CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE“If you insist,” Aleric said with a whisper, and then he sighed heavily while the General nodded in satiation while his eyes turned to look at the carriage in front of them.“I was hoping that you were going to say that, Aleric . Go ahead, it’s all yours.” The General gestured to the carriage with both hands while Aleric walked up to it and climbed at once before two soldiers walked out of the corner where they were standing, and climbed the horses one after the other while Aleric leaned backward, resting his back on the soft seat. He grunted when he felt some of the pain all over his body which reminded him of the encounters he had in the Palace and outside of it.Almost immediately, he heard the sound of the General’s footsteps as he approached, and he opened his eyes slowly to look at him, wondering if there was something else.“Be safe out there, Aleric Sworne…” General Morbius shook hands with Aleric while he maintained a smile on his face, feeling a litt

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE“I don’t think I heard you right, Dylan. Maybe my ears have been blocked by a lot of wax. Did he just say that you know about the Shadows of Retribution?” Aleric said inquisitively, turning to look at Helen who nodded to affirm the words of Dylan who sighed heavily just before Aleric returned his gaze to him with so much shock written all over his face.“You knew?”“Yes, Aleric . We know everything.” Dylan said calmly, but at that moment, a seed of distrust had been planted inside Aleric who couldn't believe his ears. The memories of all the near-death experiences he had while in the capital city came crashing into his head, and he couldn’t think of the best response to give to them.“Aleric ?” Helen tried to move closer to him, but he took two steps backward, looking at her with eyes that displayed the suspicion that lingered in his mind.“We are really sorry that you had to find out this way, Aleric . We were not certain of it yet until you left for the capi

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE“This shouldn’t be a problem, Dylan. If the people of Clachmoor demand for a new leader, then we should give them one and on time as well. I don’t see how this should be giving the two of you so much trouble.” Aleric looked at Helen who still shared the same countenance as Dylan, and he sighed heavily.“Why do I sense that this is going to give you guys more trouble than it already has? This should be a simple thing to do but from the looks on your faces, there is more.”“Yes, Aleric . The people are demanding for just one person, they seem to want only him at all costs.”“Oh. I wasn’t expecting to hear that.” Aleric said with a low tone, and then he took in a deep breath which he let out slowly before returning his gaze to Dylan who cleared his throat again before he continued.“The people have grown impatient. They all have only one make in mind, Aleric .”“And who could that be? Who has been able to win their hearts that they deem him worthy of their respect

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN“It’s you.” He said with a whisper without looking at any direction in particular. He paused for a while, attempting for the umpteenth time to get a grip on himself shortly before he sighed heavily and cleared his throat. “You sent the Guild leader to get the Phoenix orb from me?”“Yes, Aleric ! And he failed woefully. I should have known better than to have trusted him with such a delicate task. Now I am left with no other option but to do it myself.”“Get it yourself?” Aleric whispered only to his hearing while he continued looking around nervously. At that moment, he couldn’t stop his heart from racing aggressively, wary of the fact that he could be in great trouble amidst the darkness around him.“You shall give me what I want, Aleric ! I will claim what is mine, no matter what it’s going to take!” The voice threatened, and Aleric looked around with a shaky breath, ready to defend himself if there was a need for it.He realized that he was without any wea

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE“It seemed like a dream, but it felt so real. The last thing I remembered was falling asleep after struggling with my thoughts for a long time, and then I woke up in this darkness that consumed me.” Aleric said with a low tone, and while Lena was listening attentively with so much patience in her, he cleared his throat before he continued.“I saw someone, someone with a shadow for a body. He tried to kill me because he wanted something which I had.”Lena gasped at once, and then she drew closer to Aleric who waited for her to get a grip on herself before he continued. “I almost thought that I was going to die, but I guess it isn’t my time yet.”“Don’t say that, brother Aleric . Nothing is going to happen to you, okay? You are the kindest man I know, and you do not deserve to die. You will live no matter what.” Lena said with so much confidence laced in her voice while she ignored the anxiety that crept into her body after hearing Aleric ’s story.She continued