the crackling flames casting dancing shadows all around her. Following the mysterious voice that echoed through the chaos, she navigatedher way to an untouched cabin door perched on the upper deck of the ship. Airella, with unwavering determination, clenched her fist tightly, ready to forcefully knock the door down. However, as her hand collided with the door, a wave of excruciating pain shot through her arm, weakened by the dark enchantment cloaking the portal. Despite the agony pulsing through her, she gritted her teeth and continued to throw her body at the door, each strike etching strange black symbols onto her skin.

With every blow, the weight of the enchantment bore down on her, threatening to crush her spirit. Not only was the dark magic draining her strength, but the relentless heat of the flames seemed to sap her very will to persevere. Gasping for air, she mustered the last dregs of her resolve and summoned her remaining energy for one last strike against the door. The wood splintered and crumbled under the force of her blow, yielding to her unwavering determination in the face of adversity.

She rushed into the room, her heart pounding as she laid eyes on Sirius’s motionless body sprawled out on the floor. He had endured a severe beating, most likely inflicted by Father. The lingering smoke from the fire only added to the grim scene, hinting at the extent of the damage. Airella’s instincts kicked in, and without a moment’s hesitation, she hoisted Sirius onto her back, feeling the weight of his battered form as she left the crumbling ship.

Navigating through the chaos of falling debris, she reached the edge of the deck, the wood slippery beneath her feet. With adrenaline coursing through her veins, she made a split-second decision to leap, her heart pounding in her chest. Gripping Sirius with all her might, they plunged into the dark waters, the cold enveloping them like a shroud. Airella’s lungsburned as she struggled to keep them afloat amidst the relentless crashing waves, the acrid scent of smoke filling her nostrils. The burning ships loomed ominously, flames dancing in the night sky around them.

Gasping for air, she finally felt the solid ground beneath her feet as she reached the shore. With determination blazing in her eyes, Airella tightened her grip on Sirius, and together they sprinted into the forbidding depths of the nearby forest. The dense canopy overhead cast eerie shadows in the night’s darkness, the rustling of leaves adding to the sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air.

Having ventured deep into the heart of the woodlands, she carefully lowered the unconscious Sirius to the ground, her eyes tracing the intricate black lettering that marked her skin from the mysterious enchantment. A pang of discomfort shot through her as she pondered the unknown magic that had left its mark upon her. Sitting beside Sirius, she contemplated ways to counter the enchantment’s effects, to soothe the burns that marred her skin. Yet, as she watched in awe, the dark lettering faded, gradually vanishing as if by some unseen force.

She blankly continued to stare at Sirius, her gaze fixed on his unconscious form. The intense heat of the burning ship singed his clothes and left marks on his skin. Soot and ash smudged his face, and his hair was damp with sweat and seawater. Despite his disheveled appearance, there was a certain calmness in his features, as if he had found peace in unconsciousness.

Father had finally achieved his goal—a new human civilization. With a sinking feeling, she knew that now that he had what he desired, he would have little interest in her andSirius. Now, they were mere inhabitants of the island, while the humans were left stranded without their sole means of escape.

Airella’s mind raced as she pondered their predicament, finding solace only in the presence of the person who had been her unwavering support, the one who had safeguarded her fragile existence up to this point—Sirius.

Chapter 35

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