Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 79: Stranger from another kingdom

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Stranger from another kingdom

He hadn’t been welcomed with open arms. Because he was a stranger from another kingdom, who bears no name or title, Cassian had faced skepticism and hostility.

But he had proven himself. His swordsmanship was honed through pain and perseverance that had silenced even the most fault-finders.

"Leader Hayes," a voice interrupted his thoughts. Cassian turned to see Orion, the young boy who had called him earlier; he was standing at a distance from him.

"What is it?" Cassian asked.

"There’s a messenger from the capital," Orion replied in a serious tone.

"He says it’s urgent."

Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly. A message from the capital? He wondered what mission had brought the messenger from the capital.

"Where is he?"

"In the command tent," Orion answered.

Cassian gave a curt nod and walked toward the tent, his steps light but powerful. Inside, a man dressed in the insignia of the royal court of the kingdom stood waiting.

He looked nervous, fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve as Cassian entered.

"You have a message for me?" Cassian asked, his voice steady.

The messenger bowed hastily. "Yes, Leader Hayes.

Cassian watched as the messenger hurriedly left the tent without waiting for dismissal. The man’s footsteps slowly faded as he hurriedly left the command tent.

but Cassian didn’t spare him another thought. The messenger had done his job, and now it was time for Cassian to deal with the message itself.

He turned his attention to the heavy scroll, its wax seal still intact. It was unusual for such a simple message to be delivered with such urgency.

But Cassian had learned long ago not to question the methods of those in power. They did what they did for reasons that often made no sense to the common man.

With a slow, deliberate motion, he unrolled the scroll. His eyes scanned the parchment, expecting a long missive or some dire command from the capital.

But instead, there was only a single sentence, written in sharp, precise words:

"Visit the town of Galdreth. You are needed."

Cassian read the name slowly, his brow furrowing in confusion. Galdreth. He had never heard of it.

There were hundreds of towns and villages scattered across the kingdom, but none with a name that stood out in his memory.

Before he could dwell on it further, the scroll began to heat in his hands. He hissed and dropped it instinctively, but it was too late.

The parchment was already burning, the edges curling and turning black. The fire spread quickly, consuming the words with unnatural speed, and within moments, the scroll had turned into ashes.

Cassian stood there as the ashes floated out of the window, carried by the breeze like delicate snowflakes.

He did not flinch at the sight. It had happened to him before. The first time it had occurred, he’d been shocked and terrified. But after witnessing it time and time again, he had learned not to question it.

The world he lived in now was not the same as the one he had known in Aetheryln. In his homeland, people spoke of magic as though it were a myth, a fairy tale told to children before bed.

There were no elves, no dwarves, and no creatures of the deep forests or the high mountains.

Aetheryln had been a kingdom of pure humans, and their understanding of the world was as narrow as the borders of their land.

It was a kingdom that knew nothing of the other races that populated the continents beyond their shores.

But here, in this strange land, the rules were different.

Cassian had learned quickly that there were other races—races that were older than humans, more powerful in ways that defied explanation.

Elves, witches, and even the mysterious Fae, whose powers were as unpredictable as they were terrifying, and there was also that one race, the most terrifying one, and taking its name was also taboo here.

The supernatural force that flowed through this land wasn’t mere magic as humans thought; it was something more primal, something that could not be fully understood or contained by any one being. It has endless potential to explore.

People were born with it, and those who honed it became legends and were feared everywhere.

Morthagar was situated at the front of Aetheryln and other human kingdoms; it was directly protecting the human kingdom from other races, because if war broke out, sometimes humans would be at the most disadvantage even if they had great populations compared to other races.

huh! Cassian took a deep breath and looked out of the window. It had become his habit; whenever he was in deep thought, his heart wanted peace, and only nature could bring it to him.

Galdreth...Cassian murmured. a deep look flash in his eyes, he wondered now what this place holds for him.

The every place council has chosen for him to go gives him various surprises.

Cassian walked back to his room. His boots echoed on the hard stone floor. The air in the hallways was cool. It carried the scent of fresh earth and a faint hint of woodsmoke from the nearby campfires.

His mind stayed focused. The messenger’s words and the burning scroll replayed in his thoughts. Galdreth. The name felt foreign on his lips.

Once inside his room, Cassian moved with ease. His hand reached for the sword that rested against the wall beside his bed. The hilt felt familiar in his grip.

The weight of the sword was solid and reassuring. He pulled it free from its sheath in one smooth motion. The cold steel gleamed faintly in the dim light of the room.

The sword was a work of art. It was crafted with skill that left no doubt of its value. The blade shimmered in silver-blue. Along its length were delicate etchings, runes of power that Cassian had never quite figured out.

The edge was impossibly sharp and reflecting the light like a sliver of the moon.