*MATURE FANTASY*
Bound by fate, torn by betrayal.
Their souls are intertwined.
She is his mate, and he is hers, whether or not this is something they want.
Elara has spent her life hiding from the oppressive forces of the Light, a powerful cult th...
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The clang of metal against metal filled the air as I worked on sharpening a blade in the ship's armory. The rhythmic sound was soothing, a familiar comfort reminding me of home. I was focused, lost in the task at hand, when Calix's voice broke through my concentration.
"Rylan, the Captain wants to see you in his quarters," Calix announced, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.
I set down the blade and wiped my hands on a cloth, curiosity piqued by the unexpected summons. "Alright, thanks Calix."
My mind began to race as I made my way to the captain's quarters. What could Nox possibly want? It was not uncommon for him to meet with various members of his crew in private, though I had never been invited to such a meeting. I pushed open the door to the captain's room and stepped inside.
The sight that greeted me was unexpected, yet undeniably captivating. Elara sat on a couch, clad in her usual all-black, her presence commanding even in its stillness. Her jade eyes snapped to me as I entered. She broke the stillness when her fingers began moving, playing absentmindedly with a knife, the blade catching the light as it glinted in her hands. It was a dangerous and wildly attractive sight, and I couldn't tear my gaze away from her. My thoughts traveled to the last time she held a knife in my presence, and what followed after. I owed her a new shirt.
Elara's expression, however, was displeased, her cold gaze flickering to Nox, who sat at his desk. I forced myself to turn towards the captain. He motioned for me to take a seat, and I obliged, the tension in the room significant. I had the distinct impression that I had walked into something. The aftermath of some sort of disagreement between Elara and her captain.
Nox leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him. "Rylan," he began, his voice smooth. "How have you been finding your time with the crew?"
I shifted in my seat, feeling the expectance of his gaze on me. "It's been... eventful," I replied carefully, unsure of where this conversation was leading. I made it a point not to let my attention stray to Elara. I had no idea how much the captain knew of my interactions with her.
Nox nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Good, good. And what are your thoughts on the Light of the Land?"
"I don't like them," I stated bluntly, not caring to hide my disdain. "Their methods are... disgusting." That was putting it extremely lightly. "And their goals even more so. The world would be better off without them."
Nox's lips quirked into a faint smile. "That's what I assumed," he said, his tone thoughtful. He was scheming, that much was clear. "The Silver Blades and the Light of the Land have very different approaches and goals, do they not?"
Something was unsettling regarding the question. He was searching, but for what? "What do you know about the Silver Blades' objectives?"
Nox's expression didn't change, though there was a glint in his eyes. "I'm afraid I can't answer that," he replied smoothly. "But I hope we can be beneficial to each other."
