Chapter 3: Whispers of the past

The days following Aurelia’s encounter with Habeel were a blur of questions and unease. Though he had promised to keep watch over her, the enigmatic hybrid kept his distance, appearing only when the woods were quiet and the shadows were long.

Aurelia couldn’t shake the feeling that her life had irrevocably changed. She no longer felt safe in Ravenglen; every knock at the door, every rustle of leaves sent her heart racing. Her grandmother, Amara, noticed her anxiety but said nothing, merely watching her with a knowing sadness.

One evening, as the family prepared for supper, Amara finally broke her silence. “Aurelia,” she said, her voice firm but gentle, “it’s time you learned the truth about our bloodline.”

Kael and Liana exchanged worried glances, but Aurelia leaned forward, desperate for answers.

Amara reached into a wooden chest and pulled out an ancient, leather-bound journal. The pages were yellowed with age, the ink faded but legible. She set it on the table before Aurelia.

“This belonged to your great-grandmother,” Amara explained. “She was the last of our line to fully embrace her powers before the curse took hold.”

Aurelia opened the journal with trembling hands. The first pages were filled with beautiful sketches of herbs and animals, accompanied by notes on their healing properties. But as she flipped further, the entries grew darker. Descriptions of strange rituals, warnings about forbidden magic, and sketches of ominous symbols filled the pages.

“Our gift has always been a double-edged sword,” Amara continued. “We were once revered as healers, protectors of balance. But power breeds greed, and our bloodline became a target. The curse was a punishment—a way to ensure that our powers could no longer be exploited.”

Aurelia’s gaze fell on a drawing of a wolf with silver eyes. Beneath it was a name: Habeel.

She looked up in shock. “Habeel… he’s in here?”

Amara nodded gravely. “Habeel is not of this world, Aurelia. He is a hybrid—part human, part mystical being. His kind once ruled the realms of magic, but they were betrayed by their own. His curse binds him to our bloodline, just as ours binds us to the land. Together, you and Habeel have the power to restore balance—or to destroy it.”

That night, Aurelia couldn’t sleep. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with questions. When the house had fallen silent, she slipped out into the cool night air, clutching the journal to her chest.

She made her way to the woods, guided by an inexplicable pull. As she approached the clearing where she had first met Habeel, she saw him standing beneath the moonlight, his silver eyes glowing softly.

“You’ve read the journal,” he said without turning around.

Aurelia hesitated, clutching the leather-bound book tighter. “Why didn’t you tell me who you are?”

Habeel turned to face her, his expression a mixture of sorrow and determination. “Because knowing the truth puts you in even greater danger,” he said. “Zorath seeks me because he believes I hold the key to immortality. But what he truly seeks is you.”

“Me?” Aurelia whispered, her voice barely audible.

“You are the last pure-blooded healer,” Habeel explained. “Your powers can heal not just wounds, but curses, illnesses—even death itself. Zorath believes that with your blood, he can unlock powers beyond imagination.”

Aurelia’s knees felt weak, and she sank to the ground. “I didn’t ask for this,” she said, her voice trembling. “I don’t want any of it.”

Habeel knelt beside her, his gaze steady. “Neither did I,” he said quietly. “But we don’t get to choose our destinies. All we can do is face them with courage.”

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their shared burdens pressing down on them. But as the first rays of dawn began to filter through the trees, Aurelia felt a flicker of determination.

“I won’t let Zorath win,” she said, her voice firm. “I may not understand my powers, but I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family—and you.”

Habeel’s expression softened, and for the first time, a faint smile touched his lips. “Then we fight together,” he said.

As they stood, a sense of purpose settled over Aurelia. She didn’t know what lay ahead, but for the first time, she felt ready to face it. Together, they would unravel the mysteries of their past and confront the dangers of their future.

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