Ascension Of The Villain

As he slowly stirred, a warm, fuzzy sensation crept through his drowsiness. Someone was running their fingers through his hair, and it felt surprisingly comforting, like a cat purring on a cold night.

He cracked one eye open and mumbled, "If this is a dream, it\'s the sweetest one yet."

He lifted his head slightly and found Iyana sitting beside him, her fingers gently weaving through his hair.

"Iyana?" Vyan\'s voice cracked with a mix of confusion and relief. "I was expecting you to knock me flat when you found me here, you know?"

Iyana chuckled, a warm, gentle sound. "Well, sorry to disappoint you. But I did want to, but you see, my hands are tied." That was literally the case. A sling hung from her injured shoulder, cradling her right arm.

"Well, that\'s unfortunate," Vyan let out, stretching with a groan, his muscles protesting after six hours of neglect. "How are you feeling now?"

"Surprisingly good. My injuries feel numb. Maybe I was given a healing potion?" She looked at him questioningly, and he nodded in confirmation.

"Glad to hear it." Vyan rubbed his eyes and glanced at the window, where the first light of dawn was creeping in. "Wow, it\'s already morning."

"Oh, no," Iyana bolted upright, wincing. "We were supposed to leave for the Forest of Beasts at dawn—"

"Hold on," Vyan interrupted, his tone firm. "When you say \'we,\' you can\'t possibly mean yourself. There is no way you are coming with us in your tattered condition."

"I have fought battles worse off than this," she protested, hating the idea of being left behind.

"We are not at war right now," he replied, his voice softening. "You don\'t have to keep fighting, Iyana."

The sincerity in his words left her speechless. She didn\'t have any logic to counter him.

"So, rest here for now. You have already done your part as my knight in shining armor," he added gently, his eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and concern.

"Okay," she whispered, her heart betraying her with a flutter she couldn\'t ignore.

Just then, a middle-aged nurse entered with a gentle smile, pushing a trolley laden with gauzes and bandages. She was the same nurse who had diligently cared for Iyana the previous night.

"Ah, I see you are finally up," she commented warmly. "How do you feel, dear?"

"Good," Iyana replied, returning the smile politely.

"That\'s wonderful to hear. Your husband must be relieved now. He was so worried about you," the nurse added with a happy sigh.

Both Iyana and Vyan\'s eyes went wide, their hearts momentarily pausing.

"He is not my husband!"

"I am not her husband!"

They protested in unison, faces flushing with a mix of embarrassment and panic. The nurse, taken aback at first, quickly noticed their reddened cheeks and laughed lightly.

"My bad, my bad," she apologized with a twinkle in her eye. "I shouldn\'t have assumed. It\'s just that he brought you here all alone, so…" Suddenly, her eyes fell on the trolley. "Oh, dear, look at me, I forgot to bring scissors to cut the gauze." With that, she hurried back out, leaving the two in an awkward silence.

An uneasy air settled between them as they avoided each other\'s gaze, both unsure of what to say next.

"Um, just so you know, I didn\'t claim you as my wife," Vyan blurted out, trying to break the tension.

"I know," Iyana murmured, her eyes fixed on her lap as the back of her neck grew hot. She couldn\'t help but picture his face from last night. How must he have looked, worrying for her…

She peeked a glance at him, and just then, he met her gaze, making her heart skip a beat.

"By the way," Vyan cleared his throat, eager to shift the conversation, "my family doctor, Harvey, is always on standby. If you feel any discomfort, just let him know. He will be doing periodic rounds to check up on you."

She nodded, her eyes flickering with interest.

"Also, I am leaving two of my guards outside your ward. They will follow your every command," he added, with a sly grin, "except if it involves the Forest of Beasts. That is off-limits."

"I am not that much of a workaholic, so you don\'t have to worry much," she huffed, crossing her arms. "Just stay safe so I don\'t have to come to your rescue."

"I will keep that in mind," he replied with an amused smirk. "I will be off now. I will pick you up when it\'s time to leave."

"So I am stuck here for two whole days?" She raised an eyebrow, a frown forming on her face.

"Harvey is a great storyteller. You are free to ask him for bedtime stories," he shrugged, and Iyana rolled her eyes playfully "Anyway, good luck dealing with the boredom. I am out."

"Okay, goodbye. Be safe!" she called after him as he casually waved on his way out.

As soon as he left, Iyana slumped against the pillow, her face flushing a deep shade of red.

\'Your husband.\'

She couldn\'t get those words out of her head. She hadn\'t felt butterflies when people mentioned Easton was going to be her husband. So why did a simple misunderstanding evoke such complex feelings within her?

Ugh, it was all too much. Her head was spinning. She desperately needed some rest!

———

"Hello, Vyan," Clyde greeted with a broad smile when Vyan stepped down from the carriage.

Behind Clyde, all the renowned mages of Ashstone were present. They all spent the night at a hotel at Jimtown and departed for here just as dawn broke. They all were waiting near the border walls, setting up camps in the quiet, secluded village.

The thirty-feet high walls separated the civilized world of Ashstone from the untamed, dangerous expanse of the Forest of Beasts beyond.

These walls were not just physical barriers; they were protected by a powerful magic barrier. The barrier was a complex weave of enchantments, designed by his ancestors to repel and confuse any creatures that dared to approach.

Only someone of the Ashstone bloodline could unlock the gates—the main reason his family got framed for the monster invasion sixteen years ago.

But that revenge was for a later occasion. For now...

"Did you do what I told you to?" Vyan asked, his voice frosty.

"Yes, it\'s all done. By now, they must be tearing their hair out," Clyde chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief.

"Not their hair. What I truly want is to rip their heads off," Vyan muttered, his eyes glinting darkly.

Clyde patted Vyan\'s back with a grin. "What you have done is much worse for them. Trust me."

"You better be right," Vyan replied, though a small smirk tugged at his lips.

"I am always right," Clyde declared confidently, earning an eye roll from Vyan.

"Let\'s get moving. We have got a ton of pesky monsters to catch," Vyan announced, his voice ringing with determination, and the mages sprang into action, their spirits high and their magic ready to be unleashed.

———

As Marquess Estelle walked into his newly renovated office in the capital, an unfamiliar letter caught his eye on the desk.

There was no name or emblem on the envelope. Normally, Edward wouldn\'t give priority to such nameless letters, but this one seemed to call to him with an invisible pull, a sinister whisper in his ear.

He opened the letter, his curiosity piqued.

As his eyes scanned the first few lines, his heart began to pound hard in his chest:

"Hello, Marquess.

You can guess who this is, and I believe you know what the occasion is as well.

Did you really think I wouldn\'t find out who contaminated the Karloz River? Do you assume I am like you, surrounded by enemies, blind to their schemes? You really thought you could get away with it? Nice try. It took me less than a minute to uncover your pathetic little plot.

But let\'s talk about something far more despicable. How dare you? I understand why you would attempt to assassinate me, but your own daughter, Marquess? Really? I know you never cared much for her, but you have proved how low you can stoop. The depths of your depravity are truly astounding, honestly.

Now, it\'s my turn to show you what real power looks like. I will destroy the thing you hold the dearest to you. By the time you finish reading this letter, you should be getting the news.

Sincerely,

Vyan Blake Ashstone."

As soon as Edward finished reading, the letter ignited in a sudden burst of flames. He flung it away, watching it burn to ashes on the polished floor. Panic clawed at his throat.

"What the hell? I was told he would never find out who is behind this," he cursed, his voice trembling with fear.

Just then, his wife burst into the room, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her face pale and eyes wide with dread.

"Edward…" Carolina began, her voice quivering, her lips trembling. "The truth about our bankruptcy is out and…"

He had expected as much from Vyan. The man was relentless, but even Edward hadn\'t anticipated what was next.

"And what?" Edward demanded, his impatience tinged with rising terror.

"And…" Carolina\'s voice broke as tears streamed down her face. "The truth about Sienna not being your daughter is also… out."