𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍 || 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

Chapter LV: Wrenlark Vangeance

Bonds of Dawn Pt. 2

IT HAD BEEN SIX WEEKS since Solene had left William and the Golden Dawn. Cool mist was forming on her window, making the sun’s light soothingly seep towards her skin. The mana engulfing the Mistwood Forest was peaceful as usual, but there was a feeling of unease.

Solene opened her eyes, seeing her surroundings spin that it made her head dizzy. There was a strange feeling building up on her stomach, having the urge to run to the bathroom and throw up. She clutched her belly, her bump still new and unevident. She was already six weeks pregnant, and this stage would only get worse.

Ignoring the morning sickness, Solene gathered up all her strength to go outside. She could see Langris already awake, reading his grimoire on a large tree branch. She was about to call him when several roof tiles and a wooden plank fell from the cottage, gathering her attention. Her forehead creased as she walked closer to inspect the damage.

How odd, she thought. How did they fall off if I don’t see any problem with the cottage?

She shrugged this thought off and went inside to get her toolbox. Her mind was cool and at ease albeit Langris was doing nothing to help her. She did not mind it. She preferred to work on collateral anyway, because making Langris do it would only bring disaster.

However, she kept dropping her tools while attaching the wooden plank to the outer wall of the cottage and the roof tiles. The wind blowing was cold to her skin as she climbed the ladder to work, so she opened her palm to heat herself up using her flames. But then, her flame magic flickered unpredictably, as if it was running out of mana.

Must be from stress… it’s making my mana low.

She heard Langris clear his throat behind her, his book closed yet he was still sitting on the tree branch. His eyes were narrowed, examining her.

“You’re shaking.” He pointed out.

Solene acted as if she was getting chills. “Cold morning.”

“It’s noon.”

“...Cold noon.”

Langris didn’t say anything afterwards, but continued to gaze at her. She felt uncomfortable, turning around to busy herself with repairing the cottage. She hadn't told him about the baby yet, and she wasn’t planning on revealing it to him until she was ready. It was too early.

“You’re doing it wrong,” he said, after a while.

“Then help,” Solene responded, rolling her eyes.

He crossed his arms. “I said you’re doing it wrong, not that I want to fix it.”

She groaned in annoyance. He kept complaining and complaining even as she worked, yet he refused to leave her alone.

She was not aware of her skin getting paler by the second. She felt as if her energy was getting drained out of her, but she pretended to be fine.

Langris however, couldn’t help but notice it.

The next day, she was hanging up her laundry in the sunlit sky. She was more lightheaded than ever, and her limbs felt flaccid as if her bones were torn out and only her skin remained. What was odder to her however, was that the walls of the cottage showed signs of cracking even though it did not shake at all. She looked up at the sky, checking if the Mist she had set was still intact.

Her mouth fell slightly when she saw that it was also flickering, the same as her flame magic.

Could they be connected?