Love Between Two World

CHAPTER 16 : THE EXILE'S TRUTH

**Chapter 16: The Exile’s Truth**

The voice echoed around the cave, bouncing off the jagged walls as the figure stepped into the dim light of Elara’s torch. General Torin. His features were harder than Elara remembered from the few times she had seen his portrait hanging in the castle—a man weathered by time, betrayal, and the harsh realities of exile. His eyes, however, burned with the same intensity of a man who had been wronged but was not defeated.

“Torin,” Kael said, gripping the hilt of his sword. “We didn’t come here to fight.”

Torin’s lips curled into a sneer. “Fight? You’ve come seeking answers, haven’t you? After all these years, the crown finally decides to acknowledge me?”

Elara stepped forward, trying to remain calm despite the ominous tension that seemed to thicken the air. “I’m not my father,” she said firmly. “And I don’t care about the past, not right now. I need to know what you know about him, about his plans.”

Torin’s gaze shifted to her, eyes narrowing in thought. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, standing like a wall of stone between them and the knowledge they sought. “You carry his blood, girl. That makes you part of the past, whether you like it or not. But, I suppose you’ve come far enough, risking your life to find me here.”

Kael tensed beside her, clearly ready for an attack, but Elara held her ground, determined to get the truth. “What’s happening to the kingdom? My father has betrayed us all, and I don’t even know why. Is he working with the enemy?”

Torin let out a harsh, bitter laugh, the sound grating against the cave walls. “Your father doesn’t work with the enemy. He *is* the enemy. Always has been.”

Elara’s breath caught in her throat, a cold chill running down her spine. She had known her father was hiding something, but this? Her mind reeled at the idea that her father, the king she had admired growing up, could be responsible for the kingdom’s destruction.

“He’s been preparing for this for years,” Torin continued, his voice low and dangerous. “The alliances he’s forged, the enemies he’s created—they’re all part of his grand design. The kingdom as you know it is just a stepping stone to his real goal.”

Elara’s chest tightened. “What is his real goal?”

Torin’s eyes flickered with something she couldn’t quite place—pity, perhaps, or regret. “Power, of course. But not the kind you’re thinking. He seeks something far more dangerous. Something that could change the balance of the world itself.”

Kael shifted beside her, his voice rough. “And what is that?”

Torin’s expression darkened. “The artifact your father has been searching for isn’t just a relic of the past. It’s a weapon. An ancient power that was hidden away for good reason. If he finds it, no one will be able to stop him.”

Elara’s heart raced as the weight of Torin’s words settled over her. A weapon? Her father wasn’t just trying to maintain control over the kingdom—he was aiming for something far beyond that. Something that could plunge the entire world into chaos.

“But why?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “Why would he do this? What does he stand to gain?”

Torin’s eyes bore into hers, cold and unyielding. “Immortality. Ultimate control over life and death itself. With the artifact, your father believes he can ascend to godhood, ruling over not just this world, but all worlds.”

Elara took a step back, the enormity of it all hitting her like a physical blow. Her father wasn’t just power-hungry—he was delusional. He believed he could become a god, and he was willing to destroy everything to make it happen.

“This is madness,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “How do we stop him?”

Torin looked at her for a long moment before speaking. “There’s only one way to stop him. You’ll need to find the artifact before he does. Destroy it. But you must be careful. Even in searching for it, you risk awakening the very power you’re trying to stop.”

Elara felt the weight of the task pressing down on her. She was no longer just fighting for her kingdom—she was fighting for the survival of the world. And the only way to win was to destroy a power she didn’t fully understand.

“How do we find it?” Kael asked, his tone grim but steady.

Torin turned away from them, walking deeper into the cave. “Follow me. There’s something you need to see.”

Elara and Kael exchanged a glance before following Torin into the darkness. The air grew colder as they descended deeper into the mountain, the torchlight flickering against the rough stone walls. The path wound downward, twisting and turning until they reached a large chamber hidden deep within the earth.

At the center of the chamber stood a pedestal, and resting upon it was an ancient book, its pages yellowed with age, the leather cover worn and cracked.

“This,” Torin said, his voice low, “is the key to finding the artifact. It’s a map—though not in any form you’d recognize. The markings on these pages will lead you to where it’s hidden, but deciphering them will be no easy task.”

Elara stepped forward, her eyes drawn to the book. It seemed to pulse with a strange energy, as though the very air around it was alive. She reached out, her fingers hovering just above the cover.

“Be careful,” Torin warned. “That book contains more than just directions. It’s been touched by the artifact’s power. Use it sparingly, or it will consume you.”

Elara withdrew her hand, her mind racing. This was it. The key to stopping her father. But the risks were greater than she had ever imagined.

Kael spoke up, his voice tight with concern. “And if we destroy the artifact? What then?”

Torin looked at him, his expression unreadable. “Then you will have saved the world. But the cost will be great.”

Elara swallowed hard, her resolve hardening. She had no choice. Her father had to be stopped, no matter the cost.

“We’ll do it,” she said, her voice steady. “We’ll find the artifact, and we’ll destroy it.”

Torin nodded, stepping aside to allow her to take the book. “Good luck, Elara. You’re going to need it.”

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