Fire Soul

Chapter 6

As Alina stirred from her slumber, she found Corliss perched on the edge of her bed, her expression serious. With a gentle nudge, Corliss whispered, "Are you awake?" Alina blinked, gradually taking in her surroundings. "I am now," she replied, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Then, Corliss's tone turned grave. "They're going to take you somewhere for your chosen one training today," she began, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She instructed Alina to seize any opportunity to flee, to run as fast and as far as she could, aiming to reach the castle and lead her father back to the cave. "Listen to me," Corliss implored, her urgency palpable. "You're our best chance for escape. And, if they're dumb enough to give you a sword, run them through!" she declared, her eyes filled with determination.

Before Corliss could say more, the echoing creak of the iron door opening pierced the cavern's silence. She shot Alina a meaningful glance, her expression conveying urgency. In strode Rylok and Cheston, their presence filling the chamber. Rylok deftly exchanged the empty pot for one brimming with bubbling stew, the savory aroma enhanced by the smoky scent of the fire.

As Cheston set a plate of bread, fruit, and a small chunk of hard cheese on the table, he attempted small talk. "Did you sleep well?" he inquired, his voice like a gentle breeze against the plaster walls. But neither girl responded, Alina offering only a half-hearted nod, her thoughts elsewhere amidst the somber atmosphere of the cave. "It looks like you need more firewood," he declared, his voice carrying a tone of forced cheerfulness amidst the tension-laden air.

It was an awkward exchange, leaving a thick fog of unspoken unease hanging heavily in the air. Finally, Rylok's voice broke the silence, his words slicing through the awkwardness like a gleaming blade through tangled vines. He instructed Alina to come with them, his tone firm and commanding. Alina stood there, feeling like a lone ship caught between two tumultuous tempests. Conflicting thoughts and emotions churned within her like a stormy sea, each wave threatening to pull her under.

On one side stood Corliss, her dearest friend, her anchor in the ocean of uncertainty. Corliss looked to her for salvation, for a lifeline out of the darkness of the cavern where they'd been imprisoned. On the other side stood Cheston, the man who had raised her, whose guidance had shaped her into the person she was. He spoke of prophecies and destinies, of a path that diverged from everything she had ever known.

In that moment, Alina felt adrift, lost in the swirling currents of fate and duty, unable to discern her own desires amidst the clamor of conflicting voices.

She couldn't deny a feeling of importance and significance that she'd never felt before. The night prior to the wedding, she had planned to leave the kingdom. She was going to slip away shortly after the ceremony. She didn't feel her future was with Corliss in Coronneveau, and she didn't want to stay in her father's castle like a bird trapped in a gilded cage, waiting for the day he'd arrange a marriage for her. She wanted something more, something wild and untamed, like the uncharted forests beyond the castle walls.

Now, she stood there in an underground cave surrounded by a princess, a rebel knight, an elf, and a dragon, like characters from an ancient legend woven into reality. Her thirst for adventure awakened within her like a dormant dragon stirring from its slumber, ready to spread its wings and soar into the unknown.

And so, she followed Cheston and Rylok through the iron door. Each step she took echoed like the steady beat of a war drum heralding her journey toward destiny. Her heart pounded in her chest, and nervous energy coursed through her veins, like a rush of wild rivers converging into a single stream. Yet, excitement danced in her eyes, the weight of her newfound purpose settling upon her shoulders, like a knight donning armor before a great quest.