Ethan's POV
But before I could move, her arms wrapped around my waist and her head rested against my back.
"I'll wait for you above, Brother Ethan," she whispered but her voice was low and tinged with something I couldn't quite place.
I chuckled softly and turned to hug her.
"You're so cute, Virelle. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be back in a minute."
Pecking her lips, I turned around and vanished into the darkness below but my mind continued to race as I analyzed Virelle's behavior. She wasn't easy to fool.
She was most likely testing me if I had been trying to lie about Velcy to her.
But why?
I thought hard on this and soon a conclusion took shape in my mind.
She was most likely with Velcy in the early hours of the evening and if I had lied about going to her room at that hour, she would have suspected my intentions behind this lie and would have concluded that I was trying to hide something.
But why was she so suspicious? Is there something, I didn't know?
I thought hard but couldn't come to a conclusion this time. There was clearly something I was missing, some piece of information that eluded me.
For now, all I could do was tread carefully.
Back to the present....after he woke Velcy up
As I traversed the narrow corridor of my room and stood on the stairway outside I finally finished my recollection of the events from the last night to the morning when a soft pat on my back brought me back to reality.
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I turned to find Velcy standing there, impeccably dressed in a white and black frock that reminded me of the French maid dresses from my previous life.
She blushed as I smiled at her and ruffled her hair. Together we made our way out of the dark well to the castle's upper regions.
We arrived at the huge throne hall, where I could see Virelle waiting for us. I had already unlinked my hand from Velcy's, and we walked in separately.
I saw Virelle standing with her usual indifferent expression and I remembered the discussion we had earlier in the night. It was mostly as to how we should present ourselves to the outside world and not let anyone know about our secret relationship.
"Lady Virelle, always a pleasure to meet you," I said in my formal but warm tone.
"It's been a long time since I last saw you, though for me, it was only a day, given my week-long coma."
"The pleasure is mine, Little Brother Ethan," she replied, her voice equally formal.
"Let's go outside. I believe the Arcane Linguist is already here, and Master will likely arrive soon."
I nodded, and the three of us began walking through the dark corridors of the castle.
The occasional red glow from the morning sun broke through the shadows concealing the corridors of the dark castle. As we walked, I couldn't help but notice the tension between Virelle and Velcy.
Virelle remained indifferent the whole way and didn't even glance at Velcy, while Velcy stayed silent and subdued as she walked with her head down. Her long grey hair concealed her expression but I was not in the mood to pry so much into her thoughts and expressions.
Remembering Virelle's earlier attitude about other women, I felt that what I had feared was slowly coming to pass.
My thoughts were interrupted as we stepped into the bright sunlight and the sudden shift from darkness to light forced me to squint.
I had been living in shadows for so long that I had almost forgotten the warmth of the sun.
As I gazed up at the burning orb in the sky, a profound realization struck me. There could be no darkness without light. Embracing the darkness didn't mean I had to forsake the light as they were two sides of the same coin.
This sudden unexpected epiphany resonated deeply within me though I couldn't yet grasp its full significance.
"Brother Ethan..." Virelle's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to find her looking at me with a mix of amazement and concern.
"Do I have something on my face?" I asked as I tried to lighten the mood.
She blushed slightly but quickly composed herself and quickly glanced around as if remembering we weren't alone.
"Let's go to the castle library. That's where Velcy is being taught every day. You might also find Master there as she often spends her time there."
I nodded, and the three of us made our way toward the two-story black building standing in the middle of the clearing.
As we walked, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. This delicate balance between light and darkness, between Virelle and Velcy, was teetering on the edge.
I could sense the inevitable problem I would have to face was approaching.
And yet, despite the uncertainty clawing at my thoughts, I knew one thing for sure that I couldn't allow anyone, not even Virelle to dictate my actions.
I loved her but in this life, I had vowed to follow my desires and honor the deepest whispers of my soul. My choices were mine alone.
Steeling my resolve, I followed her lead and was filled with determination to walk this path on my own terms.
We arrived at the entrance, and as I stepped inside my breath hitched in my throat at the sight inside. The building's modest exterior had given no indication of the sheer enormity of its interior.
A sprawling and grandiose library stretched as far as my eyes could see as its vastness defied all logic. Towering bookshelves lined the walls which were packed with tomes of every conceivable size and their spines were worn with age and knowledge.
There were winding, spiraling, and even moving staircases that coiled through the air and together formed a complex but intricate network that connected different levels of the massive hall.