Blood

Chapter Forty Five: Monsters in the Mist

The sky above the Elven Kingdom was unlike anything Ethan had ever seen. Its color was a strange gradient, shifting seamlessly between shades of gold, lilac, and a pale turquoise that seemed to shimmer as if alive. The sun wasn’t the burning yellow orb he was used to; instead, it was a silver sphere casting a soft, diffused light across the land, as though the entire sky was wrapped in gossamer clouds. The clouds themselves swirled in intricate patterns, their shapes almost too deliberate to be natural, like they had been painted by an artist’s hand.

  Ethan stared up, momentarily hypnotized. No wonder the elves seem otherworldly, he thought. Even the air felt foreign, crisp and cool with a faint floral scent that he couldn’t quite place. He turned to Eliza, who stood beside him, her silver hair catching the ethereal light.

  “We should talk,” she said, her voice quiet but firm. “Walk with me.”

  Ethan glanced back toward the dining hall where he could faintly hear Gregory’s muffled laughter. “Gregory’s still eating, isn’t he?”

  Eliza gave a small smile. “He seems… enthusiastic. I’m not sure he realized what some of the dishes were made of.”

  Ethan chuckled. “Knowing him, he wouldn’t care.”

  They began walking, the soft grass underfoot springy and cool. The path wound through a lush garden, the flora impossibly vibrant. Flowers with petals that glowed faintly lined the walkway, their colors shifting as if breathing. Trees with twisting trunks stretched skyward, their leaves resembling shards of emerald glass.

  As they walked, Eliza began speaking, her voice steady though tinged with sorrow. “This kingdom wasn’t always mine to rule. My parents were the true leaders—wise, strong, and fiercely protective of our people. They died in battle, defending us from the monsters that threaten our borders.”

  Ethan glanced at her, noting the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

  “They were able to drive the monsters out,” she continued, her gaze fixed ahead. “They created a portal to banish them beyond the edges of our realm. But they never returned. We waited for days, weeks… eventually, we had to accept that they weren’t coming back.”

  Her voice wavered slightly, and she hesitated before continuing. “Now, the monsters have found a way back. I don’t know how or why, but they’ve returned, and their numbers are growing. Whatever they’re after, I can’t let them have it.”

  Ethan stopped walking, turning to face her. “You don’t have to do this alone. You’ve got soldiers. They’re strong. And you—”

  Eliza shook her head, her expression conflicted. “I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked away, her blue eyes clouded. “If my parents couldn’t stop them, how can I?”

  Ethan sighed, his expression softening. “I’d be scared too,” he admitted. “Facing something like that on your own—it’s… a lot.”

  “That’s why I need your help,” she said, her tone turning resolute. “With your powers, and the support of my soldiers, I believe we can banish them again. Maybe for good this time. Help me make this kingdom safer and I'll help you get your world back to how it's supposed to be.”

  Ethan hesitated, running a hand through his hair. He knew this would be dangerous, possibly fatal. But if he refused, what then? He’d survive, sure, but what kind of existence would that be? A lonely, empty life, waiting for the inevitable. He thought of Gregory—immortal, cynical, and apathetic. That wasn’t a future he wanted for himself.

  He nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll help.”

  Eliza’s face lit up with relief, and she reached out, clasping his left hand in both of hers. “Thank you,” she said, her voice full of gratitude. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  She released his hand and straightened. “I’ll have my people gather all the information we have on the monsters and deliver it to you. In the meantime, get some rest. You’ll need your strength.”

  Ethan returned to the dining hall to find Gregory sprawled in his chair, his hands cradling his stomach as he stared up at the ceiling. The table before him was a battlefield of empty plates and discarded utensils.

  “You overdid it, didn’t you?” Ethan asked, crossing his arms.

  Gregory groaned. “It was worth it. You try living on scraps for centuries and see if you don’t go feral when presented with an actual feast. And before you start lecturing me, yes, I ate the dragon tail. Yes, I ate the Griffin eggs. And yes, I regret nothing.”

  Ethan scoffed. “You’ve got no shame.”

  Gregory grinned weakly. “If you were in my shoes, you’d have eaten the table along with the dishes.”

  Rolling his eyes, Ethan said, “Well, enjoy your food coma while you can. We’ve got work to do.”

  Gregory raised an eyebrow. “Work? What kind of work?”

  “Monster hunting,” Ethan replied flatly.

  Gregory sat up so quickly he nearly toppled his chair. “Monster hunting? I know I’ve been looking for a way to die, but getting ripped apart by a horde of monsters? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

  Ethan’s expression hardened. “If I help them with their monster problem, they'll help us with our timeline problem. The timeline problem that you caused.”

"Being torn limb for limb is still a hefty price to pay. Can't you help me fix my mess this one time?"

"What are you so scared of? A few monsters are no match for us. We defeated a gigantic worm. I'm pretty sure we can take down a few normal sized monsters."

  Gregory raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess, if I refuse to help, you’ll tell Eliza these monsters are here because of me and let them give me whatever Elf punishment they want to.”

"Wait... This too is your fault?!"

  Gregory froze, his smirk faltering. “Wait. You didn’t already know? I thought you’d figured it out!”

  Ethan narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

  Gregory hesitated. “You know how I mentioned the rift in time displacing things? Well… I think these monsters are one of those things. There’s no way they could have breached the Elven defenses on their own. Something—or someone—brought them here.”

“More reasons why you're coming with us to the battlefield." Ethan said, walking away.

  Gregory leaned back in his chair, muttering to himself. “I know I shouldn’t have told him that, but I really thought he already knew. Oh well, no worries. It shouldn’t be enough to spoil my plan. Everything will still fall into place.”