Rune System: The Crimson Knight

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“My lord, you’re awake.”

Draàl ignored Valeria’s vain observation, maintaining his position at the tall, forward-leaning windows at the corner of the bedroom, overlooking the beach outside. The mid-morning sun was up and radiant, its rays reaching easily into the room as well as leaving a glimmering effect on the waves of the dark blue ocean below. Seagulls hovered above the sandy shore, squawking in numbers as they gathered to hunt. Somehow, the peaceful, scenic view of the coast was the complete opposite of the raging, stormy emotions that plagued Draàl within.

“I was beginning to think you suffered from having too much wine last night,” she continued with a faint laugh as she breezed into the room. “I know I did, but the hangover was so worth the trouble. You know…”

She moved until she stood close enough to trace her fingertips softly on the taut muscles of his upper back and shoulder, feeling the heat of his pale skin. Whispering gently, her voice issued out words filled with hypnotic power, which was emphasized by her bedazzling eyes.

“…if you’re ever feeling inclined to get loose and wild, just like last night, I could help you get your fix. After all, what are we without a little release of—”

Draàl kept his gaze fixed outside the window, but that didn’t stop him from lashing a hand out at Valeria. Quicker than a viper, he cut her sentence short as he gripped her throat, holding her at arm’s length and lifting her off the floor. Writhing like a fish caught on a hook, Valeria’s eyes were wide with shock, terror, and confusion.

“My…my lord?” she choked, grabbing onto his thick forearm as her legs dangled. “Did… did I do something wrong?”

“Compulsion,” Draàl answered quietly, his voice reverberating with authority. “I struggled to understand your power at first, but now I get it. Using your Rune System, you’re able to compel others to do your bidding with your words, even if it’s against their will. You used it on the receptionist when you forced her to apologize, then on the guests in the ballroom when you made them empty their accounts to your cause.”

At this point, he finally turned to her, focusing the full intensity of his fiery-red eyes on her petrified face.

“Then you absolutely crossed the line when you decided to use it on me as well. I can’t take back what happened between us last night, but I can promise you this: if you even think of using your Compulsion on me again, I will not hesitate to reduce you to a pile of ashes. Are we clear?”

Valeria’s face had already turned into a pale shade of purple when she nodded briskly. Draàl kept her hanging for a second longer, then left her to fall to the ground with a groan. She coughed repeatedly, her breath escaping in shaky puffs as she felt the sting of the burn that had materialized around her neck—courtesy of Draàl’s scalding grip.

He turned back to the window, placing his hands behind him in a commanding stance as he growled, “Get out.”

With the countenance of a scolded kitten, Valeria slowly got to her feet, her hands still pressed against her bruised neck.

“As you wish, my lord,” she murmured humbly, a rare trait for Valeria Salazar. With her gaze angled to the ground, she exited the room so quietly that Draàl wouldn’t have noticed her absence if he hadn’t heard the door click as it closed.

“Not only did you figure out her abilities, but you resisted them as well. Quite a rare and impressive feat, Lord Draàl.”

The smug voice in his head drew a scowl from his features.

“Where the hell have you been, Zha’irah?” he snapped. “Does your job description come with random vacation hours? Or do you just enjoy vanishing and appearing whenever you wish?”

“Valeria Salazar is a master con artist who does not hesitate to use whoever she can to please and fulfill her eccentric whims,” Zha’irah narrated. “So I find your rage understandable in that regard. However, your anger would be judged as misplaced if you are directing it at me.”

Draàl scoffed. “Forget Valeria. I’ve already handled that subject to an end. As for you, my ever faithful guide, you were nowhere to be found when I needed you.”

“But did you really need me, Draàl?”

Draàl hesitated, slightly cocking his head to the side. “You knew?”

“I did.”

“About my dream?”

“Indeed.”

“And you did nothing?” Draàl’s tone grew harsher. “The girl could’ve been killed, and yet you just watched.”

“As did you,” Zha’irah reminded him.

“There was nothing I could do,” he countered defensively. “I couldn’t use fire, I couldn’t touch them, they couldn’t even see or hear me. I was completely non-existent yet present.”

“There you have it, then. There was nothing we could both do, because it was not happening in real time. Rather, it was the recurrence of a past memory.”

“A memory?” Draàl asked, wearing a puzzled frown. “That can’t be possible. I remember everything about my previous life and this never happened. Everything about that dream seemed archaic, like it happened eons ago.”

“Well, I do not recall saying it was your memory, Draàl.”

“Then whose memories am I—?”

The rest of the question died in his throat before he could utter it. His pupils contracted as his eyes grew wide, and realization showed no mercy as it hit him hard.

“The Crimson Knight,” he muttered, answering himself. “The original herald. That was him in the dream, right? And the little girl?”

“If I told you everything you wanted to know, at every given moment you asked, then you would learn nothing for yourself,” Zha’irah said placidly. “Some experiences are meant for you to go through personally, so you can draw your own conclusions and convictions from them. Undeniably, this is one of such occasions. In truth, I do not know why you had that dream, nor do I think that this would be the last of them. What I can say is that the Queen must have a reason for granting you fragments of the original Knight’s memories.”

Draàl felt the weight of her words as they sank in. In his mind, he recalled Ko’vo being in possession of the very artifacts he was meant to retrieve, using them like extensions of his power. Perhaps he could learn how to utilize them to their maximum potential just from his dreams. But, at the same time, he felt that wasn’t the true purpose behind the vision. Whatever the case, he had a strong feeling it was connected to the mysterious girl with golden eyes.

“As I have said, all will be answered in due time,” Zha’irah told him again. “In the meantime, you should focus on freshening up and getting a hearty breakfast. Because your training starts today.”