infodatos Chapter 25: Help.
Chapter 25: Help.
Chapter 25 - Help.Soon the disk fell, as the firelight danced across their faces, flickering orange and gold against the cool blues of the night.
Insects sang from the woods, and the occasional distant cry of a night beast echoed through the Mistwood, but within the clearing, the air was warm and calm.
Azhriel leaned forward slightly, tossing another branch into the fire, the embers leaping as they caught flame.
"Well," he said, his tone casual, yet his eyes held a glint of curiosity, "I'm curious—what's the daughter of the Great Duke doing in a dangerous place like this?"
Arianne gave a small chuckle, her voice light and tinged with amusement.
"Oh? So you already figured out I'm a noble?" she asked, raising a brow in mock surprise.
Azhriel gave a faint smile, leaning back slightly as he poked at the fire with a stick.
"Well, everything about you kind of screamed it," he said plainly. "The way you carry yourself, your clothes, your speech... and let's not forget the ever-watchful personal guard trailing behind you."
He glanced toward Serica for a moment, who remained still as ever, before returning his gaze to Arianne. "It wasn't too hard to piece things together."
"So," Azhriel asked again, his tone calm, "care to tell what you're doing here?"
Arianne didn't reply right away. She looked down for a moment, as if weighing her thoughts. Then, after a short pause, she raised her head and met his gaze.
"I'm
Arianne looked at him, the light casting soft shadows on her face. She shook her head slightly.
"I've never seen it with my own eyes," she admitted. "Only read about it once, in an old journal left by a healer in the Duke's archives. But I've heard the rumours of it appearing in the forest.
Even then, it wasn't much—just a rough description and the location hint pointing to this forest."
Azhriel nodded slowly, resting his arms on his knees. "So you're chasing some random information that might not even be real."
"Yes," Arianne replied without hesitation. "Because if there's even the smallest chance it exists, I have to try."
There was a quiet determination in her voice, and for a moment, Azhriel saw not the future Villainess of the story—but just a daughter, trying to save her mother.
The One Thing In Which He Failed.
"I will help you."