Echoes of Valor: A Love Remembered

CHAPTER 15

The air crackled with tension as Alesandrea, Terry, and Matthias stood before the imposing figure of Master Wellington. The decrepit castle walls loomed around them, casting long shadows in the flickering torchlight.

Wellington's cold eyes bore into them, a cruel smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "So, the little band of heroes has finally arrived. How... quaint."

"Your reign of terror ends here, Wellington," Terry growled, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

The old man threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "Oh, you naive boy. You think you can stop me? I've been orchestrating this for decades." Matthias stepped forward, his fists clenched. "You underestimate us. We're not just here to play your games."

Wellington tilted his head, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Games? These are not games, boy. This is survival."

Alesandrea stepped forward, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. "We know what you've done. The lives you've destroyed, the chaos you've sown. It's over."

Wellington's gaze snapped to her, his eyes narrowing. "Ah, the spirited little warrior. I see why my nephew was so... taken with you."

"Don't you dare speak of that scum," Alesandrea spat, her hands clenching into fists. Wellington's smirk widened, revealing the jagged edges of his malice. "But he was so fond of you, the little dove caught in the cruel world of predators."

"Such fire," Wellington mused, circling them slowly. "It's a shame, really. You could have been useful allies if you weren't so stubbornly righteous."

Matthias spoke up, his voice calm but laced with steel. "We're not here to negotiate, Wellington. We're here to end this." Wellington halted and turned to Matthias, his expression shifting to one of mock contemplation. "End this? Do you think you can possibly conceive of what lies ahead? You'd be wise to reconsider your options.""I don't need your advice," Matthias shot back, stepping closer. "You've twisted enough lives without playing the mentor."

Wellington chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "Bravado, young man. But the path you tread invites calamity. Think of the chaos that lies outside these walls—a mere fraction of the storm I've unleashed."

"Enough!" Terry's voice thunder ed, slicing through Wellington's chilling laughter.

Alesandrea turned to Terry, whose face was a mask of determination. "We've come too far to turn back now. What's your plan, Terry?"

Terry met her gaze, a flicker of resolve igniting in his eyes. "We take the fight to him. We strike hard, strike first."

Alesandrea nodded, adrenaline pooling in her veins. "Then we aim for his weakness. He's arrogant, that much we've learned. We need to outsmart him."

Wellington's laughter echoed again, filling the chamber with a cold, cruel mirth. "You think you can outsmart me? This castle is mine; every shadow knows my command. You are but intruders in your own right."

Alesandrea squared her shoulders, ready to dismiss his taunts. "Every ruler falls eventually. We will end this."

"End this?" Wellington chuckled darkly. "Oh, my dear, this is just the beginning."

With a flick of his wrist, A blast of energy sent Alesandrea flying backward. She hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from her lungs.

"Reya!" Terry's voice cut through the chaos. He was at her side in an instant, helping her to her feet. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Alesandrea gasped, shaking off the disorientation. "We can't let him distract us."

Terry studied her, concern etched in his features. "Don't push yourself if you're not ready," he warned, scanning the room for any further signs of Wellington's treachery.