Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 180: Breaking Out Lydia.

Chapter 180: Breaking Out Lydia.

Dungeons, Citadel.

Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire.

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Slowly, Lydia had become exhausted, so she sat slightly defeated as she watched Red, sniffing through the cold, iron bars of the cell. She couldn’t help but marvel at Red’s graceful curiosity, it probably thinks she might be able to fit through the bars like he had.

Red’s delicate whiskers twitched as he explored the mysterious scent, its golden eyes reflecting the dim light filtering through the narrow windows high above.

Suddenly, a subtle shift seemed to ripple through Red’s sleek white fur.

Theodore. He caught his master’s scent.

The air crackled with an otherworldly energy, Lydia’s heart skipped a beat, before it resumed in an unfamiliar pace as she witnessed Red beginning to undergo a remarkable transformation.

What was happening? Lydia wondered.

Red’s form swollen and elongated, his muscles rippling beneath his fur as he grew larger and more majestic by the second, Lydia heard crackles that made her eyes widen.

With a shimmering flash of light, Red emerged from his mundane guise, and now transformed into a magnificent creature of pure magic, a large, ethereal cat with shimmering fur that seemed to capture the very essence of moonlight itself.

The actual Red.

Lydia gasped in astonishment, her eyes widening as she took in the breathtaking sight before her.

She knew this thing, though hazy, she remembered seeing him on her wedding night. How could she forget? she wondered with furrowed brows.

The beast turned and its golden eyes held Lydias’.

She held her breath and though a twinge of fear fluttered in her heart at the sight of this fantastical being, she knew deep down that Red meant her no harm.

Despite the suddenness of the transformation, there was an undeniable bond of trust between them, she believed, one forged through weeks of companionship and mutual understanding.

With a graceful movement, Red approached the cell bars, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity as it regarded Lydia.

Lydia nodded, reached out a trembling hand, as her heart drummed in her chest, her fingers brushing lightly against Red’s ethereal fur.

In that moment, she felt a surge of reassurance wash over her, a silent promise that no harm would come to her from this wondrous creature.

Though she is yet to fully understand the depths of Luna’s magical nature and might have to tell Theodore about this, Lydia knew one thing for certain: as long as they stood together, there was nothing they couldn’t face, no matter how strange or extraordinary the circumstances.

Now, she just needed to find out what triggered its transformation, so she rushed to the bars and that is when she knew.

"Theodore!" she squealed.

However, outside Theodore and his companions in the dimly lit dungeon cell, the air is heavy with the scent of damp stone and decay. The only source of light in the area filtered in through a small, grated window, casting eerie shadows across the cold, stone walls.

The silence is broken by the sound of a powerful force emanating from within a cell.

Theodore turned towards it, his heart thundering.

With a thunderous boom, the door of the cell trembles as an unseen power pushes against it from the inside.

The ancient wood strains and groans under the pressure, splinters flying as cracks began to spiderweb across its surface. Theodore approached but Conan stopped him by grabbing his arm and shaking his head. It wasn’t safe.

The force intensifies, and suddenly, with a deafening crash, the door explodes inward, sending shards of wood flying in all directions.

Theodore finally pulled away and as the dust settled, a massive figure emerged from the ruins of the doorframe. Red, its fur sleek and shimmering with arcane energy. Its golden eyes gleam with determination as it turns to face Lydia, who stood behind it with a regal air.

Lydia, the lord’s heart sang.

With another surge of power, the cat turns its attention to the solid stone wall opposite the door. With a mighty roar, it throws itself against the barrier, its massive form colliding with enough force to send shockwaves rippling through the dungeon.

The wall quakes and shudders under the relentless assault, cracks started to spread like lightning across its surface. Debris rains down as chunks of stone are dislodged, creating a cloud of dust that hangs thick in the air.

As the debris and dust started to settle, Theodore caught sight of his wife, her delicate features, her ever gentle eyes, her pretty nose and those delectable lips, he ran his eyes over her body for any sign of injury as discomfort he was sure would exist and then as he was satisfied at no obvious sign of pain he met her eyes again.

Lydia felt her heart quivering as she gazed at her savior from behind the slowly settling dust, his broad shoulders ready to give her comfort, his sky blue orbs like a whole world she could get lost in, his dimpled chin calling for a bite from her, and his arms waiting for her. She hated the guilt and regret dwelling in his eyes, making her eyes well up.

"Theodore!" she breathed.

Theodore rushed and drew Lydia away from falling debris and into his arms as they both watched Red destroy the place that confined his mistress.

Finally, with one last mighty push, the wall gives way, crumbling into a heap of rubble as a channel of escape is carved out from within.

Theodore stepped forward, his presence commanding and majestic, followed closely by his loyal companions and Lydia in his arms, guards were already stationed by the gate and he didn’t want that for Lydia.

Together, they rush away from the destruction they have wrought, and soon they see the light from the sky upon them. They stopped and the lord pressed Lydia into his arms.

"Lydia" he ran his nose in her hair.

He whispered. "Gooseberry love," as he kissed her all over her face, her forehead, her nose, cheeks,

"I am so sorry my love" he breathed.

"Red came" she mumbled, breathlessly, the first words that came through her lips despite the varying thoughts running in her mind.

"I told you he would find you" Theodore said and there was pride in his voice.

And you came too, she thought. "I love you," she confessed.

He drew back, held her face between his palm, her eyes within his bluish gaze. "Did I say thank you for making dinner last night?" he asked ruefully.

She shook her head with a smile on her face as the tip of her nose reddened from the weather that was rapidly changing to a colder one.

"Thank you for dinner, Gooseberry, ’’ he let out his gratitude.

"Thank you for saving me" she expressed hers too.

He gaave a small sad laugh, "If I had not come for you, I would have lost myself"

"I said not to be cheesy" Lydia whispered her voice quivering with tears she held back.

He kissed the top of her head and drew her closer.

She melted in his arms. A sigh of relief leaving her. "Lydia" he started.

"I know you are not fine but I hope you forgive me" his voice had a note Lydia didn’t recognise but she believed it was guilt and she doesn’t want him to carry that.

"Theodore" she sniffed

With theirs eyes open and a window of the emotions they were feeling, Lydia started. "You were right Theodore, we should have gone against Salvatore and his mother from the beginning" she sniffed, "We should not have come here" she completed.

"We are going home," Theodore murmured.

"Home? but we are yet to clear my name"

"You have a powerful husband Lydia," he grinned.

"Enjoy it whilst it lasts, but we both know it never lasts" a voice in the darkness from the dungeon cells met the couple, shivers ran down Theodores’ spine at those words while Lydia, despite being oblivious to the meaning behind the words, started to pale.

Someone had escaped from the dungeons because of them. Before a step could be taken from Conan, the man disappeared.

"Who, he... he, What have we-" a stone landing square on her forehead cut off whatever she was about to say.

Theodore looked and found Red, the culprit. He had been the one to change in front of her.

Is he trying to make her forget again? He didn’t know if he liked that anymore.

It was time she remembered everything.

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