Aethelos Pain and Blood

Chapter 11: Aldiana · In the weeks that followed, the people turned against the Solaris Academy. The destruction of the park, caused by Brock’s attack, was not forgotten. Headlines, whispers, heavy stares. The group remained practically confined to the academy. · Everyone… except Nayb. · Even among the ruins, he returned to the park. He sat in the same place as always, where broken benches and scorched earth still remained. He was looking for silence. Or perhaps something else. · That was when someone touched his shoulder. · He turned. Eliana was there, with a small smile. · “I’m glad you’re alright, Nayb.” · He looked at her with a mix of contempt and exhaustion. · “Eliana, if you’re here to shout victory and humiliate me, leave.” · She didn’t. She sat beside him among the wreckage. · “Why do you come here… even with all of this destroyed?” · Nayb took a long time to answer. His gaze drifted to the dirty water of the lake. · “I could say it’s part of my routine. Because of the calm this place used to give me. · Or… maybe because I genuinely liked the first time we met.” · Eliana froze. Her eyes widened slightly, real surprise. · “Nayb…” · She stayed silent for another second. Then, almost in a whisper: · “Come with me.” · He frowned at once, suspicious. · “Eliana, if this is an ambush, I swear I’ll destroy Aldiana.” · The name made her body tense. · “You… know about Aldiana?” · “Of course we do. · You underestimate our work, but we’re good.” · She watched him for a long moment. Then she smiled — not mockingly, but with decision. · “Then I’ll take you there. Let’s go.” · Nayb had no answer. The thought came loose, almost unbelieving. · She’s insane… how does she do this to an enemy? · Even so, he stood up and followed her. · On the other side, at Solaris, Brock and Violeta could no longer stand the waiting. · “We’re going to Aldiana,” Brock said, already adjusting his gloves. · Violeta smiled sideways, but pointed a finger at him. · “We’re going… buuut stealthy, Brock. No destruction attacks.” · “We’ll see.” · The two left in silence, cutting through the forest toward the old Noxian lands. · Near the perimeter of Aldiana, among the dense trees, they heard voices. Not combat. Conversation. Social. Almost soft. · Violeta signaled for them to stop. She advanced a few meters and looked. · Her blood ran cold. · It was Nayb. · And Eliana. · Talking closely. Too closely. · Violeta immediately pulled back to Brock, her voice low and tense. · “Brock… Nayb is talking to the enemy. · And with a lot of intimacy.” · Brock didn’t answer. He went to see with his own eyes. · In the clearing between the trees, Eliana and Nayb had stopped walking. There was a second of silence. Then Nayb leaned in and kissed her. · When he pulled away, his voice came out hoarse: · “Sorry. I felt it was the right time.” · Eliana smiled, still close to him. · “You could have done it sooner.” · Brock stood frozen. His jaw locked. The earth aura trembled under his feet without him noticing. · He pulled back to Violeta, his face closed with anger. · “We’re going back to Solaris. · Now.” · Violeta grabbed his arm. · “Brock… wait. It might not be what you’re thinking. He could be being used. Or trying to infiltrate from his side.” · He pulled his arm free with a sharp tug. · “No. · What I saw wasn’t a mission. · Nayb is an infiltrator.” · Violeta stayed silent. The shock was still there — but so was the doubt. · Ahead of them, among the trees of Aldiana, Nayb and Eliana kept walking, unaware that their world had just cracked.