Arwick (A Light Of Roria Sequel)

Chapter Seven

I felt the weight of his words hit me like a shock wave. I faced the ground for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "I-Is it..." I paused, struggling to ask the question, fearful of his answer. Sighing, I finally spoke. "Is it possible this prophecy could be right?"

Aziel shrugged, his eyes never leaving mine. "What do you choose, Addisyn? divinity will never abandon you, but we all are given the choice to abandon divinity."

I let his words resonate within my heart before closing my eyes, imagining my life without the one thing that had given me so much strength. Through divinity, I was given a purpose and had discovered a destiny so much larger than I'd ever imagined. I had fought against insurmountable odds and was given hope despite the loss of my mother. Without it, I risked losing everything beautiful I had gained.

"I can't let that happen," I told him. "I choose divinity."

Aziel grinned. "Perhaps you will be an asset rather than the liability you first seemed."

He lowered himself to the ground before crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the stone wall. With his eyes closed, he began to speak. "Now if you don't mind, I am going to sleep. Despite knowing I will live to see beyond the coming events, I still need rest."

Following his lead, I sat on the hard ground. Though uncertain if I could truly fall asleep with thoughts of what was to come still invading my mind, I rested my head on my arm and steadied my breathing. "You sound so sure of yourself," I said before closing my eyes.

"When you see what divinity has created in me, you will understand," he admitted unabashedly. Within seconds, I could hear a soft snore escape his lips.

His confidence had me smiling. If anyone had embraced the idea that divinity could bring about a greatness from within, Aziel apparently held the gold medal. But it was that very assuredness that had obviously kept him alive.

I hadn't managed to fall asleep, and when Pilot started to make his way beyond each cell, the others were shouting and stomping at his presence. One man even yelled, "Choose me to fight the fairy!" as the others cheered wildly at his words.

Pilot chuckled, unlocking my cell like he couldn't wait to see the humorous show of my downfall.

"Stand," Pilot commanded. "It is time."

Rising to my feet, I moved toward Pilot and his guards, who were quick to bind my hands in heavy irons. They moved to Aziel's cell, who was already waiting at the door of his cell, looking toward Pilot mischievously. "Only two guards, Pilot? You insult me."

Pilot swiftly formed a dark sword, facing its tip inches from Aziel's face, only causing his smile to expand, having successfully gotten under Pilot's skin.

"I do not care what value you hold to the Trade, you insolent swine. I will cut you where you stand," Pilot hissed.

The guards ripped Aziel from his cell, rushing to bind his hands but never once meeting his gaze. They feared him, while Aziel seemed to fear nothing.

"Take them to the contender room," Pilot demanded before continuing. "I will choose a few proper opponents."

Upon his words, the guards forced us forward while those still in cells shouted every curse and death wish they could muster. I kept my eyes straight ahead, my mind traveling faster than the rest of me, imagining the worst. My vision seemed to blur, and the beats of my heart were unnaturally fast. Sweat ran down my neck, and I clasped my hands together. Please, divinity, I need your help, I thought, repeating my plea over and over, determined to let go of the overwhelming terror and instead find trust.

When we reached the end of the cells, we were met by a single guard who continuously pulled on a heavy lever until the large wooden door began to slide open. Beyond the door was a room filled with soldiers wielding their dark swords and bows, standing watch over various weapons separately locked in small cages.

There was a weariness over each of them that caused them to glance over their own shoulders, like the hairs on the back of their necks wouldn't stop rising in warning. I didn't have to guess why. I could sense it. Those swords were wielded by and through divinity, creating the craving for them to retreat.

I smiled, welcoming the warmth each sword brought, when my eyes caught sight of an object too high for anyone to grab. Like the swords, it was locked away, but something about its sense of power was quite different from its roommates. There wasn't a necessary allegiance to Divinity or dark magic but rather strength in whatever lay beneath the surface. Curiously taking in its oval shape, I realized it was a very large egg, perhaps even larger than an ostrich egg, though I couldn't be certain at such a distance. I was about to ask Aziel what it was when I realized he was already looking my way, smirking at me with knowing eyes.

"King Ahab is usually one to flaunt the treasures he's acquired, showcasing them about the castle," Aziel began, his hand whisking around dramatically. "But weapons of divinity are always kept here, their presence too disturbing to truly be displayed."

Nodding, I smirked, looking at each of the guards. "Yeah, I can tell."

"Were any of your companions human?" Aziel asked. I nodded. His question had me checking each cage in search of their weapons before he spoke again. "It is likely their swords are not here yet. Ahab will have commanded his blacksmiths to prepare more secured boxes before transporting them here."

"What about that egg?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Ah, yes, Ahab's greatest leverage." Aziel's eyes twinkled as the corner of his mouth curved up. "He—"

"The fairy King Ahab spoke of," a centaur, who had just entered the room, announced. He formed a dark bow, keeping it aimed at both Aziel and me.

An elf, who was the first to reach me, grabbed my face before turning it side to side. "Remove her cuffs," he told the guards. "I wish to see her form a weapon." His all blue eyes were a deep sapphire, and his ears came to a sharp point. His skin was as white as chalk, and his dark hair reached his elongated waist. Standing so close to me, the top of my head barely reached his lower chest.

Removing my cuffs, the two guards kept their swords close to my skin as the elf gestured for me to make a weapon. With ease, divinity's magic moved with me as I created a shield over my left arm.

"She will bring much gold if she survives during battle," one of the men said aloud.

The elf continued to inspect me, mentioning something about my thin waist but muscular arms, but I hardly noticed. My gaze had been fixed on Aziel, who had witnessed my fairy ability like it was the first time he'd ever seen it wielded. His handsome eyes were filled with a long-awaited desire finally coming to fruition. His hope had restored mine, temporarily taking my mind away from the evil around us.

"Caiaphas." The elf pointed to a particular sword on the wall. "Bring forth his weapon."

With a nod, a young man moved toward the locked weapons, removing a silver sword from the wall. It had a golden grip and a cross guard, with a single purple jewel on the pommel.

Aziel gleamed with pride as the man approached him with caution. He gripped his dark sword, crouching as we walked. "No sudden movement, divinity user," he hissed, placing the blade in Aziel's hand.

"My true love," Aziel said, raising the sword to his lips before kissing it gently. "Have you missed me, dear one?" he asked, side-grinning.

I watched Aziel in admirable bewilderment. We were moments away from facing the arena, and yet he exhibited no fear. He was actually quite the opposite, appearing collected and slightly aloof. Perhaps it was his time there, but even I knew the most veteran of soldiers still carried wounded spirits. Or maybe that was the point. Aziel carried nothing and instead let divinity carry it for him.

Aziel's chocolate eyes faced my own. Smiling, his blade began to glow the same magnificent color I'd seen time and again since I'd learned about such an incredible world of magic.

"For divinity," he declared, full of heart.