Chapter 428: Time I Stop Running

Elián;

Another spear of ice shatters into the air, and I grit my teeth in annoyance.

“…I’m too fucking slow!” I groan as the shimmering fragments dissolve into mist before ever reaching the training dummy standing several paces away.

I lower my hand with a sigh.

I chose this space to train because this field is usually empty at this hour.

There’s still dew on the grass, and the morning air whispers gently against my skin. In the castle way behind me, I can hear the noise and whispers of people moving about, but out here, it’s just me.

Well…Not quite.

“Your control improved.” Elien’s voice echoes softly inside our shared mind, and I roll my eyes.

“By barely anything,” I reply, and he pauses, then speaks again.

“Better than yesterday.” For some strange reason, the usual temperamental, impatient Elien has been…kinder. I noticed this since the night I killed Bram.

Just like everyone else, He’s started testing me like an egg. And that’s worse. Because when the rest of the family tries me like some fragile thing, he’s the only one who calls me out on my bullshit and speaks to me like an equal. Now, he’s no different from them.

“…Yesterday I almost froze my own foot,” I reply flatly, and I sigh.

“Exactly. Today you almost froze the dummy.” He replies, and I scoff.

“You don’t have to keep talking to me like I’m on the verge of breaking. I’m fine.” I rant, and he falls silent.

I expect him to say something, but he doesn’t. How would he? What would he say? I’m right, and he knows it.

I look back down at my hand, and magic gathers instinctively beneath my fingertips.

White…blue, then red. It begins growing, and I stay completely still. Tying my best to will the sparking, reactive ball into a neat orb of mana like I’ve seen other magicians do… But the ball suddenly bursts to nothing in my hands, and I grit my teeth.

I’m still unstable. Far too unstable! I exhale slowly as I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

“I’m running out of time,” I mutter under my breath, but Elien says nothing.

Whatever.

I hold out my hands again, trying again to get at least one element to successfully hit the dummy, when a voice suddenly breaks my focus.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

I stand up straight and turn. My brows crease instantly.

King Wilhelm?

He walks toward me with unhurried steps, and one hand folded casually behind his back. He isn’t dressed as a king this morning.

Just…An elderly, agile man in a simple morning robe.

His silver hair catches the early sunlight, and despite everything we’ve all endured these past few days, he still carries himself with that quiet steadiness I’ve come to admire.

Though…His eyes remain swollen.

He’s still grieving. If the death of a woman as horrible as Alpha Liandria could break him this much, I wonder how he felt when Zephan’s mother died…or how he’d have held on if that bastard succeeded in hurting Queen Cassia.

The thought twists my heart so much that all my emotions turn bitter and ugly. I look away from him.

“…Your Majesty.” I greet him with a small bow, and he stops a few steps away from me.

“You’ve been out here since dawn.” He notes. He’s not asking; he’s telling me cause he knows.

“…Yes,” I reply, and silence follows, then his next words cause my heart to skip.

“Koda told me.” I blink as I look up at him, and I find him giving me one of those pitiful smiles that I’ve grown to hate.

“…He did?” I question, and he nods.

“He said you’ve barely been sleeping.” He adds, and I roll my eyes and look away.

Goodness! He saw me unable to sleep one time. One time, and he already panicked and told his father about it?? He has many sleepless nights too. I don’t go telling King Wilhelm about it.

Have they all forgotten that there are bigger issues at hand than the fact that I killed that bastard? Rhydian still doesn’t know his mother is dead. Rhydian and Igma are on their way to the witches’ coven, and we don’t even know if they’re okay. Alana has been with the witches, and she’d been drained for weeks on end to keep that bastard’s charade on!

There’s so much happening, and they are worried about the fact that I couldn’t sleep one night??

“I’ve slept,” I reply flatly, and King Wilhelm raises one eyebrow.

“…It doesn’t look like it.” He replies, and I blink at him.

I let out a breath before looking away from him.

Koda only saw one night of me being unable to sleep. In truth, for multiple nights, I haven’t been able to sleep. Every time I lay my head to rest, I fear something would happen. I fear being here would only attract trouble to Gravemaw, but where else do I go? I fear the moment I let my guard down, I’ll be forced to pay a price. I’m weak. And hopeless. I no longer want to be a liability to my family, but how do I do that when I can’t even control my magic? So, yes. Yes, UI havent been able to sleep. How can I?

How could I, when time is just mindlessly tickling away without anything changing for me? My resolve is not enough to do much.

So, forgive me if I can’t sleep!

King Wilhelm walks closer and stops right in front of me. He takes the back of his hand to my forehead, and the moment our skin touches, I pull away.

I’m burning up. I know I am. I don’t need him making a fuss about it.

He lets out a breath as he stares at me, and I steal a glance at him. He stares at me in silence for a few seconds before looking away.

I watch him study the space. The training dummy and the crater several feet away from it.

“…You missed.” He points out, and I nearly snap. Thankfully, I bite back the reply bubbling in my throat.

“Horribly.” He adds, and I glare at him.

“…Thank you,” I reply, and he smiles. He reaches out and gently ruffles my hair, but it doesn’t ease the tension in my chest.

“You remind me a lot of myself when I was young.” He says kindly, and this time, I hold his gaze.

I have no words to say to that, so I look away. Because…how? How could I remind him of his younger self? He is so…strong and put together. And me–?

“…Koda is worried.” He then whispers, and I look back up at him.

My heart aches as I think about the state of mind I must have put Koda in. I’m carrying his child, yet he’s watching me change so drastically. He must think I’m breaking apart, but I’m not. I promise I’m not. I’m just…I’ve just grown to learn. To learn that being weak is not a luxury I can afford. Not in this state, not in this world. If only there was a way I could make him understand that…without scaring him so.

“I know,” I admit, and King Wilhelm nods.

“So is Cassia.”

My heart softens at the mention of her. She’s constantly been coming to check up on me. Ensuring I have my baths, ensuring I eat…ensuring I’m okay. The edges of my lips lift as I think of her occasional, spontaneous snuggles, and I let out a breath.

“…I’m alright,” I whisper, but King Wilhelm shakes his head in disagreement.

“No, Elian. You’re not.” He says gently, and I blink as I look up at him.

“Please stop lying to everyone who loves you.” He adds, and the words slam into my heart like a punch.

He folds his arms across his chest, and I stay silent. Waiting for what comes next.

“You’re frightened.” He says, and I lower my eyes.

“…Yes,” I confess with much difficulty, and he nods in agreement.

“There is no shame in that.” He says, and I hold his gaze.

“I’m not afraid for myself.” I clarify, and he hums.

“I know.” He says, and I nearly scoff.

Does he though??

“I’m afraid…” I whisper, and this time he gives no response. Good. He should listen.

“I’m afraid…that someone else will die because of me,” I inform, and silence follows.

A gentle morning breeze travels between us as King Wilhelm stares at me in silence. Like he can see into every crack and crevice I’ve been trying to hide these past few days.

Then…He places one hand on my shoulder.

“My family has spent generations protecting those we love.”He says calmly, and I blink at him. “You became one of us the day my sons chose you.”

“Yeah? You ordered a virginity test on me. If I wasn’t a virgin, you’d have sent me back.” I shoot back, and I can’t even tell if I’m joking or not. But he pauses.

“What? I was joking. I only said that to scare you, Ethan. Don’t tell me Zephan actually…” He begins, and my jaw drops.

Wh-what?!

“Elián, did Zephan…” He begins again, but I cut him off in amusement.

“That little—” I stop myself, and all of a sudden King Wilhelm starts laughing.

I’m glad one of us is getting pleasure from this realisation.

“Let’s forget that for now, Elián. What I was trying to say is you are an Ashfang now.” He breathes after he stops laughing, and I swallow.

His grip on my shoulder tightens slightly as he gently lifts my chin.

“So is that little girl growing inside you.” He adds, and one of my hands gently moves to my stomach.

“Whatever comes…” His blue eyes meet mine.”…you are not expected to carry it alone.”

Soothing warmth spreads quietly through my chest at his words, and I smile.

“…Thank you,” I whisper, but those words…soothing as they may be, do not erase my worry.

“…Your Majesty?” I call softly, and he raises a brow.

“…Would you teach me something?” I ask, and he smiles.

“I thought I already was.” He replies, and I force a smile in response.

“I mean…” I glance at my hand. “…Something useful.”

His eyes follow mine, and understanding dawns on his face almost immediately.

I expect him to reject me. To give another lecture to say I don’t need it. But he sighs. Then looks up at me.

“…Come.” He says, and my heart skips.

I follow him further into the field as he tightens the ropes of his robe.

***

For the next hour… He does teach me.

Not grand spells, or devastating attacks…Just…foundations.

“Stop forcing it.” He instructs, and I release the magic.

“Again, Elian. You’re commanding it.” He breathes, and my brows knot.

“I thought that was the point.”

“No.” He replies as he steps beside me.

He lifts his hand once again, and I watch as primordial light gathers effortlessly around his fingers.

It doesn’t surge or fight him as mine does. It simply…Exists.

“You command soldiers.” He speaks as he looks at the magic. “But you cooperate with primordial magic.”

The glowing energy circles lazily around his hand before settling against his palm like a living thing.

“It has existed longer than kingdoms.” He continues, and for a brief second, my eyes leave the ball in his hand to look at his face.

“…Longer than gods, some believe.” He adds, and I swallow.

“You don’t control it; you earn its trust.” He concludes, and I stare at the orb.

“…Again.” He orders, and I let out a breath.

I hold out a hand and close my eyes. This time…I don’t force anything.

I breathe again, and the world becomes strangely quiet. I suddenly hear grass…Wind…The distant sound of birds.

Then…I feel it. Warmth from deep within me. It answers. Red light gathers around my fingertips.

Not violently, or wildly. But softly. Like greeting an old friend.

When I open my eyes…The magic remains perfectly stable. Wilhelm smiles now.

“There.” He whispers approvingly, and my eyes widen.

“…I did it?” I ask in disbelief, and he smiles proudly at me.

“You stopped trying.” He answers, and I look back at the red orb of magic in my palm.

“…That’s all?” I ask, and he laughs.

“That is rarely ‘all.'” He replies, and I nod. Because I was HOPING he wouldn’t say that was indeed all.

We continue. Again, and again…and again.

Each attempt becomes smoother and cleaner. Until… A perfect ribbon of crimson flame wraps once around my arm before disappearing harmlessly into the air.

King Wilhelm studies me quietly while nodding.

“…Remarkable.”

“What?” I can’t help but ask, and he grins.

“I expected weeks…It took a few minutes.” He replies, and I rub the back of my neck.

“Sorry,” I answer, not knowing what to say to that, and he laughs. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

“…Don’t apologise for talent.” He replies, and I blink at him.

Talent?

He suddenly claps once as he steps over to me.

“Enough.”

I blink.

“…Already?”

“Yes.”

“But I can still—” I begin to protest, but he cuts me off.

“You’re pregnant.”

I frown.

“…That again?” I ask, disappointed, and he scoffs.

“That always. You’ve stressed that baby enough.” He replies as he points toward the palace.

“Breakfast.” He orders, and I look away with a frown.

“I’m not hungry.”

Silence follows my words, and when I look back at him, I find him giving me a look.

“…Your Majesty…”

“Elián.”

“…Yes?”

“If you skip another meal…” His expression becomes awfully serious”…I’ll fore feed you myself.”

My eyes widen.

I sigh dramatically when I realise that he just might mean it.

“…Fine.”

“There.” He smiles. “I knew reason would prevail.” He replies, and I roll my eyes.

Right. “Reason” is why I agreed.

He pats my shoulder before turning back toward the palace.

“I expect you at the table in 10 minutes.” He orders over his shoulder, and I sigh.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He replies as he walks away.

I wait until he disappears completely beyond the hedges before the smile slowly leaves my face.

Silence returns, and then…

“You didn’t tell him.”

I lower my eyes and stare at the fresh ball of mana forming in my palm.

“No.”

“He meant every word. The family will protect—”

“I know.”

“So would Koda, and the rest of the brothers.”

“I know that,” I reply dryly, and Elien grows quiet.

“Then why haven’t you told anyone about this plan?” He pushes, and I close my eyes.

He knows why I haven’t told them. If I do… They’ll stop me.

My baby shifts gently beneath my palm. A movement so tiny, it almost feels imagined, yet it steals air from my lungs.

I smile sadly as I caress my stomach.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper out loud this time, and Elien’s worried voice follows.

“For what?”

“For your involvement in this mess.”

Silence follows. Long silence. Then he speaks.

“We’re a team, remember. And I should be the one apologising to you. Balinar is my mess.”

I lift my gaze toward the sky, and the heaviness in my heart worsens.

Balinar has hunted me since the day I arrived in this world, and Elien, long before I arrived.

And what we both did…was run. We’ve spent so long hiding.

Running…Waiting for someone stronger to stand between us and the monsters chasing us.

But… I’m somebody’s mother now. And mothers don’t get the luxury of waiting forever.

If Balinar truly wants…us… Then perhaps it’s time I gave him exactly what he’s looking for.

Not because I’ve suddenly grown fearless, but because…Some hunts only end when the prey decides to stop running.

The wind stirs around me, and I turn toward the palace. Toward my family…Toward the people I intend to protect.

My resolve settles quietly inside my chest.

No more hesitation, no more waiting.

If Balinar wants us…

Then it’s time we save everyone who means anything to us…and stop running.

The Peony Beneath His Sword is out now. I hope you enjoy it

The Peony Beneath His Sword is out now. I hope you enjoy it