Chapter 340: _Running From Destiny

Elian’s POV

*****

The white fog grew thicker the harder he looked. He summoned some wind with his magic but only managed to disperse it by a few feet—before it rushed back to the way it was.

"It’s no use." That voice echoed around him again. "I have you right where I want you. Just like I have... for millennia. Long before your essence jumped into this fragile shell."

Yep.

Amara.

At this point, whenever something went wrong, he always expected it to be somehow linked back to the hag.

Elian gritted his teeth, reaching out to the system instantly. ’What kind of magic interference is this? Why aren’t my spells working on the fog?’

[That might be because of the obvious fact that she’s a more powerful mage. Not to mention, her magic is warping your mind and reality at once.]

’... What?’

"How long are you going to continue running away from destiny, moon blessed?" Streaks of fog ahead twisted and twirled in a circle.

This circle took form, hardening before completely creating the figure of a familiar person.

Amara stood before him with a projection of herself, complete with her High Matron regalia. The ’holy’ white hooded robe trimmed with golden thread at the edges.

She spread out her arms, pulling down her hood to reveal the curve of her black painted lips. "You are only delaying the inevitable. Even if you manage to avoid me for another century, the divine crystal will still be waiting."

Elian’s fists balled, the initial shock and fear simmering into rage. "The plan was never to ’avoid’ you." He spat. "It was to burn your plans to the ground alongside you."

"Well, well... someone’s gained some confidence."

"I don’t need confidence," he didn’t falter. "This war has drawn out far enough. Sooner or later you’re going to piss off this Empire and force our hands."

He was the last person who’d want to resort to bringing up threats of war. But he felt like saying anything to get her to hopefully pull away from his mind.

Sadly, all his words did was make her smirk break into a grin. "If Lunaria joins this war... do you think Arcadia wouldn’t be able to defend itself?"

"I think you’re full of shit."

"Adorable." she laughed dryly. "I’m faced with a kingdom that’s only three centuries old and an Empire whose new Alpha King has barely been in his seat for a few days."

Without warning, she moved a foot forward. When she followed it with the other one, Elian’s heart caught in his throat.

"I’ve studied the Divine crystal and all of Evaros for thousands of years," she began circling, her eyes never leaving him. "I have the strongest criminal organisation on this continent under my control. And need I remind you... Your palace is still very much compromised."

Elian’s jaw tightened.

In simpler words... they were screwed from all angles.

Still, Elian didn’t let her words deter him. "What was your plan coming here to see me? Rile me up or scare me enough to do what? Give myself up to you?"

Amara shook her head. "Scare you? Oh, no, no, no..." she finally got behind him, lingering like a ghost. "I’m here to tell you that you still have a chance. To join me. Think about all the things we could accomplish once I merge you with the Divine crystal."

"Who says I can’t just take a trip to the Dark Lands and do it myself?"

"You saw what contact with it did last time. Are you certain you can handle it alone again?"

Elian’s jaw turned to stone. Chills ran through him as her hands slid up his shoulders, holding him like a mother about to guide a child.

"If you let me help you," she whispered, "all of Evaros will bow before us. We will break this continent and build something new from the ashes. Something that’ll remember you as their god. And then—the rest of Solara will follow."

Break the continent.

Visuals of Aurora’s explanation of her visions echoed in his mind just then. In most of the timelines she saw, he destroyed Evaros.

His nails dug into his palm, heart steeling with renewed resolve. With a flick of his wrist, he disappeared from Amara’s hold, appearing several feet away from her.

She withdrew her hands, head tilting with something unreadable as he snapped:

"Nice try. But if you think I’ll trust your psychopathic, lying ass then you must be on some millennia-old booze." He smirked defiantly.

Actually smiled, surprising even Amara. "You tried breaking my mates and me with our fears back in your haunted manor. And we overcame it... together. We overcame your curse... together. So take a wild guess how we’re going to put you six feet under."

Amara’s eyes gleamed with a cold light. She nodded, leisurely pulling up her hood again.

"Together." She lulled. "For a divine essence who has lived for thousands of years, you are incredibly naive."

Elian’s expression remained intact. "Wrong. Before this body, I was nothing but wandering energy trying to survive. And now?" His lips thinned. "I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I not only survive. But live."

There was no response to that, the projection of Amara slowly disintegrated into thousands of light specks that faded away.

"I’ll come for you soon." She left behind a promise.

The fog retreated completely, revealing the Lunarian royal palace just a few meters ahead. The massive golden gates opened just then, Kyren stepping out with furrowed brows.

The Rogue king’s crimson eyes met his within seconds, his cloak carried into the wind. "Little flame? What happened? Why are you—"

He didn’t get the chance to finish as Elian ran to him, jumping on him and wrapping his arms around him. The Omega buried his face on Kyren’s neck, exhaling heavily.

Slowly, Kyren hugged him back, brushing the fingers of his right hand into his hair. "You’re... you’re shaking." He noted. "Lucian told me you were out for ’air’ and I just knew to come out."

Elian sniffled, pulling back. "It’s your mother," he muttered. "She appeared to me again. Trying to get me to... join her."

His grip tightened like he was grounding himself. "I don’t think she’ll be holding back with whatever she has coming next."

Kyren stilled, eyes sliding to the night sky.

"... She already isn’t."