Chapter 3: whispers in the dark

The moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale light over the vast, tranquil lake. Eve walked along the stone path that led down to its shore, her mind heavy with the conversation she had just witnessed in the dining hall. Her thoughts were clouded with the tension between Azreal and Chief Broch, the raw anger that had hung in the air, and the way Azreal had stormed out, his footsteps echoing in the silent halls.

Her heart was unsettled as she approached the water's edge, hoping to find him, hoping to understand what had driven him to such frustration. She needed to ask him what had happened with his father-what had caused this rift between them that seemed to grow deeper with every passing day.

And there he was.

Azreal stood with his back to her, staring out over the water, his silhouette bathed in the soft light of the moon. His posture was tense, as though every muscle in his body was coiled with barely contained energy. Eve could see the faintest flicker of his black hair in the breeze, and his usual smirk was nowhere to be found.

For a moment, she simply watched him, her breath caught in her throat. His face was unreadable, and despite the playful teasing that usually dripped from his words, there was something in his stance now that made her hesitate. Something... broken.

"Azreal?" she called softly, her voice almost a whisper against the stillness of the night.

He didn't turn around at first. His gaze remained fixed on the rippling water, the only movement in the quiet night. Eve's heart clenched as she took a step closer.

"Azreal, I need to talk to you," she said again, a little more forcefully this time, though her voice still carried that same note of concern.

Finally, he shifted, but only slightly, just enough for her to see the hardened set of his jaw. "You've got a lot of questions, Eve," he said, his voice quiet, almost resigned. "But I don't think I'm ready to answer them."

Eve frowned, taking another step closer. "I saw what happened in there. You and your father... What happened, Azreal? Why did you snap at him like that?"

Azreal turned to face her, his eyes burning with the same fury she'd seen in the dining hall. But there was more to it-something deeper. A vulnerability he rarely showed.

"Don't you get it, Eve?" he spat, his voice low but laced with anger. "He doesn't listen. Never listens. I've spent my whole life trying to make him see me, and he just... shuts me out. Everything I do, everything I try, it's never good enough. I'm not good enough." His hands balled into fists at his sides, and he looked away, unable to meet her gaze.

Eve's heart twisted. She stepped forward again, closer to him. "Azreal, that's not true. I-"

"Don't," he cut her off sharply, his voice cracking for the first time. "You don't understand. No one does."

The air between them felt thick, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Eve wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but something held her back. Azreal had always been distant, had always been the one teasing and pushing people away, and yet now... now, it was as if he wanted to pull her in but couldn't quite bring himself to.

She sighed, feeling the weight of his pain seep into her chest. "You're not alone in this, Azreal," she said softly, her voice gentle. "You don't have to do it alone."

For a moment, there was silence, save for the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. Azreal looked at her then, his eyes dark and intense, as though searching for something in her gaze. But just as quickly, the mask slipped back into place, and his usual smirk returned, though it lacked the usual warmth.

"Tell me something, Eve," he said, his tone shifting, now playful, almost teasing. "Have you been avoiding me? It's not like you to be so serious. You've always loved my company." His voice dropped a little, leaning in as if to share a secret. "You miss me, don't you?"

Eve blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor. Her chest tightened, and she could feel her face flush, but she tried not to let him see her reaction.

"I'm not in the mood for your games, Azreal," she said, her tone firm, trying to push past the playful taunting. "This isn't about us, or me missing you. This is about you and your father. You can't keep avoiding it."

Azreal took a step closer, his eyes narrowing with a mischievous glint, his usual confidence returning in full force. "Avoiding me?" he teased again, a slight edge to his voice. "I don't think you can avoid me even if you tried."

Eve rolled her eyes and took a step back, but Azreal followed, his presence looming just a little too close for comfort. "You're insufferable," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

Azreal chuckled softly, his gaze flickering over her, but then, just as quickly as the moment had shifted, there was a change in the air. A faint whisper, almost imperceptible, seemed to swirl around them. Eve froze, her attention snapping back to the water, where the moonlight seemed to shimmer just a little too brightly.

"What's that?" Eve asked, her voice wary.

Azreal's playful demeanor faltered, and he stiffened, looking toward the water. "I don't know..." he murmured, his gaze narrowing. "But I don't like it."

Eve stepped back again, instinctively reaching for the hilt of her sword. There was something in the air now-a heaviness, a strange energy that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

The whispers grew louder, calling her name in a soft, lilting voice. "Eve... come closer..."

Azreal's eyes snapped to hers, his expression hardening. "Stay back," he commanded, his voice low and warning. But before he could do anything else, the water in front of them began to stir, a strange, shimmering light rising from its depths.

"Azreal," Eve whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "What is that?"

Azreal's lips curled into a tight, protective frown. "I told you... stay back."

But it was too late.

A figure, tall and ethereal, surfaced from the water. Its long, silver hair shimmered like strands of moonlight, and its eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity. Eve's breath caught in her throat as the figure's gaze locked onto hers, and she felt a pull deep in her chest, as if the figure was calling to her-beckoning her closer.

Azreal moved between her and the figure, his body tensing, a protective barrier between Eve and whatever this thing was. "Not tonight," he growled, his voice laced with something dark.

The silver-haired figure tilted its head, its gaze never leaving Eve, and for a split second, it felt like the entire world held its breath.

"Come closer, Eve..." the figure whispered, its voice like silk and shadows.

Eve's heart raced, and her hand instinctively went to her sword, but Azreal's voice cut through the tension. "Move back, Eve," he ordered again, his hand gripping her arm firmly.

But the figure in the water wasn't done. It was as if it had been drawn by the closeness between Azreal and Eve, its presence summoned by their connection-a force neither of them could ignore.

For a moment, there was a shift in the air. The water shimmered once more, and the figure began to recede, its presence slowly fading like mist on a breeze. The whispers grew quieter, then vanished entirely, leaving only the moonlight reflecting off the calm water.

Azreal did not relax. His grip on Eve's arm tightened as he kept his eyes trained on the water, watching the last ripples fade away.

"Stay close," he muttered, his voice strained.

Eve nodded, her pulse still racing, the tension between them palpable. Without another word, Azreal began to lead her away from the water's edge, his presence unwavering and protective.

As they walked away, the eerie stillness of the night settled back into place. The lake was calm once more, but the shadows lingered in the distance, leaving a question hanging in the air that neither of them could yet answer.

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***