CHAPTER 46: SYLTHRAEN QUEEN

After they passed through the light of the door, their eyes burned. It wasn’t like the sunlight above ground this light pressed against their sight, forcing them to squint until it eased.

When the glare faded, they found themselves standing on a small floating piece of land. Grass still grew here, but the space was barely large enough to fit five people.

Lucy, who had been standing close to the edge, stumbled with a startled, "Woah—!"

Her body tipped, but before she could fall, Evelyn caught her arm and pulled her back. Lucy’s pale face turned red as she straightened, brushing off her skirt.

Caelen exhaled. "Hurry. One person move ahead first, make space by crossing the bridge."

Emma, who had been in front, stepped onto the bridge. It stretched ahead, leading toward a dome-like island in the distance—most likely their destination.

She kept walking. Caelen followed behind her. Then came Silver, Lucy, and finally Evelyn at the back.

As they went, Lucy avoided eye contact with anyone, her embarrassment still lingering. "...Thanks."

Evelyn gave her a small nod. "No problem. You good now?"

Lucy glanced sideways, unsure if Evelyn meant the stumble. "You mean the fall?"

"No," Evelyn’s tone was soft, almost hesitant. "I meant about your father."

Lucy’s eyes flickered down. She stayed quiet for a moment, then muttered, "Yeah... I’ll get over it."

The bridge they walked on was stable despite its floating design. The material looked like gold, smooth and flawless, while the ropes they held onto were threaded with glowing blue lines. Surprisingly, the grip didn’t burn or cut their hands.

The group finally reached the island.

They stopped, looking at the massive structure before them. Its design was intricate, arched pillars, carved symbols, and a dome that shimmered faintly under some kind of magical pressure.

Evelyn’s voice broke the silence. "No one... has ever gotten this close before. Anyone who tried flying close to this place was always repelled by a powerful force."

Lucy folded her arms. "Makes sense. Humans would’ve tried forming relations again, maybe even checking if they got resources. If this thing allowed them near, it wouldn’t have lasted."

Steps rose ahead, climbing upward into the dome. Other stairs curved downward, leading to a darker section of the structure. And stationed along those paths you can see figures.

At first, they looked like statues. But when the group got closer, the figures shifted.

They weren’t statues. They were elves, and they looked very noble.

Each had blue glowing marks running down their arms, pulsing faintly like veins filled with light. In unison, they raised their bows, arrows notched and aimed.

The aura around them wasn’t overwhelming, yet Lucy immediately warned, "Don’t try anything."

The group froze.

One of the elves locked eyes on Evelyn. His voice was harsh, sharper than the others. "You... dark elf. How did you escape this place?"

The hostility made the air heavier. Evelyn tensed, lips parting but no words forming yet.

Caelen stepped forward slightly, his tone calm. "No. She didn’t escape from you. She’s with us. Not from this island."

The elf’s eyes flicked to him. "Are you certain?"

Before Caelen could reply, Evelyn spoke quickly. "Yes. I did not escape. I’m not one of yours."

The elves stared at her for several long seconds. Their bows remained drawn. The silence stretched too long, so Caelen asked, "What is it? Why just stand there?"

No response.

Evelyn tried too. "What’s happening? Say something."

Still nothing.

Then, slowly, the glowing marks on the elves’ arms pulsed brighter. Light covered their skin, then faded until their arms returned to normal. The bows lowered.

Finally, the same elf said, "Come with us."

Caelen gave a small nod. "Alright."

They followed.

Passing through the gates, the ground beneath them suddenly gave way. Their bodies dropped as though the floor itself had vanished. They hit hard, collapsing against the stone.

Pain sparked through Caelen’s shoulder as he landed, and he heard Emma grunt softly beside him as he loses consciousness.

Shadows fell over them.

Different elves appeared.

This time, five beautiful female figures approached. Unlike the guards, they wore thin blue armor traced with golden lines, elegant yet light enough for movement. Their arms bore no glowing marks.

One of them, younger-looking, tilted her head. "What is this?"

The guard from before stepped forward. "They are from outside. And the dark elf is not one of our own."

An older elf, her hair longer and green in color, knelt by Evelyn. She flipped her over, checking her gown. Her brows furrowed.

"Is this what the outside wears now?" She touched the fabric, maroon and unfamiliar. "Human society changes quickly... faster than I thought."

The guard shook his head. "We do not know."

The older elf straightened, glancing toward the others. "Perhaps her highness should create human versions of these golems. Send them to the humans. See how much they’ve changed."

"That’s not important," another elf cut in, her voice sharp, almost cute in tone but serious in meaning. "The point is—there’s a dark elf here.

Which means maybe something demon related which contaminated an elf we did not know existed down there. Either way, her highness must be informed."

The others nodded at her words.

"Throw them in. Lock them up."

"Yes, ma’am."

The other two females elves stepped forward.

They were lifted one by one, carried off like prisoners.

Behind them, the guards returned to their posts by the gate, their glowing arms pulsing faintly again as they resumed their silent vigil.

And the group, Caelen, Emma, Silver, Lucy, and Evelyn was dragged deeper into the prison areas.

The corridor was silent, the only sound the delicate taps of her shoes against polished stone. The small elf walked carefully, her hands brushing against the gilded frame of the door she approached.

It stood taller than her by many lengths, carved with roots and leaves, gold inlaid into every curve and vein. Expensive. Ancient. Sacred. She paused for a breath, then pushed it open.

The door yielded with a low groan, and beyond it was a hall bathed in soft light. It stretched upward like the inside of a dome, walls engraved with elven craftsmanship that glittered faintly with enchantment.

At the center, a throne rose from a platform reached by a small flight of stairs. The throne itself mirrored the door wood shaped like living branches, wound with veins of gold, the seat lined with velvet pale as moonlight.

Seated upon it was a woman unlike the messenger herself.

A regal elf woman with long golden hair, pointed ears, and striking blue eyes. She wears an intricate dark gown embroidered with gold patterns, adorned with blue gemstones, and a dark veil lined with gold star-like designs. Her look is elegant and commanding, clearly carrying the aura of a queen or high priestess. though a faint aura bled around her like sunlight piercing mist.

The small elf instantly lowered herself, bending to one knee on the polished floor.

"Your Highness." Her voice was soft, respectful.

The queen inclined her head slightly, the faint smile never leaving her lips. "What is it, Aeloria?"

The cute elf—Aeloria raised her head but kept her eyes low. "Your Highness, this information is of the utmost importance. Today, one of the golems made a discovery. It was... a dark elf. And with her, some kind of demon. I cannot say for certain what he is. I have never seen such a being."

The queen’s smile faded, her sapphire blue eyes narrowing as though weighing each word. She straightened slowly on her throne. "Are you sure of what you saw?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Aeloria’s tone was steady. "I’ve had them locked away. No lethal action has been taken."

Silence filled the hall. The queen’s fingers curled around the armrest of her throne, the golden veins within it glowing faintly at her touch.

For a moment her expression flickered—confusion, then something sharper, a thought that struck too close. Her gaze returned to Aeloria, steady and sharp.

"Bring them to me. I will question them myself."

"Right away, Your Highness." Aeloria bowed deeply, then hurried out, the heavy doors closing behind her.

The queen remained seated, unmoving. Her lips parted just slightly as she whispered to the empty hall, "Could it be?"

-

Time was meaningless when one woke in the dark. Cold stone pressed against their backs, the air damp, and before them—iron bars. A prison.

Lucy was the first to react, panic sharpening her voice. "Damn it. They locked us up."

The others stirred, adjusting slowly to the heavy air. Emma rose to her feet, moving quickly to the bars, pressing against them to peer through. But the hallway outside was swallowed in shadow. Nothing beyond.

Her voice cut through the stillness. "Caelen! Evelyn isn’t here."

Silver stiffened, scanning the cell again, her eyes darting into corners as though expecting Evelyn to simply be hiding in the dark. Her lips pressed tight, no words coming.

Caelen moved to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. The touch made her flinch, but his calm steadiness forced her to hold herself still. She wasn’t fine, he could see it in the tension running through her but she wasn’t breaking either.

"Damn it," Caelen muttered, his voice low. His mind pieced the situation together. "Did they take her while we were unconscious?"

The answer came almost immediately.

Footsteps echoed, light but graceful, and into view came a girl none of them recognized. An elf. Her presence was gentle, her beauty almost unreal, like something sculpted rather than born. Delicate face, sharp eyes, the kind of elegance that made even the shadows seem quiet in her presence.

Caelen spoke without thinking, the word slipping past his lips in a whisper. "Elf."

The girl stopped before the bars, watching them with silent composure. She tilted her head, then motioned lightly with her hand.

Another elf entered from the side, this one male. Young, confident in his steps. His features were sharper, undeniably handsome—more striking than Caelen’s human form by far. But that wasn’t what made Caelen’s focus sharpen.

Because at that moment, he heard it.

[’Caelen... help.’]

The voice crawled into his mind, fragile, trembling. Evelyn’s.

His heart froze, then burned. The skill—again.

His eyes snapped toward the elves after the cell as been opened now.

"Hey," Caelen’s voice cut through, low and dangerous. His control frayed, aura bleeding around him. "Where is Evelyn?" He caught himself, "where is the dark elf?"

The words carried a chill, heavy enough to silence the air itself. His body shifted, the transformation stirring, claws of his demon self digging their way through.

The cell felt smaller, suffocating with the sudden pressure radiating from him.

And yet the elves said nothing.

The female’s gaze didn’t waver. The male glanced between Caelen and the bars, a faint, knowing smile tugging at his lips.

Inside the cell, Lucy and Emma tensed, both feeling the change in him.

Caelen’s breathing slowed. His eyes narrowed, glowing faintly in the dark.

He didn’t care what they thought. He didn’t care what this prison was.

Evelyn’s voice was still echoing in his head.

And that was enough.

The shift in his body continued, demonic energy curling from his skin, his form twisting as the demon in him surfaced fully.

Silver hair and red eyes surfaces as he looked

As this is the first time he felt like this, he is sure something bad is about to happen to Evelyn

Whatever answer they gave or refused to give he would tear it out of them.

-

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