The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 351: Illusionary Seelie Realm

Chapter 351: Illusionary Seelie Realm

Annalise couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed as she clutched the rainbow-colored branch in her hand. Its surface shimmered with an ethereal light, and she could sense the ancient power contained within. Beside her, the massive bag of rare magical treasures sat like a daunting puzzle waiting to be solved. She hadn’t expected her journey to obtain a weapon to be such a complex and taxing endeavor.

"The weapon isn’t going to create itself for you. How about you stop sulking and start working?" came the very much unwelcomed voice of the King of Darkness, Esmeray. He had a knack for appearing at the most inconvenient moments, and his presence never failed to unnerve Annalise, especially in the current moment when he was the last person she wanted to talk to.

Suppressing the urge to glare at Esmeray, Annalise sighed in frustration. She had been lost in thought, contemplating the overwhelming task ahead of her. If she had known that crafting her own weapon would be this demanding, she might have chosen a simple sword and spared herself the trouble.

Kenric, who had been accompanying her since she entered the Secret Realm, sensing Annalise’s distress, tried to offer some encouragement. "It’s okay, Little Bird. You just need to focus on your instincts and powers to choose the right additions from these treasures to enhance your weapon."

His words were well-intentioned, but they did little to ease Annalise’s anxiety. She was still grappling with the enormity of the responsibility placed upon her.

"Well... whatever the case, you don’t have much time. Esmeray has given you a time limit, right? Besides, the more time you waste here, the less time you’ll have for training," Kenric pressed, attempting to push Annalise into action.

Annalise knew he was right. Esmeray had indeed set a time limit, and she couldn’t afford to waste any more precious moments. While the weapon was important, so was her training, especially when she had seemingly gained access to all her powers. Gathering her determination, she finally spoke up, her voice resolute. "I want a peaceful place to concentrate if I’m going to do this and succeed."

Esmeray remained silent for a moment, his dark eyes filled with contemplation. Annalise couldn’t help but wonder what was going through the enigmatic King of Darkness’s mind. After what seemed like an eternity, he broke the silence.

"There’s a place perfectly fit for you. I’ll take you there," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of something Annalise couldn’t quite decipher.

Then he turned his attention toward Valerius and spoke - "I will be away too, helping her. I will trust you to handle the matters here."

Valerius nodded in affirmation. Over the past couple of weeks that he had been spending in the Secret Realm, he seemed to have created a common and strong base of understanding with Esmeray. And while Damien and Kenric still weren’t on the best terms with the King of Darkness, even they had started respecting Esmeray.

The Winter Prince passed a quick look at Annalise, his expression a mixture of pride and encouragement as he shared a meaningful look with her. It was a look that spoke volumes, conveying the unwavering support of not only his but also his brothers - that no matter how daunting the path ahead, they were there for her, always.

With newfound determination, Annalise picked up the rainbow-colored branch and the bag of rare treasures. She was ready to embark on this journey of creation, to forge her own destiny and wield a weapon of her own making.

She followed Esmeray as he headed toward a very familiar path.

* * *

Annalise followed Esmeray inside his house and wondered if this was the place he was referring to when he said that he had the perfect place in mind where she could find the ’peace’.

Not being able to hold herself back, she asked - "Is this where I’m supposed to work on my weapon? Your house?"

The man ignored her question as he walked to the center of the living room and stood there to cast a spell.

Annalise tried to follow the spell he was casting but she soon got completely lost at whatever he was trying to do. Still, despite her curiosity, she remained silent and waited for him to finish whatever he was doing.

It didn’t take him long to finish the spell and Annalise noticed a dark purple light surrounding him for a moment before it disappeared completely into the thin air.

Annalise was about to ask what he had just done when the man walked up to her and grabbed her hand. The very next moment, she was pulled into the powerful spell of teleportation as Esmeray guided the two of them away from the Secret Realm.

The moment Annalise’s feet touched the unfamiliar snowy ground, she couldn’t help but gasp as the magical sensations from the teleportation spell tingled through her veins. Her eyes widened as she surveyed her surroundings, a mixture of awe and trepidation washing over her.

The land was covered in an endless expanse of glistening white snow, devoid of any signs of life, save for the oppressive presence of the ominous black energy that seemed to seep from the very air.

"Esmeray," Annalise began, her voice trembling slightly, "Where are we?"

Esmeray’s grip on her hand remained firm as he turned to face her, his expression grave. "We are in the Seelie Realm, Annalise," he replied, his voice carrying a weight of solemnity. "But it’s an illusion, a place where you can find the peace you seek to work on your weapon."

Annalise’s heart raced, both from the realization of their location and the foreboding sense of danger that clung to the air. She could feel her powers recoiling, struggling against the oppressive dark energy that permeated the illusion. She shivered, not from the chill of the winter but from the unsettling aura around them.

"Why here?" She couldn’t help but ask as this was the last place she ever expected to find peace. Her eyes were still darting around as if expecting something to jump out from the shadows. "And why does this place feel so...wrong? Is it because of the dark energy? But we are in an illusion..."

Her brain was working way too fast for her to make sense of anything. In the end, she just turned to face the man in order to get some much-needed answers.

Esmeray sighed, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape. "Your powers are strongest here, in the Seelie Realm, since this place has stored the light element for the longest. The elemental magic flows differently here, and it will aid you in crafting your weapon like nowhere else."

Annalise nodded, though she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that clung to her. "But what’s with this darkness?" she asked, gesturing at the malevolent energy that seemed to be kept at bay only by Esmeray’s presence. She was surprised that even an illusion, the dark energy felt just as powerful and sinister as in the real world.

"Even though it is just an illusion, it is still connected to the reality in a manner. And since the dark energy resides in the Seelie Realm, the illusion is also not immune to its taint." Esmeray explained. "But this illusion will still give us some time. I can hold it for nearly four hours, no longer. After that, the dark energy will break through, and we will be in grave danger."

"F-four hours...?" Annalise stared at the man in shock. How could she complete the task in just four hours?

Esmeray let go of her hand only to grab both of her shoulders in his hands as he turned her to fully face him. "You can do it. Just make sure to stay away from any sort of dirty play the dark energy will try to play on you. Only allow your powers to connect with the elements still reserved here, and try finding the right treasures to add to your weapon. You will have four hours to do that, no less... no more."

Annalise clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes. "Then, let’s make every minute count," she declared. "I’ll definitely find the right items and craft the weapon I need."

Esmeray smiled, a rare warmth in his eyes. "That’s the spirit, Annalise. Remember, in the midst of darkness, even the faintest light can prevail."

With that, they ventured deeper into the illusionary Seelie Realm, Annalise’s heart set on harnessing the unique magic of this place to forge a weapon that would be her key to confronting the impending darkness. Little did she know that their time in this surreal realm would be fraught with challenges and revelations, ultimately shaping her destiny in ways she could never have imagined.

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