Chapter 415: Learn about your origin
Gabriel stared at the message from Aurevalis under the flicker of the table lamp. His other hand rested above Amelie’s head, who was sleeping peacefully.
’Why am I feeling the urge to go to Aurevalis? Though I don’t want to, a part of my heart says I should go there,’ Gabriel thought. The letter had only a few words written, another reason why Gabriel was reluctant to make the journey.
’Something is missing, which I’m unable to detect or understand.’
’You should go,’ Valko told him. ’Noah and Amelie are safe in the palace. Now, even Mom isn’t against them or your choices. We can’t stay here and get troubled over this every day.’
’What if it’s a trap?’ Gabriel argued back.
’Since when did we start worrying about traps? We always find a way to get out of them,’ Valko said proudly.
’It’s different now. I don’t want my life to fall into danger because that would bring distress to Amelie. That’s my main reason for holding back.’
Valko fell silent, unable to argue. Gabriel’s words carried the truth.
Gabriel quietly slipped out of bed and walked across the dimly lit chamber in search of a candle. Once he found one, he lit it and set it on the table.
It was an old method, one used in ancient times, to reveal hidden writing. Taking the letter in hand, Gabriel carefully held it closer to the flame. As the heat touched the letter, faint lines began to emerge, and his eyes widened when the concealed message slowly surfaced before him.
"Gabriel Sinclair. If you want to learn about your origin, come to Aurevalis, the ancient city where the first werewolf appeared. The more you delay it, the more time you’ll give to the witch who cursed you to grow stronger."
Gabriel pulled the letter away from the flame and blew out the candle.
"My origin?" he murmured under his breath, eyes flickering with unease.
Just then, a faint cry echoed through the room. Noah.
Without wasting a second, Gabriel strode back into the bedroom. Amelie was already awake, gently rocking the baby in her arms.
"Noah’s hungry," she whispered softly, her voice heavy with sleep.
Gabriel picked up the bottle of pumped milk from the nearby shelf and handed it to her. "I can make him sleep. You should—"
"It’s fine," Amelie interrupted gently. "You don’t need to trouble yourself all the time."
She guided the bottle to Noah’s lips, watching as he began to drink eagerly. "You weren’t in the room. What happened?" Amelie’s head tilted toward him, her eyes searching his face. "What’s been bothering you?"
"I have to go to Aurevalis," Gabriel replied, settling beside her.
"What? So suddenly?" she asked, surprise threading her voice.
"Hmm," he murmured, staring ahead. "But I’ll go after the ceremony. The message wasn’t just a single sentence, but there was much more hidden, which I’ve only just uncovered. I’ve been telling myself not to go to Aurevalis, but a part of me... wants to."
"Then go," Amelie said softly, placing a reassuring hand over his. "Don’t hold yourself back just for the sake of Noah and me. We have so many people here to protect us. Besides, I can protect us well, you know this."
She gave him a small, confident smile.
"I know." Gabriel gently covered her hand with his, his touch firm yet tender.
"So... what did you find out?" Amelie asked, leaning closer.
Gabriel recited the exact words from the letter. When he finished, Amelie’s brows furrowed slightly. "That means... Someone there knows your past," she murmured with concern.
"Yes," he confirmed. "And I can’t ignore this feeling inside me. It’s like my heart is pulling me toward Aurevalis. But Amelie... promise me something." He looked deeply into her eyes. "No matter what happens, you won’t do anything that could put your life in danger, even if I end up trapped there. I may not think it will happen... but I have to prepare for the worst."
Amelie’s gaze softened. She clasped his hand tighter and spoke with determination, "We’ll deal with that when the time comes. For now... you focus on finding the answers. You always find a way."
Gabriel gave her a small, grateful nod. He rested his head gently against her shoulder, his gaze fixed on Noah, who was still contentedly drinking his milk.
"Noah is taking all your attention these days," he murmured with a faint smile. "And I can’t even be jealous... of my own son."
Amelie chuckled softly at his words. Noah, pulling the bottle away, let out a small squeal and wriggled his tiny hands, his lips curling into a gentle smile as if sensing the warmth around him.
"Is he happy about having you all to himself?" Gabriel murmured with affection. Without another word, he gently lifted Noah into his arms, cradling him close against his chest.
Leaning down, he pressed tender kisses along the baby’s soft cheeks, each kiss drawing a gentle giggle from Amelie and a delighted gurgle from Noah. Time seemed to slow as they lingered in that warm moment, until eventually, Noah’s eyelids grew heavy and he drifted into peaceful sleep.
Carefully, Gabriel laid him into the cradle and gave it a gentle sway for a few seconds, watching over him protectively.
Then, with a sigh, he returned to the bed where Amelie lay waiting.
Sliding the letter into the drawer, he switched off the lamp, plunging the room into a soft darkness. Drawing her close, he wrapped Amelie in his arms.
Shutting his eyes, he drifted off to sleep finally.
~~~~
Ophelia’s eyes narrowed as she stared intently at the magical orb. The mist within shifted unnaturally, revealing a scene that made her frown deepen. Gabriel laughing softly beside Amelie, a baby cradled tenderly in their arms.
"What is this?" she hissed under her breath. "They have a child... How dare they be happy?" Her fingers curled into fists, knuckles whitening with fury.
A dangerous resolve hardened in her eyes. "I must find a way to get close to them. But that meddling witch... I’ll have to eliminate her first, if she’s to stand in my way of protecting them."