Aesthelia blinks a couple of times before she gets used to the light that comes from the torch. It had been an hour after she was dragged by the sentinels to be locked up.
Aesthelia sat quietly in the corner of the cellar all alone. The underground dungeon she was locked in stank with the scent of blood and dirt. Aesthelia hums to distract herself from thinking of something that she fears will scare her in the dark. She has not been fond of darkness ever since she was a child.
She tried closing her eyes, but whenever she did, images flashed through her mind. It looks vivid and terrible. Aesthelia wonders if it's the old Aesthelia's memories, but it looks like nothing of today's reality but a nightmare. The images show wolves bathing in their own blood and many more scenarios. They flash through her mind fast.
The images caused her discomfort and fear for an unknown reason. They are currently the most powerful compared to any other supernatural race.
Aesthelia was thinking really hard when something caught her attention. A lamp came into view in front of her cellar.
Aesthelia quickly looked up to see her visitor. It was a man she had never seen before on the training grounds. The eyes reminded her of someone, but she couldn't figure out who it was.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" The man was questioned as the pain became visible in his eyes.
Aesthelia's confusion increased. She was puzzled. What was her relationship with this person? Why does this man look so hurt?
"I don't know," Aesthelia timidly answered as she hugged herself tightly. The cold, hard ground made her shiver.
Why does old Aesthelia like someone who can't be hers? Someone who was destined for someone else. Aesthelia wanted to understand and unravel secrets about the character she's currently possessing, even though it is simple. The old Aesthelia was made to torment the female lead. She's hoping that there was a strong reason, other than obsession, as to why the real Aesthelia was crazy about Gior. It led to her death.
"I told you before that it would do you no good," the guy said.
"You're making yourself miserable over a guy that won't even glance at you," the guy added, not waiting for Aesthelia's reaction. He expected her to yell at him.
He looked down at her form worrily.
Aesthelia kept her mouth shut because she couldn't bring herself to deny or defend herself against that statement.
"I know. I learnt my lesson. I was just trying to talk to Merideth and clear things out, "Aesthelia mumbled into thin air, which was heard by the guy.
The guy looked stunned for a second at that. He was wondering if it was the same Aesthelia he knew.
"Who are you?" Aesthelia asked when the silence engulfed them. She gulped when she received no response from the man until he chuckled, as if he found her question funny and cute.
"You can't even recognize my voice and my figure now? I'm hurt." The man commented in a joking manner. Aesthelia sighed in relief. He suspected nothing was wrong with her, not remembering him.
"It's me, Flo" The man finally introduced himself.
Aesthelia's eyes widened at that. She remembered this character very well. Flo Reiss is a wolf, with admirable strategies, and all. He excelled in both physical and intellectual areas at a very young age. He is also the female lead's cousin.
Aesthelia's shoulder slumped when she remembered what would happen with Flo in the future. She read the part where Flo would be sent out, framed as a traitor, and eventually become a rogue.
"I heard you carried me when I fainted. I wanted to express my gratitude, but it's a tough time, "Aesthelia trails off as she thinks about her situation and nervously scratches her nape.
"I know you. You never express yourself. You keep everything bottled up and sometimes you pretend that you don't care, "Flo said with a serious face. He wanted to say something, but he didn't dare.
"But hearing this from you, it's enough," Flo warmly added and broke out a smile.
Aesthelia blushed shyly. She shook her head and smiled back at him. Aesthelia wonders what made Flo's future so messed up. The story did not tell us why; it was briefly and suspiciously short.
"I'll be going now."
Aesthelia wanted to ask why he visited her here, but from the way he talks, he seems close to the real Aesthelia.
"I'll bring something the next morning," Flo said and bid goodbye to Aesthelia.
Flo left the lamp in front of the cellar. He knew that Aesthelia was scared of the dark. So, he purposely left it where Aesthelia could reach it herself.
Once again, her surroundings are engulfed by silence. Aesthelia stood up and walked towards the lamp. She would keep it until she fell asleep. She just hopes that she will be staying only one night here.
Aesthelia stopped on her track when she heard something unusual. It looks like the prisoners in the other cellar are having a conversation.
A hoarse voice muttered, "Those filthy pups and mutts."
"They dared to hide someone important in this filthy pack!" The same voice shouted in anger.
There's a sound of metal. It sounds like they are struggling with a metal chain. Aesthelia guessed that there were two or three people in that cellar.
"They might be stronger now, but our kind is more vicious and greedy," another voice said confidently.
"Even if they killed us. The king would never turn his back on us. A war might break through, "he added, in a whisper.
"King?" Aesthelia wondered aloud. She quickly covered her mouth with her palm and turned away. The conversation went silent, which made Aesthelia nervous. Did they hear her eavesdropping?
Aesthelia sighed in relief when the conversation continued. It seems that the distance is okay; she's able to hear them with her werewolf super hearing ability.
'King? Is it related to the empire? ' Aesthelia thought there was no conflict between the beast and royalties.
Aesthelia was quietly listening when an old man from the cellar in front of her came into view. It's appearance is all wrinkled.
Aesthelia hitched her breath.
"You don't belong here," The old man spat out as he crawled forward to hold the cell and support himself, but the old man hissed in pain when he came in contact with the cell bars.
'Silver? That means that old man is a werewolf,' Aesthelia thought as she observed. Good thing, she didn't touch the cell.
Aesthelia eyebrows furrowed as she tried not to look away from the old man's stare. It was as if he was reading her mind.
"What do you mean I don't belong here?" Aesthelia asked. She wanted to confirm if the old man was referring to the strongest she-wolf imprisonment. She didn't dare to come closer. It is safer that way.
"It started all over again because somebody wants to alter everything. Well, you can't." The old man spoke mysteriously. It looks like the old man also lost his left eye.
'It started all over again?' Aesthelia mentally repeated his word.
"Unless you find the key, that will prevent the tradegies from happening," the old man added, as if he was giving hints or so.
Her eyes widened at his word.
Aesthelia realized what the old man was telling her: that there was a way. It's a hope for her.
"Are you perhaps transmigrated too?" Aesthelia asked. She took a step forward to engage in the conversation. It might help her in some way.
With the way he talks, Aesthelia gets the impression that the old man is a character who has already experienced how the story goes until the end. She wonders if his soul transmigrated into that body.
The old man's pupils constricted. "No," the elderly man replied coldly.
Aesthelia remained silent and deeply thought about it. 'If he didn't transmigrate, he may be or might not be a time traveller, but it's clear that there's no timeline, just the plot. The story restarted for a reason; someone wanted to alter the events, but how did this old man remember it?'
"How come you seem to know what will happen?" Aesthelia voiced her curiosity.
"I don't know. I just remembered everything one morning after my death. Why do I have to live again to be tortured and die in this cellar? " The old man devastatingly said as he started to weep loudly.
Aesthelia's heart clenched at that sound. She can't say anything. It's obvious that this old man was tortured with his legs chopped off, left eyeball missing and the visible bruises.
She was about to say and ask why he was here, when two werewolves who were guarding the dungeon tonight came inside the old man's cellar.
Aesthelia's heart skipped a beat as she watched them drag the weeping werewolf.
"W-why?" Aesthelia stuttered. She tried to speak up but was completely shut off when one of the werewolf guard glared at Aesthelia's way.
It scared her and made her shake in fear. The darkness didn't help at all. The lamp was kicked off by one of the guards on their way out.
The sound of screaming can be heard.
It is a sound that will hunt Aesthelia in her nightmares. She was just having a conversation with that person, but now that person is being tortured or worse, it is his death.
Aesthelia tightly closed her eyes and covered both of her ears. The scream is still echoing in her mind. She hummed a melody, hoping that it would help to ease her own discomfort.
She lay down in the cold hard ground with a thought running through her mind, 'Will I die the same way as the old man did?'
Her shoulder was shaking in fear. She tried to calm herself by inhaling and exhaling. Minutes had passed when Aesthelia fell, unconsciously.This time, when Aesthelia fell asleep, the images of werewolves bathing in their own blood flashed through her mind. It is the start of her prophetical nightmare.
Aesthelia was struggling in her sleep when two hands grabbed her cheeks. Trying to soothe her out of her nightmare. "It's alright. It was just a dream, a nightmare. " A comforting voice said. "I'm here," Flo assured her. His soft voice woke Aesthelia up. He quickly helped her sit, and patted her back. Aesthelia panted heavily as her eyes fluttered open. She's sweating real bad. Aesthelia looked around her surroundings. Her eyes landed on the cellar in front of her. The cellar where the old man was locked in, ever since that night when the old man was dragged out by the guards. He never came back. Aesthelia choked in her sobs as she imagined what might possibly have happened to that tortured man. "Are you alright?" "I shouldn't have let that bastard do this to you," Flo said in a shaky voice, seeing Aesthelia in this state. He couldn't maintain a steady posture. Whether he shakes in worry o
Aesthelia looked stunned at the sight before her. The worried voices of servants echoed through the air. Mr. Rasc's eyes kept on changing since the wolf spirit was fighting for control. "Get Aesthelia out of my sight, right now," Mr. Rasc's voice changed as he commanded the servants who were idle, watching from the back. He was trying to fight his wolf until Aesthelia was out and safe. "Bring the lady inside now!" Someone from the crowd shouted. Everyone seems to be panicking at this time. "What's going on?" Aesthelia asked desperately. She moves around trying to be released from being tied up until a servant comes to her rescue and quickly unties her wrists. "Let's go. "The servant said in a calm voice. The servant eyes were staring directly at Aesthelia's eyes, and they were filled with concern. "Why?" Aesthelia asked, but the growl became louder this time, which made the servant drag Aesthelia by herself without bein
Aesthelia yawned as she started stretching her arms up. She continuously hears Marie's voice coming outside of her door. Marie has been calling Aesthelia's name multiple times to wake her up without going in. Just hearing the servant's voice, it appears that must be something urgent. Aesthelia blinked a couple of times, adjusting to the sunlight that came from the open window. She remembered she left that window opened to stargaze. When Aesthelia finally felt alright. She quickly walked and opened the door for Marie, who looked annoyed at the time. The hands on her hips and that kind of stare indicate she's about to nag Aesthelia about her tardiness. "I think I woke up pretty earlier than yesterday, right?" Aesthelia smiled before Marie could start scolding her. She tried to convince Marie. Aesthelia has been staying in the R
They were surrounded in a deafening silence. Without being told by someone, some of the werewolves opted to provide some space and change their stance, going to wait in the distance. It appears that everyone is frantically searching Merideth's whereabout. That's why they look anxious, though they didn't care earlier. If it wasn't for Aesthelia, Merideth could be in real danger. Aesthelia relaxed after some time. She was so tensed and nervous when she heard the grasses rustled earlier. She thought that it was the two guy who were in here, the two prisoners who escaped. "You guys came just in time," Aesthelia uttered. She can't carry Merideth all alone, and she doesn't know the path way back to the training ground or so. Aesthelia flinched when she found Gior's wolf form glaring down at her. An aura surrounds the place; it seems that the alpha is releasing it. 'What was that?' Aesthelia mentally asked as she was trying not to f
The footsteps and sound of crickets are the only thing that can be heard in the area. Flo led both of them to a secluded spot to have a talk.Flo can easily pick up something, and his intuition says something is up. He's an intelligent wolf, after all.Aesthelia quietly followed after Flo. She felt like a child who was about to be scolded. They stopped when Flo couldn't detect any presence, since the sentinels usually patrol the territory."What happened? Why did you get demoted as an omega? " Flo didn't waste any seconds and asked straight forward. His eyes show how much he worries about it.It's worst than being locked up for three days. Everyone knows how bad it is to be demoted to the lower tier. That's why every trainee takes their training seriously; they can't perform poorly on their ranking score."Well, haven't you heard that it's about Merideth?" Aesthelia question. Aesthelia wonders how they would portray her in t
Since the day she discovered the hidden safety locker, Aesthelia has been wandering around the mansion every night, desperately trying to find another hint and some strange things that might actually benefit her. She's hoping for such a diary to appear out of nowhere. She examined in every corners of her room for something like the key. Everything else on the floor belonged to her. As either a result, the key must be concealed somewhere. Aesthelia was startled by a knock. When Aesthelia realized it was already morning, she gasped. She didn't get any sleep. Aesthelia quickly did what needed to be done, and the next thing she knew, she was in the carriage on her way to meet the high-ranking wolves. Days had already passed when she was demoted to omega rank, well, temporarily. The hearing was delayed so many times that it got to the point where Aesthelia received harsh treatment and even death threats each day. It's interesting how quickly those people s
The wind was getting stronger and stronger; the trees and tall grass swayed with it. It seemed like a peaceful place, until Aesthelia and Gior arrived with some tools. They were given a lighter punishment by Alpha Rou when they came back from the infirmary, and that was to clear a certain part of the territory. "Stop doing it half-assed. Do it properly! " From afar, from the other side of the forest, Gior shouted. He was busy cutting some of the trees so they could make an open field in this area. "Mind your own business, Gior! If you just shut up, we could actually wrap things up before the sun sets down, "Aesthelia responded back with the same tone, as she swept the ground more forcefully. She's assigned to remove rocks and small grass. Aesthelia thinks this is better than being an omega. She didn't want to go through that again. Her thoughts were interrupted by another booming voice. "Then, quit slacking off,"
Aesthelia was breathing heavily. She doesn't know what's going on in her surroundings, but one thing is for sure: she's with Gior.When Aesthelia doesn't feel another person's presence, she tries to open her eyes to see her surroundings and find Gior.Aesthelia can still hear the sound of the rain. When she finally opened her eyes, she was greeted by Gior's face, who was trying to take care of her by checking Aesthelia's temperature and keeping the fire going. There are no more dry leaves and twigs inside the cave; they're running out of it. Gior hissed due to the fact that Aesthelia's fever kept on rising.given by the time that they went inside the cave. Gior should have dried up by now, but no, he was still soaking. He was dripping, and it looked like he had gone out to find something even though it was raining heavily. It was a good thing he had found some herbs nearby.Aesthelia groaned in pain as she felt like her head was cracking