The night had settled over the desert.
The chilling cold that blanketed the land was in sharp contrast to the scorching heat of the day.
The frosted sands stretched endlessly, their sharp, icy edges shimmering under the two moons' haunting gaze. It was the calm after the storm.
The storm that had taken so many lives.
The numbers were staggering. Of the 600 students who had arrived at the desert, only 133 remained. 467 students were dead. The majority of them had fallen victim to the sandstorm, whose whispers had claimed both their minds and bodies.
Many of those who hadn't died in the storm had met their end at the hands of their peers.
Some, the weaker ones, were left to suffer before the inevitable final blow. Others had been sacrificed by their comrades in a grim effort to survive.
Out of the 467 dead, 67 were killed directly by their fellow student, whether out of necessity, fear, or the crushing weight of the storm's pressure. And among them, 31 deaths lay at Elyonari's feet.
Eleven were humans.
Ten were elves.
Three were demons.
Seven were Therianthropes.
And the rest... well, they were lost to the storm and to her memory, identities scattered in the chaos.
Their bodies and souls were converted to power for her to ascend to the next phase.
She didn't like it one bit.
The desert air had grown colder as night fully embraced the land. The two full moons of Spheraphase hung in the sky, their glowing faces reflecting serenely upon the still waters of the oasis.
Elyonari sat at the edge of the water, her legs tucked beneath her, still in shock from the events she had witnessed and participated in.
It wasn't until a soft sigh broke through her thoughts that she realized Adelasta had approached her. The cool and composed voice of the woman who had been through so much, just like Elyonari, now sounded surprisingly warm.
Adelasta lowered herself onto the rock beside Elyonari. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, both staring at the reflection of the moons on the surface of the oasis.
The ripples disturbed the smooth, glassy image, but it didn't seem to bother them. The two of them, in their shared silence, felt the weight of the world settle in their bones, but also a strange peace, as if everything had paused for a moment.
Finally, Adelasta broke the silence.
"You know, the voice you heard in your head during the storm… was it Vastarael?"
Elyonari's head snapped toward her, her heart skipping a beat.
"Yes."
Adelasta gave a soft, knowing smile, her lips curling at the corners in a rare display of warmth.
"Yes, it was him. It was the same for me too. Believe it or not, that's exactly how he'd react if we saw him."
Elyonari's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat.
"How do you know? How could you possibly know?"
Adelasta let out a soft giggle, a sound so rare that it almost made Elyonari's heart skip again.
For a moment, she seemed like a completely different person, not the cold, calculating woman she had always known, but someone softer, almost tender. Elyonari blinked in surprise, flushed by the sound.
She couldn't remember ever hearing Adelasta laugh like that. It was so... normal. She quickly looked away, trying to hide the warmth creeping into her cheeks.
Adelasta's giggle faded into a serene smile, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Oh, come on, Elyonari. You didn't really think I wouldn't notice, did you? I've known Vastarael for a long time. We... well, we have a history," she said, her tone softening as she leaned back against the rock, gazing at the moons with a kind of nostalgic affection.
"And the moment I heard his voice echoing in your mind, I knew it. You're not the first one to be affected by him, you know. He's got that... power. And you like him, don't you? Don't deny it."
Elyonari sat up straighter, her eyes wide. Was she really that predictable?
"You knew? How?"
"I'm his Betrothed."
The words hit Elyonari like a bolt of lightning.
"Betrothed?" She repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "But you—"
Adelasta chuckled softly, brushing a strand of her crimson hair behind her ear.
"Yes, betrothed. It was arranged when we were young, long before all this mess started. Our families thought it would be a good match. His power, my lineage... you know how these things go."
She paused, her gaze distant for a moment.
"Of course, I don't think either of us had any say in the matter back then. If it didn't happen, we would have both died."
Elyonari's heart skipped again, this time for a completely different reason. She hadn't expected this. Her thoughts were a whirlwind and they only intensified as Adelasta continued.
"I never really thought much about it," Adelasta went on, her voice growing quieter, as if speaking to herself more than to Elyonari. "We were just kids, after all. But as we got older, I realized something. Vastarael... he's not the kind of person who wants anything unless it's for something bigger. He's focused. His heart isn't the same as others. But still, he's... special."
There was a pause before Adelasta's smile turned playful, a wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Besides, if he's going to marry anyone, I suppose I should have some say in it, shouldn't I? I'm the one who's been betrothed to him for longer than I care to admit."
Elyonari's mind was whirling with confusion. She opened her mouth to spea but the words caught in her throat.
'Is she saying that... I might marry him in the future?'
Adelasta's eyes softened as she looked at Elyonari, her expression turning sincere for the first time in what felt like forever.
"You know, I've been watching you two for a while. And if it comes to that... if Vastarael truly wants to marry someone else, I'll approve of it. I'll approve of you."
Elyonari blinked, her heart skipping yet another beat, but for a very different reason now.
"Approve? Why?"
Adelasta gave a gentle laugh, her voice almost tender.
"Because I know you, Elyonari. You've got the strength and the heart. You're perfect for him. But don't get too excited. You still have to go through me first."
The remark was so light-hearted, so casual, that Elyonari couldn't help but chuckle.