Shadowed Destiny

Chapter 04 - "veiled identities"

??? (pov)
I was returning from my patrol through the whisperwoods, as I heard her calling out my name from a distance. She stood in a distance and a mere few meters away. We walked together till we almost reached the Kingdom and I told her I had forgotten to do something and had to leave immediately.
I walked inside a dark cave, and walked down until I reached the entrance. I stepped inside and heard a man with a deep voice speak.
"You're late Ryuga."
It was Yuto, with him standing the new blonde woman who had just returned from her mission, Sakura.

"Sorry I was caught up in something."
"So how is your mission going?" Hayate emegred from the darkness as he questioned me.
"It's going as planned."
"Good, then we shall prepare for our next move."
Everyone nodded in agreement to Hayate's declaration.
"Your role is very important in this mission Ryuga, do not make any mistakes."

Hayate's warning gave me the chills, I knew if I made a single mistake or left one single clue, everything we've done till now would be destroyed.

The ballroom was plastered with life as I moved through the throng of attendees the music and hushed conversations. Anonymous through the mask I observe the swirls of colours.

As the sea of masks parted, my eyes fell on the one who had just entered the ballroom, her ethereal gown that cascaded a waterfall of twilight hues, in the dim glow of the chandelier her purple eyes sparkled with an otherworldly allure, a captivating hue that seemed to hold mysteries untold. Framed by her delicate lace of mask, those eyes carried a depth that begged exploration as if daring anyone to unveil the secrets concealed within her enchanting gaze. Time had seemed to pause as I stared into her beautiful eyes. Her lips curled into a soft smile upon seeing the ballroom, her soft smile looked mesmerizing. Among the many faces her face was the oasis my eyes had longed for.

Her eyes met mine, I couldn't help but gaze at her even when she caught me staring at her. She was wearing the same gown I had sent to her, She looked like a dream. As she caught me staring at her, she started to walk towards me only to find her in front of me she looked into my eyes as if she knew exactly who I am. Both of our faces were concealed by our delicate masks. She didn't know who I was exactly.

"Do you believe in fate, stranger?" She asked her face still in uncertainty, her tone filled with boldness and curiosity. She looked at me with daring eyes.
"I just might" I replied with the same boldness as hers. She looked at me amused.
"Shall I have this dance, my lady?" I extended my hand towards her, the soft strains of the slow song enveloping us like a delicate embrace. As she placed her hand in mine, I felt a current of warmth surging through me, a connection beyond the physical touch. Together, we glided onto the dance floor, the world around us fading into the background as the gentle rhythm guided our every step. The glow of the ballroom lights seemed to dim, leaving only her and the soft melody that wrapped us in an intimate dance of shared secrets and unspoken truths.

Time had seemed to stop with her, as we danced my eyes couldn't seem to stop looking at her. It wasn't my fault she looked so beautiful.
As we swirled and danced; I felt a wave of power coming from a far.

And in the blink of an eye everything was blown apart. The ballroom's wall exploded, Hayate and the others coming out of the exploded walls. I had lost Kaguya after the explosion hit us we were separated. I looked around and found her unconscious, her head was bleeding. I rushed towards her and stopped her bleeding.

I took her outside the palace. Her unconscious body in my arms as I carried her away. I stopped near the woods behind the palace and placed her down. Before I could leave she jolted awake, panting. Her mask was taken off due to her injury so I could see her face but mine was still on my face.

"Who are you?" She asked to stop me before I could leave. I stayed quiet as my mask fell off my face at that exact moment revealing to her who I was. Her eyes widened seeing my face in surprise. She was left speechless.
"Ryuga?!?" Her voice was filled with shock.
"I need to go." I spoke in a quiet tone before she could say anything else I left.
I had to join Hataye and everyone else. This can't go wrong. I don't know why he decided to attack the kingdom when the plan was something else. And charging at her in anger like that, something really angered him.
If something goes wrong we will all die, I can't let that happen.

When I reached the palace I saw kaguya already there. I was shocked to see her there already when I left before her. She was fighting Hayate while protecting the Queen. Her arm was drenched with blood by her injuries. For some reason when I saw Hayate fight her, he looked like he held back. Hayate never hesitates or holds back to anyone.

I looked at her shocked and disappointed face when she realized that I was one of them. Before I could launch another attack, the other knights started to gather as well. No matter their numbers, humans can't beat us. These knights were getting thrown by us.

"I didn't know you were all still alive." The Queen commented and commanded the knights to stop fighting as we did the same.
Hayate said his voice was filled with anger. I wonder what angered him so much that he came to this decision.

"You know what you have done, and you will pay for it." He added.

"I have done nothing to be punished for, you on the other hand have attacked a royal palace killed my knights, and then tell me I have done a crime?" She completely refused what Hayate had said. Hayate's face was fuming with anger by her words as she gave everyone a sinister.

"You will regret everything you have ever done, Ayame Kyara."
Hayate gave her a death glare as he threatened her, no one understood what was going on, why was Hayate acting this way. But we only followed his orders and none of us questioned his decisions.

A sinister smirk formed on Ayame's face she looked directly at Hayate with a mischievous smirk.
"We will get what belongs to us." Hayate declared as he signaled us to retreat.
"Leaving already?" Ayame asked mockingly.
"This was your last warning Ayame, next time there won't be."

"Why are you doing this? Was everything just an act?" Kaguya's face still held a myriad of questions.

With a cold gaze, I confessed, "It was. I was your enemy all along, and it reveals how effortlessly you can be manipulated."

Without awaiting her response, I departed the instant my words concluded, leaving those chilling revelations hanging in the air as I returned to where I truly belonged.

She wasn't the same person as I knew before.