Cigarathe

Chapter 3

"What do you mean they aren't here?" Arendyl asked, agitated.

"Aren't here as in nowhere to be found. They disappeared." answers Michael as he walks away from Arendyl and over to where Umoni and Aleratha were. He crouches down and examines the area around where he placed himself. Arendyl followed him, completely consumed with rage.

"Lies. You used my interrogation as a distraction so you could use your magic to take them."

"And why would I do something like that?" questioned Michael.

"Leverage, of course. You force me to help you find Narcissa and if I don't agree then I'll never see my family. It's obvious. It's in the basic manipulation handbook." responded Arendyl as she searched as far as she could allow with a demon nearby that could easily kill her. She was furious. Why would her own wife and child just disappear? Why would Michael take them?

"Why would I need leverage when you already agreed to help me? That's ridiculous. I wouldn't do that." explained Michael as he continued to scan through the area. He could find no clues as to where they went or if they were even taken at all.

Arendyl became even more angry with Michael after he said that. She sighed, "You do realize that gaslighting me isn't helping your case right?"

"You're right, my apologies. I didn't mean to gaslight you, it's just an old habit." replied Michael before he made his way back over to Arendyl, "And I'm sure you noticed this too but there's no evidence as to where they went or where they're headed. We're just going to hope that whoever or whatever took Narci also has your family. Oh, Narci is just my nickname for Narcissa by the way."
"I'm not stupid you know. I know that's your nickname for her." snapped Arendyl as she started to back away from him. He took another step forward for every step she took back. She didn't like how close he was to her. She could feel his breath against her skin like a cold breeze from the forest in the dead of night. It brought a shiver down her spine. He didn't notice how much she hated the closeness, or was at least pretending to not notice. He took another step towards her, making this moment worse for her. Eventually she spoke up."
"I'm not sure about your Narci, but I do believe I know where Umoni and Ratha are."

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Michael teleported Arendyl just outside her house so she could look for her family. She hoped to find them sitting by the fire in the living room, or eating freshly made elvish bread in the dining room. After all, the valley wasn't too far away from their home so they would have enough time to do something of the sort. Instead of a joyous sight filled with laughter and love, Arendyl found her home in shambles and ash. She saw footprints in the dirt path leading to the house. One set was the same side boot that Umoni would normally wear, and the other was the same size as Aleratha's. Michael would never have known the footprints belonged to them, but Arendyl knew instantly. After all, they were her family. Without another word she started rushing to what was left of the house. Michael teleported from his current location to what would've been the front door. Arendyl dug through the rubble, trying to find the people she's come closest to loving.

"Vulpine stop standing here and help me search! They could be alive, stuck in the rubble or something!" Arendyl yelled as she started to move around whatever rubble she could.

"No point. I don't sense any life force other than yours." explained Michael calmly in response.

"I don't care! You could be wrong. Help me look!" she commanded as she moved parts of charred roofing from the pile of rubble. Michael let out an exasperated sigh before helping her dig through the rubble with his magic. He didn't want to get his hands covered in ash and soot for someone he barely knew yet owed everything to. He couldn't help but question how she was still going after what she experienced and he saw in her mind. He knew he wouldn't have gone on like she did. He would've given up on hope and humanity, yet she kept seeing the good and continued to have faith in people who didn't deserve it. She was too sweet of a soul for the land of Nyranya. The realm has become a cold and dark place, yet this elf, who is no more extraordinary than the next man, served as a beacon of light and warmth to those she came into contact with, including himself. Only the light faded when she found two charred corpses. Michael snapped back to reality as a result of Arendyl's blood curdling scream. She dropped onto the coarse ground and held the bodies, trying her best to keep calm in front of the man whom she barely knew. She couldn't believe they were gone. She didn't expect this day to be the last to spend with her family.