Novels by Alpha Latif

The Valtherion Valley did not welcome them with birdsong or the peace Ethan had imagined. Instead, the air here was so thick with magical energy that every breath felt like inhaling shards of cold glass.Towering crystal trees refracted a strange purplish light, creating shadows that seemed alive, watching their every move.Ethan walked with heavy steps, his rusted sword still stained with the black blood of the commander he had felled at the gate. Beside him, Isyra walked warily, her left hand pressing against a wound on her ribs. Rion, now the size of an adult wolf, paced with a constant low growl emanating from his throat."There," Isyra pointed toward an ancient temple carved directly into the wall of the highest mountain in the center of the valley. "The Altar of Holy Water. The antidote for your father is at the summit of that temple.""Why is this place so quiet?" Ethan asked, his eyes scanning the surroundings with his golden instinct still ablaze. "I thought this place was gu

The air at the border of the Valtherion Valley felt incredibly thin, carrying the scent of pine mixed with the metallic stench of weaponry from thousands of soldiers. Atop the hills surrounding the only entrance, the torches of Axandra’s army looked like rows of bloodthirsty falling stars. They were not just waiting; they had built temporary wooden fortifications, cutting off all access to the heart of the valley.Ethan crouched behind a thorny thicket, regulating his breath so as not to create vapor in the cold air. Beside him, Rion huddled low, his scales —now darker— merging with the shadows of the night."They have at least three cavalry detachments and a unit of sharpshooters at every corner of the cliffs," Bryan whispered, his eyes scanning the enemy’s movements through the gaps in the leaves. "We cannot just burst through, Ethan. That’s suicide."Isyra examined the old leather map in her hand, then looked toward the massive stone gate shrouded in a transparent mantra in the dis

The roar of the water crashing against the stone walls sounded like the bellowing of a monster from the belly of the earth. The deeper they ventured down the Shadow Path, the once-stifling air turned damp and windy. Before them, a vast underground river flowed with a thick, black current, carrying chunks of ice and wooden debris from the rotting roots of the Eldertree."We must cross using that ancient raft," Isyra pointed toward a wooden construction tied to the riverbank. The wood looked fragile, yet it was coated with faint protective symbols.Ethan approached, staring at the ferocious current."Are you sure this thing won't shatter in the first ten seconds? The current is too wild.""Those symbols will keep the wood afloat as long as the energy is not disrupted," Isyra stared sharply at Ethan. "That means, do not cause a mess with your frost-fire on the raft if you do not want us all to drown in water that can freeze your heart."Ethan snorted, but this time he chose not to retali

The gates of the crystal hall closed with a soft thud that echoed deep within Ethan’s soul. Behind them, his father slept in a temporary eternity. Ethan stared at his palms, which still felt the lingering warmth of his final handshake with Silas. He took a long breath, trying to dispel the tightness in his chest, then turned to follow Isyra’s footsteps, which had already disappeared into the darkness of the northern corridor."Do not look back too often, Ethan," Isyra’s voice sounded cold, breaking the silence of the corridor now illuminated only by the blue glow of Rion’s scales. "Your steps become heavy every time you do."Ethan snorted, quickening his pace until he was level with her."You have no right to dictate how I walk. I just left my only family in the hands of a stranger.""Silas is no stranger to your history, even if you do not know it," Isyra replied without looking back. She held a magical torch that emitted a faint light, enough to show that the path ahead of them was

The light from the thousands of crystals hanging from the ceiling of the Eldertree cave blinded Ethan's eyes for a moment. This room was unlike the narrow corridors they had passed through before, this was a giant dome where the air felt sweet and warm, a stark contrast to the aura of death that had been chasing them from the surface. In the center of the room, a pool of clear water emitted a thin white vapor that smelled fragrantly of sandalwood."What place is this?" Ethan whispered, as he lowered his father’s body, which was beginning to feel stiff."The Sanctuary of the Guardians," Isyra answered. She lowered her hood, revealing a face that was exhausted yet still looked firm. "The roots of the Eldertree absorb life energy from within the earth and filter it here. This is the only place where the shadow poison cannot spread."Bryan immediately laid Mr. Eldravar on a bed of soft moss near the pool. He wiped the sweat from the old man’s forehead."Ethan, look. His breathing is start

The darkness beneath the roots of the Eldertree felt different. The air here was stagnant, heavy with the smell of damp earth and a pungent scent of ancient magic that stung Ethan's nostrils.The purple glow from the cave walls was only enough to show their footsteps, but to Ethan, everything appeared far too sharp. His gold-glowing pupils captured every detail —every crack in the stone, every root that coiled like a snake, and every movement of Isyra Nyxaris in front of him."You are walking too fast," Ethan growled. His voice echoed off the walls of the narrow corridor.Isyra stopped for a moment but did not turn around. Her deep blue cloak swept across the dusty cave floor."We do not have time for a leisurely stroll, Ethan. The necklace around your father's neck is a loan of time, not eternity.""I know that!" Ethan barked. He quickened his pace until he stood right beside Isyra. "But you keep leading us deeper and deeper without explanation. You said you knew the way, but you nev