Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 88: Death of Dreamware..

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Death of Dreamware..

Cassian looked at the place where the illusion of Prince Dorian had disappeared into dark smoke.

Cassian clenched his sword and started searching for the original dreamware; the illusion of Prince Dorian was just a part of the monster.

The monster would be seriously injured as Cassian had thrust the sword in his heart, which would have made him weak; that’s why all the threads binding it to its victim have collapsed.

The monster had to die. If he left it alive, it would recover and prey on others again.

Cassian’s gaze scanned the trees as he walked through the forest. He knew the monster had not fled far. A Dreamweaver monster was typically a slow monster, and now it was injured, so the chances of its escaping were slim to none.

After searching around for a short period, Cassian heard a faint rustling. He turned sharply and narrowed his eyes. Behind a cluster of twisted roots and thick vegetation, an unsightly figure was crouching in fear.

It was small, barely reaching Cassian’s waist. Its body was shriveled and wrinkled like old parchment. Its skin jiggled with every slight movement.

The creature’s form resembled that of an ancient crone; its body was twisted and horrifying. Its wide and hollow eyes glared at Cassian with pure hatred.

The monster shrieked with his sharp voice. "You found me," it screeched. It clutched its wounded chest as black ichor oozed from the gaping injury. "How dare you, human. How dare you disrupt my plans!

Cassian smirked and held his sword steady. The blade glinted faintly under the dim light that filtered through the trees. He stepped closer with cold amusement written on his face.

"You should have thought before trapping me in illusion," he said with disgust. His voice was low and dangerous. "Pretending to be him. Did you really think I would fall for such a pitiful trick?"

The monster hissed and growled, its voice guttural. It clutched its body tighter and tried to back away. Its sluggish movements showing its weakness.

Cassian’s smirk widened as he took another step forward. "Your greatest mistake was coming too close to me. You were greedy. You thought you could devour me alive because the dead do not taste as good. Isn’t that right?"

The Dreamweaver snarled but flinched under Cassian’s piercing gaze. Dreamweavers were cowards by nature. They rarely engaged in direct combat. They preferred to hide and weave illusions to torment their victims. and this monster was no different from others.

"You thought you could manipulate me," Cassian said. He raised his sword. "But I saw through your lies. Now you will pay for your greed."

The monster shrieked again. Its cry was a shrill sound that echoed through the forest. It lunged forward with surprising speed. Its claws aimed for Cassian’s face, but Cassian was ready. He sidestepped and swung his sword through the air.

The blade struck and severed one of the creature’s spindly arms. The Dreamweaver howled in agony as black ichor sprayed from the open wound. It stumbled back and let out a pained cry.

"You should have stayed hidden," Cassian said coldly. His voice was steady and firm as he advanced. "You were never strong enough to face me."

The monster tried to retreat. Its trembling body clawed at the ground in a desperate attempt to escape. There was no hope for it. Cassian lunged forward and drove his blade into the creature’s chest. This time, he twisted the sword with ruthless precision. The monster had no chance of survival.

The Dreamweaver let out a final scream. Its cry was ear-piercing and filled with desperation. Its body collapsed on the ground of the forest. The foul stench of decay filled the air as the creature’s dark blood soaked the ground.

Cassian stood over the spot where the monster had fallen. His chest rose and fell heavily. The forest was silent once more. He lowered his sword and stood with a hard but resolute gaze.

"This is what happens when you underestimate me, and the biggest mistake of your life was pretending to him," he muttered.

He turned to leave as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the canopy. The light illuminated the forest floor.

Cassian walked back towards the small village, his sword dripping with the black blood of the monster. His face regained the earlier nonchalant expression from before.

No one could guess what was in his mind and what he had faced.

The village came into view, and Cassian frowned as she looked at the ruined things in the village and how the villagers were cleaning it diligently.

When the villagers see Cassian stepping out of the dense forest while his sword still dripping with the dark oozing blood, astonishment flashes through their eyes, but it also contains fear.

They immediately stepped aside, and no one said anything.

Cassian frowned, and guilt flashed in his eyes as he looked at their busy forms and fear in his eyes. After all, it was his people who had ruined their village, albeit they were in someone’s control.

but it is still shameful as he had given them words that they would not disturb their life, but the same words came biting at him.

Um! Cassian heard the voice clearing its throat and looked towards the source to find it was the old man from before, who had allowed them to stay here, and his guilt deepened more.

But the next action of the old man, Edran, shocked him to the core as the old man kneeled in front of him, and the villagers also kneeled in front of him and echoed together.

"Thank you, savior. You are our hero."

The old man Edran had been the first to speak to Cassian when he arrived. He was now bowing his head and placed his trembling hands on the ground. His voice shook as he spoke.

"For years we suffered because of that monster. It fed on our lives and our fears and our sorrow. It took our loved ones and left us empty. Many of us thought there was no way to escape."

The villagers murmured in agreement. Their eyes were full of relief and gratitude. Some were crying. Their faces showed years of sadness and hopelessness.

Cassian stood still. His sword dripped with the black blood of the monster.

her hurriedly help the old man to stand and shake his hand and murmur, You don’t need to kneel; it is my duty."

Edran lifted his head and looked at Cassian directly. "That monster survived by stealing the lives of our people. It killed anyone who tried to leave. It killed anyone who dared to enter this village. It turned our home into a trap." His voice broke, and he added, "We could only watch as it destroyed everything."

A young woman holding a small child stepped forward. Her voice was calm even though her tears fell freely. "We lost so many people. It controlled our minds and made us feel like there was no hope. We thought it would never end." She bowed her head and said, "But you ended it."

Another villager spoke up. His voice trembled as he spoke. "You freed us. For the first time in years we feel hope again. You are truly a savior."

The villagers nodded in agreement. Their voices grew louder as they shared stories of their suffering. They spoke of their losses and the despair that had taken over their lives.

Cassian frowned deeply as he listened to them. He tightened his grip on his sword, and guilt flickered in his eyes. These people had suffered terribly. His own men, who he trusted, had also caused them harm even though the monster controlled them.

Cassian opened his mouth to speak. Edran raised his hand to stop him.

"You have done more for us than we could ever dream of," Edran said firmly. "Do not blame yourself. What happened was not your fault. The monster twisted the minds of your men just as it did to us. You were the one who freed us."

Cassian’s eyes softened as he looked at Edran. He could not bring himself to feel forgiven. He glanced at the villagers who were still kneeling. Their faces showed both relief and respect.

"You do not need to thank me," Cassian said at last. His voice was quiet and steady. "I only did what I had to do. I could not let such a creature continue to exist."

Edran smiled faintly. His lined face looked softer. "That is what makes you a true hero. You did not act for praise or rewards. You acted because it was the right thing to do. For that we are grateful."

The villagers began to rise to their feet. Their gratitude remained clear. Some brought small offerings to Cassian. They brought baskets of fruit, handmade items, and fresh water as tokens of thanks.

Cassian accepted their gifts with a small nod. His face stayed serious. The villagers started to clean the damaged village with new energy. Cassian stepped away from the crowd and sheathed his sword.

He looked back at Edran, who was watching him. "The monster is gone, but the damage it caused will take time to heal." Cassian said quietly.

Edran nodded. "Scars remind us of the pain we went through. They also show us how strong we are."

Cassian glanced at the villagers. They are busy restoring their village. Their faces showed fragile but real hope. He took a deep breath and turned toward the forest, but he heard someone shouting his name.

Leader Hayes...