A Good Man Awakens

Chapter 26: Life on the Farm Ends

The morning light was soft, casting a golden hue across the fields as I rose early, far before anyone else had stirred. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on my mind—saving Reece, Sophia's piercing gaze after she had seen me use magic, and the lingering dread that followed. It was too much.

I needed to clear my head, to think. I grabbed my cloak and slipped outside, the cool air biting at my skin, but I welcomed it. It was a relief to escape the tension that had been building in the house, especially with Reece's constant glares and Sophia's unspoken questions.

The sky was clear, a gift after the storm that had ravaged the farm. The land was still soaked, waterlogged in places, but the world around me felt calm for the first time in what seemed like ages. I walked aimlessly for a while, my boots squelching in the wet ground as I headed toward a small patch of woods on the far side of the farm. The trees stood tall, their leaves shimmering with droplets of rain, and I found a quiet spot near a cluster of rocks where I could sit and breathe.

As I settled down, I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. I focused on my breathing, slowing it, letting the world fade away as I entered a state of meditation. I needed to figure out what to do next. I couldn't stay here—not with the Arcana's constant threat looming over me and the lives of those I had grown to care for. But leaving those I cared for, undefended felt just a s wrong.

My thoughts drifted to Sophia, to the look she had given me after the flood. She knew. There was no hiding it anymore. She had seen me use magic. What was worse, I had felt that familiar pull—the darkness in the magic I had tapped into. It wasn't the pure, controlled power of the Faye realm, but something raw and dangerous.

Then there was Ged, the family's steadfast rock, and Ros with her kindness. What would they do if they knew? Could I risk staying and endangering them further? My heart told me to stay, but my mind knew better. Leaving was the only option.

Resolute, I opened my eyes, steeling myself for the decision I would have to make. I will tell Ged later today. He needed to know, and then I would leave. I couldn't risk their safety any longer.

The walk back to the farm was slower, more deliberate. As I approached the farmhouse, a creeping unease settled over me. Something wasn't right. I quickened my pace, dread filling my chest as I neared the barn. Voices—harsh, angry voices—carried through the air. I ducked behind one of the wooden beams and peered around the corner.

THe Veilgaurd, enforcers.. But not just any enforcers, Greyden was there, standing over Ged as three of his lackeys stood guard mounted on their horses.. The enforcers wore thick, weather-beaten cloaks of black, which billowed out behind them in the gusting wind. They looked as if they belonged to some sinister legion of shadows, their faces grim and set like stone. Greydan, a tall, broad man with a scar cutting across his brow, had an air of cruelty that made my skin crawl. His eyes gleamed with malice, and I could see the twisted satisfaction in them as he stared down at Ged.

Ged was on his knees, his hands tied roughly behind his back, his face bloodied from a brutal beating. Blood dripped slowly from a gash on his cheek, staining the ground below him. Even in his pain, though, he refused to break. The old man's eyes held a fire of defiance as he glared up at Greydan.

"Where's the boy?" the leader snarled, his voice dripping with venom. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, fingers twitching as if eager for blood. "We know you're hiding something. That was no normal accident, old man."

"I've told you everything!" Ged barked, spitting blood onto the dirt. "I had nothing to do with it! I paid my due and your men left. That's the truth!"

"Liar!" The Greydan's voice was like a whip crack, and with brutal speed, he lashed out with his boot, kicking Ged hard in the side. Ged grunted, the force of the blow sending him sprawling into the mud, but he didn't cry out. His chest heaved with labored breaths, but his eyes still burned with that same fire.