CHAPTER 05 - Silly Mortal Girl
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Beneath the moonlight, I welcomed the chill of the mountain breeze tugging at my hair. Instead of tears like most who walked this path, a serene smile played on my lips.
Of all the spires encircling Dornhold's fortress, Clover Castle stood the furthest, a steep ascent ahead of me. Thick ancient vines coiled around its stones, untamed and wild, with long, jutting thorns.
By the time we reached my chamber, the servants were all out of breath, their dark green uniforms drenched in sweat. The maids tossed my luggage inside with little care, muttering complaints under their breath.
"The court doesn't send servants to this tower," a sharp-faced girl said. "Before you think about complaining, just know, the other women here don't have luxuries either. You'll have to manage on your own."
"Thank you," I smiled.
The servants exchanged wary looks. Perhaps disappointed by my lack of reaction, they made no further fuss before giving a curt nod and vanishing down the stairs.
Finally alone, I gazed around my room.
It was as small and dust-ridden as I remembered. Vines crept in through the cracked window, ivy spilling over the bed.
"It's perfect," I whispered.
Here, my plans to thwart Sylvos' conquest would behind. There were no servants to watch me. And most importantly...
"I wonder if I should visit the creature tonight or wait until tomorrow?" I thought aloud.
"Tomorrow would be better," a male voice answered from the shadows.
My heart leapt into my throat.
I spun around, Raincatcher already in hand, the blade glinting in the dim moonlight.
"W-Who goes there?" I asked.
"Oh, I've missed you, Rainey," the voice sighed.
I whirled again, but the room was empty.
"Show yourself!" I demanded, my pulse racing.
In the reflection of my blade, a figure stirred. My breath caught as I stared wide-eyed at the shadowy man standing just behind me. I dared not move, angling my blade instead to get a better view.
Dark feathery hair framed reflective blue eyes, and a smirk curled over his greyish lips. But his most perplexing feature was his ears... I had never seen ears so pointed before.
He took a step closer, leaning in behind my shoulder.
"I'm right here, Rainey," he whispered darkly.
I spun and slashed at the air behind me, but once again, the room was empty.
My pulse quickened.
I just saw his reflection, didn't I?
"What trickery is this?" I snarled at the shadows.
"You always react this way," the voice teased. "Can't you ever greet me calmly? Or maybe a bit lovingly? Is that too much to ask?"
"Show yourself!"
I swung the dagger toward the empty hearth, dust swirling in the moonlight. My eyes darted from the cobwebbed corners to the tattered bed, but the man was nowhere to be seen.
"Look at the dagger, Rainey."
A chill slithered up my spine as I angled the blade, dread coiling in my gut. At first, there was nothing. But then, his form appeared in the steel's reflection, standing behind me.
I whirled to face him — nothing.
"Stop this game!" I shouted, breathless.
"I'm not playing," he said, his voice soft, almost innocent. "I'm right here, in the dagger."
"What?"
I glanced down at Raincatcher, and there he was, reflected as if standing right beside me. He leaned over to look at the blade alongside me like a curious boy. His eyes met mine in the steel and he smiled, teeth pointed and sharp.
"Do you see it now?" he asked.
"You're... a ghost?" I ventured, my grip tightening on the gilded hilt.
Now that I had a proper look at him, his skin had a strange grayish tint to it. And his clothes, although quite exquisite with a black and gold design, were very much outdated.
His expression soured, a flicker of turquoise flashing in his eyes as he pointed at his elongated ears.
"Ghost? Don't insult me. I'm an elf, you silly mortal girl."
An elf?
I blinked in disbelief.
"But... elves only exist in old stories."
His eyes rolled, shifting to a greener hue.
"Go extinct for a few thousand years and suddenly humans think you're a myth."
"Why are you inside my dagger?" I demanded.
He strolled around in the reflection, idly inspecting the rundown furniture of the room.
"Something similar to your situation happened to me once, a long time ago. Only, I didn't get a second chance to redo my mistakes or get revenge. My soul got trapped in the very blade that took my life."
"So, you are a ghost." I repeated.
His eyes flashed an emerald green.
"Stop calling me that. It's dreary, and I'm not haunting anyone."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Helping. Obviously," he said with an eye roll. "Though, admittedly, I might not be great at it..."
His gaze shifted back to a blueish tone.
"What do you mean?"
The elf's playful demeanor faltered. He gestured toward the dusty shelf above the hearth.
"I'd suggest putting me down for this part. You always end up dropping me on the filthy floor."
Despite my trepidation, I followed his instruction, mounting the blade on the shelf. From this angle, I could see him more clearly, inching closer behind me. His face was darkened by a weighty contemplation, as if he were probing for the right words.
"All you remember is dying and then waking up three years before your death," he began, his voice low and somber. "But since my soul is bound to this dagger and not to the passage of time, I remember it all."
"What do you mean?"
A chill prickled through me, and my hands trembled. The elf regarded me through the blade, his gaze now devoid of humor, a deep set of blue.
"This isn't the first time you've been sent back," he revealed, his voice echoing with an eerie gravity. "You've sought revenge before, and each time, you ended up dead — only to relive the cycle again."
My legs weakened, and I gripped the hearth to steady myself.
What?
This isn't the first?
"How many times?" I whispered, my insides twisting like snakes.
He hesitated.
"You can't expect me to keep count," he teased halfheartedly. "It hasn't been... that many, but... it's been a few."
My throat dried at the realization.
"And Sylvos killed me every time?"
"Most times, yes," he confirmed, his tone grim. "Though there have been a couple of times you met your end in other ways. Like that little idea of yours to visit the tyrant's favorite pet. You turn into quite the snack each time you meet the creature," he chuckled darkly.
My body shook, and I sank to the floor, the weight of my dress enveloping me.
I had no choice but to believe him.
How else would he know so much?
It was true my plans for Sylvos included the creature he had locked up under Clover Castle... But if what the elf said was true, wasn't it hopeless?
What could make this life of mine different from the last?
"Did I ever..."
"No," the elf interrupted, as if he already heard the question before. "No, you never succeeded in killing the tyrant in any of your lives. You came close a couple of times, but he always got you first, or you couldn't follow through."
I ran my hands through my hair, my breathing uneven.
"It... it has to be different this time. I'll kill him for sure..."
"You say that every time," the elf sighed. "I've long since stopped trying to convince you to give up. You'll never let him go. All I can do is try my best to help you — by learning from our past mistakes."
"Our past mistakes?" I chuckled dryly. "Are we some sort of team?"
"We're friends."
I glared up at Raincatcher.
"Weren't you Sylvos' dagger in my first life? What if you're only trying to sabotage me? It's rather strange that I couldn't kill him after all this time. Maybe you're the reason."
His face remained impassive, a mask of patience worn by one who had heard it all before.
Gently, his reflection crouched beside me on the floor, his pale, grayish hand brushing through my thick hair. His nails were longer than I expected, sharp enough to cut.
"As I am bound to the magic of this dagger, only people from your island can see me," he said, his voice low and soothing. "I never spoke to that tyrant before. All I could do was watch the horrors he committed — to this land and to you, Rainey..."
His gentle tone disarmed me.
Though his face was strange and exotic, it possessed a delicate handsomeness, like a finely crafted blade with a deadly edge.
"Who are you then?" I asked.
He smiled, revealing those sharp teeth.
"Just a poor soul trapped in your weapon. My name is E????? Vα??σ??."
I shook my head at the strange string of syllables.
"What language is that?"
"Ancient Elvish," he teased. "I suppose the human version of my name would be something like, ?ldryn V?elorn."
The name still felt alien, and I didn't trust myself to be able to pronounce it.
"I'll call you Ryn, if that's alright."
His eyes deepened to an indigo hue.
"It's perfect."
Feeling somewhat out of place, I rose from the floor, dusting myself off.
"So, Ryn, what should I do?"
I had begun this life brimming with determination, yet now I felt like teetering on the edge of tears.
"Let's take this life a bit slower," Ryn advised. "We shouldn't rush into things recklessly. We'll devise a plan together."
"But... we have to stop Sylvos before he conquers Driftwoode next year," I urged. "Once he defeats the Kingdom of Tides, he'll have a clear path through the neck of the continent, laying siege to the rest of the land. We must act now!"
"I know, and we will," Ryn replied, his blueish gaze unwavering. "We just need to be more careful. Let's play it safe. Too many lives have been wasted already."
I walked around my room like the answer to my schemes lay somewhere on the dusty stone floor.
"From what I remember, there were two main factors that led to his victory," I explained.
"The first was that sea snake he acquired.
Driftwoode's power lies in its navy, but with that creature, he destroyed their whole fleet.
I know he'll receive a letter this winter about sightings of the beast. By then, I plan to reach Lavender rank.
Lavender Castle is right next to the letter office; I can intercept the news of the sea snake before it ever reaches him. "
"You can't be reckless about that either," Ryn warned. "More than a few times, you've gotten yourself caught and executed for treason while trying to intervene with the tyrant's letters."
I sighed.
"Yet the letters would be the easiest of my tasks..." I said weakly. "The second factor that guaranteed Sylvos' victory was that ancient creature of his..."
"The vylnir," Ryn confirmed, his tone grave.
I nodded, goosebumps crawling up me as I walked toward the broken window. Peering down the steep cliff of Clover Castle, my eyes fixed on the shadows of the deep chasm below. Down there was where he kept his abomination imprisoned.
This was why I needed this rank.
Asking for Clover had nothing to do with proving my worth.
It was all so I could get closer to that thing.
"Briarvex's magic allows Sylvos to control lesser minded creatures. But the vylnir never yielded to his command. Still, he certainly made use of it," I continued. "He smuggled that terrifying thing into Driftwoode's capital and unleashed it upon the city. Once the siege began, chaos reigned."
My memories of the creature were brief. I only caught glimpses of it before. A black mass of fur shifting like shadows... A terror that once escaped and ravaged half of Clover Castle.
"The vylnir is an ancient beast," Ryn cautioned. "It roamed these lands long before humans rose to power. Even for us elves, it was something we dared not confront."
I bit my nail, still gazing out the window.
Surely, there had to be a way to keep it calm long enough to set it free in the woods. If only I could communicate with the beast... Our dragons at Drakfjord couldn't speak, but they understood our words.
"Is there no way to talk to it?" I turned toward the dagger mounted above the hearth, seeking answers in Ryn's reflection.
He chuckled softly.
"You're only asking that because you don't remember it eating you," he teased. "You've tried talking to it before."
"Yes, but... if the creature is as old as you say, maybe I've been speaking the wrong language," I suggested.
The idea seemed to catch Ryn's interest.
"If it was around during the time of elves..." I continued. "Perhaps it understands Ancient Elvish?"
Ryn paused, contemplating.
"We haven't tried that before," he admitted. "Though I can't imagine you mastering my tongue. It's not particularly suited for you silly mortals."
"I can try," I offered. "You can teach me slowly. I don't need to know it all — just enough to ask the beast not to devour me," I chuckled through a shiver.
Ryn's grin widened, revealing sharp, glistening teeth.
"Sounds good to me."
A weight lifted off my shoulders, and I sat on the windowsill.
"Then that's settled. I'll learn some Elvish before releasing the creature far away."
"In the meantime, you should focus on getting promoted," Ryn added.
I nodded.
He was right.
After Clover, I had to surpass both Daisy and Peony ranks before reaching Lavender. There were plenty of festivities ahead to gain favor, but doubt gnawed at me.
Could I bear to look Sylvos in the eye again?
Knowing he'd killed me in multiple lifetimes?
A ghost of a laugh escaped me, bitter and hollow.
At the end of the day, it was my own weakness that had condemned me. I was too feeble to end him. Though I fantasized about skewering him with his own sword, I lacked the training to pull it off. Even poison would be useless considering I already knew he was immune.
I shook my head.
No, even if there was a way to kill him, I'd surely be caught. For such treason, my kingdom would pay the price. The only way for this to work was to strip Sylvos of all his power.
To bring Thornmont to its knees.
"Alright," I sighed, rising to my feet. "Time to clean this place up."
I covered the blade with a handkerchief on the shelf before undressing and slipping into a simple nightdress, the fabric light against my skin.
"Ey, no need to cover up in front of me," Ryn whined. "We're closer than that."
I rolled my eyes at the dagger.
Dressed more comfortably, I ventured down the hall where a handful of torches flickered by the stairs.
I brought one back and used it to light the melted candles in my room.
As the last flame flickered to life, I instantly regretted my choice.
The grime in the room stood out starkly against the newfound brightness.
With that, I set about cleaning the room. Using my handkerchief, I began dusting most of the surfaces and furniture, painstakingly untangling ivy from the metalwork. A few spiders skittered up my arms, and I gently scooped them up, releasing them outside the window before returning to my task.
Lastly, I turned my attention to the bed.
The linens were far too soiled to sleep on, so I stripped them off the mattress, setting them aside to wash in the morning.
As I gazed down at my beautiful green gown in the corner, a resigned sigh escaped my lips.
I took a deep breath and set to work cutting it apart.
The layers of the skirt would serve as my temporary bedding.
"The rest will have to wait until tomorrow," I sighed, plopping down onto the bed.
My mind wandered once more.
Though freeing the vylnir and intercepting those letters would be the most dangerous of my tasks, what worried me more was my sisters.
I already told Claude my plans...
We needed an ally.
We needed Pyree...
The Kingdom of Flame had a cursed sword of its own and commanded one of the most feared armies. And in three years, their young king would earn a name that even Sylvos was wary of.
Yet the thought of aligning with them left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Oi, you going to leave me here?" Ryn's voice cut through my thoughts.
I raised a brow at where I left Raincatcher by the hearth.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Just... keep me by your pillow like you used to."
With a reluctant roll of my eyes, I got up and brought the dagger closer. I laid it down by my bedside table, angling it so I could see his reflection sauntering around the room. He plopped down onto the bed next to me, and though he wasn't really there, his grin was oddly comforting.
As annoying as the elf was, it felt good knowing I wasn't completely alone...
"I missed our little sleepovers," he teased.
"Just... be quiet. I need some rest," I murmured.
"Goodnight, Rainey," he cooed.
I frowned as I closed my eyes, surrendering to the embrace of sleep.
"Goodnight, Ryn."
That night, a different memory tormented my dreams. Instead of the usual cruel laughter of the throne room, I found myself in Sylvos' familiar bed. His arms cradled me lovingly even as his dagger stuck right through my throat.
"I'm sorry, Raine..." he whispered softly.
A lonely tear rolled down my cheek.
Will I ever escape this fate?
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