Tangled By Fate

"I heed to your words. I'll look into it. If what you said is true, I'll meet you as soon as possible. However, if what you said is false, then, I can't promise you anything."

It was Dastan's final warning. However, Veronica wasn't scared.

"Do not worry. You will come back before you imagine." Her voice was resolute.

Her steady eyes made Dastan's heart waver. He covered his head with the hood and gave her a nod. "Good night."

After that, he paid for their meal and left the inn.

Veronica stayed there and finished her meal. Her head was filled with thoughts that no one knew.

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A man came to a dark room and lit up the lamp. The room was illuminated with a yellow hue.

In the room, there was a bed, table, and chair. There was a map lying on the table. Several types of daggers, swords, and arrows were hanging on the wall.

He took off layers of clothes and went to the corner. There was a bucket of cool water.

He washed his lean body and changed into night garments. Afterward, he managed to drag his tired body to his bed.

He pretended to lie down but secretly took out a short knife that was under the pillow. With a swift motion, he threw it in the direction of the window.

Someone caught the knife's sharp blade. That person came inside the room and part of the feet touched the floor.

"You are learning well, considering how dumb you were before," that person commented.

Sitting on the bed, the owner of the room knitted his eyebrows. "What do you want?"

"What do I want?" The stranger chuckled. "Maybe you should let me know how a mortal knows about your existence.

"Urulas, did you forget to inform me about something when you were in the human realm?"

The question made Urulas's back stiffen in worry. His sapphire eyes glanced at the stranger.

He took his time to answer, "…I don't know what you are talking about, Aerolus. Or should I call you Dastan?"

Dastan aka Aerolus stepped closer. "My younger brother's joke isn't amusing. Maybe you should learn it from your teacher. At least you will learn some wisdom."

His cold gaze swept over Urulas. "I know you are inexperienced and have done mischief since the day you were born. However, things are a lot different.

"You went to Tybu secretly without informing me and got entangled with a vicious crime such as human trafficking.

"Not only that, but you also killed remaining innocent lives thinking your identity would be exposed when the imperial army was drawing near.

"The gravest mistake you have committed was to let some people know the existence of your crime and leave a witness.

"Now the person came to our realm to hunt you down and your men. How are you going to deal with it, my little brother?"

The expression on Urulas's face changed dramatically.

"What do you mean by 'witness'? I made sure to kill them all except for…" he halted. He squinted his eyes.

There was indeed a person he let go back then. That person was his benefactor.

She was an immense beauty that could leave any guy in awe. She had incredible healing power.

'For someone as forgiving as her, would she come to hunt me down and my men for some insignificant people?' he wondered.

He could still recall her kind eyes and soft expression despite being cornered. 

She was the first person he got to know who cared more about others than herself.

That's why he couldn't believe his elder brother's words.

He crossed his arms and inquired, "Do you have any proof?"

Dastan aka Aerolus chuckled. He glanced at his younger brother in disbelief. 

"You want proof, do you? Fine. Let me guess, you spared her life because she was an enormous beauty. Indeed, her silver hair and green eyes that sparkle like jewels are uncommon."

Urulas shuddered involuntarily. He had no idea how his brother knew about her existence, nonetheless, he did his best not to show his bewilderment in his expression. 

Noticing that his brother stayed mum, Dastan squinted his eyes. 

"You know very well that father had told us not to make trouble in the human realm. Why on earth did you do that?

"The best thing you did was not to kill the blessed child even though you had no idea what she looked like."

Urulas jolted with surprise. His sapphire eyes grew wider. "What did you say?"

Dastan aka Aerolus recalled something and stated, "Oh, I remember you were training in the mountains, thus you had no idea that the blessed child made an uproar in the human realm.

"Father told me to go to the human realm and especially escort her here. Unfortunately, she had powerful people protecting her. If I lingered there any longer, my identity would have been exposed.

"I lost her on the way and you met her. Now she is here, looking for you and your men. Apparently, she wants to put you all to justice before she agrees to live here under our protection."

He paused there and glanced at his younger brother. "What are you going to do?"

Urulas finally took his brother seriously. He stood up and asked to confirm, "She is here in the imperial village?"

"Do you want to meet her? Why don't you take all your partners in crime with you? She will be happy to welcome you all."

Urulas didn't pay attention to his mocking comment. He dressed up to get out.

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Veronica was correct. Dastan came back before he imagined.

It wasn't two nights before he came back with the culprit and his 'partners in crime'.

However, she didn't imagine that he would bring an entire army with him.

Veronica was flabbergasted. She dumbly stared at the army.

Some curious onlookers peeked outside to see the elvish army in large numbers. Later, they hurriedly closed their doors and windows. 

Although they were peaceful in heart, they didn't want to meddle in something troublesome.

Veronica's eyes reflexively swept over the army and landed on Urulas's face. Her emerald pupils constricted. 

She could never forget that face. Because of that face, she was having nightmares repeatedly. The cries of pitiful, innocent children still lingered in her ears.

She stated, "You… I know you."