Chapter 211 - 211
The next morning came faster than expected for the warriors.
Thessara stood still, eyes on the sky, jaw locked in a tight fix as though she were having a moment with the goddess.
One of the guards nudged another, motioning towards the woman. "What has happened?" He asked.
The guard glanced at the woman who seemed to be in deep thought and shrugged, "Who knows? It isn't our concern; we just need to prepare for the day." He replied.
Thessara, on the other hand, had her eyes shut tight, her energy filling the forest, feeling and hearing, waiting for it. Her eyes snapped open suddenly, and her energy cut short from the forest grounds.
This was it.
She turned to the warriors who were still watching her. "Where is his majesty and the queen?" She asked.
The warriors exchanged glances before one of them pointed toward the deeper end of the camp. "The king is by the eastern ridge, my lady. The queen is with him."
Thessara wasted no time. She hurried off to them.
Thorne and Adina were just stepping out of the tent when she came across them. Adina's eyes widened slightly seeing Thessara's panicked look.
"Thessara? What has happened?" She asked, slightly alarmed, eyes flicking behind, scanning the area.
"Nothing, come on in," Thessara replied, grabbing Adina's hand and pulling her back into the tent.
"Thessara? What is the problem?" Thorne asked. Thessara's chest heaved as she stared at the two of them.
"I have a lead," she blurted out.
Thorne's brows furrowed. "Explain."
"There's a disturbance," she began. "At dawn, I connect my energy to the sky and feel before I start my day. Today, it was different. There was a disturbance."
Thorne straightened. "What kind of disturbance?"
Thessara hesitated briefly before answering. "A connection."
Adina frowned slightly. "Connection?"
"The underworld," Thessara's expression darkened. "I felt it strongly just now. Somewhere deeper within this forest." She paused. "And it's growing fast."
"The full moon rises tonight," Thessara continued. "If my instincts are correct, Carter intends to perform the ascension tonight."
Adina's breath caught softly. He has the core complete with him now, tonight was the full moon, and that meant he could do what he's been after all this while.
"Khaos," she whispered.
Thessara nodded, "If I can feel the energy this strongly, that means Carter and his beasts are closer than we thought. This may be our only chance to stop him before it is too late."
Thorne's jaw clenched hard. Last night before Adina's arrival, he had gotten a whiff that Carter's hideout wasn't far off anymore. Tonight, they were going to storm there and take his daughter back. But this changes everything.
"Get Caelum and the head warrior," he informed a guard who was outside the tent.
In minutes, the tent was filled with all of them. A map spread out in their midst, Thorne's figure over a spot. "Here is their base."
"For months, we've spent so much time searching for Carter's base. Where he is while he commits these crimes. This is the place. It's hidden in the deepest parts of the forest, and at first, one would think it's nothing but just forest garbage. But it's not. Those chose that place carefully so as not to be seen with naked eyes. This is the only place they can be while also preparing to be out here in the woods for Khaos Ascension."
Caelum's eyes scanned the map, and he couldn't believe his eyes. How had they missed this place so far? Months, they've spent searching and searching for this beast just for him to be right under their nose.
"Shall we storm the place now, Ky king and retrieve the princess?" Caelum asked.
Thorne shook his head. "No, not yet. We need time. During the day, we do nothing. As soon as the clouds turn dark, we move."
"Tonight the full moon is at its peak. Carter and whoever he is with—"
"Alma-" Adina interjected quickly, all eyes on her immediately.
"The person with him, her name is Alma the witch," she said, remembering the woman from her days of being kidnapped.
Thorne nodded, "Carter and Alma the witch will try to awaken Khaos tonight. That is when we attack. We have to be extremely cautious and smart. We can't afford any mistakes. We must be vigilant and careful."
All of them nodded.
"We will be split into two groups. One group will head to their hideout once the time is set. If the princess is kept there, your duty is to retrieve her immediately and round them up. The second group will head to the grounds where Khaos reawakening will take place."
Mason folded his arms tightly across his chest. "And if the ascension begins before we reach them?"
"Then we stop it before it completes," Thorne replied coldly. "At all costs."
Thessara's expression darkened further. "If Khaos fully awakens…" she trailed off, swallowing hard. "Then this realm will not survive another war."
Adina's fingers curled tightly by her side. Her mind kept drifting back to Virelle. Was she crying right now? Was she scared? Hungry? Alone?
The thought nearly broke her.
Thorne noticed the shift in her expression instantly. He could read her thoughts. His jaw tightened briefly before he looked away again.
"We move as soon as night falls," he said firmly. "Everyone should prepare themselves now. Rest while you can. Sharpen your weapons. Tonight decides everything."
One by one, the warriors nodded before exiting the tent.
Soon only Thorne, Adina, and Thessara remained behind.
Thessara glanced between them awkwardly before sighing. "I'll prepare protection herbs for the warriors." She paused. "If Khaos truly begins crossing over tonight, dark energy will spread quickly."
Without waiting for a response, she stepped out.
Adina shifted slightly, watching Thorne carefully. Since last night, things between them had changed, but not fully healed.
"It's the full moon tonight," she began slowly. Thorne raised a brow as he moved around the tent.
"That was stated," he replied.
Adina watched him for some seconds more then sighed. "It's the full moon tonight, Thorne. You know what that entails."
At this, he paused, turning to face her. "There's no curse anymore. I found a sage and bore an heir. My curse has been lifted."
Adina stared at him for some seconds then nodded. It made sense. He was only cursed until he found a sage to lift the curse. Although she hadn't done that yet, she'd like to believe him having her as a mate and also Virelle as his daughter made the curse void.
She inhaled deeply and nodded. "Okay. Until tonight then." She moved to leave the tent but Thorne stopped her in his steps. She turned to face him, eyes blank.
Thorne hesitated, "We will find her tonight. We'll have her back in our arms. Virelle." He said.
For a second, neither of them said a word but stared at each other.