Chapter 16: Journey with the MCs

There was no mistaking it—Rhiandor Sylvannis, the strikingly handsome mixed-blood elf from my story, was standing right in front of me. His vibrant green hair flowed effortlessly, framing his sharp, angular features in a way that seemed almost unreal. Yet, it was his serene smile that softened the edges, giving him an irresistible blend of mystery and warmth. His bright green eyes, vivid and piercing, seemed to carry the essence of nature itself, as though he could see straight into my soul. The main character in my story, was standing right in front of me. How is this possible? My mind spiraling into chaos. 

I gave them my best stoic look, but inside my brain was in full panic mode, trying to dig up details from a story over 1000 years old. I mean, come on, it's been more than a millennium! How am I supposed to remember that when I can't even recall what I had for lunch yesterday?

Think Anya, Think!

I felt the world around me slowly fade to darkness, and a wave of dizziness hit me. My vision blurred, and I struggled to stay upright. I lowered my head, pressing my forehead into my hand, hoping the dizziness would pass.

"Are you okay?" Rhian's voice cut through the fog, filled with concern. Before I could even answer, I felt myself tilting sideways, and he was already there, his arm reaching out to steady me.

"I... I think I need to rest for a bit," I mumbled, still trying to shake off the vertigo. "I'll be fine—just a moment." I quickly excused myself, my legs wobbling as I made my way towards the carriage.

Was there an Anya Ruth Theodoreford in my story? If there was, I definitely would've known the moment I heard my name, right? But nope, nothing. That means... what? I felt my thoughts start to race. I really can't remember if there was an Anya—I'm pretty sure there wasn't. So, does that mean I shouldn't be here? But then why am I here? Maybe I'm not even real—just a glitch in the story!

I tried to focus, pushing the wild theories aside, and decided to recall the ending. Wait a minute... I realized with a jolt that I lost consciousness while writing the story! and the next thing I know, I'm reincarnated. Just like that. One moment, I'm fading out, and the next, I'm in a completely new reality. How did I even get here?

I tried thinking back to the beginning—what exactly happened? The details are all blurry, but I can still remember some of the important stuff. Like how Rhiandor Sylvannis was a prince of the Northern Kingdom. His dad was hated by the elves because his mother was a human, which "tainted" their bloodline. Later on, his mother, the princess, was assassinated by his dad's family, his father went home to confront them, leaving Rhian all alone. His mom's family, being the lovely bunch they were, sold him into slavery to grab the throne. That's how the story started—Rhian was about to be auctioned off when, out of nowhere, he made a contract with the God of Vengeance. The moment he did that, he went absolutely berserk, wiping out nearly everyone in the auction house before collapsing.

Then, this slave named Elliot Barrs saved him. Elliot carried him, unconscious, all the way to the Forest of the Empire, where they hid out. That's where they met Nine, a character who would train Rhian to control the power of the God of Vengeance and teach him Dragon Qi. 

Elliot Barrs had a quiet, magnetic presence—he didn't demand attention; he just had it. His midnight-black hair fell effortlessly, framing a face almost too perfect, but it was his dark brown eyes that really drew you in. Piercing and full of depth, they carried secrets and pain, like someone who had endured far more than most.

His story was just as heavy. Born into a family of water mages on the Eastern continent, he lacked the aptitude for water magic and was relentlessly bullied for it. Worse, his earth magic—common and unimpressive in the East—made him an outcast in his own family. To get rid of him, an elder sent him to the Western continent under the guise of "helping" him develop his magic. Instead, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Now, Tafi, the boy practically oozes charm with those soft, rosy cheeks that scream innocence and mischief all at once. His fuzzy tiger-like ears, perfectly matching his fiery orange hair, are almost too cute to handle. Pair that with his curious, gentle gaze, and you've got yourself a walking bundle of "aww.", this tiger beastfolk... doesn't ring any bells. His name wasn't in the story. Weird. Who else were the main characters again? Ugh, the headache was real as I racked my brain, trying to piece it all together. knock knock—my train of thought derailed.

Elliot knocked on the door of the carriage, balancing a pile of rabbit meat and firewood in his arms. Rhian followed, looking like he'd chopped down half the forest with the way he was lugging a huge bundle of wood. Tafi was last, proudly carrying a basket overflowing with fruits and mushrooms, looking like he'd just raided a forest grocery store.

"Got some food," Elliot said, setting down the rabbit and firewood. Rhian let out a grunt as he dropped the pile of wood in the corner. 

"Nice work," I said, doing my best to sound casual, though I could feel the tension in my shoulders. I was still stuck in my own head, trying to figure out how I'd ended up in this mess. The truth? I was totally lost in this weird new reality. But I wasn't about to spill that out loud.

Tafi grinned, setting down his basket. "Found some good mushrooms too! We're gonna have the best stew." He patted the basket like it was a treasure chest.

I nodded with a big, exaggerated smile. "Great. We'll be the most well-fed crew in the forest."

Elliot gave me a curious look, his brow furrowing a little. "You okay?" he asked, tilting his head like a worried puppy.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said

Elliot, wasn't convinced. "If you say so," he muttered, but didn't push it further. Tafi just flashed me a big smile, clearly too happy about the mushrooms to notice anything else.

-

Dinner was quiet, with only the soft crackling of the fire filling the air. I poked at my food, lost in my thoughts. The more I tried to make sense of everything, the more I realized: I wasn't supposed to be part of this story. I didn't belong here, not really. I just sort of ended up in this mess, and now I will prioritize myself, and do the very thing I wanted to do after leaving the Dragon seal.

They just needed to figure out their own thing, get stronger, and brace themselves for whatever chaos the world had in store. Me? I didn't have the time or energy for some grand, world-saving adventure. My plan was simple: drop them off with Nine so they could get on with the plot they were clearly meant to follow. That way, they could fulfill their destinies, and I could... well, go do what I was meant to do. Which is... go Home.

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of my family. Even the faintest hope that they might still be alive or just knowing how their lives unfolded after I was gone—what they went through, how they managed—that was all I wanted right now. Just to know, even a little, would be enough.

"I'll be going to the empire," I said

They all looked up at me, and without missing a beat, they spoke in unison. "We'll go."

Elliot, gave me a look that was a mix of determination and gratitude. "We owe you our freedom. You saved us. We're sticking with you."

Rhian didn't look up from the rabbit meat he was carefully chewing, but his voice was steady. "We'll follow."

And then Tafi, the little ball of energy, perked up and leaned forward, his eyes wide with excitement. "I'm going with you 'cause you're super nice! You saved me, so I gotta stick with you! I'll even help you find yummy fruits and mushrooms" He beamed at me, clearly excited about the idea of helping out in the most childlike way possible.

I couldn't help but smile at his innocent enthusiasm. "You're only following me 'cause you like me, huh?"

Tafi nodded vigorously, his little feet bouncing in place. "Yep! You're the bestest, and I wanna be with you!"

I shook my head, laughing. "Alright, alright. You can come along then."

As I watched them, I couldn't help but feel a tiny, nagging weight in my chest. I wasn't supposed to be their guide, their hero, or even their babysitter. Honestly, what I really wanted was to drop them off with Nine like some kind of "hero daycare" and let him handle the messy stuff—training, tough love, all that. They didn't need me slowing things down when I had my own mission to figure out.

But then there was Tafi. Sweet, bouncy little Tafi with his endless enthusiasm and puppy-like devotion. The idea of leaving him behind made me pause. How could I just abandon those big, hopeful eyes? Ugh, curse his cuteness. Maybe—just maybe—I should just bring him with me or something.

-

The next morning, I gathered everyone around as the sunlight filtered through the trees. Tafi was already up and chasing a squirrel, his tail wagging excitedly. I rubbed my temple, trying to figure out how to phrase this without sounding suspicious or dramatic.

"I need to find someone in this forest," I said finally. "He's... well, he's important, and I think he can help us."

Elliot and Rhian exchanged a look, but before either of them could say anything, Tafi jumped up, practically vibrating with excitement. "I can help! I'm really good at finding things! I found that mushroom last night, remember?"

Rhian muttered, "That mushroom almost poisoned you."

"Details!" Tafi waved him off dramatically. "I'll find your person!"

With that, Tafi took the lead, bouncing through the forest like a little ball of energy. His ears twitched as he sniffed the air, his eyes darting around for clues. "This way!" he called out, pointing enthusiastically. "I smell... oldness and tea leaves!"

"Tea leaves?" Elliot repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't question the expert," I said with a grin, following after Tafi.

To everyone's surprise, Tafi's nose didn't fail us. After a good hour of trekking through the woods—complete with Tafi stopping every five minutes to inspect random rocks or patches of dirt—we finally stumbled into a clearing. There, nestled between two massive trees, was a small, cozy hut. The roof was thatched with straw, and smoke puffed gently from the chimney. A little garden full of vegetables and herbs sat to one side, and a wooden chair rested on the porch, complete with a half-finished cup of tea on the armrest.

The door opened before we could even knock, and out stepped a old-aged man with white hair and a frail appearance. He had a kind face, with soft wrinkles that deepened when he smiled. His white hair was tied neatly back, and he held a simple wooden staff in one hand.

"Ah, visitors," he said warmly, his voice calm and gentle, like the sound of a bubbling brook. "It's been a while since anyone wandered this far into the forest. Come in, come in! You must be tired."

Elliot blinked. "You're... inviting us in? Just like that?"

"Well, you're not exactly sneaking around," Nine said with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling. "Besides, I was just about to make tea. It would be rude not to offer some to guests."

Tafi gasped, his ears perking up. "Tea?! I love tea! Do you have cookies, too?"

Nine laughed, motioning us inside. "Of course, little one. Let's see what I can find."

As we stepped into the cozy hut, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Nine's warm presence and Tafi's endless enthusiasm made it hard not to smile. 

Inside Nine's hut, it was like stepping into a different world. The scent of herbs and fresh tea leaves filled the air, and shelves lined the walls, crammed with jars, scrolls, and trinkets that looked like they'd been collected over centuries. A pot of tea was already simmering on the stove, and a plate of freshly baked biscuits sat on the table.

Tafi's eyes sparkled as he ran straight to the table, sniffing the air. "Biscuits! These smell so good!" He turned to Nine with a wide grin. "You're the best grandpa ever!"

Nine chuckled as he poured steaming tea into delicate clay cups. "I'm glad someone appreciates my baking. Help yourselves, all of you."

We sat around the table, the warmth of the tea and the soft crackling of the hearth making the space feel even cozier. Rhian was quiet, observing everything with a cautious look, while Elliot inspected the shelves, occasionally muttering something about the rare herbs Nine had tucked away.

"So," Nine said, setting the teapot down and looking at me with a curious smile, "what brings you to my little corner of the world? Not many people wander this deep into the forest without a reason."

I hesitated for a moment before answering. "We need help. Training, to be specific. They..." I gestured at the group, "need to get stronger. And, well, your reputation precedes you."

Nine's smile grew wider, though his eyes twinkled with amusement. "Reputation, huh? I suppose I did pick up a few tricks over the years. But training isn't something I just hand out. It takes time, effort, and a lot of patience."

"I have patience!" Tafi announced, his cheeks stuffed with biscuit crumbs. "And I'm strong! Watch!" He flexed his tiny arms, which, admittedly, weren't very impressive but managed to earn a laugh from everyone.

Nine leaned back in his chair, studying us all carefully. "Well, you certainly seem like an interesting group. I'll think about it. But for now, eat up and rest. There's no point in rushing anything."

I looked at Nine, trying to recall more about his character. This old, frail appearance is how he looks when he doesn't use Dragon qi. But the second he lets that Qi flow through his meridians, he becomes a whole different person. His body bulks up, muscles popping out, and he goes from being this weak old man to a massive guy, easily 7 feet tall, looking like he could crush anything in his path.

-

As the night grew darker and the fire crackled softly in the hearth, Nine's kind smile never wavered. He glanced at the group, then back at me, his eyes warm and inviting.

"You're welcome to stay the night," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "The forest can be a dangerous place at night, and I'd rather you all be safe here. No need to rush off just yet. Tomorrow we'll talk more about this training business."

Tafi's eyes lit up as he bounced in his seat. "Yay! We get to stay the night!" He glanced around excitedly at the cozy room, clearly pleased with the idea of spending the night somewhere so comfy.

Rhian gave a small nod, still somewhat reserved but appreciative. "Thank you," he said quietly, giving Nine a respectful look.

Elliot looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "Guess we're sticking around then?"

I shrugged, trying to hide my smile. "I guess so. I could use a good night's rest."

Nine got up from his chair and started preparing a few extra blankets. "I'm glad you all decided to stay. It's not often I have guests, and it's always a bit lonely out here. Make yourselves comfortable."

Tafi immediately darted over to the pile of blankets, almost tripping over his own feet in his excitement. "This is gonna be awesome!"

Nine shook his head fondly.

-

After everyone had fallen asleep, I couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness. The quiet inside Nine's hut was soothing, but I needed a moment to myself. So, I quietly slipped outside and found a spot where I could look up at the stars. The night sky was mesmerizing—endless and full of light, the stars twinkling like tiny diamonds scattered across a velvet blanket. The moon hung low and bright, casting a soft glow over the forest.

I sat there for what felt like an eternity, my thoughts lost in the quiet of the night, letting the cool air slowly ease my restless mind. It had been so long since I had a moment to just breathe, to escape the weight of everything pressing on me.

Then, without warning, a presence appeared beside me. I looked up to find Nine standing there, a soft, almost wistful smile on his face. He leaned casually against a nearby tree, his hands tucked into the folds of his sleeves as his gaze wandered up to the vast, star-filled sky.

"I didn't know the empire had a princess," he said, his voice low and warm, as though the words were nothing more than an observation.

I let out a quiet sigh, my eyes returning to the stars as a deep, distant ache settled in my chest. "I was a princess a long time ago," I replied softly, my voice tinged with a sorrow I hadn't meant to reveal. The sadness crept in, uninvited, and I could feel Nine's perceptive gaze on me, lingering just a moment longer than before.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again, his tone gentler now, as if sensing the weight in the air. "Have you heard the story about the Imperial Family's curse?"

A shiver ran down my spine at the mention of it. The name of the curse was unfamiliar, but the way Nine spoke of it—so casually yet laced with an undercurrent of gravity—sent a chill through me. My heart skipped a beat. "No," I answered, my voice barely a whisper. "This is the first I'm hearing of it."

Nine's expression softened, a subtle understanding in his eyes. He watched me for a moment before continuing, his voice steady and calm, as if sharing a story that had been told for generations.

"It's a tale passed down through the ages, of the curse that haunts the Theodoreford bloodline... a tragedy filled with loss, betrayal, and bloodshed." He paused, letting the weight of the words settle. I felt my stomach tighten as my pulse quickened, my body instinctively bracing for the truth of what was to come.

"A long time ago, when the empire was at its peak, the Emperor and Empress had two sons and a daughter. But one day, the princess vanished. In his grief, the Emperor went mad, unable to comprehend the loss. The Empress, consumed by sorrow, fell ill with a mysterious disease and died. In his despair, the Emperor cursed his sons—and the Theodoreford bloodline."

Nine's voice lowered even further, as though the curse itself could be heard in the air. "The curse says that all who bear the Theodoreford blood will live lives marked by pain. They will die agonizing deaths, plagued by nightmares that never cease, see their loved ones die a painful death. Every day and night, they will feel the torment the lost princess must have experienced. And so, every time they sleep, they are trapped in their own hell, they will be living long lives of endless suffering. The only way the curse can be broken... is with the return of a princess in the bloodline."

I sat in stunned silence, my breath caught in my throat as Nine's words echoed in my mind. The curse... Was that what happened after I was gone? A cold, unsettling thought gripped my heart, and the air around me suddenly felt heavier, as though the weight of his story had seeped into every corner of the world. The sense of dread deepened.

The stars above seemed so distant, their faint light offering no answers, no comfort.

"Why are you telling me this?" I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper, trembling despite my best efforts to sound steady.

Nine didn't answer immediately. He remained still, his gaze fixed on the vast sky above, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched between us. It wasn't uncomfortable, though. More like a quiet space where time had slowed, and Nine was carefully considering the weight of my words.

"You needed to know," he said at last, his voice calm, steady, yet laced with something... almost like concern. "What you choose to do with it, that's up to you."

I tried to process his words, my mind racing. The weight of everything pressing down on me felt like a cloak that I couldn't shake off. The future, the curse, the unknown—each thread pulling me in different directions. It wasn't just the empire's dark history that haunted me now, but the possibility that somehow, it was my fate to carry it forward.

"Do you think I'm the lost princess?" I asked, the question slipping from my lips before I could stop it. The words sounded too sharp, too desperate in the stillness of the night, but I couldn't stop myself from voicing the fear that had settled deep inside me.

Nine turned to face me then, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that took me by surprise. There was no judgment in his eyes—only something quiet, as if he saw through the walls I'd carefully built around myself. He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable, before he spoke.

"I do not know," he began, his voice softer, almost hesitant. "That story is from a time long before the coalition, a time shrouded in shadows. Nobody knows if it's true. But…" He paused, his gaze distant, as though wrestling with thoughts too painful to voice. "When I first saw you, something in me stirred—a sense of peace, of comfort—something I hadn't felt in my long, agonizing existence."

He drew in a shaky breath, his voice breaking ever so slightly. "Do you know what it's like to be haunted by memories you can never escape? To live every moment of your life drowning in screams that never quiet, visions of blood and loss that never fade? My family… I see them die over and over, right before my eyes. Their screams, their pain—it follows me, like a curse etched into my very soul. You don't heal from something like that; you just… learn to endure. You learn to survive, even as the weight of it slowly breaks you."

His words faltered, his eyes meeting mine with a depth of anguish that stole my breath. "But today… when I saw you, something shifted. For the first time in what feels like eternity, the screams stopped. The weight I've carried—gone, as if it were never there. My mind, my heart… they're silent, still. It's like I can finally breathe again."

He exhaled shakily, his tone laden with disbelief. "The only time I've ever felt anything remotely close to this is when I use Dragon Qi, but this… This is different. I can't explain it. The moment I saw your silver hair, your ocean-blue eye, it reminded me of the curse that has plagued our bloodline for centuries. Whether the story is real or not, I know one thing—you needed to hear it. It feels… like you're the key to something greater, something I never dared to hope for."

For the first time, a faint, bittersweet smile crossed his face, the relief so raw it was almost unbearable to witness. "Welcome back, Princess," he whispered.

I felt my chest tighten, a lump forming in my throat so sudden and overwhelming that I couldn't speak. Before I knew it, tears poured down my face, hot and unrelenting, as I collapsed into Nine's arms. Sobs wracked my body, the floodgates of emotions I'd kept sealed finally breaking open.

I had thought no one would remember me. That no one would care if I returned… or if I disappeared forever. The relief was staggering, but so was the sorrow—the pain of everything I had lost, of the time stolen, of the family I couldn't save. It all poured out of me in a torrent of grief, relief, and a fragile, aching hope I hadn't felt in what seemed like lifetimes.

(A/N: Qi is life force/spiritual energy, Mana is more of an energy from nature like atom or something hahaha, I hope that makes sense. Dragon Qi is a cultivation technique.)