CHAINS
Author: Star girl
last update2025-10-06 11:04:36

Arden stirred awake to the faint glow of a lantern. The air was heavy with smoke and the bitter scent of herbs. His arms ached as he tried to move, only to hear the clink of iron. Cold chains wrapped tightly around his wrists, glowing faintly with carved runes.

He blinked slowly, forcing his vision to clear. In the corner of the room sat a figure, silent, unmoving. When his eyes adjusted, his chest tightened.

"Mother…?" His voice was weak, filled with disbelief.

She lifted her head. Her eyes were swollen and red, as though she had been crying for hours. In her hands, she still held the end of the chain that bound him. The sight of her trembling fingers clutching the iron cut deeper than any wound he had taken in the forest.

"You are awake," she whispered. Her voice shook as though every word hurt.

Arden tried to pull at the chains, but they held firm. "You… you did this to me?"

Fresh tears slid down her face. She turned her gaze away, unable to look at him directly. "Maya and Cyril
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  • THE ROAD BACK HOME

    Arden lay deep in sleep, his breath steady and calm until a blinding light surrounded him. The warmth of the glow drew him into a vast, endless realm of gold and mist. A towering figure emerged, cloaked in radiance—the same watcher who had saved them earlier.Arden blinked, confused. “Where am I?”The watcher’s voice echoed, calm yet commanding. “You are within a vision, Arden of Eldervale. I come bearing a message of great urgency.”Arden frowned, his tone cautious. “A message? From who?”“From the balance that governs all realms,” the watcher replied. “Darkness stirs once more. The hunters of your homeland are on the brink of war against the monsters that trouble Eldervale. If this conflict ignites, your people will perish.”Arden’s chest tightened as the watcher’s words sank in. “Eldervale… my people? But I was banished. They don’t want me there.”The watcher stepped closer, his light flickering gently. “Banished or not, you are still their shield. The fate of your home rests in

  • A MOTHER'S SECRET

    The midday sun streamed faintly through the cracks of the wooden hut, scattering lines of light across the floor. Arden lay motionless, his breathing shallow and uneven. Inside his mind, the flood of memories refused to fade, his mother’s worried voice, his sisters’ laughter, Sola’s lifeless body, Duke’s last bitter words, the clash with Zerath, and the terrifying moment inside the temple.His chest tightened as every image came rushing back, pain filling every corner of his thoughts. Suddenly, his eyes shot open. Sweat covered his forehead, and his hand clenched weakly against the bed.He turned his head and saw Lina beside him, her head resting gently on her folded arms, asleep. Her face looked peaceful, though faint traces of exhaustion showed beneath her eyes. At the far end of the room, Maya was also asleep, her breathing steady, but her expression hinted at unease.Arden stared quietly for a long moment. The silence in the hut was almost deafening, interrupted only by the fai

  • ECHOES OF THE REVELATION

    Maya’s voice trembled as she glared at Zerath, her wrists bound tightly in the glowing chains that burned against her skin.“I don’t believe you, monster. The last time I remembered, I got this curse during the serpent battle in the forest nights ago,” she said, her tone filled with anger and confusion.Zerath tilted his head back and laughed, his voice echoing through the temple walls. “A curse? That’s what you think it was?” he sneered, his red eyes glinting with amusement. “That was merely a scheme Seraphel crafted to deceive you. But one thing you should know, little serpent— the Queen of Venom’s soul was reborn in you the day Narlok’s soul was sealed within your companion by his mother.”Maya froze, her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes darted to Arden, who was kneeling, his body shaking violently as he fought the demon within. His veins darkened, and the ground beneath him pulsed with dark energy.Lina’s voice trembled as she looked between them. “What are you talking abou

  • WHEN DARKNESS RECOGNIZED HIS OWN

    Moments later, they stepped into the ancient temple, the air shifted thick, heavy, and humming with energy that made every breath feel like smoke. The captors pushed Arden, Lina, and Maya forward until they fell to their knees. Chains made from glowing runes wrapped around their wrists and ankles, binding them tightly to the cold stone floor.The faint light from the torches flickered as if struggling to stay alive. Strange markings pulsed on the walls, whispering in a forgotten tongue. The deeper they went, the more Arden’s body began to tremble. His heartbeat quickened, and the color in his eyes darkened.Lina, bound beside him, turned her head toward him and asked softly, "Arden, what’s happening to you?"He didn’t respond. His breathing grew ragged, and his fingers dug into the ground as if trying to fight something inside. A voice low and monstrous echoed from deep within him."Arden," the voice growled, "he’s here, the one who hunted me long ago."Maya glanced between them, h

  • THE SHATTERED BOND

    The morning sun barely rose over the fog-covered hills when Arden slowly opened his eyes. His body ached from exhaustion, but what truly froze him was the sight before him.Dozens of masked captors stood in a circle around them, their faces hidden behind black veils, weapons pointed directly at the four companions.“Wha—what’s going on?” Lina gasped, sitting up quickly. But before she could move, a blade was already at her throat.Duke clenched his fists, his usual calm replaced by anger. “Damn it… they caught us off guard.”Arden’s sword and dagger were gone. He looked to his side and saw all their weapons piled together in a heap at the captors’ feet. His heart pounded as he realized how outnumbered they were.Maya’s eyes darted around. “There are too many of them,” she whispered under her breath. “At least thirty…”One of the captors stepped forward. His mask was different—painted crimson. He seemed to be their leader.“Awake already?” the man said with a cold smirk in his voic

  • BEFORE THE STORM

    In Eldervale village, the golden rays of dusk bathed the small huts in a gentle glow. Inside one of them, Shina, Arden’s mother, sat by the fire weaving a mat. The quiet crackle of the flames filled the room while her two daughters, Fira and Leina, sat beside her.Fira glanced up at her mother with worried eyes. “Mother, do you think brother Arden is safe out there?”Shina’s hands paused mid-weave. She looked at the flickering flame before replying softly, “Your brother has always been strong, my dear. Wherever he is, the spirits are surely guiding him.”Leina frowned as she hugged her knees. “But it’s been moons since he left. What if he doesn’t come back?”Shina reached over and gently brushed a strand of hair from her youngest daughter’s face. “Arden made a promise to us, remember? He said he would return once his purpose was fulfilled. I believe in that promise.”The fire crackled louder, filling the silence that followed. Outside, the wind whispered through the tall trees, ca

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