The Game Is Far From Over [a Caraval fanfic]

𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊

A month. Tella had a month to find out her daughter's secret, lest meeting her death. She knew she lived a reasonably long and enjoyable life all these years, with Dante, yet selfishness still loomed in her, and she could probably never bear to sacrifice herself for her daughter, Alryn. Besides, she forced herself to think, I don't even know the extent of the secret, and how serious it would affect Alryn. But the bargain in the Vanished Market was one of Tella's greatest regrets, costing her much more than the secret she received in return. Whenever she thought about all this, the deep pang in her heart would return, like an endless black hole in her heart, reminding it how similar the bargain was to the one Paradise made. Her mother. Who she had seen killed right in front of her own eyes, Tella being unable to do anything but watch.

Tella really needed to find out Alryn's secret soon, but she still couldn't bring herself to it. Sighing lightly, she descended the steps of Dante's lavish apartment. Their home. She wanted to get a cup of fresh tea, though she saw Dante's wide grin as if he already knew her intentions. He still looked as legendary as ever, still opting for a shirt that was black as night, always reminding her of the days of Caraval where he was Caraval Master Legend. Sometimes though, Tella still couldn't really believe that Legend had sacrificed his immortality to be with her. She remembered to be grateful for that, for his presence, every day. And now that they had family...she would be eternally thankful.

"Arrogant blackguard," Tella chuckled as she swiftly stepped past him and reached for the teapot. Yet that bastard was too fast for her, and gave a mocking bow, "Would you like to have some tea, sweetheart?" For some reason, he seemed to sense Tella emotions, his gaze turning soft as the words fell from his lips, "What's wrong?"

Tella knew that if she told him about her hesitation to betray Alryn's secret, he would definitely object to it, no matter what. Yet Tella herself was also unsure about the cost of revealing her daughter's secret. Or more specially, weakness. She shuddered slightly as she recalled the older sister of the twin's words.

Your daughter will be born with a very powerful gift. But this child will have one fatal weakness. If you fail to discover your daughter's secret weakness by her seventeenth birthday, or choose not to give it to us, the cost will be your life.

Tella's heart struggled dearly to come with a plan. But it still had to be done. As she met Dante's gaze once more, she spoke, "It's just... Alryn's birthday will be in a month." The debt left unspoken, but he seemed to realise what she meant. His brows creased ever so slightly as he replied softly, "We'll find a way."

Though Tella knew they were both uncertain.