The Chronicles of Onyx Book Two - Fight of a Hero

Chapter One

Dezenym fell back against the curved antlers of his throne, the weight of exhaustion heavy on his shoulders. His golden gaze lingered down at his boots, scuffed and still stained with the remnants of battle. He sat in silence, his mind seemingly far from the Great Hall. The atmosphere in the Hall was tense, a heavy silence hanging over the room like a shroud.

Jade walked with a slight limp to his seat reserved by Oldren. A slight grimace crossed his face with each step, his wound had almost completely healed, save for the occasional sudden sharp pain that served as a reminder of the recent conflict. He glanced at Dezenym, concern etched into his young features, but his Emerald eyes quickly moved to Rok, whose aggressive demeanor had only grown more pronounced since the battle's end.

Across the hall, Rok paced back and forth, his movements aggressive and restless. The loss of Onyx had deeply affected him, and he often took out his frustrations on those around him. His temper flaring at the slightest provocation. He snapped at both Jade and Oldren, his words biting and his patience thin. Even though the sting of his sharp tongue and harsh words were hurtful to the boy, Jade bore no resentment. He understood the pain that drove Rok's behavior; he could forgive him without a moment's thinking for he knew Rok would never intend to punish his friends. Not for something they were incapable of.

Dezenym, however, remained distant, a brooding silence enveloping him. He had refused to speak of what had happened, his grief and guilt locked away behind grieving eyes. He barely acknowledged those around him, his thoughts seemingly consumed by something far beyond the reach of those who shared the hall with him.

And then there was the Dwarf, Oldren, who had always been a steady presence to be around. He always held a level head; and since the battle, had become more of a father figure to the young elf. His gruff exterior held a deep well of care and wisdom. He frequently offered guidance and support to Jade, doing his best to shield him from Rok's outbursts while also trying to keep the group united.

As Jade took his seat by Oldren's side, he noticed the wolves, now in their human forms, casting questioning glances toward Dezenym. All except for Eclipsar, whose unwavering loyalty was evident in his steadfast blue eyes.

The wolf too, had been wounded during the battle, but now, there was no trace of it. Before Jade's eyes, the wound had sealed itself, the flesh knitting together with unnatural speed. Jade could recall as he thought, I wish I could do that, before the lingering effects of his own injuries overwhelmed him, causing him to black out a second time.

"Where do you think she'll be?" Jade asked Oldren as he turned his attention back to the Dwarf.

Oldren closed his sapphire eyes, a shutered sigh escaping his chapped lips, "I haven't an idea lad, ye wish I knew"

For weeks Rok led others as he tore apart the northern territory, searching sleeplessly for her. Yet not a sign of her presents was to be found anywhere.

"I'm sure she'll come to her senses, she's strong" he reassured as he attempted to keep spirits high.

"Too strong headed for the likes of her own good," Oldren scoffed as he pulled his flask from an inset pocket within his linen tunic.

"What do you mean by that?" A deep growl erupted from the entrance.

Rok's dark gaze bore onto the dwarf with such intensity, that the air in the room thickened with a heavy blanket of tension. Oldren met Rok's gaze steadily, though his fingers tightened around the flask.

"Aye," Oldren began slowly, choosing his words with care, "all I mean lad, is that sometimes strength can lead ye to stubbornness. Onyx is resilient, no doubt about that. But that same resilience can make er headstrong, push her to make choices that others might not understand."

Rok's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.

"She's not headstrong, she's determined. And she would never abandon us—not like this."

"No one is saying she abandoned us, Rok," Jade interjected gently, trying to diffuse the rising tension.

"We're just trying to understand what's happened, and what we can do to bring her back."

Rok's gaze shifted to Jade, softening for a brief moment before the mask of anger slipped back into place.

"You think I don't know that, boy? I'm the one who's been searching, the one who's been tearing this godforsaken land apart to find her!"

"We all want to find her," Oldren said, his voice steady despite the storm brewing before him.

"But lashing out at each other's throats won't help. Ye need to stay united, for Onyx, for all of us."

Rok let out a harsh, bitter laugh.

"United? Look around, Oldren. We're falling apart. Dezenym's in his own world, the wolves don't trust him anymore, and the rest of you—" His voice broke off, a mixture of anger and despair flashing across his features.

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken fears and the weight of everything they had lost. Jade looked over at Dezenym, who remained motionless, his eyes still fixed on the floor. It was as if the Elven Necromancer was a statue, carved from stone, oblivious to the turmoil around him.

"Rok," Jade said softly, drawing the Half-breed's attention back to him.

"We need you. We need your strength and your focus. We will find Onyx, but we have to do it together. We can't let this tear us apart."

Rok stared at him, the tension in his body slowly easing, though the anger still simmered beneath the surface. He looked away, taking a deep breath as he tried to regain control over his emotions.

"She's out there," Rok finally said, his voice quieter but no less intense.

"And I won't rest until we find her."

Oldren nodded, the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Aye, lad. We'll find her, together."

As the silence soon took over, Jade couldn't shake the feeling that they were all on the edge of something—whether it was resolution or further ruin, he didn't know. All he could do was hope that they would find their way through the darkness, and that Onyx, wherever she was, would find her way back to them.

Soon.