The Beginning After The End Chapter 522: Irreversible

Chapter 522: Irreversible

ELEANOR LEYWIN

“I need you here,” Arthur had told me. “I’ve made some strides here, especially with the younger asuras.” But what was I supposed to achieve? “You’re going to have to continue what I started. You two now represent every human, elf, dwarf, and Alacryan on that world.”

No pressure at all, right?

My brother’s request had been echoing in my mind for hours since his departure. The weight of it was stifling. It wasn't just his orders; simply being within Lord Indrath’s fortress in Epheotus was taxing. Every raised voice carried a sharp intent that hit me like a physical blow, making my stomach churn.

I had sought refuge in an upper-floor solarium, a room with balconies offering views in two directions. Mom, however, was practically inseparable from Elder Myre. She seemed fueled by a frantic energy despite the circumstances. Perhaps it was the proximity to dragons and their mastery over aether, or the knowledge that Lord Indrath had sent Arthur to confront Agrona alone. Maybe she felt the same crushing weight I did, but instead of hiding, Mom was taking her role as the mother of “Great Lord” Arthur Leywin very seriously.

Her healing arts utilizing aether certainly helped. To the dragons, this reinforced her status as an “archon,” and she was incredibly motivated to discover how aether influenced her restorative powers. Even asuras were sustaining wounds and suffering from will strain as they battled the rift, and the castle wasn't about to turn away a capable healer.

I squeezed my eyes shut as the sound of distant earth shattering reached me, followed by a wave of frantic, flickering mana signatures. I wondered where her sudden vitality came from. I felt completely hollow. Drained.

I hope Arthur gets back soon. We shouldn’t be here.

“Do you think Tani would let us leave the castle?” I muttered to Boo. My dragon guardian was currently stationed just outside in the corridor.

Lying in a patch of sunlight, Boo let out a low rumble and shook his head. Deep down, I knew he was right.

At the very least, the balconies provided a staggering view of the sky wound, a sight that served as a constant reminder of our impending doom.

“What am I supposed to do?” I whispered to myself, once again recalling Arthur’s instructions.

I had allies here, at least. I’d likely earned some measure of respect from the asuras who joined us on the ritual hunt, like Vireah and Naesia. But would they actually follow my lead? What was I even supposed to tell them? My thoughts circled back to Arthur’s words, but it was a different memory that surfaced.

“Until Arthur claims one of these women as his wife, none of them will spare a glance for any other man.”

My eyebrows shot up as the implication hit me. Was this what Arthur intended? For me to secure some kind of political union? I rubbed my face with both hands. “He can’t marry some asuran princess though. He’s got Tessia,” I muttered. A scowl tightened my expression. “After everything they’ve gone through, this world owes them some peace.”

I tugged at my hair, frustrated. Was I the one expected to unite our clan with another? The idea made me feel sick. I had never even had a boyfriend... and Arthur had always been strictly protective against any romance in my life—not that a political arrangement counted as romantic. Regardless, I doubted this was his plan.

Boo grunted and fixed his dark eyes on me. I slumped down beside him, leaning against his warm fur and scratching his back. He seemed remarkably unphased by the surrounding chaos. I felt a pang of envy for his calm, indifferent demeanor.

“But what if the lesson is that people rarely get the ending they want,” I said, looking at Boo. He rested his chin on a paw, eyeing me. “What about you, Boo? If you were a prince of Clan Leywin, would you be willing to marry some lady bear in order to forge an alliance between us and another, stronger clan?”

He huffed and turned away, closing his eyes in sheer annoyance.

I let out a slightly manic chuckle. “Some team player you are.”

He grunted again, making me wince. “You know what I mean.”

His body vibrated against me. I pressed into his soft side and closed my eyes, trying to quiet my racing mind for just a few moments.

One particular mana signature among the many in the castle caught my attention as it moved toward my room with intent. I heard muffled voices in the hallway before Tani peeked inside while the other asura marched away.

“Apologies, Lady Eleanor,” the green-haired dragon said with a strained smile. “You’ve been summoned.”

“Summoned?” I echoed blankly.

She simply nodded and stood waiting.

Boo stood up and nudged me. “All right, all right,” I grumbled, using his thick fur to pull myself up. “Did the messenger say what this is about?”

The guard shook her head politely. “Several heirs are being assembled, but that is the extent of my knowledge.” She lowered her voice as she looked around. “I suspect it is a measure to ensure your safety.”

“Okay, lead the way then,” I said, pointing toward the exit.

She smiled, nodded, and turned, leading me quickly through the corridors.

We traveled through opulent halls, passing grand suites, libraries, and rooms with purposes I couldn't fathom, as we descended into the castle's lower levels. It felt ghostly; we encountered few guards or servants, even though I could feel the heavy presence of the castle's powerful residents.

At the base of a spiral staircase, a young asura with messy blue-black hair and olive-toned skin blocked our path while speaking to an Indrath guard. “I should be with my father, not bolted away in some bunker. This isn’t how the Grandus clan faces death.”

“Please, Lord Raedan, I—” The guard noticed Tani and me. He cleared his throat and stepped into the adjoining hallway. “These orders come not just from Lady Myre Indrath, but from your uncle as well. The great lords were insistent.”

The titan moved aside, his face making it clear he wasn't finished protesting. Tani led me past him, exchanging a nod with the other guard, who looked exasperated. Boo let out a low, warning growl as we passed, and I felt the titan’s eyes on us. The young noble eventually gave up and followed behind us with his guard.

I walked with nervous steps. Boo let out a comforting hum, staying close to my side, occasionally bumping into the walls and knocking decorations out of place.

Clearing my throat, I asked, “So, what’s going on?”

“Just a precaution,” the other guard answered stiffly from behind.

“He means we are being sequestered as designated survivors should the worst come to pass,” the titan grunted.

“The great lords have arranged for your absolute protection,” the guard repeated. “This is Lord Indrath’s own safe haven, reserved for you and the other heirs. Almost everyone else is being deployed to stabilize the land and the rift, Lady Eleanor. It is both a great honor and necessity…”

Raedan dismissed the guard's explanation with a wave. Silence followed until we reached our destination.

Tani guided us into the castle’s core. The corridors turned into rough tunnels carved directly from the mountain stone. She stopped at a magnificent charwood door, decorated with silver and gold patterns that pulsed with magic.

When she touched the iron handles, a spark flew, and the surge of mana was breathtaking. The door swung open smoothly, releasing a draft of warm air, the sound of voices, and the aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread. She signaled for us to enter.

Boo wandered in, sniffing for the source of the food, but I turned back to my guard. “Will my mom be joining us here?”

Tani shrugged gracefully. “I believe she’s still with Lady Myre. I cannot speak for the Lady, but I expect your mother will be sent along soon enough.”

I suppressed the urge to complain. She was likely safer with Elder Myre than anywhere else.

With a small bow and a wave, I followed Boo into the room.

“Eleanor!”

Riven of Clan Kothan stood up from a spot near a multicolored fire. He was among several people already inside, all of whom turned to look at me and the titan. “So you’ve been imprisoned as well, then?” His tone was light, but there was a sharp edge to it.

The titan, entering right behind me, spoke first. “My requests to help my clan preserve our homeland have been ignored.” He glared at the guards as they closed the door.

“Apparently we’re waiting for several more,” a phoenix I didn't recognize remarked. “We’re going to be placed in some kind of extradimensional space. Even if Epheotus were to crash into the old world, those inside will survive unscathed.”

“Yeah, but what about the rest of our clan? Our parents?” Romii, Riven’s sister, asked with frustration.

I bit my lip, thinking of Mom and then Arthur. If things were this frightening here, what was he facing?

Boo nudged me supportively with his head.

The titan was staring at me as if I were crazy, and I realized I was gaping at the floor with an unasked question on my tongue. I shut my mouth and surveyed the room.

Vireah, Naesia, and Zelyna were present, along with other clan members. They were gathered in a semi-circle of lounges and couches around the fire. Tables were laden with refreshments. A woodsy-looking hamadryad stood apart, sipping from a wooden mug and staying out of the conversation.

The chamber was a mix of a natural cave and a luxurious lounge. The walls were like polished obsidian, gleaming with natural facets. Unlike the rest of the castle, there were no wall decorations, but four golden statues of dragons in humanoid forms stood in the corners. With my vision enhanced by Boo’s will, I read a plaque on the nearest statue, identifying her as a hero from the wraith wars, before Epheotus even existed.

It was hard to fathom.

“Come on, El. Sit down and make yourself comfortable. You too, Raedan. We might be here for a while.” Riven sat back down, jumping over the couch and bumping his sister, who punched his arm.

The titan grunted and chose a stiff chair slightly away from the group.

Boo nudged me again. I chuckled, grabbed a piece of juicy meat for him, and took a green-swirled roll for myself just to have something to do. I had no idea how to act around these beings. Vireah patted the seat next to her, and I sat down. She hugged me like a sister, her aura making me feel safe and small.

Riven and Romii sat together opposite me. Naesia sat in a plush seat nearby. Zelyna paced between the golden statues on the far side of the room.

Boo pushed into the circle and lay in front of the fire, nearly blocking it. Vireah and Naesia shared a soft laugh, though their humor didn't hide their underlying stress. Boo watched everyone cautiously, his ears twitching.

“He is an impressive guardian beast,” Raedan remarked suddenly. The titan threw a piece of meat, which Boo caught. “A bit on the small side, but he is still young. Your connection is strong. This…surprises me.”

My eyebrows went up. “You can sense our…connection?”

He let out a grunt similar to Boo's. “I am Raedan, son of Rockford and nephew of Radix, of Clan Grandus. I have trained beasts such as your Boo for half a century.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip and took a bite of my roll, unsure of what else to say.

“Eleanor, I don’t think you’ve met Eithne of the Grenriver clan?” Vireah introduced the quiet hamadryad.

I knew hamadryads were rare among asura and seldom had children. Since there were no young Mapellia members, this hamadryad was likely their closest heir.

Eithne nodded politely but remained silent.

More introductions followed, some from the hunting party and others I recognized from my studies of the court.

“This is so embarrassing,” Romii whispered to Riven. “We are treated like glass while everyone else we know sacrifices themselves to hold the line.”

“We are doing our duty as beautiful figureheads, dear sister,” Riven joked, though his eyes remained serious.

I fidgeted with my roll, nibbling on it nervously.

“I hate being trapped like this,” Naesia told Vireah. “I swear, my wings are aching to burst out and fly me free of this castle.”

“At least you understand why you’re here,” Vireah whispered. Even with my senses, I had to strain to hear. “What I thought was an apprenticeship turned out to be training for a marriage proposal to a man I’d never met.” She glanced at me and turned pale. “No offense, of course, Ellie. It would be a great honor to—”

I waved it off, not knowing how to reply.

The phoenix from earlier overheard. “It’s a shame an alliance of marriage couldn’t have been worked out earlier. The Avignis clan would have really benefited from this alliance.” She smirked. “And if Naesia wasn’t interested, I’d have been glad to show the new great lord my charms…”

I felt I should say something, but the words wouldn't come. I picked at the couch cushion and felt a rising pressure in my chest. Panic began to bubble up as the conversation blurred into a dull buzz.

I’m sorry, Arthur, I thought desperately. I don’t think I can do it, I’m going to—

A surge of warm energy from Boo washed over me, and the panic receded. I looked into his dark eyes and took a breath. Thanks, big guy…

The door opened, and two pale, wispy-haired sylphs floated in. They were Eolia and Boreas of the Aerind clan, though their specific lineage was unclear to me. They were identical, with sky-blue eyes that drifted toward the food. Without a word, they grabbed some berries and began eating with needle-sharp teeth.

“Nice to meet you,” I said after the introductions.

They just stared and chewed. Neither replied.

Riven laughed and put an arm around each of them. “Eolia, Boreas. Incredible to see you. Don’t mind these two, Ellie. The sylphs rarely come down from their clouds, and even when they do, their heads remain firmly within them.”

A gust of wind blew through the room as the twins dodged the basilisk’s touch. “We will all live in the clouds before this is over,” they said in unison.

“Well. I guess as long as we live at all…” My joke fell flat. I gave them an awkward smile and looked at Boo for support. He just shook his head. “I just mean, well, right now is a scary time for everyone.”

Raedan grunted. “Which is why we should be anywhere but stuck in here. No offense, Lady Leywin, but I find that I have little patience for chatter when the fate of my clan—my entire race—hangs in the balance.”

“She knows, Raedan,” Naesia defended me. “You know it's her brother who was sent down to the old world to deal with Agrona. We all want to be helping, but we’re all here doing what we’re told. That’s a part of our duty, isn’t it?”

Raedan gave a noncommittal grunt, while Riven offered an eager, “Here, here!”

Vireah spoke next. “My mother told me that parts of Epheotus are already falling into the old world. Our home is crumbling, and in doing so, it is destroying hers.” She squeezed my hand. “Maybe a little chatter is exactly what we need to calm our nerves.”

Raedan snorted. “Fine then. We know almost nothing of the archons outside of Castle Indrath. Tell us about this Arthur Leywin then.”

I hesitated, caught off guard. “Not much to tell…” I trailed off, biting my tongue.