Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 43: The Forgotten Truth

The next day, Aria spent her time in a dazed stupor. She didn't know how long she had slept, nor could she remember how many times she had woken up. Each time she opened her eyes, the room seemed to have changed.

The first time she woke up, the morning light was streaming through the curtains onto the bed. On the small table beside her, there was a plate of dried berries and pine nut pudding. The sweet aroma filled the air, making her stomach growl. She barely managed to reach for a piece of dried fruit, ate a few bites in a daze, and then drifted back into sleep.

The next time she woke, it was already dark outside, and several candles had been lit in the room. Their flickering light cast warm glows across the room. The food on the table had been replaced with venison pie and a pot of hot water. The pie gave off an enticing aroma, and the hot water was steaming gently. She tried to recall, but she couldn't remember seeing Neven at all. Despite her confusion, she picked up the pie and ate it ravenously. The meat was tender and flavorful, allowing her to momentarily forget all her worries.

As the warmth of the food spread through her body, Aria felt a sense of calm. Her thoughts began to gather, but still felt like they were shrouded in a thin fog. She pondered the attack they had experienced earlier, unable to understand what had happened to Lucius Argent to turn such a composed demigod into a monster.

As the candlelight flickered, so did Aria's emotions. In the dim glow, she felt as though she could see a fog deep within her soul. She knew she had to find the truth. She needed to find a way to see Lucius, even if it meant risking her life.

At that moment, the door opened.

With her mouth full of food, she looked towards the door eagerly. Neven stood there, clad in armor, leaning against the doorframe, his face weary.

"Where have you been today?" Aria asked, swallowing her food.

"No matter where I go, I'll always come back," Neven replied. He walked to the bedside and kissed her forehead. He smelled of blood and sweat, and his armor was stained with dark red blood.

"Are you hurt?" Aria asked in surprise.

"It's beast blood. We were attacked today."

"Was it serious?"

"No." Neven sat on the bed and struggled to remove his armor, which clanged as it hit the floor. Then he took off his clothes, revealing a muscular, scarred torso, unwrapping the bandage around his arm, a remnant from his duel with Stormblade.

Aria awkwardly looked away, staring out at the dark window. Her heart raced as she felt the heat emanating from Neven's body and caught the faint scent of blood. Outside, the night was as black as ink, with only the firelight dancing in the room, casting orange shadows.

She could hear the faint sounds of Neven undressing, mixed with his soft breaths and occasional groans of pain. After a while, the room grew quiet. Aria couldn't help her curiosity and turned her head slightly, finding Neven leaning against the bedpost, eyes closed. In that moment of vulnerability, his usually tense face appeared incredibly gentle. She could see his strong chest rise and fall gently with his breathing, every scar a testament to his past battles. A complex wave of emotions surged within Aria—gratitude, and a touch of sorrow.

"Are you asleep?" Aria asked softly, her voice almost drowned by the crackling of the fire.

"No..." Neven replied lazily, his eyes still closed, his voice tired but gentle. "Starguard was sent to Voidmarsh. Our Legion set out early this morning. Sage Solon returned seeking more reinforcements. I was worried about you, so I explained the situation to Sage Solon and returned midway."